DC Greg

There were plenty of times when he did 5 or 7 step drops and held the ball for a long time, as well. It wasn't all quick hitters. And we did not blitz, and our front 4 got zero pressure on those, which is actually more discouraging. I don't think the refs lost us the game. There were some bush league calls though. It just blows my mind sometimes. College football refs are better most of the time IMO.

100%. Shady had a great game. His football awareness is unreal. On his first reception (I think), he is facing the QB, but just senses all the pursuit coming at him from behind in the direction he was running from so without even seeing the defenders, knows to stop on a dime and cut up the field in the opposite direction. Gain of 10 instead of 2. It was just an awesome play. Glad we have this dude. He's a baller.

100%. We need to get him on the move and he should be coached that if the read isn't there to take off. I hope we see more of that soon.

That's a good point. I agree with that. I think Roman is still figuring out how to use all of these new guys on offense. There is A LOT of talent. Hopefully they continue to gel.

I know there are a few threads discussing Taylor's play, but I wanted to hone in on one issue in particular. First, I think Tyrod played pretty well all things considered. I'm excited to see him bounce back next week. I hope this game was a good learning experience, and hope he'll be just fine. That said, watching the game in person yesterday from the 300's (a good vantage point to see things develop), there were more than a few times when I saw him drop back and thought "I don't think he can see these routes developing across the middle of the field." I don't mean this in the way that it was oft used to criticize EJ in that he couldn't "read" plays developing well, but literally that Tyrod could not physically see over the O-line and defenders at times. Wondering if anyone else who was there or who could see routes developing on TV had that thought as well.

Dude, it's always a game of interpretation. You can hide behind the "well that's the rule" but everyone who really watches the game knows there are calls that are made and calls that are ignored in situational football. That one could have gone either way IMO. There is not a rule that says "absolutely no contact can be made with a WR after 5 yards". It's football. There is also some contact. It's always up to the refs to interpret the impact of that contact and whether it warrants a flag, and they call it different a lot. Your "patty cake is PI" definitive statement is not as hard and fast as you'd like it to be.

I'd have to see those plays again. If you're talking about the Hughes one I think you are, I disagree. The one seam route where Hughes was matched up 1:1 with him with no help? Jerry started doing some patty cake with Gronk's hands slightly before the ball got there, but he mainly made a great play on the ball and swatted the ball out after Gronk had a fair chance to catch it. That is an amazing play by a defensive lineman in 1:1 coverage with possibly the best player in the NFL. As a Bills fan, I freaking LOVE that effort by Hughes on that. If I'm a ref, I give the benefit there to the d-lineman. Unless you're referring to a different play, I think that was a hell of a job by Hughes. Way to many PI calls anymore on light hand to hand contact without grabbing anything. Was glad they kept themselves out of the game on that play. A better question on this play though is WHY THE HELL is Jerry Hughes in 1:1 coverage with Gronk to begin with?? We rushed 4 all day, so why are there not defensive backs doubling the best player if we're not even blitzing? Made no sense, and it wasn't just this play. Gronk was in 1:1 mismatches all day long.

So, we had a lot of bad penalties yesterday. There were also a ton of VERY Patriot friendly calls and no calls that really burned me. The ones that stick out: Marcel has a huge sack on Brady on a critical third down that would be a big momentum shift and get the ball back to our offense with good field position. Dareus comes completely free, Brady goes down immediately. Ref throws a ticky tack illegal contact flag on the far side of the field for a receiver Brady never even had a chance to see, because he was sacked before the penalty even happened. A huge stop on third and long becomes an automatic first down. Gentlemen, that is what's called a ref inserting themselves into a game. That is a situation where a good ref keeps the flag in his pocket with something that had nothing to do with the play. PI call against Percy Harvin. Don't get me wrong, we did get the 40 yard PI call on this one. The thing about this is where that flag came from. The back judge threw it in, very late. The official right in front of the play watched their CB blatantly tackle our WR before the ball was even close to getting there. There couldn't have been a more obvious call. He looked right at it, and he did not throw the flag. Missed personal foul on NE. On a punt, a NE blocker crushed one of our guys on their sideline with a late hit out of bounds, from behind. It was blatant, and there was a ref right there who saw the whole thing (easy to see from our section in the 300s with a good vantage point of the whole field). This is after they've already thrown two personal fouls on us. He doesn't throw the flag.

Absolutely. There is a LOT of new talent on this team. It takes time to figure it all out. We should be thrilled with all of the flashes we've seen from the offense so far. Tyrod, Percy, Sammy, Woods, Clay, McCoy, and Karlos have ALL showed great playmaking ability so far. Even though it was a bummer to lose yesterday, we saw a lot of good in a lot of areas, against the defending superbowl champion, dynasty status NE Patriots. The defensive performance was disappointing, but they were put in a tough spot a number of times. For god's sake, we gave Tom Brady the ball on our FIFTEEN and our thirty on back to back possessions via bad special teams, bad offensive 3 and outs, and bad penalties (horrible punts by Schmidt). Can't think of a worse way to dig a hole vs. one of the best QBs. That said, we weren't too far out of the game the whole time, and the team showed some resilience. Rex needs to get the penalties cleaned up, they need to learn a little poise and composure, and the offense needs to keep figuring out their identity and settle into rhythms in games. If you would have told me before the season we'd be 1-1 after our first two games against these opponents, I take that every single time. Step back from the ledge y'all. Let's hope they get it cleaned up and bounce back vs. the Fins next week on the road. At least they'll get to wear their home blues in that game.

Dennis Thurman should be called out for his gameplan and defensive performance. Backed off the blitz. Generated no pressure.

God I love being a bills fan.

Get out of here with that blasphemy. Flutie Flakes were the most delicious cereal god ever put on this Earth.

Bills 35 - Pats 10

New England is going down, Gary

I think I might go to that game this year. Contemplating if I wear the jersey.

Be classy and stand up for what's right. If you see Bills fans being bullies to nice people just trying to cheer for their team, call them out on it. A little ribbing is all well and good, but if you're a decent person you know where that line is. If a Pats fan is acting a fool, well, you're on your own chowder head.

This is great! Not that I think anyone on here would be "that guy" but if you see anyone who is determined to yell "F Tom Brady" at the live broadcast, please discourage them from doing so. Let's prove that we can have nice things!

Definitely have noticed. Now only if the NFL hadn't been a bunch of boneheads and put this game or last week's game in primetime, we could really show the country how the Ralph is rocking. Oh well. A lot of the attention I think is because Rex is here. He is a media darling.

Hmm. A little surprised by this. Agree with some of the other posters concerns who think 3 backs is a little thin. Guess there's Felton, too. Oh well. I trust in what the team is doing these days for the most part.

He'll be fine. Rex gave him a game ball by the way. Not sure what his final grades were, but it must have been pretty good. I think folks are really underestimating his level of play and what he brings to the defense. Flagrant personal fouls are one thing. A ticky tack facemask that was an accident is not the same thing. It's not cause to say "this guy is detrimental to the team and does not help us win". Look a little closer at what he's doing on the field. Not just the sack numbers. He got a game ball for a reason. He was a force, controlled the edge, and ate up blockers. Definitely want the penalties to get cleaned up as much as anyone. Not going to publicly start crucifying one of our best, hardest working, and driven players as an individual to do so. But that's just like, my opinion, man.

That INT was a thing of beauty. That's what he brings you. That penalty was pretty ticky tack.

26CornerBlitz you are the man for compiling all these clips. Great stuff!

Do Grantland writers get paid or is it all volunteer?

Rex in post game presser when asked what he's thinking about NE: I don't know let me go have a few beers (walks off)... Dude is my hero.

Must not have thought that fit into the game plan against the Colts D. We will see it this year. They will break it out when they have the matchup on the read man they want.