Nihilarian

I think what we saw was the Lions defense was more intent on keeping a spy on Allen to keep him contained with his running. Then they wanted him to attempt to throw more probably because of his history of lousy completion percentage. What Allen did was burn them again and again when they gave him time to throw. This keep Allen contained philosophy by the Lions played right into Daboll's mid to deep passing scheme as it gave Allen time to make those deeper throws. Allen's completion percentage was only 50% in this game but part of that might be because Zay Jones had 6 targets and caught one pass. Clay was targeted once and didn't catch it. Deonte Thompson was targeted twice and caught nothing... OTOH, Robert Foster went five targets, four catches and that one non catch was on a deep pass that was flagged for pass interference. I'm not so concerned about the draft when this FO is finding guys like Robert Foster as an undrafted free agent...forget the two firsts for Sammy when this kid catches most everything thrown his way.

Today's game is how the team should have started playing from the beginning of the season in game one with running the ball from the start. Sadly, the team got behind in points in week one and two and the offense went pass happy with those mid to deep passes. This offense created it's own problems because the only QBs on the roster at that time were Peterman and Allen with the former starting. Week three against the Vikings the team got the lead and found the running game and the result was a win against a very good Minnesota team/defense 27-6 with all phases working well. 38 rushes for 128 rushes and 2 TDs...and guess what. No Shady McCoy. I have a few thoughts on today's offense in running from the start. First, McD might have had huge input in this as he should have from the start of the season once he saw the OC going pass happy with two very inexperienced QBs. Running the ball with any kind of success makes the opposing defense think stop the run first, which generally opens up the pass game and allows the offense to get into a rhythm of moving the chains. Second, it might be that Daboll has started learning on the job and came to the realization that running to set up the pass is the smart way to get the offense going rather then come out throwing with a rookie QB. Lastly, does this OC have something against McCoy for not utilizing him more in the run/pass game from the start of the season and for that matter when you look at his 72.5 catch percentage over someone like Kelvin Benjamin's 37.1 catch percentage it really does make you wonder why McCoy wasn't used more as a wideout during the season. Zay Jones leads the team in targets with 78 targets, 44 receptions a 56.4 catch percentage. KB was second on the team in targets with 62 targets, 23 receptions. That said, I've been frustrated with Daboll all season with his lack of run game when the team gets behind in points and his pass happy ways with a rookie QB playing behind a bad line. Those mid to deep passing plays usually require more time in the pocket then the line would allow and it's even worse with inexperienced QBs that have difficulty reading a defense and setting up/calling out protections. Why keep throwing to the guys who can't catch shite? I question his whole offensive scheme to keep attempting to get that mid to deep pass game going to players who don't catch very well. Why not throw more underneath passes to the players who will actually catch more balls and will help move the chains. Bottom line: with a better run game from the RBs all season and the defense is even better because they are not on the field so much. The better the run game the easier it makes it for the QBs as it takes pressure off them to carry the offense. Daboll has been so intent on building a power passing offense with rookies, new QBs (Anderson) that he shot himself in the foot game after game. This year's team is 5-9 and it could have been 9-5 or better. All those blowout games to the Ravens, Packers, Colts, Patriots, Bears wouldn't have been blowouts had this team had a better run game in those games. On a side note, I know Bills fans don't think much of QB Derek Anderson but he has had a huge impact on Josh Allen and from what I've heard a lot of his improvement since his injury is more from Anderson then anything else.

Nobody else would take the job at that time and Nix was getting desperate so he hired an OC who was fired in KC and promoted him to head coach. So, some prospects for the Bills HCing job wouldn't even consent to an interview because most knew what working for Ralph Wilson was like. What a lot of Bills fans just don't understand is that at that time Ralph Wilson was the team president and he had his hands in everything football, from the ball boys to the head coach and it's why nobody wanted to work for him that was worth anything. However, right after the season was over in 2010 someone in the Bills Org let it slip out (Brandon, I'm sure) that the Bills were willing to pay 10 mill per year for a top head coach and thus the reason why Bill Cowher and Mike Shanahan interviewed for the job. In giving his plan to build the Bills new coaching staff Cowher stated he would hire Chan Gailey as his OC. This gave Wilson/Nix the idea to hire Gailey. According to Peter King another reason that prompted Ralph Wilson to hire Chan Gailey is because Chan told him that he didn't need star players to win games. The team started the season 0-8 that year and finished 4-12. On another note, let that last number sink in for a min...here we are in 2018 4-9

In the 2009 off season Buddy Nix wanted to hire Marty for the Bills HCing job and he desperately wanted the job in Buffalo too. Seems Nix worked in San Diego with and Shotty they knew each other. Bills owner Ralph Wilson said no and that was that. It was well known at the time that Wilson had to have complete control over everyone and that included his head coach. It was noted that Wilson was on the phone with Jauron for hours every day during the season. Marty wouldn't have gone along with that for100% certainty and Wilson knew it. My thoughts are that Marty lost a power struggle with GM with AJ Smith and part of that involved Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers as Marty wanted to keep Brees and Smith said no. Smith drafted the taller 6'5'' Rivers and wanted him as the starter. Actually the team drafted Eli Manning but he refused to play for the Chargers so they traded QBs with the NY Giants. Marty was fired after the 2006 season and after a 14-2 season. The Chargers (AJ Smith) then hired Norv Turner who turned them into poop after 6 years as HC. For whatever reason I think Schottenheimer was blackballed by the owners kinda like Colin Kaepernick is being blackballed now only for a different reason. ** On a side note Bill Polain stated he would have hired AJ Smith as his GM if hired in Buffalo as their czar/team president. On another note, Doug Marrone told Polian after he left as the Bills HC that both Whaley/Brandon were badmouthing him to the new owners and stated it was a bad situation with Russ Brandon involved in the football operations.

And just like in college he has a crap offensive line, a bunch of rookie receivers, a nonexistent run game and an OC who likes to call a lot of mid to deep passes that require the line to block more then a split second. 5 to 7 step drop backs usually require 3 seconds or more. Barkley miles better? If you look at this seasons win/loss record you would notice that when the team gets the lead they are actually able to run the ball with success. The defensive pass rush works so much better with a lead. Barkley came out and hit a 47 yard big pass play, deep ball in the first play and in the second McCoy scored on a 28 yard TD run. The Bills got the lead and never looked back, 41-10 remember? Barkley wasn't magical or anything as he went 16 of 26 for 247 yards, 2 TDs and he was sacked only once. What was magical was the rushing as the Bills went 46 rushes for 212 yards, 2 TDs and Shady had his first 100 yard rushing game of the season. His only 100 yard rushing game. The Jets QB was sacked 3x in this game and the Bills defense hit him 8 times. Conversely, this last game against the Jets they sacked Allen 3x and hit him 10 times. The Bills defense were not only unable to sack Darnold, they also never hit him all game. I think this was more of Bills DC only rushing with the front four and not blitzing that rookie QB. Which is quite odd considering that Jordan Poyer got a sack on McCown in the first game. There is also the possibility that the refs weren't calling holds on the Bills pass rushers due to the Jerry Hughes incident in which a ref was suspended for cursing at Hughes. Josh Allen has a lot to learn no question as he wasn't as polished as Mayfield, Darnold or Rosen and was supposed to sit for a season like Patrick Mahomes. I just happen to love his desire to win, his arm talent, physical ability to outrun most defenders and am glad the Browns, Jets passed on him. Once he gets a decent line, decent receivers and has an OC who doesn't force him to carry the offense all the time. He could develop into another Aaron Rodgers, Big Ben.

It's going to be a very interesting offseason because of the limited amount of quality assistants out there. Harbaugh stated he isn't leaving Michigan. David Shaw might leave Stanford for the right job. I think the biggest fish out there will be Mike McCarthy as the man did help develop Aaron Rodgers and won a super bowl. The guy does have a 125-77-2 record with 8 winning seasons out of 12. 13 Packer players on IR and the last time they were in this same situation record wise they ended up making the playoffs. Josh McDaniel's would have been my first choice for big fish but he screwed himself when he took the Colts HCing job, hired coaches and then backed out. Perhaps this is the year that Bill Cowher gets lured out of retirement?I just hope the Jets don't get McCarthy or Cowher.

Like the OP stated that this was a rookie QB not used to reading disguised coverages or blitzes like Brady. I might also mention that he leads the league in interceptions. It would have been smart to send a safety blitz now and again or Milano before he was injured. Needless to say the Jets sacked Allen 3 times and hit him 10 times! Darnold was not only not sacked he wasn't even touched/hit all game. That's just lame on Frazier's part. Aside from that, my take is the Jets linemen were holding bigtime and it wasn't being called in part due to the Jerry Hughes incident in which a ref was suspended.

What so many fans don't get is this rookie QB is starting behind one of the very worst offensive lines the Buffalo Bills have even fielded and it's even worse with some of those better scrubs out for the season. No run game other then trick plays or the QB running it. Most of the time his receivers can't get separation or even catch the ball. His line is always causing drive killing penalties and in this last game Dion Dawkins chop blocked a Jets player and those kind of blocks at the legs can end a career. That block infuriated that Jets player and lit a fire under the rest of that Jets team to hit hard and take off heads. Then factor in the Jerry Hughes situation with his calling out a ref for cursing at him so the league suspended that ref. Now look at all the holding by the Jets offense that wasn't being called. The Jets sacked Josh Allen 3 times and hit him 10 times. The Bills being one of the better teams in getting pressure on the QB came away with no sacks and not even one hit on Jets QBs. It's a team game and about the only bright spot on offense is the rookie QB.

I agree. So many fans are forgetting that first Jets game when he was 100% healthy and he rushed for 113 yards, 2 TDs. The run game is broken as it went from #1 in the NFL in 2016 in yards per rush attempt to #14 last year under Castillo and now to #17. It would be 24th without Josh Allen running. If this Bills FO is worth a damn fixing the O line should be the priority as it will correct so many problems. The entire line needs a makeover along with a new line coach. If McD refuses to change assistants he deserves to go too. Regardless of the loss of talent that line is one of the very worst the Buffalo Bills have ever fielded and with starting two rookie QBs no less. The only reason the Allen doesn't look more like Peterman is because of his athletic ability with his cannon arm, and mobility to escape the pocket when it breaks down. It doesn't help when you have an OC calling for a lot of mid to deep passes that require 5-7 step drop backs (those usually equal three to five seconds to complete) with a line that won't even allow a two seconds or under drop back at times. McD has the right idea to run the ball and play great defense, he just doesn't have the right offensive coaches.

After only 4 wins I'm starting to think this entire regime needs to go... Juan Castillo should have been gone after last year and I don't know how Crossman made it this far this year. Not much confidence in this staff going into 2019 for me if they retain these men.

While 95% of this board wanted to trade up with the NY Giants (and give up the farm) to the #2 spot to draft Josh Rosen. Myself and a few others wanted Allen before the draft. So many fans here acted like they were gut punched when the Bills drafted Allen. So good to see he has changed so many Bills fans minds.

From what I'm reading some may get that chance soon as Coughlin might be taking over in Jacksonville.

What's really sad is if McD stays as HC the team will probably go all out for defensive players in the 2019 draft. I don't see this regime ever building an elite offense and without that elite run game the defense will never be great as they will always be on the field.

Maybe so, but Chuck will be certain to have the last word on personnel now.

Chucky wants more power...

At some point the HC needs to instill in the players that stupid penalties simply won't be tolerated. Which means either benching a player after they do this or outright cutting a repeat offender. The players need to learn there are consequences for being stupid and hurting the entire team. That said, Dion Dawkins might have set that whole Jets team on fire with his chop block to start the game. A play like that is not only illegal, its downright wrong and can be career ending. The Jets player in question (Jenkins) was furious over that play and I'm sure he let his teammates know that fact.

Man, I'm so glad the fans have no say in the roster moves. LeSean McCoy is an elite RB that opponents hate to play against. Voted by his own peers as a top 30 player. The guy was injured yesterday. No back is going to run well behind that craptastic line, at least the way they were playing Sunday. Todd Gurley would have a tough time getting yards behind that line. Give a healthy Shady a solid line with decent blocking and its off to the races almost every play. Besides that he is still a big threat as a receiver even though Daboll doesn't utilize him like Dennison did in 2017 when he led the team in receptions.

I think it was from all the pounding he was taking from those Jets players determined to take his head off. His line was basically useless blocking them as it looked like every play was a jailbreak. Then his receivers were dropping passes or not making enough effort to get to them. Allen has been pretty beaten up the last few games as he has had to carry the entire offense. The defense stunk at the end and didn't get one single hit on Darnold, the run game stunk, the O line stunk, the special teams really stunk and Allen looks like the only real bright spot on offense.

Not much protection for the Bills QB as he was sacked 3x and hit 10x. Conversely the Jets QB was UNTOUCHED as he wasn't sacked or even hit all game. This might have been a byproduct of Jerry Hughes and the discipline on the ref. So the Bills pass rushers were being held and it wasn't being called. Aside from Allen the Bills didn't have much of a run game besides a few trick plays which is a rookie QBs best friend when its working well. Kinda like it did in that first Jets game when the bills rushed for 46 times for 212 yards, 2 TDs. This game Allen had more rushing yards then Ivory, Murphy, McCoy, McKenzie all combined. The Bills defense and special teams looked like they had no clue what they were doing half the time and yet these same units played so well against this very same team just a few games previous. Special teams coach Danny Crossman should be fired. O line coach/run game coordinator Juan Castillo should also be looking for new employment. Now I have to question if McD will keep his job after this season. 4-9 with the #1 defense in yards.

Not only did the Bills defense not sack Darnold, they failed to even get a hit on him all game. Allen was sacked 3 times and hit 10 times. It was very clear to me that the Jets were holding on offense and it wasn't being called probably due to the Jerry Hughes issue with a ref being disciplined. In any event the Bills lack of pass rush on defense, poor special teams and lack of a run game were all serious reasons why they lost this game. Josh Allen can only do so much.

That was a rookie QB back there (Darnold) who is leading the league in interceptions and on pace to break Peyton Manning's rookie INT record. Why not pass blitz if the front four aren't getting it done or are being held? The Bills not only didn't sack Sam Darnold, they didn't even get one hit on the guy! The Jets got 3 sacks, 10 hits on Allen. I disagree that special teams are irrelevant when you have a coach that allows two big returns that allowed the Jets back into the game. One of them being an 86 yard kick return. Two missed field goals by Buffalo.

No NFL QB should need to run for 100 yards the last three games to make the offense work. Allen has been beat up and exhausted at the end of the last few games, particularly in Miami where he ran around for something like 800 yards. The run game outside of the QB running is almost non existent save a few trick plays. The passing game is inconsistent due to various reasons like the QB having little to find the open receivers. The receivers dropping balls and not going that extra effort to make a play. Special team stunk as you don't have the kicker kick off to the very same returner who ran it back for a big play, simply moronic. The defense had no pass rush and very little pressure on the Jets QB in the second half and they let the Jets have some long drives that they normally don't give up. To me Daboll stinks as he should be finding ways to make that run game more effective without needing the QB to get first downs. Without Allen that offense simply fails bigtime. Juan Castillo stinks as the run game coordinator/line coach as that line is horrid and the run game has taken many steps backwards the last two years under him. Special teams coach Danny Crossman stinks.

It's not just about having four Tre Whites in the defensive backfield. A great pass rush will also help even mediocre DBs because that rush makes the QB hurry his throws and make mistakes. Going back to the 70s the Bills had one of the very best defensive secondary's in the league with Mario Clark, Charles Romes as they were #1 in passing attempts allowed and #1 in yards allowed. Yet not so great at stopping the run... so teams ran on them. My point here is no area of the team needs nothing but #1 picks or elite players. It's all about balance and finding good players at all positions. Buffalo lost to the Jets today because of poor special teams and almost no pass rush more then anything else IMO. It could be that the Bills defenders/rushers were being held by the Jets line and it wasn't being called due to one of the refs being disciplined because of Jerry Hughes.

Not only that, the Bills defense got no sacks and very little pressure on Darnold. It was like both Crossman and Frazier are vying for McD's job and think by having their players stink up the field they can get him fired so they get the job. Both the Bills defense and special teams took 5 steps backwards from that first Jets game and aside from Allen the Bills had no run game to speak of... Allen had more yards then McCoy, Ivory, McKenzie, Murphy all combined. Don't get me started on the Bills O line...