Billsfan1972

No I don't expect it to continue, but also if you saw the deep balls they were usually into coverage and no YAC. Beckham seemed to have at least 4-5 long catch and runs in open space (if anyone cares to check) as does Julio & Antonio. Conversely last year I remember Watkins too having those play too (with Orton @ QB) and certainly remember the one vs. NYJ where he was watching himself on the big screen and was tackled. Now get him 150 Targets and let's see the results.

Even the Bulldog (WGR550) got it..... The most important thing from the win..... Something I do care about is how the Bills won this game. They managed to control the clock on a day where their top ranked rushing attack never really got going. They did this by repeatedly targeting and completing passes to their best player. Sammy Watkins has had bigger days. He's made bigger plays and electrified fans with touchdowns. Tyrod Taylor has proven to be particularly adept at finding Watkins deep down the sidelines for big gains. What we really hadn't seen from this Taylor Watkins combo prior to Sunday was the variety of routes we saw them connect on. There were slants and crosses and hooks and screens and what do you know? It worked like a charm. Despite being shadowed by the great Darrelle Revis most of the day, Watkins still managed to go off. 11 catches for 136 yards with no gain longer than 38 yards and that came not on a long ball but on a short crossing pattern. This seems to me to be the way that teams treat their number one receivers in the NFL. They go to them frequently with a variety of routes and dare you to stop them. That Taylor and Watkins were able to do this on a cold and windy day would be impressive enough. That they did it on a day where there really were no other threats on the field for the Bills offense says even more. There was no support from the top ranked rushing attack in the league. Bills running backs combined to gain a total of 58 yards against the Jets. So while the overall passing numbers for Taylor don't jump off the stat sheet and Watkins didn't get in the end zone, I'll take the signs of progress in the form of the variety they displayed in their connections into the off season. Ultimately if the Bills are going anywhere with Taylor as their quarterback it will be with more days like the one he and Watkins proved capable of against the Jets.

Would be nice to see..... Want 100 catches and 150 targets.......

But I started my whining last year . I compared Watkins to OBJ and said that give him targets and we'll see how they compare. The first 7 games of 2015 was a joke (healthy or not) and Watkins was the one who aired his frustration publicly so this was not a figment of one's imagination. The last 9 games were much improved and the Jets game was shocking where Roman opened the playbook all were clamoring for, and in bad conditions against a premier back he was dominant. Add to that some imaginative playcalling and passes that fans have been screaming for (between the hashmarks, slants, over the middle, short quick hits and comebacks). And then we had the second half vs. KC, the NE game, only 4 targets vs. Houston and 6 vs. Dallas. 9 targets a game is 144 for the season, which still is not top 10. 8 is 128 or 21st. 90 catches would put him 10th and that is not asking or expecting a whole lot.

Now if they get him to 10 targets/game it will be interesting. Antonio Brown had an average of 14.22/game the last 9 games (remember Ben missed 4 games). BTW there were 26 receivers with 1,000 yards (and Watkins was 22nd).

I'm interested to see the YAC after today's game. Prior it was 105. Today I hazard a guess about 50-60???? Again where was that all season. The whole season he was open and often they played off him. This was not unusual. Today TT threw it to him and they lined him up in numerous formations. Don't blame Revis.......

I think Roman was average at best. Today was the first game we saw Sammy in multiple formations and passes thrown in stride and many easy plays. Revis shouldn't be blamed, Watkins was put in positions where he could make catches. Why it took 16 games astounds me. Agreed.......

Where was that all year???? Short passes, over the middle, yac, easy throws and catches, timing patterns and yes 15 targets!!!! All against one of the best defenders in the league..... Hope this is a sign of things to come...... Where are all those OBJ fans from the last two years claiming that Watkins wasn't worthy to carry his jockstrap????

But it should have been so much better. Second half KC they forgot he was on the field. 4 targets vs Houston (3 catches). Lousy passes vs. Philly. Not enough targets when down 21-0 vs. Washington. Only 7 vs. NYJ and 6 vs. NE & Dallas not enough. A minimum 3 more targets a game would have meant 2 catches (based on his stats) and 30-35 yards and 240 yards...... Yes I am upset and it needs to be addressed.

DeAndre on a worse offensive team, with worse QB'ing has caught over double the passes and 101 more targets!!!!!!!!! In addition Houston's passing offense ranked 18th vs. Buffalo's 27th. Houston playing to make the playoffs with Brandon Weeden, Bills playing for 8-8...... What's the point?

Or not throwing to him on first and second down. Wonder how Minnesota fans would respond if AP was used as a decoy and running plays called for the half back? Aaron Rogers is a great QB, but let's call runs at a uch higher % because the Defense is keying in on Rogers.

Now throw in Antonio Brown & Julio Jones and others...... Outside the Philly game where he only caught 5 of 12 passes (and I was away for that one) everything thrown at Watkins seemed he would catch. I saw the second half of the KC game (a joke). The Houston game they threw at him 4 times. Washington only the second half in a game they were down 21-0 and should have thrown for 350, but Roman kept on play calling like it was a 7 point game. Dallas 6, NE 6 and NYJ 7 for 14 yards (and Watkins was not great that game). Only the NYJ & Miami games were they ahead by more then a TD. All the other games required passing by the Bills to score or stay in the game. Thus again back to Roman and bad play calling. DeAndre has had 3 different QBs the last 4 weeks, two that barely knew the playbook..... Watch the games and you see that Watkins is underutilized.

And I pointed out how lousy Houston's qb's are, the lack of reps and still success for DeAndre. Led the league in 3 & outs and lack of plays for Watins. Until last week, 90% of formations had Watkins lined up to the outside. Maybe the most surprising play was Watkins ran a simple 18 yard hook, which we seldom saw (and double coverage can't defend). Defenses key on all the top receivers and they get targets regardless. Seldom were there simple plays called for him and how never were there catches in space. The KC game still drives me crazy. They couldn't stop him the first half and DID NOT LOOK AT HIM THE SECOND HALF Things improved, but still plenty to work on. And here is the most bothersome stat from the above article...... In the last eight games, Sammy Watkins has gained the 3rd-most yards (764) and 4th-most touchdowns (7) among wide receivers, despite his 38 receptions and 59 targets rankings 17th and 18th, respectively. Why is he not in the top 10?

And a reason the Bills led in three and outs with the best rushing offense (sarcasm) is lack of throws to Watkins or throws over the middle and passes to open space....... And yes I second option D.....

Sure I did. Today however I saw the deandre stat and pissed me off

Roman is so concerned with the running game, he did a lousy job with the passing game. Most of Watkins catches on long passes were simple routes where he beat defenders. I'd love to see Watkins running or catching in open space like Beckham seems to get. He must have 20-25 catches where he was wide open. Most of Sammy's catches were into tight coverage (thus no YAC). Again YAC is telling and Watkins only has 125 (and heck I remember very few). Though will note DeAndre also has very little.

Always an excuse. Watkins is open and TT often looks the other way (or plays called or the other side of the field). No reason whatsoever in the KC game, where he was double covered the first half too (two td's thrown into double coverage). Yes game splits improved, but not to where they should be. Answer how Mallett, Hoyer, Yates & Weeden can target Hopkins, but TT does not?

Yes what could have been? The second half of the KC game was an abomination. It amazes me that defenses make adjustments, but offenses can't? Are you serious. Odell Beckham dropped a 60 yard TD vs. Carolina and was neutralized for the next 2.5 quarters and then in the fourth made two key catches to tie the game. Everyone knows that Julio Jones & Antonio Brown are getting their targets and catches and it still happens. What about Fitz & Brandon Marshall? Of course with the game on the line vs. KC & Philly TT was throwing (and looking) to Hogan and Woods..... So go criticize Whaley, Rex, the D, draft picks, Oline....... I choose to be pissed about Watkins and him be under-utilized and costing the Bills in a # of games.

The slow start this year and lack of perceived communication between TT and Watkins was cited as a fair argument. Then I read that DeAndre Hopkins has 104 catches and 1,438 yards (vs. 49 and 911) but he has done it with Hoyer, Mallett, TJ Yates & Weeden throwing to him, meaning absolutely no chemistry but still success. First receiver with 4 100 yard games with different qb's in a season. I know I have repeated this over and over, but it is ridiculous to read this and wonder what Roman & Rx are thinking. Watkins came out and complained that he wanted 10 targets and I wonder did any coach pay attention? Will things change in 2016?

What low expectations..... Really name me an exciting game that didn't fizzle in the fourth when the Bills couldn't muster a drive or 2 minute offense.

I remember the long passes to Watkins, but on 3rd & 3 or 4th TT was looking for Hogan or Woods.....

Good thing I stayed to watch the first drive of the second half. Game was blacked out so had to go to a bar to watch. The 2015 would have milked the clock and spent too much time in the huddle to get back in that game. And Watkins should have had a minimum 25 more catches.... There was so much more offense to be had.....

The Jets game the Bills let them back in and did nothing the second half. I was over the moon the first 20 mins vs. KC and then they fizzled. The D played well vs. NE and the the Offense was Meh. Not a single long catch and run...... Last in YAC. Watkins should have had 25 more receptions this year....... The list goes on and on. The Bills are great at setting expectations low. Another great example was the first drive vs. NE the second game of the season. 80 perfect yards in 5 minutes and then 3 and outs and little 'til the fourth when the game was essentially over..... Heck the stadium was half full by the time they mounted a comeback. There was no excitement from the O in the fourth quarter the entire season.

Highlights in games..... Sure...... Excitement however is something else. Do you realize the longest Kickoff return was 31 yds? Punt return 27 yds. Ints 14, Fumbles 8, Sacks 20..... http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/defense/sort/sacks As for passing...... http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/passing/sort/netPassingYards Yes #1 in rushing...... http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/rushing

A team could go 6-10 and there be excitement. Dallas will win 4-5 games and yet they had many exciting nail biters. Yes their offense was terrible, but a more interesting year. NO a dumpster fire on D, but fun to watch and some really good games. Tennessee, St. Louis, Oakland too off the top of my head. I can't really think of a good game to watch. Yes beating the crap out of Miami & Indy was fun, but exciting they were not. This team was plain old boring to no end.