WideNine

When you watch Davis take out two Miami defenders on a bubble screen to Shakir during the Miami game so Shakir can scamper nearly 40 yards you get how that role is important to those plays, our outside zone runs, and our rub routes. Sherfield has the size and did a good job stepping into that key role when Gabe went down even though it is often a thankless role.

Weather may well be a factor and that somewhat benefits Pittsburgh's ground and pound game. That being said, I trust Allen throwing into elements far more than I would trust Mason Rudolph. Will likely be one of those situations where teams take more of their shots whenever the wind is at their back. If so, it would benefit us to have the wind at our back in the 4th qtr. and the Steelers going into it to negate any late deep threat Pickens would pose or late field goals. My real hope is that we get some stops and our offense gets up on them some scores. We should be able to lean on our own running game and TEs too as there should be some windows and matchup issues for them in the middle of the field. I sort of like those snow bowls, but think those conditions would benefit the Steelers a bit more than our team.

I feel the Diggs AWOL hype is just a bone media got ahold of and ran with... They have to go with something. Defenses focus a lot of attention on taking Diggs out of the game which means Shakir and Kincaid and others get more room to operate. Diggs is just fine and they are finding creative ways to get the ball in his hands.

The way we knifed through Miami's defense only to crap ourselves in the red zone...has become a bit of a trend. I feel like too much changes down there, we take longer getting plays in, and we play a bit more on our heels. We need some good RedZone work this week and execution on our go-to plays. The talking heads stress the INTs, but miss that Knox was obviously held on one possession, that pass to Cook that he dropped was so money, and Allen was half a second off from pulling the trigger and leading Ty Johnson in a way where I feel he gets in before the half. They are really close and I think Allen is getting some of that swagger and confidence back that was causing him to delay throws a bit or turn down throws. Been a while since he was himself and that is good to see. You could see the ball was coming out really good even when having to throw from odd platforms eluding the rush. Other than that it was just having better execution and having some blitz beaters down there, some better blocking from our RB (asking Cook to pick up blitzers is hit or miss so maybe more Fournette down there) or go heavy max protect if you think plays are going to take time developing.

Poona is good against the run too he is an odd specimen that is hard to block. He also has some pass rush moves and played all over Seattle's front so you could move him around so maybe Lawson sits and keep Poona in the rotation to keep more beef up front and fresh. Miami was having success on the perimeter... Basically running away from our run stuffers, but McD made some good adjustments at the half. Pittsbugh loves those gap runs and are pretty stout up front and have running backs that can break tackles. They ran more 13 sets and heavily used their TEs to wash out the second level defenders too vs Seattle. Our best defense would be to get up on them a few scores and force them into a boat race... Not what they are built best to do

No excuses. Their best gets our best and let's see if our Bills are at the stage where they are willing to surrender the AFC East. One thing is for sure. That team does not play from behind well so it would be good if our offense comes out laser focused and we can get up on them. Either way, this team has had their share of playing from behind or with a narrow lead and has started to learn to play 60 full minutes to finish games on top. Win one rep at a time and I hope Allen does some pitch and catch warm ups with Cook. That slippery RB seems to start games with some cold hands and takes a bit to get into a groove. Still remember when a wet-behind-the-ears Allen wanted to warm up with Kelvin Benjamin and got dissed. Bet he wishes he did more to stick around with that raw QB who is making HOF strides. Also, the defense has become better at closing the door. We will see what Bills team shows up. Go Bills!

Your not the only one. I listen to Marino's podcast and I was right there with him worrying about starting an unproven Bernard. I was wrong about Oliver taking a step forward too with his injury-plagued contract year... thought he was just too small to man the 3-tech and hold up. I felt like Beane was throwing money away. Looks like a bargain deal now with the way he has come on and the reps he commands game to game.

Taron is one of the best nickle defenders in the game. I would be reluctant to replace his skillset with any linebacker we have even if I trust that LB in shallow zones or skating with a RB or TE. There are times when subbing bigger bodies should be done to match more heavy 12 personnel/run packages.

That guy hates Allen. Not even close to being objective as he looks like he is choking on his own vomit if he has to acknowledge a great game by Allen while he looks downright giddy when Allen is struggling. I find his takes to be meaningless and he has never struck me as a student of the game that can really break down the X's and O's. These media clowns are a dime a dozen, but generating hate-clicks is probably just as profitable as folks clicking on them because they like what you say.

When Milano gets back we will have some quality depth at the LB position where there was a lot ??? early in the season and I thought we were thin. The taking heads and media pundants were all preaching doom and gloom with Edmunds' departure in FA and that the Bills would struggle with an unproven Bernard. Both Dodson and Bernard have come on strong.

Yep - spot on with the subconscious "a" Damn, need more coffee and will take my beating like a Bills fan.

I believe it is a 5-7-5 syllable thing. Did you do 6-7-5 on purpose? Irony is not always easy to spot in posts. 😄

Defense is ready Wilkins is a crotch grabber. O-Line gets revenge

Just me, but I think of all these media popularity contests and accolades as distractions. Look at Dak riding high as a media darling and then the Boys get stomped and show they can't play well outside their dome and the media is tripping over themselves trying to shovel dirt on his MVP grave. Win as a team, lose as a team and let the accolades fall where they may.

The fact that they have not let the man throw a single pass tells me everything I need to know. A more capable backup to groom and a savy vet would be good mix to have in the QB room with Allen.

If you don't like McD that's fine, but this is a reach. I have been critical of our HC and some of his poor decisions at times in high-leverage situations, but he did the smart thing there and deserves credit and praise for stepping up and making the right adjustment. Clearly Brady was calling another shotgun play on short yardage like the ones that he called earlier at midfield that went no where. The players were in shotgun and then McDermott calls the timeout takes his headset off and talks with Allen and then with Diggs and they go out and get under center and convert with the push. It was a good move by McD and I don't think it undermined Brady, just reminded him that there is no need to go off script and get overly creative if a defense has not shown they can stop a play that has been money in short yardage.

Defenses are doing a lot to force Allen to go elsewhere with the ball as Allen has had to take the quicker options with all the shell coverage teams play that limit deeper opportunities. Much like how teams try to play Mahomes - they also try to keep Allen hemmed into the pocket limiting the off schedule opportunities. They also work to deny him space to step up and into throws, and try to disrupt his timing and the progression of his reads. IMO Allen has also been more inconsistent and hesitant this season than he had been prior to his injury last season even when given time and space and has struggled with some basic mechanics/bad habits that have creeped back into his passing game. That being said I think his touch on wheel and swing routes, as well as screens and dumps has improved. Rather than various versions of a football RPG when it did not always need to get there in a hurry, Allen has been putting more of those in a place where the receiver can run to it and create RAC. Maybe this offseason he will take a different approach to how he prepares and trains and I hope he gets back with Palmer to course correct and reinforce those good throwing habits he was building. It seemed to help him a lot before. Simplest answers are usually the more likely scenario than manufacturing narratives like Diggs is playing scared.

I think the Pats have a great run defense and did a good job countering our tackle wrap play where we pull Dawkins. To date teams have not been able to stop that very well. Cook has been money running behind those and I watched one where the defender went low on Dawkins and was able to trip him up which kind of blew up that play. The old Belegoat is still a pretty good DC and has a few young defensive players coming on.

You have to play your best players and there are guys playing better. Not sure if Von will ever be Von again, but you have to look at how he is doing game to game and it just is not there.

McGovern sucked in pass pro today which did not help with any passing rhythm as Allen had pressure up the middle. Also did not help when Cook and Sherfield dropped passes that hit them in the hands. Brady has to get to work on our pass play execution and script better early in games. First thing I would do is take any passes intended for Murray or Sherfield and route those to Shakir who has been more sure-handed. NE is #2 against the run and maybe better just the past few games and we have been leaning on our run. Makes sense that it was an ugly win and not the best match up with how we have been moving the ball.

I think he overruled a Brady play call and had them do the Allen tush push thing. It that was the case, I am glad McD did it.

Dawkins got cut low on that tackle wrap. Been a bread and butter play for us for a while, but that is one method to clog it up.

Shakir is turning into clutch.

True. They make up for some of that being savy vets and knowing where to be, but when caught out of position or having to make up ground for others you see it. And the zebras are getting too active in this second half.

That made no sense... just sneak it. Brady outcoaching himself.