Nihilarian

In 2020, the Buffalo offense under Brian Daboll was #2 overall, and in 2021, it was #3, #5 still under Daboll. Then, for an entire season in 2023, the offense was #3 overall. so, it did improve for a season. Then in 2024, the Buffalo offense scored more points that season than in the history of the franchise, while #2 in points, #10 in yards. So it did improve for that first season under both OCs. Not only did the offense score more points it also helped the QB control the turnovers in INTs/Fumbles. Josh Allen went from 18 INTs in 2023 to 6 in 2024, and from 7 fumbles to 5. While I get that defenses catch up to offenses and learn how to stop them somewhat, as with QBs. It doesn't change the fact that Brady went completely off normalcy with his offensive game plan against Houston. Much like he did with Atlanta, in knowing that both teams can bring great pressure to the QB in different ways. Four sacks & eight sacks, considering that Allen was only sacked 14 times in all of 2024. He already has 9 INTs this year and only 6 all of last year. Again, I have no idea where McDermott's mind is at right now. Perhaps he doesn't trust anyone else on his current staff to replace Brady with enough confidence in them to get Buffalo into the playoffs. Anyway, it is my opinion that Brady wants out of Buffalo or the Bills' HCing job for himself. If Brady reads this forum, he would see that so many posters here want McD gone. I had the impression that Dorsey wanted that too.

You know you're right to a point, as in 2022 the Buffalo Bills had #2 overall offense with Diggs the leading receiver with 1429 yards, 11 TDs. Then in 2023, after 12 games, the Bills were 6-6 with Josh throwing a ton of INTs. After the bye, McDermott made the change from Dorsey to Brady. Buffalo had losses to the Patriots with Mac Jones at QB, the NY Jets, the Jags, the Bengals, and the Broncos. Meanwhile, Ken Dorsey was fired by the Buffalo Bills in 2023 due to the team's struggles with offensive consistency, highlighted by a six-game stretch where they failed to score more than 25 points and had a high number of turnovers. The decision was made after a loss to the Denver Broncos, which dropped the Bills to a 5-5 record and out of the playoff picture. Meanwhile, Miami was 9-3 at that time. Only Joe Brady knows what's going on with his offensive scheme. But I can tell you that the eight sacks and lack of protection for the QB while calling mid to deep pass plays in that Houston game was a fireable offense in my view. More so than anything Dorsey did with his offense, again in my view. I have no idea what McDermott has up his sleeve or why he is keeping Dorsey as OC. It's been 12 games, and Buffalo is 7-4 and still in the hunt at this point is the only reason I can think of. So what happens if Brady tanks against the Steelers?

Well, to be honest, Joe Brady was a godsend at first with that run game, helping Josh keep his turnovers under control. Fewer INTs, fewer fumbles, and less running so less chance he gets injured running by some late tackler who wants to take him out of the game. And, Buffalo was the #2 offense in scoring in 2024, and #1 overall, including the playoffs, which is no insignificant feat. We also saw some high-scoring games against Jacksonville, 47-10, against the Titans, 34-10, against Seattle, 31-10, against the 49ers, 35-10, and the really high-scoring games against the Rams, 42-44, and the Lions, 42-48. Then 40-14 against the NY Jets, and then 31-7 in the playoffs against Denver. Now this season, he isn't even attempting to put out a decent game plan for whatever reason. Like against the Falcons, against the Dolphins, and that Houston game in which our beloved QB was sacked EIGHT times. Now this was a complete deviation from what he was doing last season by keeping an extra O linemen in to block, running "max protection schemes" or even running more against a team where their defense is weaker against the run and stronger against the pass. So he calls for more mid to deep throws? It is like Joe Brady is attempting to get McDermott fired so he can be the head coach in Buffalo, or he wants to leave and go quickly. Did he get a head coach offer from the NY Giants? He is currently making what 1.5 million, and a head coach might make 5-10 million per year? Something's up?

I wonder if Harbaugh gets fired if the Ravens miss the Playoffs this year? Those Ravens fans have to be going mental about now to lose at home to a 3-8 team.

It really makes no sense why Henry and Lamar haven't been running it all game...it helps keep the ball away from Burrow.

The Bungals literally have the 32nd-ranked defense, and the Ravens have a top-ten running offense...so why not run?

Because of what they're paying those players, when the Bengal players in the secondary wanted more money, they let them leave. The result was that they also fired their DC Lou Anarumo after the defense went south. That guy who is now the Colts' DC.

The cost of paying Burrow, Chase, Higgins, and Hendrickson...is it worth it?

A question we are all asking, and perhaps even McDermott. Defenses catch up to QBs and study their habits/tendencies to eventually get the better of them. It's possible that this is what's happened to Joe Brady? The Texan players were laughing about how easy it was to diagnose the Buffalo play calls, so either Brady is seriously inept at his job, or someone is selling the playbook/game plan.

Well, Diggs usually starts to fall off a cliff near the end of the season and turns invisible in the playoffs...so there's that!

On offense, I agree. On defense, I disagree, as I think there are times when they are overachieving. In the first half of some games, they are getting smoked, and in the second half, putting a choke-hold on teams. A few things are happening with the defense besides the injuries, as they are just not getting the turnovers like they did last season, and they have a mix of older vets and young players learning their way. Think about how good this defense might have been with Max Hairston with a full training camp and preseason. With Ed Oliver fully healthy, with Michael Hoecht who returns from suspension, only to blow out his Achillies* after a great performance. Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin. Benford, Bernard, Bosa, Lawson, and others at different times. Right now, the Bills might be without both starting offensive tackles, with Dalton Kincaid, Curtis Samuel, and Kahlil Shakir all probably out. Some Bills fans simply say, Oh, all teams have injuries...not to this extent and keep winning. It's kind of ridiculous.

Either way, what that jackass (JB) doesn't realize is that if the Bills get to the SB, he can write his own ticket to whatever NFL HCing job is open. Titans, NY Giants, NY Jets, Dolphins, Cleveland, Raiders, Saints, and Arizona Cardinals all might be looking for a new head coach. Perhaps even Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

Certain Bills fans here have been constantly complaining about how Buffalo needs that #1 WR since that first loss, and yet they were the #2 scoring team in the NFL last season, #1 including the playoffs. What those fans don't get is the Bills were able to score like crazy in the passing game last season, and in particular against Detroit, and LA Rams. What they also don't get is for whatever reason, this OC has fallen on his face this year. Whether on purpose or a lack of knowledge on how to scheme a great passing offense. My take, I think it's because he is looking elsewhere. That game plan against the Texans showed the world he doesn't shiv a git about getting Josh Allen injured or killed, as he didn't have an extra lineman in there to max protect and kept calling for mid to deep passing plays. EIGHT sacks showed us that. I think he wants out of Buffalo for some reason. If I'm McD, I'd oblige to a degree and demote him. I could be wrong, and he is simply inept at installing new game plans. I fear it's not the receivers, it's the OC!

Does this mean that the offensive passing playbook is on a posted note? Seems like it, as the Texans players were laughing about how easy it was to diagnose the Buffalo offensive passing scheme.

THIS 1000%! I've been saying that Joe Brady is a bigger problem with the passing game than the lack of a #1 WR. I have no idea what McD can do to change this, as the Bills are still in the hunt. What we have here, ladies and gentlemen, is a failure to communicate. Is a Greg Roman clone, with a great run game and a horrid passing game. This team is missing a guy like Brian Daboll to set up the passing game plan/scheme.

All i can say is...YOWSA!

Sad, but alas, the reality of this season's situation. The thing is, you never know, and even when you think you know, you never know. The Bills OC could pull his head out of his arse... the injury bug could go away, and players could return to help this team at just the right time. Lady Luck could return and stop the Bills from committing turnovers, and the defense starts getting them like they did last season. So many "IFs" but hey, anything can happen as Buffalo is still in it.

Despite the injuries, I know I would have a lot more faith in this team if the current OC didn't have brainfarts every other game. EIGHT SACKS is unacceptable with no extra O linemen in there to block and calling for deep pass plays against a fierce pass rush...next time someone slap him upside the head HARD!

Pittsburgh is in the 20s on defense, 20th in points allowed, and 28th in yards allowed. On offense, 11th in points scored, 27th in yards. What's good for Buffalo is that their offense is really bad at rushing, 26th in attempts and yards. Their defense is really bad at defending the pass, 32nd in pass attempts, 31st in passing yards allowed. They might be looking past Buffalo this week to the Ravens the following week at Baltimore. One can hope.

Oh, I dunno, that 4th and 27 with a hook n ladder play was pretty darn exciting. Shame we don't see more of stuff like that. Anyway, what gets me is the Bills came out throwing against a Houston team with a very solid secondary and a top pass defense. Whereas their run defense was mid pack in the 20s. James Cook finished 17 carries for 116 yards, 1 TD. So why wasn't he used more in the run game? Why attack them at their strongest point? Then Buffalo could have won that game if not for a few missteps. Like the false start on Dawkins on 4th and 1. Like Gabe Davis not getting both feet in bounds. The three turnovers killed them.

What I didn't mention, though, is that while that 1998 Denver team ran more than they threw it, it was because they had such a dominant RB. They also had two 1000-yard receivers in Rod Smith, Ed McCaffrey, and TE Shannon Sharpe. The Buffalo Bills have some decent talent at receiver, and they... just... can't... stay... healthy! Freaking snakebit, cursed. Is it conditioning, not enough stretching, IDK.

Guys, I get it that fans are frustrated with how things are going, especially with the Patriots' 10-2. It's not the drafts or free agents or even the schemes. It's all on the injuries in my view, with so many on the defense, the rookies this past draft class, and the receivers. Just think, if it weren't for all the injuries that the #1 draft pick would have seen preseason and would have been playing since day one. Instead, we have Tre White, who was brought in as a mentor and not a starter. Taylor Rapp is out, and Jordan Poyer is starting. Ed Oliver out for so many games, and we had Michael Hoecht for one game looked to be a game wrecker.... Joey Bosa, playing with one hand, and the list goes on...and on...and on! Mecole Hardman looked good...then Poof. Shakir DNP, Kincaid DNP, Samuel DNP, seriously, WTF is going on!

Elway, in the end, was similar to Peyton Manning in that he simply no longer had that supreme arm talent at the end. Elway was helped with an RB by the name of Terrell Davis, who rushed for 1750 yards in 1997, for 2000 yards in 1998, and the Broncos ran the ball more than they threw it in those last two Super Bowls. Manning, in his last SB, was helped by a #1 defense while their offense was middle of the pack. The current Buffalo Bills have the right idea with the run game and now need to upgrade their passing attack with more innovative schemes. That power run game is supposed to help protect Allen and not throw him under the bus... 8 SACKS

I agree. I'm hoping that this OC can steal some insight from what the Rams do with Mat Stafford/Sean McVay. Or perhaps see if Peyton Manning is interested in a consulting position to help right away. This stuff can't be happening again and again. To be beaten by the lowly 4-7 Dolphins, Falcons.

Yet, he has had games where the plays weren't predictable, like against the KC Chiefs, who have a brilliant DC with a top 5 defense. This is why Joe Brady's game planning makes no sense to me, because he has faced difficult pass rushes in the past, and never has Allen taken as many sacks. This is what is so puzzling to me, as Brady was hired at the 2023 Bye week, so he had all of last season to impress, and he did just that. His blocking schemes in the run game, for instance, have been awesome, and having the #1 rushing attack is no small feat. Now, suddenly, the team can't pass protect/block. Last season, the receivers were much worse, and yet the Buffalo offense was #2 in scoring and #1 considering the playoffs. I believe that Brady has the wherewithal to set up a top offense in both the run game and pass game, and now he has fallen on his face with his pass protection, passing schemes. McDermott has stated he backs Brady.