TheBrownBear

I agree with this 100%. The identity of the team was supposed to be that we were some offensive juggernaut. By midseason it became apparent that was no longer the case and we were scratching out wins with Josh hero ball and the occasional decent showing from the running game against subpar opponents. We looked for scapegoats in McKenzie, Motor/Cook, Gabe Davis, Knox and even Josh to some extent, but the guy behind all that inefficiency we've seen is an in over his head Ken Dorsey. We barely run any motion. Can you remember anything even remotely imaginative? Shovel passes (no, not that improvised one that Josh threw off Ike's facemask in KC)? Traditional screen passes? Hell, even a simple old naked bootleg? If these things actually happened, it wasn't after week 5 or so.

I trust McDermott as a CEO type and he's improved (the last two weeks notwithstanding) in his aggressiveness and gameday decision-making from year-to-year. I don't want to see us cut bait and end up with a clear downgrade, which, let's be real, is the most likely scenario should McDermott get the axe (he won't so this conversation is moot anyway). I'm kind of torn on Frazier. It's easy to B word and moan about the 3rd and longs we've given up at times this season, but most of those had decent coverage and our corners just made lousy plays on the ball. Yesterday was different in that he had guys running free all over the field, but we were playing with our hands tied behind our backs due to the injuries up front and in the secondary. Trust me, I won't cry if he's let go, but I'm pretty confident that just replacing him with anyone isn't a good idea. It needs to be a clear upgrade - an innovative and aggressive defensive playcaller. I want Dorsey gone. Other than serving as Josh's QB coach, he didn't have a resume worthy of being handed the reins to a SB contending offense. Our offense under Dorsey may have generally been a continuation of Daboll's Erhardt/Perkins scheme, but at least Daboll would come up with some imaginative wrinkles to get guys in space for some easy yardage when we were really struggling. We saw nothing of that from Dorsey. Just drop Josh back and have him hold the ball forever and wait for guys to run open. Not a recipe for success behind a struggling offensive line in December/January weather. Either roll the dice on a young imaginative guy with real upside or hire a veteran OC that can rein in Josh's worse tendencies. Continuity and "process" failed us here.

I don't think he's saying they didn't give the best of what they had left or were somehow not trying. He's saying that what we saw on the field was about the best they could summon. Human beings do get to emotional and physical breaking points. I don't put the entire loss or even most of it on this point, but it's understandable that it could have played a part. Regardless, at the end of the day, the team wasn't good enough to hang with the Bengals in a home playoff game and that responsibility needs to be shared by everyone involved - from Beane through the equipment manager. It's going to be a long painful offseason. That's for sure.

Maybe the team ate some bad oysters or something and don't want to look for excuses.

Well, we know Roger was clearly out of gas based on his play yesterday. I do believe there is a truth in there. Everything was hard this year - basically from the moment that Hyde and Dane Jackson were injured during the second half of week 2 (let's not forget that was a very scary situation at the time) and then it was one unfortunate event after another. I believe the Hamlin thing was likely the straw that finally broke the camel's back, but we were probably heading for a blowout in Cincy on MNF and yesterday's early exit regardless. What you saw yesterday was a joyless, defeated, husk of a team that looked as if they were being forced to show up for another week of work, instead of a pumped, excited bunch of guys looking forward to a great opportunity.

The talent is fine (well, maybe not the O line, I agree we stink there). Diggs is a grade A stud. Knox is a good TE. Cook and Motor are a fine complementary backfield duo. A young guy like Shakir really flashed potential when we looked his way. We probably do need to upgrade WR2. So, yes, while we don't have all of the skill position pieces of a Philly or Cincy (we're probably comparable to KC), it's not as if we are trotting out garbage like the drought era Bills or the Packers or whatever this season. The major issues with the offense this season were scheme, play design, playcalling and then Josh's decision-making after being put into bad positions by Dorsey. It's telling that the Bengals offense looked effortless despite starting three dudes off the street on o-line. Their players executed great, but it was great coaching that put them in the position to bash our heads in. Don't get me wrong, Burrow is fantastic, but it's easy to be "Joe Cool" when you're facing zero pressure and all of your targets have 5 yards between them and the nearest defender. Who's the next great young offensive mind hiding out there as a passing game coordinator or QB coach? That's the guy the Bills need to be searching for starting today.

I hate excuse-making, but you'd have to be incredibly obtuse not to accept that the mental stress hadn't taken a toll on this team. You could see it in their energy level and lack of excitement leading up to the game.

The Saffold signing was an abject failure and Brown was a disaster all season. I hope it was just health related for Spencer or otherwise we need to replace a minimum of three offensive lineman this offseason.

If you just look at the numbers, maybe. But I have serious doubts he can help Josh progress to the next level as a cerebral playmaker.

If we are honest with ourselves, we have always been sort of a soft finesse team under McDermott. We don't appear to have a real identity outside of Josh Allen and a charitable fanbase that jumps through tables.

He won't, but I wouldn't be upset if he did

I'm rooting for the meteor.

Knox is a good weapon. Shakir looks good when given chances. Cook, McKenzie and Hines can make plays if utilized correctly. Look at KC. Yes, Kelce, but otherwise they have a bunch of trash at WR and a 7th round running back.

His knee was down short not that it matters

30 first downs incoming

Should have never entrusted Dorsey with the offense. Big mistake by Beane, McDermott, and Josh.

Beane needs to do some real soul searching after this one.

Allen hasn't trusted what he's seen for about 12 weeks now. He's been very mediocre and that's the truth.

Romo preaching the truth. Embarrassingly outcoached today

Incomplete pass, but Josh got destroyed there.

Not sure, but need to consider replacing both coordinators. Not winning ***** with either of those dudes.

I've had McDermott's back, but this game is seriously distressing.

I think he may retire

He is a below avg corner at this time.

Jesus both guys knocked out. Don't ever want to see the Bengals again.