mjt328

Previous seasons, our biggest problems seemed to be sloppy/undisciplined play. We went through long stretches with lots of turnovers, penalties, dropped passes, etc. But at the end of the day, we were still a fairly talented roster. And there were plenty of times throughout the season where our potential was shining through the rough patches. This year seems different. The issues seem much deeper. Outside of the Chiefs game, the Bills have looked really rough all season long. Even back when the team was 4-0, everything looked ugly. Tackling hasn't improved in the slightest. Even games we are scoring 30-40 points, it just isn't smooth or synced up. My fear that it's not a good team in a slump... but rather a team that just isn't very good anymore.

I'm not sure what Brandin Cooks has left in the tank. But at least we are trying to do something... which is better than the nothing we did at the trade deadline.

Exactly why I focus more on what I'm watching (the eye test), than stats and metrics. The passing offense is clearly struggling.

Watching other teams has given me the opposite thought. To me, this entire season is a HUGE missed opportunity. Seeing teams like the Indianapolis Colts (with Daniel Jones of all people) and the New England Patriots (with two former WRs on our team) feature passing offenses that are WAY more consistent than ours (with MVP Josh Allen)... it's just sad and depressing. For the last 5 years, we've been struggling to get past the other elite QBs of the AFC. Mahomes, Jackson and Burrow. And now that injuries/age have finally taken down our top competition in the conference, we completely fell off as well. Not only are we not going to get the #1 seed, but we will be lucky to get a Wild Card spot. I keep hearing that we still have a team capable of going on a run, since no other teams are dominant. But I'm just not seeing it. The Bills aren't flawed in one area. They have probably the worst rushing defense in the entire NFL, and a below average secondary. Their passing game has been an absolute mess most of the season, and even Josh Allen looks like a deer in the headlights. And none of their coaches have the ability to outsmart the guy on the other sideline. In fact, the only part of the team we can usually count on is the run game.

I'm thinking the Bills need a #1 WR, two edge rushers, two linebackers, a free safety, and new coordinators/schemes on both sides of the ball. And that's just to get back into the conversation for the AFC East title. This team needs a rebuild, and needs new people in charge of doing it. If the Pegulas stand pat (which most expect them to do), the list of opponents is going to be irrelevant.

The goal for every GM should be a relentless pursuit of TALENT, regardless of how it's done. Draft, Free Agency, Trades, etc. Les Snead succeeded in thinking outside the box, realizing that high draft picks were significantly overvalued around the league. Rookies are hit/miss, and take time to develop. Vets cost more, but it's easier to tell what they will bring. Of course, the other piece was excellent drafting in the middle/late rounds. You can easily trade away early picks IF you are hitting strong on Day 3. He was able to get a superstar WR (Puka Nacua) in the 5th Round, while Beane is totally lost at the position 20-25 picks in.

This may be the case, but he's also having trouble because of the way defenses are playing against us. The things that make Josh Allen special are his ability to escape pressure, his ability to scramble, and his ability to make throws other QBs simply can't. Instead of being 11 on 11, it's almost like giving the offense an extra player. Now since defenses don't need to respect our WRs, they only need to play Cover 1 with a single-high safety. That gives the defense an extra man to play around with, instead of dedicating him into a deep zone. And since we don't have anyone who threatens downfield, defenses can also press closer on routes and crowd more guys into the box. In other words, our lack of talent at WR is giving coordinators an extra guy that can blitz or spy, and giving Allen less space to scramble around.

Dion Dawkins apparently doesn't care anymore, and Spencer Brown finished the last game with his arm in a sling. Our O-Line has always struggled with TJ Watt and the Steelers pass rushers, even when we were good. Joe Brady is always slow to adjust, so he's probably just now figuring out now that he should have kept in an extra blocker or two against the Texans. Maybe he will make that change for this game. But then we have less options in the pass game, and we know how awesome our receivers are at getting open. Not sure who is still standing on the defense. One-handed Joey Bosa. The other starting DE who never gets any pressure anyway. I think Cole Bishop and Deone Walker haven't gotten hurt yet. I had to look up who the Steelers starting RB is, so I could get a heads-up on the next guy to get 100+ yards and 2 touchdowns rushing against us.

They could play their entire backup O-Line, and our pass rush won't sniff Drake Maye. I can't believe anyone would still be holding out hope for the AFC East title. It's not going to happen. I'm not even sure a Wild Card is realistic the way this team has been playing.

It's definitely both. Sean McDermott has never been a gameday coach, who outsmarts the guy on the other sideline. He's a player-friendly guy, who emphasizes high character, organization and fundamentals as the primary keys to winning. Both of these elements were key in laying the foundation of a winning franchise in the early years. The problem is that his scheme has gotten outdated over the years, and the talent level has dropped off a cliff. He's got no ideas on how to adjust or adapt. Bobby Babich was an internal hire, who brings nothing to the table other than to echo what McDermott already gives us. Joe Brady had some success when he was new, because his style was 180 degrees different from our previous OC Ken Dorsey. Now that defensive coordinators have figured out his tendencies and our talent limitations, he also has no idea how to adapt. He doesn't change gameplans for opponents, and doesn't recognize what is happening in-game in order to make adjustments. Talent-wise, this team was built mostly on Josh Allen, Doug Whaley's pre-firing additions (Poyer, Hyde, White, Dawkins, Milano) and the trade for Diggs. What Beane has added in actual rookie talent since drafting Allen is actually ridiculously pathetic. His free agent classes have been equally bad, and gotten us into terrible cap trouble. When the team has a mid-season hole, he's like a deer in the headlights. It used to be grab an old Panther. Now it's grab an old Bill that nobody else in the NFL wants to sign. The Bills are a stale coaching staff combined with an aging low-talent roster.

Very good chance Week 18 we are playing for the postseason, and I'm not sure they make it. I can think of really good reasons they could lose any of their upcoming games: With the way they struggled with the Texans pass rush, how do you think they are going to perform against the Eagles? I could see them also struggling badly with the Steelers and Browns rushers. Bengals get back Joe Burrow, so their record is irrelevant. The Jets also pose a much bigger threat with Tyrod Taylor, and Aaron Glenn might be coaching for his job in the final game. I've also finally accepted the Patriots are a better team than us this season, and will probably sweep.

The theme in the offseason will be that injuries were the excuse. The team will focus on the excitement of a new stadium, and try pumping up some mediocre free agent signings.

Thank you. This exactly. 100%. The first 4-5 years here, Brandon Beane couldn't think of almost anyone to bring in that didn't play for his former team in Carolina. Now that connection has dried up, so it's just former Bills who are clearly beyond the expiration date. Shaq Lawson hasn't played this season at all, and played one game last year. We might as well give JJ Watt a call in the announcing booth. And I don't want to hear about "knowing the system" or some garbage. This team is in desperate need for young talent. You only have so many roster spots, and these should be opportunities to give new guys with upside a shot. And if the system hasn't changed in two years, that's just more proof this coaching staff is as stale as the front office. I can't emphasize how much this team needs a regime change.

And as our talent level has decreased, we match-up well with less and less teams. We have always struggled on defense against physical run games and elite QBs. Now our offense can’t handle a strong pass rush or a good pair of corners either.

Bills would look silly to bench Coleman for missing meetings… and then replace him with a WR who was cut for missing meetings.