RunTheBall

I’m not a great stats guy, I tend to just go by what I think I see (and trust me I am often wrong) and use stats to confirm or deny my initial impressions. Also, as a disclaimer, I absolutely LOVE running the ball, I mean look at my username. I was ecstatic with the Dallas game. But, I also think we are a pass first team because that’s where our greatest weapon operates mostly and having good balance is the key. These stats are from Truemedia via Cover1. The Bills ran on first down 18 times which was 78% of the time, they threw on first down 5x. Yes, they average 4.1 ypc when running which isn’t bad. They threw 5 times on first down. The crap screen to Diggs to start, the TD to Gabe, the other big throw to Gabe, and 2 good gainers to Knox. The EPA for passing on first down was 1.66 which is ridiculously good. We average 0.91 which is 7th in the league. Given that success I’d have liked Brady to throw a bit more on first to be less predictable. So, all I’m saying is that although I love running the ball, I thought Brady was a little predictable on first and second down. I’d have liked a more pass centric game plan but Josh was getting pressured quick and his accuracy didn’t seem to be great. Hey, the game plan worked even if it was another nail biter against a team we had a significant talent advantage over. The bottom line is we won the game so this is all academic BS. I’m hoping he his game-plan against NE takes more advantage of their weaknesses which doesn’t mean not running the ball but having a more pass-centric plan that will open up the run.

Diggs and Kincaid have both been banged up. It’s pretty obvious watching Diggs - he can’t separate anymore and every time he gets tapped he takes himself off the field. Kincaid is a combo of getting hurt and Brady using more varied personel to help the run game. If Brady can continue to be game-plan specific in attacking a defenses weaknesses, I think this is potentially a good thing. Pats* weakness is NOT defending the run, so we should see fewer runs out of heavy sets and more 11 personel or if in heavy, more throws out of it to Cook or Knox/Kincaid against LBs who are awful against the pass (although their safeties are good against TEs) I’m a Brady fan but he must have a good game plan against NE. We have a bunch of banged up guys on O, and a QB who has been showing signs of inaccuracy the last few weeks. A solid game plan that gives Josh easy throws and schemes open receivers instead of relying just on their talent to separate (which is very lacking in our WRs minus Shakir) is essential.

Isn’t he referring to Daquon and you are talking Mac?

I thought he stayed with the first down runs way too long. I think we threw on first only 5 times and had very good success. The flow of this game was considerably more disjointed than his previous games. The only player on offense who got established was Gabe

I don’t blame Beane for signing Von. It was a risk, worked in our favor for half a season then blew up in our faces. It happens. I don’t blame Von for taking that contract. Who the hell wouldn’t?? I do blame McD for putting him out there as early as he did in the HOPE that he’d play himself into game shape and Old Von. I think McD is still holding out hope that he recovers enough to be an asset if we make the playoffs. I have my doubts. I have yet to see Von double teamed. Not saying he hasn’t been, but in no way is he commanding anywhere close to the respect he used to. He’s been taking snaps away from better players (Epenesa, Lawson, even Johnathan) in the hope that he will round into form. That’s a bold move Cotton. I think best case scenario is he gives us a little something in the playoffs and comes back to form next year since we can’t get out of his contract. I don’t care about his domestic case unless we can use it to get out of his contract, which isn’t going to happen. I know that will offend the legion of White Knights we have on this board but the reality is we all knew about his previous run ins and I don’t remember a strong protest against signing him for that reason. No one was pounding the table against Von because he had a couple of domestic incidents in the past so stop the hypocrisy. I’d rather he wasn’t a douchebag but his SO is refusing to cooperate with the cops so she’s obviously not taking a stand.

I think it’s really important we see from Brady a game-plan that attacks Pats* weaknesses. He’s still a new coordinator as much as some here are already concerned he’s going to get poached for a head coach gig (laughable). That game-plan against Chargers was Dorsey-esque. It’s one thing to stick to something that’s working like Dallas, it’s another to stick to something that’s not working like the Chargers. Given that - Pats* defensive strength is the D-line and Barmore. Stopping the run and rushing the passer. Their weakness is horrible coverage LBs and a banged up garbage secondary. So no, we shouldn’t be trying to establish the run on first and second down. We should come out throwing over the middle to Kincaid, Cook, Shakir and Davis (deep). Belichek is going to take Diggs away early so don’t bother giving him those garbage forced screens early on. BB will be ready for them. Establish the pass to open up the run, but definitely throw to Cook in space this game.

Come on guys, Mahomes is clearly a better QB than Josh. Josh is clearly a better leader and I’d rather have Josh as our QB 100%. It’s kind of like Kelly/Marino. Marino was a better pure QB, Kelly was a better leader. What we are seeing in Mahomes is a guy who has NEVER had to face adversity. His true character is starting to show and it’s not the polished, friendly, good dude the league PR team pushed for years. He’s emerging as a whiney, entitled, arrogant douche who thinks he deserves special treatment from the refs, fans, and league in general. Any doubt of this was eliminated with his response to losing to us and Reid’s response as well. With that hideous wife, obnoxious brother, and his HOF TE more concerned with Yoko Swift than his diminishing production I’d be a little salty too. Josh needs a ring and he’ll be elevated to that level in the national discourse, which I couldn’t care less about (the discourse, not the ring. We deserve a SB win).

If we come out flat after that near disaster against the Chargers, you really have to question both the coaching and talent. We all talk about “when we are on we are unbeatable” but that’s the exception not the rule with our current Bills. Brady didn’t call a good game against LA, Josh was one of the main reasons we won but also was clearly inaccurate throughout the game, and our passing game is a mess. I’m hoping Diggs and Kincaid get healthy and Brady gets back to attacking the opposing team’s weaknesses on offense. At this point, we are who we are. A team that can beat anyone but can also lose to anyone. I fully expect a W against the Pats* but won’t surprise me at all if it’s another nail biter. Best case is some hurt guys get healthy and we continue to stack W’s all the way to the Super Bowl. Can’t say I’m confident but it’s definitely possible.

Other angle showed it hit the ground so unfortunately it’s the right call

That’s a pick even though I think it hit. No way there is clear and convincing evidence to overturn the call on the field

I love seeing Mahomes get drilled regularly. He’s playing angry and not sliding. Good. Someone needs to tell Pacheco to tighten his chin strap

I would have bet the house that was going against the Raiders. Love to see Kelce get flagged so sick of that douche

It is ridiculous how much holding the Chiefs are getting away with while Raiders get called for BS penalties consistently on 3rd and long for the Chiefs. I don’t even care who wins this game it’s just brutally one sided

I don’t think anyone would have a problem keeping Gabe at the right price, but that’s the problem. He’s going to get premium WR2 money and I don’t think McBeane are going to pay that to a guy who disappears for 4 games at a time and has a limited skill set.

Gabe is gone. He’s the Tremaine Edmunds of the offense. Beane will let him test FA and someone will pay him a ridiculous amount of money. I’d expect us to draft a WR high to take that #2 spot and potentially be #1 when Diggs is done in a couple years.

I think he’s referring to the 3rd and 8 where he hit Diggs on an out on the last drive. That was a precise throw into tight coverage and a great catch

I can explain Brown gave the hand signal that he was going to do his vintage “Ole’!” block. That’s where he stands there like a traffic cone while rushers blow by him on either side and he blocks nobody. It would be a insult to turnstiles to describe Brown as one. IDK, I’ve been hearing how improved he’s been but in this game he was god awful and not just on that play. He was getting toasted in pass protection constantly.

Josh’s mechanics have taken a step back this year. On that deep pick, he had plenty of time to set his feet and make a more accurate throw. As it was, he was rolling to his right (his favorite play) and threw back across the field which resulted in an under throw. Good decision, bad execution. Josh needs to work on his footwork and mechanics again this off season with Palmer and start taking the off season a little more seriously. He’s falling back into some bad habits which is evidenced by his decreased accuracy. We all sit there in the first 2 series to see which Josh we are getting. We’ve seen more of inaccurate Josh this year and I think it’s just a matter of not being consistent with mechanics. Still, I’ll take this guy over any other QB in the league including Mahomes

We were sloppy not lucky. Overcoming 3 turnovers and a ref crew who kept the game close for Peacock was more than luck. It’s a W. That’s all that matters. Nice to see we are coming out on the positive end of some of these close games. We are on to New England*

I’ve been staying this for 5 weeks. He definitely tweaked something, we will find out after the season. He’s been playing the very good soldier despite his stats tanking. That doesn’t bode well for the playoffs IMO. Brady really needs to get Kincaid, Shakir, Knox and Davis more involved regularly in the passing game. We’ve got 2 games to figure it out assuming we make the playoffs.

W They almost ruined Christmas, but it’s a W that counts as much as the Cowboys game. Cut Harty and fire Smiley into the sun. Still think something is up with Diggs, prob hurt. He’s not getting separation and taking himself out every time he gets tapped. Non Miller is useless. Didn’t see much Floyd. Ed was a beast. Playoff Gabe showed up. Allen wasn’t perfect but the guy just makes plays when he needs to. He had 4 unbelievable plays that we just are lilke “no big deal” Liked the McD game management from 4 minutes on. Sure, should have love the touchdown but once Shakir was ruled down had to run clock. Why did Chargers take that last timeout???

Did he take Tyreek’s 4 new baby mamas? That guy is halfway to Antonio Cromartie’s kid count

If we lose to Easton Stick with no Keenan Allen, no Bosa, and a 3rd string center then this team is as much a fraud as Dallas or Miami Not enough credit is being given to the effect Josh’s potential to run had on the run game success. Almost every counter we ran had a free rusher who was concentrating on taking Josh out if he ran the ball which allowed the RB to not even have to dodge him before hitting the hole. Props to Brady for sticking with the run when Dallas had an incredibly light defense and never tried to adjust. Their safety’s and LBs were giving up close to 100 pounds when being blocked by our O-lineman James showed patience and vision better than any game I’ve seen him plays so far.

I love free yards! This team has been on the receiving end of flop calls against us for DECADES. It’s about time we got some free-bees. Flop away Josh!

The patience and vision that James Cook ran with today was something to behold and was on another level from anything I’ve seen from him before. If that’s an indication of how’s he’s going to run going forward, he could potentially be the best back we’ve had since Thurman. I’m not even talking about his receiving ability. It pisses me off that Dorsey hamstrung him for a year and a half. Seriously, I get pissed thinking about it. Time will tell.