The Frankish Reich

And not particularly big and powerful either. Other than that they're just fine.

Exactly. It is the confidence to know that your gameplan is a sound one for the game conditions, and the discipline to stick with it. Any other coach would've thought "I'll at least show them pass a few times to keep them honest." No. Zero passes against the wind, 3 with it (and 2 of those at the very end). No FGs or PATs attempted against the wind. We almost stole one here because of the incredible playmaker we have in Allen, but almost doesn't count. The boring disciplined guy is ahead of us in the standings, and probably for good.

Fair point. It did take him till the Jets game (the week after the Jags fiasco) to even try to bring Allen under center, use a power running formation, etc. even though it was abundantly obvious by October that the offense had become far too pass happy.

You did see the 15 yard punt?

Silver lining: yeah, now only about a 23% chance of winning the division. But still a 74% chance of making the playoffs! (per 538) And the best news: all road games! Maybe some in domes or So Cal!!

I can assure you that ZERO passes were completed against our CBs tonight. I count that as a win!

Hard to say. I mean, it sounds stupid to say that, but we don't know what input Daboll has on personnel decisions. Did he say use draft picks on pass rushers and not O linemen because he thought we were pretty sound there? Bring in Sanders and not a competent fullback or second block-first TE?

Yes. If this, if that. But you know what? Those ifs don't happen often enough in 35 mph winds! One coach understood that. One didn't.

A team that basically did not play a QB just ran over you for 222 yards ...

Take a look at that "highlight" later on. I can't recall if they were technically "in the box" but everyone but Hyde was within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. I have to assume Hyde's job was to make sure nobody broke free to go for a huge gain.

Micah Hyde getting pissed off at the press conference now. Dude, you blew it. 10 in the box, Hyde the only "deep" guy and that was about 10-12 yards deep. He stupidly pursued the play to the line rather than doing his job, hanging back, and preventing the breakaway run. That's on you. Damn good safety, but poor decisionmaking there. Let them have their 8 yard gain against the wind. They couldn't score without a mistake being made. Your mistake being made.

Not the first to say it here, but really: Belichick didn't even consider attempting a FG into the wind. They threw Bass out there only because the offense went backwards so that going for it on 4th down wasn't an option. Bass deserves no blame whatsoever.

Hard lessons learned this season: 1. We have a great QB. We have an elite WR and a couple other very good skill position players on offense. We do not have a single keeper in the backfield or on the O line. Not. A. Single. One. I mean, they're o.k., some of them, but nobody you'd ever build around. 2. We have (at least with White healthy) elite pass coverage. The secondary is fantastic against the pass. Our LBs can cover like few can. And we have no way to stop a power running team. No. Way. At. All. We are completely defenseless against those offenses. And so if we can't win in a shootout, we can't win. In other words, a very talented team, but a very unbalanced team.

Particularly with no real FB (even Gilliam was out) and no block-first TE, not to mention no plus RB, we just aren't equipped to change offensive strategy to go with weather conditions. I guess that's fine because we play in temperate, sunny WNY.

Preferably one with a COVID vaccine card. A valid one.

Yep. On a night where the FG was basically out of the question when going against the wind, it was hard to see how that PAT, even if you didn't get it, would impact the game. Meanwhile you need to get that 8th point to keep things even.

That happens with 10 men in the box. You break through that first layer and you're gone. The question is why we needed 10 in the box to stop the run, and why 10 in the box didn't even get that done. Pathetic DL and interior linebacking play, and a ridiculous stubbornness on the part of Frazier not to change his personnel on the field in response to what the Pats were doing (running 100% of the time) or not doing (passing, ever, when going against the wind)

Much as I hate to admit it: Belichick and McDaniels won this one. McDermott/Frazier/Daboll lost it.

I love how Frazier and McD had Levi Wallace out there even when the Pats were going into the wind and McDaniels had made it abundantly clear that he was NEVER going to throw the ball. And we wonder why a team that threw 3 passes total was somehow able to run for 222 yards.

Back then it was 100% certain my parents would side with the principal/teacher no matter how much I protested. Even if I was in the right. Now? Mom texts the kid: LOL, get better at not getting caught. That sums it up for me.

Is that right? I was wondering where he landed. With a thud.

Who needs Ernie Adams? We got boater! 😁

Well, they show the Hollywood sign for LA games, they show people skiing 2 hours away for Denver games ....

Runners break tackles. Defenders slip and fall on a wet field. And then there's nobody left to bring a runner down and you get an 80 yard catch-and-run. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP9GdzEofLM 9 or 10 in the box vs. Tebow, who we all know couldn't throw to save his life. And yet ...

You mean nobody's posted this yet? Weather? You want to see what "weather" really means? Josh knows weather! Just scroll to the 4:00 mark.