Shaw66

You're right. How is Payton doing in New Orleans without his Hall of Famer?

Wow. Here's something the Globe said yesterday or today.

I got it and I agree. My additional point is that giving up that many fourth downs is not surprising given the style of the defense.

Great story. Thanks for posting.

Well, yes, the Bills' defense makes plays that are disappointing. I agree with you and Happy. It's a fair point. But I've been thinking about the nature of this defense - I wrote about it to Happy yesterday. This is a defense that will make a big play for you here and there, but it is not designed to be a big play defense. It's designed to be a stop-the-big-offensive-play defense. It's designed to be very consistent, to have a really good batting average over the course of the season. It's designed to keep the Bills in every game, with the expectation that the offense will do its part. Does McDermott want to increase their ability to make big plays? Yes, but not at the expense of consistent excellence, game after game. You know where this defense has failed this year? It's designed to stop the big play, and in three one-score losses, the Bills gave up one, and only one, big scoring play. All runs. Titans, Patriots, Bucs. One play each game. The Bills' objective is to give up none.

When I was a kid I was a big Jim Brown fan, and I've followed him casually since then. I think his story is is the story of an important Black man in the second half of the 20th century. He insisted on doing it his way in an era when the white world was telling him to do it the white way. What caused you to write to Jim Brown? You were 8 years old and a fan boy like me?

I think it's bend-don't-break at a higher level, at the team level. You're right that they were bend-then-break yesterday, not shutting down the Pats in the red zone. But my point was that the defense they play keeps the score manageable. They did that yesterday. The team design requires that the offense score, because the defense is going to play a style that will give up points but not let the opponents' offense dominate. The design is that the offense needs to get 25, because the defense is going to give you a lot of games under 20. That's what we saw yesterday. On any given drive, yes, this defense may very well disappoint you, but over the course of the game, they are not going to let the game get away from you. Absolute, bottom line, that's what McDermott wants. Then, on top of that, and here's where Beane has to get to work, you want to add to that defense a guy who will make a truly standout play for you once a game, a Bosa or a Watt or someone. But that guy is icing on the cake - McDermott's plan is to win a lot of games keeping the opponent under 20, not under 15. His model is not to have the 85 Bears or that killer Ravens defense with Ray Lewis and that safety; his model is to come after you year after year with a defense that maybe can be scored on but that is going to make it damn difficult.

That's great. Thanks for posting the two videos, one of the play and the other of the hit close up. Amazing hustle and physicality. That's been missing. We haven't seen a lot of big hits around here this year. A couple years ago we had some Kittle-like Knox highlights, but there's been less of it with him, too. Maybe this team is waking up to their own physicality. That's what they need for the next two weeks and the playoffs.

Well, I agree that's what should happen. What will happen still depends on a lot of things falling in place. Having said that, I agree with you. For four years we've been watching this amazing talent do better and better things, first raising his game personally from perplexing rookie to MVP candidate, now raising those skills further while he's developing classic on-field and off-field leadership skills. And you're right, it's who he is. But we have to give Beane and McDermott credit, first for recognizing it was in him, then for creating the environment where he could grow, where he continues to grow into what he will be.

I think what you say is correct. This was another game where things could have been uncomfortable in the 4th quarter. The defense hasn't always been stout in the second half. However, I think that's all part of the team design in general and the defensive design in general. This defense is essentially a bend-don't-break defense played at a very high level. This defense is designed to eliminate explosive plays, just shut them down, and the rest of the defense to scramble like crazy to stop everything else. And it's designed to be perfect. Each Patriot game had a killer, or near killer, long run, a run that broke through for a lot of yardage. Other than that, the Bills weren't giving up long plays. If you play that style of defense really well, you're going to be able to keep scores down, game after game. You're not necessarily going to be able to expect that defense that make critical stops at important points in the game. You'd rather have Aaron Donald than Ed Oliver for that point of the game. But McDermott's philosophy is that he'll take his chances with Oliver on the big play in exchange for the consistent-team play he gets from someone like Oliver. What that means is the defense is going to be really good at keeping teams under 25, week after week, but not necessarily good at keeping them under 15. Although there will be occasional exceptional days, this defense isn't going to explode and take over a game. It's going to keep the Bills in the game, and it's the job of the offense to score. It's complementary football. And that's what we saw against the Patriots. Efficient but not overwhelming defense, efficient but not overwhelming offense. Just really good on both sides of the ball. It would be nice for the offensive to regain some of its true explosiveness (as opposed to simply high efficiency) on offense, and/or for someone on the defense to emerge as a bit more of game wrecker. Edmunds, I suppose, but I don't think he'll ever get there. Maybe Oliver. Maybe it's necessary for many on the defense just to step up a little more. A little more from Hyde and Poyer, a little more from Edmunds and Oliver, Phillips and Rousseau.

These are good points. I think you meant combo of Davis and McKenzie. Davis, Diggs, and McKenzie is a great package. Diggs and McKenzie can get deep, and Davis isn't bad going deep. If McKenzie can play the Beasley possession receiver role, which he clearly did yesterday, Bills don't lose much. Plus, they have their jet sweep guy on the field more. And Davis is a clutch possession and red zone guy. Finally, as much as I love Beasley, he's a distraction. And although I still have concerns, I gotta say it looks like I was wrong about McKenzie. I blasted him for the fumble on the kickoff return, and he's been an inconsistent ball catcher for his entire career, but if on a consistent basis he can do anything like what he did yesterday, he's a player. Gotta give credit to Daboll and McDermott for sticking with him.

Here you go. Twenty minutes of Josh running during his first three seasons. And this doesn't include scrambles where he ultimately threw the ball.

I won't pick one. My first thought when I saw this thread was "I don't know which one is the best, but I know this: Josh's highlight reel running the ball is great!!!"

Beasley is clearly better, but I think your thinking is correct. Some of McKenzie's comments after the game yesterday suggest that the light went on for him, as I think it did for several players. He learned the intensity and focus he has to play with. It was interesting that he said that on several of his catches yesterday he didn't know what down it was. That's focus. Based on what we've seen the last few weeks, definitely Harry for Star.

There's a reason I ignore your posts. Was Mac Jones on the sidelines when he posted that glowing 31.4 passer rating? The Bills team passer rating this morning is 95.5, and the Patriots is 93.4. For all I know, before yesterday's game, the Patriots had a better passer rating than the Bills. As you point out, a lot of the time it was a one score game, so the Patriots were free to run a balanced offense and not rely exclusively on the passing game. That meant the Bills had to defend the whole field for most of the game. So, that's what they did, and the Pats had a 31.4 passer rating. The defense forced the Pats to be one dimensional, and one dimension was not good enough to beat the Bills. The Bills' defense is #2 in the league in third down efficiency at 33%. Pats were 1 for 10 on third down. Even when you throw in the 5 for 6 on fourth downs, the Pats were 6-16, and that average is still one of the best in the league. The defense did that to the Patriots, not the offense. There is one reason the Pats finished the game behind in time of possession, and that reason is that the Bills defense took the ball away from the Pats in the first half, and the Bills ended the game with, effectively, one more possession than they should have had. Take away the INT, and the time possession would have been much closer to equal. Why did the takeaway happen? It was 100% on the defense - that's how. Don't tell us the defense wasn't good.

I have a friend who sends me clips from the Boston Globe occasionally. He sent two this morning. The first is from Dan Shaughnessy, who writes well but who has been a merciless Bills basher and Brady/Belichick jock sniffer for years. Here's what my friend sent me.: And then he sent this, from Christopher Gasper at the Globe:

You could feel it. He was in command. He never seemed to be in a hurry. He missed some throws and didn't sulk. He just played football. And there aren't many who play football like he can.

Yeah, I still have a problem with how he fills gaps, or doesn't. But he had more than one nice hit, and he's all over the field. He may not be what you imagine at middle linebacker, but if the Bills let him go, it may be years before they fill the middle that well again.

I agree. And it wasn't just play calling. It was play design. He did his homework and loaded the offense with plays that would work against Belichick's magic.

You want big-time, winning football? Bills 33, Patriots 21. Big-time, winning football. On the road. First place in the division at stake. Up against the greatest coach, ever. Physically dominated by the Patriots three weeks earlier. Injuries. COVID complications. What does a good team do in that situation? Take control of the game early and never let go. Be the better team for 60 minutes. That’s what the Bills did to the Patriots. It was a masterpiece. Every way. It was Sean McDermott’s masterpiece. That was the kind of win that’s on the resumes of great coaches. Defense. Open the game with a 3 and out for -6 yards. Hold the Patriots 50 yards below their season yardage average, 5 points below their points average. Two takeaways. Hand Mac Jones his worst passing day of the season. Offense. Follow the opening three and out with a touchdown drive. Score on every possession following a Patriot score. Score to end the half. Score to open the third quarter. Go on a dominating drive in the fourth quarter to bleed the clock and get the touchdown to put the game out of reach. Brian Daboll had everything he needed to attack the Patriot defense. Josh Allen. Made a few overthrows but hey, Allen was superb, again. Three touchdown passes, plus a drop in the end zone by Sanders. Third down completions. There were beautiful throws all over the field, none more beautiful than Allen’s rocket to Diggs for a TD, and Diggs’s catch. The backhanded flip to Diggs. The backhanded flip to Knox. Dynamic runs. The week before the game, Belichick said the Bills offense goes through Allen. That means the Belichick defensive approach should have been take away Allen. Take away Allen? No can do. More about Allen later. Stefon Diggs. The man is a playmaker. Isaiah McKenzie. Talk about stepping up!. Wow! He dropped one, but WOW! The guy made some outstanding catches. The offensive line, especially after Boettger went down, had an excellent game. They protected Allen, and they created space for Singletary. They were ready. Harrison Phillips, again. Tremaine Edmunds hitting, again. AJ Klein made his additional snaps count. The Bills went to New England determined to win. Not just to win the game. They went to New England to win every play. They knew how to win. They focused on winning, and they stayed focused. What’s been one of the constants in Bills’ losses over the past few seasons? Not every loss, but a lot of them? The look on Josh Allen’s face in the final few minutes, that’s what. Flushed, maybe a bit frightened. Sometimes staring blankly, sitting on the bench as the game unwinds. Even when he wins, Allen’s face often flashes with immature excitement. None of that on Sunday in Foxboro. The face of Josh Allen against the Patriots was the face of a grown man in charge. In the fourth quarter it was his game. His face said it. Josh is on a path to greatness. He has been for four years. Against the Patriots he took another big step. GO BILLS!!! s

Merry Christmas, all!

I don't think Allen will have a lot of choice. I'd think the game plan will have a possession passing component, and Sanders will be part of that plan. Davis isn't the right guy in that role, and neither is McKenzie. Sanders can do it. Diggs can, too, but they needs Diggs on the outside, and that's where they need Davis, too. If Sanders can play, I think he'll be in the slot, and when that's what the Pats give Allen, he's going to have to trust Sanders. It's all hands on deck. Bills are going to need to find ways to move the ball, and it isn't going to be easy. Belichick will be ready for everything Daboll can think of. I think we're going to see some creative play designs, and the ball's going to find a lot of different people. I won't be surprised when anyone touches the ball - Kumerow, Stevenson, Sanders, McKenzie. All hands on deck.

Yup, apparently Sanders was limited in practice today. Diggs, Sanders, and Davis, works fine without Beasley. Not ideal, if Sanders can be back on Sunday, losing Beas doesn't hurt so much.

I don't know. The guy I responded to said why not just spend the extra $1.5 billion to build a dome. What do I know about building a stadium? Ask him?

I don't disagree with that, but it seems the NFL has no interest. It's funny. The NFL loves the passing game. It's exciting and makes the game interesting to watch. And yet they allow it to be officiated in a way that generates repeated instances of unfairness. Big, important plays get called wrong, and the NFL says, "no problem."