Turk71

After the Bills took the lead 16-0 halfway through the 3rd qtr Devon Singletary was handed the ball 3 times, despite being nearly unstoppable to that point. The Bills threw 24 times and in addition took 3 sacks from 16-0 till the end of the game, while Singletary carried 3 times. In overtime the Bills did not hand the ball off even once. WTF It might be a bit more understandable if they were just having too much success throwing the ball, but they weren't. Hard to understand the offensive philosophy there. Another thing difficult to understand is Gore getting more carries than Singletary for the season despite averaging 3.5 yds/carry to Singletary's 5.1 yds/carry. Singletary lost 1 fumble for the year. It is hard not to think that these guys don't know what they are doing on offense.

Obviously the Bills could have made more plays or less mistakes and won the game. The question here is when have you ever seen a call reversed because of 'common sense'. That is not in the rule book and the reason there is a rule book is so refs don't have to determine what a player intended to do, what he actually does is what matters. That's why dropping the ball just before you cross the goal line is not a td. Of course they didn't mean to do it, but they did. Why did the ref standing right there rule it a live ball? Because he never legally gave himself up. Period. In 50 years of watching football I have never seen common sense used as a reason to change a legally correct call on the field. That is it on this subject for me. Over it and out.

Then the question is how did he do that? You either fair catch or take a knee. Walking forward towards the field of play and tossing the ball away is not giving yourself up in a legal rule book way, hence the ref standing right there ruled he had not legally given himself up and determined the ball was live. What legal determination of giving yourself up was used to overturn the call on the field? The fact that we all know that he meant to give himself up has absolutely nothing to do with the rules, just like the aforementioned runner dropping the ball before the end zone. Are you arguing that those tds should count because we all know they didn't mean to drop it short?

The 'safe' signal is not a legal signal to the refs, it is a signal to your teammates. A fair catch signal is a signal to the refs and the play is over when you successfully catch it, no kneel down required. Without a fair catch signal a kneel down is required if the returner catches the ball. The ref made it quite clear that the returner did neither and the ball was live. It makes no difference that he didn't intend to return the kick, he didn't legally give himself up and the ball was live. Period. Embarrassing boneheaded mistakes are not excused because they didn't mean to make them. Just ask all the players who accidentally dropped the ball too soon while running unimpeded into the end zone. Why don't they just give them the touchdown? They obviously didn't mean to do something so stupid. What legal interpretation of the rules was used to overturn the call on the field? I'll wait.

No one benefits? The Texans were called for 2 offside penalties for the entire game and overtime. They committed two delay of games on purpose, the critical one they didn't do on purpose wasn't called of course. Not a single holding call on either side of the ball, no interference, etc., and when their kick returner makes a HUGE boneheaded mistake that would have broken them, he is let of the hook and they pretend it didn't happen. No one benefits? GTFO of here with that bull####.

It was obvious to everyone that Mike Gillislie had no intention of returning the kickoff that just laid in the endzone while he stayed away from it; the td was awarded to the Jets anyway, weird huh? Were you apoplectic then? Curious, what was the one of two things required that the Texans returner did? I didn't see a fair catch or a kneel down, either one of which would have been all that is required.

Cody don't let an idiot or two get you down. You don't deserve that and I don't think the penalty was deserved either. Have a great off-season and look forward to next year. The Bills will build on this and be even better.

Who? Mods, please ban that person for life. I don't think James is a Bills fan, probably an angry gambler.

Has anyone posted a single example of a kick returner catching the kick without signalling fair catch or kneeling, then proceeding to walk forward with the ball and then tossing the ball toward the refs. I have read that it happens all the time from posters on this board. Anyone? Anything?

You Can Do It! We believe in you, you are the right person for Cleveland!

Only if their teammate gets the ball, if the other team does its just a fumble. You can't throw forward passes on kickoffs. Get a clue.

Garbage. Fumbles go forward backward or sideways, a live ball is a live ball. Forward lateral is to a teammate.

More? Did he get any in ot?

In what way is it different from a guy running in all alone dropping the ball just before crossing the goal line. Everybody knows he was about to score and no one can stop him, just give it to him, right? Ridiculous that another team would win because of such a technicality. This happened during the season? When?

By the rules it was a td. There are protocols so the refs don't have to guess your intention. The receiver did not follow them and the ref clearly indicated he hadn't, meaning the ball was in play.

As ridiculous as it was, the Texans player made a colossal mistake. You don't get a do over for embarrassing mistakes. As much as everyone knows he didn't intend to throw the ball away, the fact remains that he did. By the rule book the correct call was made. The receiver did not follow protocol for giving himself up, he caught the ball without a fair catch signal and walked forward. The ref gave every indication the play was still live as he didn't take a knee. He continues forward and tosses the ball, the ref getting out of the way indicating it is still a live ball. The Bills recovered and it is signalled a td. What was the indisputable evidence to overturn the call on the field? Since when are embarrassing mistakes from not knowing the rules just disregarded because 'we all know what he meant to do'? The guy screwed up, then the refs screwed up, and it should have been a td.

He should be frustrated with himself and taking the blame squarely, the coaches lost the game if anyone is to blame.

I didn't get the rationale for the overturn, they just acted like it was never called a rd instead of a legitimate reason for overturning it.

Probably not, but he should have shouldered any criticism or blame directly. I'm proud of the team, they play with a lot of heart and they gave it their all. Josh Allen was practically the entire offense tonight, if he tried to do too much that is entirely the coaches fault. For McD to say what he did is weak and completely inexcusable to me.

Ask McD why Allen threw 46 times in a game they led for 3 1/2 qtrs. Ask him why Singletary got only 13 carries all game when he was dominating the first half. Why did his d play soft on third and 18 with the game on the the line ? McD throwing Allen under the bus after the game is disgraceful in my opinion.

Way to own up to you're own shortcomings McD. Throwing Allen under the bus here is a disgrace, shame on you.

I hope they do. He doesn't have it anymore, he has no downfield game. I want to see him come back and struggle. I hope he gets hammered. Couldn't happen to a bigger douche. D played conservative when it counted, just like the O. Blame the coaches, no killer instinct.

The Bills offense scored 6 points in the 2nd half. I went into this game knowing they would need to score 20+ points. The Bills coaches should have done the same.

Other than the inexplicable soft zone on 3rd and 18 I don't see how the loss was on the defense. I don't see a reason to place blame for a young team losing on the road in overtime, but if I did I would blame the coaches for playing scared.

GTFO of here, your pessimism is duly noted and absolutely useless.