Nihilarian

For this season the Buffalo Bills lost a very experienced Center who calls the offensive line protections. The O line was a cluster fluck against the Ravens and the Texans saw this and attempted to get pressure on Allen as well. Against the Ravens 3 sacks and 8 QB hits and against the Texans 1 sacks, 9 QB hits, and 16 knockdowns this season. In the past the Buffalo O line has done a great job of protecting Josh and in these last two games not so much. I'm not going to put it all on Center Connor McGovern, although he needs to take some blame. What we know is that if hurried and harrassed at the start of a game Josh Allen can start having missed throws and the OC just doesn't have enough experience to know this and get him settled down asap. Short, quick throws, underneath stuff, Call some QB runs early. Aside from WR Khalil Shakir, all the WRs are new this season. Now you would think that Josh would be looking at TE Dalton Kincade a whole bunch more, Knox too. So, you could say all of the above, QB, OC, O line, and talent all contributed to two bad games. Now, three runs instead of 3 passes at the end of that Texans game, and things could have ended differently. This NY Jets game on MNF will show us Bills fans that everyone on offense can get their stuff together... OR It could be a long season

If you watch that first game against the Cardinals Josh was using both play-action and lots of motion. Most of the passes were short, quick strikes along with the run game. Thus giving the Cards no chance to rush the passer effectively. Now, I gotta wonder what the heck happened to that play-caller because while the run game was working against the Texans, that short, quick-strike passing game went out the proverbial window. Sugar-high Josh took over the first few series of that Texans game and overthrew his receivers badly. It looked like two completely different teams on offense in the last two games vs the first three.

After the last two games, NEITHER!

The offensive game plan was fine. The play calls were fine. The receivers were fine. Allen changed some play calls and he simply overthrew many many times. The story of the day https://www.espn.com/nfl/playbyplay/_/gameId/401671859 Look at the play-by-play. I left out some run plays and others to make it easier to see. Pass incomplete deep left, pass incomplete deep right...PUNT! FG Pass incomplete, penalty, pass incomplete...PUNT! Pass incomplete deep right to Kincade...PUNT! Pass incomplete, pass incomplete, pass incomplete...PUNT! 3-17 at the half TD TD Pass incomplete...PUNT! FG Pass incomplete, pass incomplete, pass incomplete...PUNT! Very winnable game and if Josh was his usual self its a win!

Look at the first two series; every throw was an overthrow by five yards. (9 of 30 for 131 yards a 55.4 QBR.) Josh Allen was broken against the Texans and this looked like his worst NFL game ever. Even Kincade had 6 targets with 2 receptions. Here is hoping that Joe Brady or someone can fix Josh before the Jets on MNF. The Jets are currently 3rd in yards allowed on defense.

I hate to say it but this year's passing offense looks kinda lost without Diggs. I didn't think that the team needed that superstar expensive WR... Although looking at those first few passes by JA, no receiver in the world is going to catch passes 5 yards over their heads. Anyway, kinda surprising that TE Dalton Kincade isn't targeted more. JA 9 of 30 for 131 yards QBR 55.3. Yikes, 2018 all over again.

Well, let's not forget that Joe Brady is nearly a rookie and learning as he goes. Recall Dabolls first season with Josh 10 TDs, 12 INTs. And he started Nathan Peterman over Allen. I'll be honest. I dislike the empty sets and shotgun sets when Cook is playing so well. What happened to those short quick passes from the Cards game to get Josh some confidence along with settling him down? I've loved what Joe Brady has done in some games and these last two... not so much.

THIS!!!!! First series, 1st and 10, Shotgun formation, Cook in BF, no motion, hand off to Cook 7-yard gain. 2nd down and 3, Shotgun formation, Cook in BF, Curtis Samuel in motion, OVER THROW to Mack Hollins. 3rd down and 3. The shotgun formation, Cook in the backfield, no motion, OVER THROW to Kincade. Now 4th and 3. JA could have run for the 1st. PUNT. Two Overthrows by JA. (2) In the next series, Buffalo's defense stopped the Texans and forced them to punt to the Texan's 49-yard line. Good field position. Playaction formation Cook in BF, hand off to Cook for 14 yards (FLAG) # 79 Spencer Brown called for holding. 1st and 20 on the Buffalo 41, Shotgun formation ...Mack Hollins wide open by 5 yards for a deep throw and overthrown by Allen at the Texans 20-yard line. Missed TD. 2nd down and 20, play action, Cook in the backfield. Pass to Cook over the middle for a 1st down, 24-yard pickup. 1st and 10 at the Texans 35-yard line, play action formation. hand off to Cook for a 12-yard gain. Cook is owning. 1st and 10 at the Texan's 18-yard line. Play action formation, handoff to Cook for a 4-yard gain. 2nd and 6. Shotgun, Cook in BF. handoff to Cook for 3 yards. 3rd down and 3, shotgun formation, Cook in BF. hand off to Cook for a 1st down. 6-yard gain. 1st and 10 at the Texans 10-yard line. Shotgun formation, quick handoff to Cook for no gain. 2nd and goal, Shotgun formation, empty set...JA sacked back at the 15-yard line. 3rd down and goal at the 15-yard line, (FLAG) Keon Colman. Now 3rd and goal from the 20-yard line. EMPTY SET shotgun. OVERTHROWN to Coleman. 38-yard FG. "Sugar High Josh" with the overthrows in the first two series.

to our gunslinger? Zero interceptions so far this season! Yes, Brett Favre leads the NFL in interceptions over his career...he also has an SB win and 3x MVPs. Favre wouldn't be Favre playing like Trent Edwards or Tyrod Taylor! Josh Allen 9 completions, and 30 attempts for 131 passing yards. 29 targets against the Texans. Even Dalton Kincade had 6 targets with 2 receptions. Against the Ravens 16 of 29 for 180 yards passing a QBR of 28.4. Give us back our gunslinger! Go back and watch what Brian Dabol's game plans looked like throwing the ball. Do you want to run to set up the pass? Well, then throw the darn ball more often. Playaction works.

This! Now, were the coaches so focused on the Texans next week that they overlooked the Ravens and were punked? If so then history suggests that they will lose the Texans game also. The Bills lost that game because of Bills coaching, in the trenches, a Buffalo receiver who couldn't get any separation, and a lack of ability to stop the run. Holy cow, Ravens 8.3 YPC AVG!!!! Those backup Buffalo LBers were schooled in the first half of that game. On a better note, both Buffalo OC & DC coordinators are rookies to an extent and will learn. I think that this shows that McD is a "hands-off" HC and they made some adjustments in the second half to somewhat help the defense. Difficult on offense to get anything done while running for your life. 427 yards to 236. Thankfully the Bills don't need to face Derrick Henry every game. Opponents have noticed the inability to stop the run. Returning injured Buffalo players should help the defense. Needs: run stuffer, pass rush, a receiver who can get open/separation. JMO

Something to contemplate is that the Texans and Jets have a higher stat-rated defense in yards allowed. Somehow the Buffalo Bills turned into the Maimi Dolphins against the Ravens...

On a good note... we needn't worry about losing both assistant coordinators now. Although, jeez.

Just win baby! Game balls all around!

Just win Baby!

It wasn't just this last playoff game as the guy disappeared in previous playoff games too. The Chiefs had their best corner in Sneed covering Diggs in the first half of that playoff game and in the second half, he moved to cover Shakir, who BTW caught the only TD pass against him all season in that game. He did well in 2020 in three Playoff games. However, in 2021 against the Patriots, 4 targets, 3 catches for 60 yards. Then in the very next game against the Chiefs, 6 targets for 3 catches for 7 yards. In 2022, against the Dolphins he did well with 9 targets for 7 receptions, 114 yards. Then against the Bengals 10 targets, 4 receptions for 35 yards. In 2023, against the Steelers 9 targets, 7 receptions for 52 yards.( most targets by any Bill that game) Next game against the Bengals 8 targets, 3 receptions for 21 yards, one fumble. Needless to say, Diggs was a ball hog (happy to pad his stats)during the regular season and his play fell off quite a bit in the playoffs. Buffalo, Beane did well to get a 2nd round pick in 2025 for the guy.

Around 98% of this fan base wanted Josh Rosen at QB and were begging Beane to give up the farm to trade up with the NY Giants for that #2 spot. Even after drafting Allen, there was so much fan base disdain here that they had chosen the wrong guy. Most of the talk was because of his accuracy issues which supposedly would never be fixed. There was even a prominent mock draft guy in this forum that stated Josh Allen should be a third-round pick because of those accuracy problems. Lucky for this franchise they have a GM who knows his stuff. Brandon Bean the wizard😁

This! How do you justify an average salary to a #1 WR at 24 million per year who goes invisible in the playoffs? Against the KC Chiefs in that playoff game, 8 targets, 3 receptions for 21 yards and a fumble. The Chiefs had their best CB in L'Jarius Sneed on Digs in the first half of that playoff game and then they moved him to cover Kahil Shakir in the second half. By the way, who was the only player to catch a TD pass in the 2023 season against Sneed! Seriously, why would Brandon Beane take a 31-million-dollar cap hit to trade away the Buffalo Bills #1 WR if he was worth a darn? To me, this feels like the guy was a regular-season stat padder and would complain if he didn't see enough passes his way. 160 targets nearly every season in Buffalo too.

I will un-echo @ Happydays thoughts on adding a 30 million dollar WR. While I will echo the thought that Beane is happy with the current WRs. If the Bills had that kind of money to spend I'd hope to see them go for a top pass rusher who would be a better and more needed addition IMHO. This team is still stinging from the Diggs 2024 cap hit... Lastly, I can imagine Samuel and MVS out wide, Shakir in the slot, Kincaid at tight end, and Coleman coming off the bench at X and big slot? Plus, the WR room still has a few unknowns like Shorter, Shavers, Hollins, Claypool, hamler, Isabella, Johnson, and Keys.

Of course, you have proof of this?

IMO the difference is Andy Reid and if Allen had him as his HC...then he he wins those SBs.

I got over it. Although, I mostly blame Leslie Frazier for his bend but don't break defense while going with an old-fashioned "prevent defense". Frazier is gone from Buffalo. We have seen that McD calling plays this past season as he was much more aggressive over the last DC. It was just very unfortunate that Buffalo lost its best LBer, CB, and DT for the season while some others were injured at key points. A missed FG, the #1 WR going invisible in the playoffs and so on. The Buffalo Bills need some good luck. Lucky Charms, curse removal, a witch doctor, lousy juju removal, salt over the shoulder? Use a weegee board to call up the spirits to find the butthole who put a curse on this team?

What gets me is all these so-called Bills fans want McDermott fired and replaced and don't comprehend that there have been so few winning head coaches in the team's franchise history. Lou Saban, 4 years. Chuck Knox, 5 years. Marv Levy, 11 years, Wade Phillips 3 years, Sean McDermott, 7 years. So, in the 63 history of this franchise, it won 2 AFL Championships under Lou Saban. went to four Super Bowls under Marv Levy. Playoffs under Knox, Phillips, and McDermott. 1993 was the Buffalo Bill's last super bowl appearance. Bills fans seem to forget about the 2000 to 2016 time of nothing but losing season after season. That said the only 2 guys I would think of giving a chance to be the Buffalo head coach are Bengals DC Lou Anarumo and Steve Spagunolo. However, I don't know if either would be a good head coach. After the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons I was very concerned that this current HC couldn't get past the Patriots with the so-called greatest HC ever in Bill Belichick. Then in 2020 Buffalo swept the supposed NE defensive genius and owned him in the 2021 playoffs 47-17. The Patriots fired that HC. The best team in the NFL over the last five seasons has been the KC Chiefs who have been in the SB 4 of the last 5 years while winning 3 of 4. Buffalo has managed to beat the Chiefs in KC in each of the last 3 seasons. I firmly believe that McD will get this team to an SB by beating the Chiefs in the playoffs and will win an SB. P.S. Look at the Sabres and you guys want to change the head coach?

Perhaps you missed the first 12 games of the 2023 season?

What is it with some of you? McD hired Dorsey because he was next in line as the QB coach and QB Josh Allen thoroughly endorsed him. That move had to be as difficult as there is by firing a guy Allen likes midseason. It paid off big time so it was a brilliant move and saved the season. Nice how you pick on one comment and don't mention Diggs who was pretty much useless in that game. His average salary was 24 mill per season. How about we point the blame where it really should go? Defensive injuries, Diggs, Bass.

I keep reading about all this blame that McD and his defense keep getting despite all the defensive injuries. What about the offense with Diggs falling on his face in the playoffs? In that Chiefs game, they had Sneed on Digs in the first half and then moved him to cover Shakir in the second half. Diggs did what in that Chiefs playoff game? 8 targets for 3 receptions for 21 yards, and one fumble. Seriously, those were the numbers for the #1 WR? Speaking of Shakir, he is the only player in the NFL to catch a TD pass against L' Jarius Sneed all 2023 season...and in that playoff game. If Josh Allen had some better receivers the Bills might have won that game regardless of the missed FG. As I stated in this thread, against the Chiefs they got Douglas and Dodson back (their injuries still holding them back from full strength) but were still minus White, Milano, and Rapp, plus Benford, Spector, and linebacker Terrel Bernard. Plus, Von Miller was not at full strength. Buffalo defense that game 2 QB hits on Mahomes with no sacks. There was a solid reason that AJ Klien started over Williams as the latter wasn't ready to be a starter as he didn't fully understand the scheme. My take, McD did an amazing job in 2023 being 6-6 at week 12 and finishing the season 11-6. Firing OC Ken Dorsey and replacing him with Joe Brady was a brilliant move.