2003Contenders

Call me crazy -- but given the cap issues ahead, I am not excited about spending tons of money on another receiver, when that money needs to be better spent on fortifying the lines. Josh is one of those QBs who elevates the value of his receivers. Not saying the Bill should dumpster dive -- but I would rather spend wisely on a RELIABLE receiver who runs decent routes and CATCHES the ball rather than a perceived stud. Maybe a guy who has been in a lousy situation with a bad QB for his career -- or a young guy that is ready to bust out with Josh and the surrounding talent at WR/TE to help him.

The grades are pretty consistent with many posters' thoughts that the LG and RT positions need to be upgraded in a significant way. Saffold has no business being on the team at all. At best, Brown needs to be a backup/swing tackle. Even though Morse graded out reasonably well, due to his age and concussion history, the team needs to seriously consider making long term plans at the Center position too. The good news is that finding a solution at LG and RT should not break the bank as reinforcements can be found in free agency and the early-to-middle rounds of the draft. Additional prospects can also be found in the later rounds. However, the front office is going to need to do a better job in both pro and college scouting to avoid making Saffold-type errors again. If I were the one making the decisions, I would move Bates back to LG, where he played well in the past. Then bring in a solid veteran (not a castoff like Quisenberry) to play RT and invest a 1st or 2nd round draft pick on someone who can play RG (AND pick up other interior options in FA as well). Should also draft a couple more linemen in the middle/late rounds for competition/depth too.

One of the great myths of the Cinci game is that the Bills went crazy trying to throw the ball downfield and did not even try the run or implement underneath routes. All season long the short passing game was an extension of their run game, and that happened last Sunday too. For example, both scoring drives were loaded with short gains, which is why both drives seemingly took FOREVER to complete (one of them ending with just a field goal). The real issue is that the Bengals got plenty of YAC on their plays, whereas the Bills got very little. Quite simply the Bengals were more physical at the point of attack and executed much better than the Bills did.

Well, I would say that the defense set the tone with Mario Williams (in his prime), K. Williams (in his prime), M. Dareus (back when he was seriously motivated), and an up-and-coming J. Hughes. All four of those guys were arguably pro bowlers -- and all 4 flirted with double-digit sacks. If we still had a front four like that now, I suspect that McD and Frazier would be able to do more with this defense.

I agree with all of this. I do also believe that the emotional highs/low of the season -- and the aftermath of Hamlin's injury in particular -- played a significant role. In the two games after the Monday night game, the Bills were able to build off the momentum of highly exciting starts -- the kickoff return against the Pats and jumping out to a big 14-0 lead over Miami. Against the Bengals on Sunday, once they got down early -- especially after the 3-and-out start on offense -- you could just sense that the wind was completely taken from their sails. And it wasn't just a few players that seemed drained -- it was virtually the entire team.

More evidence that each of the teams that beat us this season viewed their contest against us as their Super Bowl. In fact, each of the three other teams clearly blew their wad in beating the Bills -- and had nothing left the following week. Not a good omen for Apple and the Bengals heading into KC.

Lamar has really misplayed his hand here, I believe. He has a unique skill set that allows him to thrive in the sort of offensive scheme that the Ravens have specifically tailored for him. For that reason, it is clearly in both the Ravens AND Lamar's best interest to come to a reasonable deal.

Hope he gets the call-up against Miami. Back in 2020 he was money on those deep-crossing routes against the Dolphins.

Because of Josh's unique talent and skill set, I think it is fair to say that he is able to defy the conventional thinking on any given play. The play to close out the first half certainly comes to mind. Any decent coach would say that what Josh did there was NOT what you are supposed to do, when a sure 3 points are potentially abandoned. However, the OUTCOME of the play is that the Bills scored 7 points instead. It's is almost like evaluators like Warner feel compelled to tell the viewers at home, "do not try this on your own".

Was thinking the same thing. Makes me wonder if maybe the dude previously whipped McG one-on-one in a fair fight — and this gang-up was retaliation.

If they actually had a QB, this would not be so far-fetched.

Turnovers are always a key stat in wins/losses, but I bet it is even more so for a team like the Bills. The dropped INTs and unrecovered fumbles really are noteworthy, especially for a bend-but-don't break defense like the Bills'. The defense is built to force the opponent to drive the distance of the field, requiring more plays to hit pay-dirt -- and, consequently, more opportunities for something bad (for the offense) to happen. When the defense fails to cash in on turnover opportunities, it can lead to a long day. Probably the most glaring non-turnover that strikes me, was in the Jets game. Thanks to a successful fake punt, the Jets held the ball for about 9 minutes before Miller got the strip sack on Wilson -- creating a fumble that WAS recovered by the Bills. Alas, Josh immediately throws an interception that puts the Jets right back into scoring range. (Despite all of the red zone INTs, this to me was Josh's most egregious turnover... but I will save that for another discussion!) Anyway, on the very next play, the Jets run a toss sweep and Garrett Wilson fumbles the ball. He doesn't just fumble the ball, he sends it flying 10+ yards downfield -- yet somehow with multiple Bills defenders in the proximity, Wilson is able to recover the ball himself. We all know what happened next.

I definitely agree. It took some crazy things to happen in both the Miami and Minny games to proverbially ***** defeat from the jaws of victory. In the Jets game, the Jets honestly out-played and out-coached the Bills -- won the game in the battle of the trenches as well as the time-of-possession.

Agreed. I would also add that INTs are also a reflection of a QB's willingness to take calculated risks. That Josh has thrown a lot of INTs is also an indirect indicator that he has also made some sensational plays by trusting himself (and his teammates) in numerous situations where another QB may not have -- the game winning TD against KC, for example. As a comparison of the opposite extreme, I present to you Tyrod Taylor, who almost NEVER threw INTs -- but was way too timid to ever put the ball in "harm's way". I think we all agree that Josh is the better of the two. He just needs to be smarter about when it is time to take those risks -- and when there is no reason to do so.

This is simply ridiculous! So glad that "fans" are not the ones making the decisions. Right now we have a great tandem with McD and BB. After nearly 20 years of ineptitude, McD has led the Bills to the playoffs in 4 of his 5 seasons here. What is the best way to ruin a good thing? Destroy continuity, blow it up and constantly start over again! Even this season -- the Bills are literally 3 plays away from being 9-0. Each of those games took something unlikely and the opponent playing out of their minds to beat the Bills. And that is with a team that is missing MANY starters. While I do not agree with every decision that McD has made, he has created a great program with a winning formula. Once we get out of this funk, defense gets closer to healthy again -- and Josh gets his head on straight we will be fine, and folks with sense will look back at these cries to replace McD with laughter.

I do not put a lot of faith in PFF, but is undeniable that Edmunds' absence was greatly felt in the 2nd half.

And I would even make the contrarian point that, despite all the struggles the last couple of games, Josh has actually been clutch too. Against the Jets, he was on point on that final drive -- throwing a 70-yard pass on a dime to Davis AFTER the injury to the elbow. Sandwiched between the two bad plays you referenced on Sunday was the great drive with 40 seconds left to get the Bills into scoring range to force OT. In fact, if the defender does not make a calculated move to interfere with Davis on the last play before the kick, that is likely a walk-off TD to end regulation. Even in overtime, Josh was marching down the field using both his arm and legs. The next-to-last pass should have been the game winning TD to Knox. Still not excusing the ill-advised game ending INT, because regardless of whose fault it was, that was a pass that should never have been thrown. I just find it interesting that, aside from a few plays, Josh played an excellent game against the Vikings. (Again, not arguing that those few bad plays weren't killers.) Meanwhile, we have Von Miller who was invisible most of the game -- and allowed Cousins to have plenty of time and a clean pocket to throw the ball downfield against our depleted secondary time and time again. But Miller does make 1 or 2 big plays, and that is all anyone remembers.

Doesn't it always seem like when we play the Browns it is in blizzard-like conditions?

The 2nd down play is bizarre too. Did someone miss the play call? When I watched the play live, I assumed it was a screen play to the left that the defense had sniffed out and that Josh intentionally tossed the ball into the turf. Upon 2nd review, the RB goes to the RIGHT and blocks. To the left there is nothing but offensive linemen. (I do not recall an announcement that a tackle declared as an eligible receiver). The only skill position player in the vicinity is Knox, who also appears to be blocking and not looking for the ball. Was Knox supposed to chip and then go out for the pass?

I think a crash course in Risk Management would do Josh (and the coaching staff) some good. LOL Josh is a wild stallion, and you do not want to take his swagger away from him -- but the wildness needs to be placed in check, and he needs to learn to better tread that fine line between being a gunslinger and being reckless. I mean, there is a time to play "Hero Ball" -- when the chips are down and a big play is a MUST. 2nd down, in sure tying-FG-range with plenty of time on the clock was not such a time.

Exactly right. I honestly believe the screen to Duke was the initial design, but Josh saw that the defense had sniffed it out and instead headed to his right. The Vikings were all over the screen the whole game. But up until that point in the game, Josh had NOT been struggling. In fact, he had been in a rhythm on that very drive.

Thanks for this Virgil. This is very therapeutic -- and I appreciate your not going the gloom and doom route. It really is a shame how this ended. Through 3-and-half quarters Josh played a very good game. Made some clutch plays with his arm and legs. At one point, he had like 10 straight completions. He was also careful with the ball multiple times throwing it away rather than forcing screens that the defense sniffed out. BTW, those screens need to be set up better; I think the original play-call on the ill-fated 4th down play was a screen that was also sniffed out, which led Josh to scramble to his right and force the desperation pass. Still, everyone will remember that INT (which was proceeded on the very same drive by some very clutch 3rd-and-long throws/catches), the fumble in the endzone and the INT in overtime. And none of those things had to happen. I am not sure who is to blame for so much of the questionable play-calling (especially in the 2nd half). Was it Dorsey -- or did Josh check out of plays? For all the talk about these gut wrenching plays -- the thing that I have not seen anyone talk about, which definitely was ALL on the coaching staff, was the next-to-last offensive series in regulation. Recall that after the endzone TD, the Vikings had just scored a TD -- and missed the ensuing extra point to make it a 4-point game with about 4 minutes to go. The object for the Bills' offense there should have been to go into a "4-minute offense" and try to drain the clock without ever giving the ball back to the Vikings -- or at least drain enough clock so that they get the ball back with no timeouts and minimal time left on the clock. What do the Bills do? They go into shotgun, and throw three straight passes -- two of which were low percentage plays that fell incomplete. Only about a minute came off the clock, and the play-calls and poor execution (with a drop by Diggs and a penalty mixed in) actually served to aid the Vikings!

I would be more inclined to say the issue is Dorsey + Allen. Not saying that the two do not have a GOOD relationship, but it is highly unlikely that the relationship is anything close to what Josh and Daboll had. Remember, Daboll was the OC when Josh was drafted -- and was by all accounts very hard on Josh during his formative seasons, using plenty of "tough love". The relationship with Dorsey is likely nowhere near as provocative, especially since Dorsey had Josh's seal of approval when he was hired. And Josh, now a superstar, is not in the same place he was when he came into the league with plenty of talent but also plenty of naysayers questioning his ability to develop. When Daboll would chew Josh out, the response was likely, "Yes sir". Dorsey likely does not have this same fatherly relationship with Josh.

For as sloppy as Josh was Sunday -- and, make no mistake, both interceptions were not only bad but came at the most inopportune times -- he was quite clutch on that final ill-fated drive. -- Hits Diggs on the sidelines with a laser to set up at midfield -- let down by holding call on Dawkins (which IMHO was bogus). -- Now first and 20, comes back with a 18-yard strike to make it a manageable 2nd and 2. -- Horrible non-block leads to blind-side hit and injured elbow. And a loss of 19 yards. -- On 4th down play -- and with an injured elbow -- tosses perfect 70-yard pass to Davis, which is dropped. (I also believe that Davis was interfered with on that play) With more help form teammates and less egregious officiating, the Bills likely tie the game, if not outright win with a late TD.

I hear what you are saying. But some things to consider... 1. Knox has provided value in the offense as a blocker. 2. He is playing the role that the coaches have asked -- it is not as if he has dropped numerous passes or failed to get open as the #1 option on passing routes. 3. While the numbers overall have not been eye-popping, he has come up huge with clutch catches in the two victories that went down to the wire. That would be the key long reception against Baltimore on the game winning drive -- and, of course, the TD catch against KC. 4. Right now the passing game is built around the talented WRs and dump-offs to the RBs -- and it has been quite successful. Eventually some defense (possibly the Packers on Sunday, who do actually have a strong secondary) or weather conditions, etc. are going to dictate another plan of attack. That is when I think you will see a big game from Knox.