SoCal Deek

We’ve gone over this a million times! McDs defense is designed to make the opposing team go the length of the field without making a mistake. It works in the regular season against average QBs and when the refs are bound to call a drive stalling penalty or two against your opponent. It ultimately fails in the playoffs when the opponents are better and the refs tend to let the teams play. Period!

No, you weren’t. And I have to believe the same was true for Josh throughout the game. The QB has to make decisions in a fraction of a second and any hesitation can result in a sack, an incomplete pass, or interception. I have to wonder what adolescent intern decided to wear those uniforms against the Patriots of all teams. Ridiculous!

While I see your point, in that scenario wouldn’t the NFL want the Bills and Chiefs to play at the exact same time? What’s the advantage of them playing on Saturday?

I disagree on the second one. The NFL has to get away from calls on underthrown balls where the DB has nowhere to go. In fact on that second one I thought Elam did everything he could to avoid contact. He is NOT required to give up his spot on the field so the WR can come back and get an underthrown pass.

And when you factor in the lack of restrooms at Highmark Stadium I’m guessing a bunch of the team just has to hold it until after the game. 😉

That lady ref is literally terrible!!!!!!

That was pass interference! Come on!

No….they do not…..nor should they.

This defense isn’t winning a single playoff game. One and done.

McD….heres a hint! You call timeout there! Clueless moron.

Ya think? Where ya been the last half a decade? But no….some people prefer to keep their heads in the sand.

This defense is beyond terrible.

What? Stroud went to my daughter’s high school. We often sat in the stands near his family. Entitled? Hardly! Geeez.

Simple? I didn’t say it was simple. But they’ve got decisions to make every off season and this one will provide yet another opportunity. Do they extend their current crop or look to turn the page? Or is it coaching? We’re all quick to point blame when the O Line isn’t living up to expectations but I rarely hear a peep about the D Line coaching. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not on the warpath here, but as I said to Shaw I find it hard to believe the current defense will lead to anything other than another playoff disappointment.

I’m with your initial assessment. I wouldn’t chase anyone right now. No matter how many juices are flowing. 😂 Everything we’re reading is that the team chemistry is great right now. I wouldn’t mess with it for 2024. We have to dance with the gals we brought. However, going into 2025 it’s got to be time to get more aggressive. Relying on Allen and his merry band of assorted offensive weapons to pull out an NBA- like score week after week is truly unsustainable.

I couldn’t agree more Shaw. I guess we’re gonna find out in about a month as to whether the approach works. To date it hasn’t.

Right away I would add the guy on the Raiders and the Lions kid who’s currently injured. The point is that the Bills pass rushers have been average at best. And I’d say below average for the capital they’ve invested in that position. It needs significant improvement either in talent or coaching or both.

I’m not so into other teams that I can create the list but there are many. Again remember that the Bills have spent a ton of draft capital, second contract capital, and free agent capital on the D Line. It’s not like the position has been ignored. But I maintain it’s the lack of consistent pass rush that’s dictated everything else on the back end. For example you can’t have a man coverage first rounder like Elam on the field when he be forced to cover for so long. You essentially are forced into playing a soft zone. The ripple effect is huge. Is it personnel? Is it coaching, as Shaw asked me? I don’t know, but I’m praying we turn a corner. I’m praying the current plan isn’t the ultimate plan.

Likewise. We'd eat the lunch my mom packed at our seats (aluminum bench the next year). The game tickets were all my parents could afford. Eating from the concession stand was out of the question.

And you call yourself a fan? 😂

Yes to all of that. I’ve got to think that the Bills are selecting players that fit the scheme. But the scheme just doesn’t work against quality opponents. We have seen it so many times. The big question is whether the coach is interested in or capable of doing that…or if he is going to stubbornly stick with it so he can prove some kind of a point. Regarding personnel, they need a complete do-over at DE. Groot, Miller and Epenesa do not scare anyone and they certainly don’t wreck an opponent’s game plan. Those are the first guys I’d change. The back end will naturally improve if the DEs can get to the quarterback.

I was there. It was freezing.

I was sure the refs would throw a flag when he pointed at the two defenders.

I’m not a defensive coach, or any coach for that matter, but if I was the head coach this level of performance would be completely unacceptable to me. The Bills have spent a ton of draft capital on a D Line and yet seem to be completely lost as to how to scout or develop quality pass rushers. The scheme seems entirely built on the concept of hoping the other team screws up before they get to our end zone. Which is great when you’re playing inferior regular season opponents but is ultimately doomed against playoff caliber offenses. I can see building an offense loaded with mid level players when you have Josh Allen but for the life of me I can’t figure out how we landed on this scheme for the defense.

Shaw, your take isn’t surprising. You’ve been a McD loyalist since Day One. I’m actually impressed with your consistency. I obviously differ. The Bills have a defensive head coach and have a defensive roster littered with REALLY high draft picks, and yet they have a scheme that apparently relies on…I’m not sure what. Yeah, yeah, yeah everyone ‘do their job’. Do I love winning more than losing? Sure! Who doesn’t? But I can still be critical of the Bills where that is deserved. I really hope something changes next year with the defense. (And yes, I’m betting it catches up with them in the playoffs…again.)