Ethan in Cleveland

Wasn't that a text book hip drop tackle?

There is the issue! You, respectfully, have the wrong objective. We showed patience in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The core of the team was built by 2020. We even endured the purge and reboot. We are no longer patient. Many (probably the majority at this point) of us are no longer interested in teambuilding. We really are only interested in a Championship! I don't care about 2026 or beyond. The Rams didn't either when they got Von and they won it all. We have the MVP of the league, if you are not doing everything to win a championship this year then you are doing a disservice to Allen and to your fans. We have no idea how long he is going to be able to play at this high a level.

The team is missing 3-5 pieces of the defense. Oliver and Hoecht should help. As much as I detest PED cheats, I'm looking forward to seeing what Hoecht can do, and I will be a hypocrite cheering for him. Hairston is unknown. It would be at least encouraging if they opened up his window to return this week. I'm fine if Shaq starts the rest of the year at LB. I'm over Milano. I don't expect much from Ogunjobi. He is 50/50 that he even returns to the 53. I would not be surprised if he is cut. If not then the only consternation would be if he dresses and Sanders does not.

Like you said Coleman has made some plays and he is not devoid of talent. He is not as fast as Gabe Davis but has better hands. Its odd that they say everybody eats but its clear from the snap count and the plays, they are forcing the ball to Coleman at times. In this offense he should no higher than 4th in targets. The offense should be built around Cook running and receiving, and Kincaid amd Shakir. Those three should be getting 75% of the targets and the other 25% to the rest. Like the other thread, I'm tired of everybody eats.

Agree but Ward has had multiple games missed due to injury. Like you said he is a high value asset. His contract may make him difficult to trade. The GM is trying to save his job. Will be interesting to see if they make more moves.

No reason to panic. The defense always rises to the occasion in the playoffs and in the playoffs you are not allowed to throw passes beyond 15 yards.

Greg Newsome for Tyson Campbell I don't know much about Campbell. Jags obviously drafted Travis Hunter to play CB and WR. Newsome had a bad year last year but was playing well this year. Interesting/weird move for Browns. Newsome would have been a FA and Browns have serious cap issues. They could have let him walk and possibly earned a comp pick. Now they take on more salary. Maybe this is a preemptive transaction, that allows them to shop Denzel Ward in the coming days???

How about a few two back formations? Cook, Johnson, and even Davis have shown to be capable pass catchers out of the backfield. Might be a nice wrinkle to throw out there a few plays a game?

That is offensive to be honest. He's a PS level player for most teams. I get it that often times those are run plays. But that means you are really telegraphic your play calls.

One of the biggest flaws on this team is a lack of toughness both physically and mentally Culture shock is needed Brian Flores is the guy you want!

100% agree with OP. Also no more Shavers on the field. Let Coleman block for the run game. When Gabe is healthy I hope they cut Shavers and play Gabe as WR#4

He's Dick Jauron with a HOF QB. This board ridiculed Jauron for saying its hard to win in the NFL. McDermott days it every week. Get Oliver, Hairston, and Hoecht back and then let's see what the defense can do.

Not sure if it was this thread or others but when they kept saying Coleman was having a good camp, the highlights were him beating White. Some of us pointed out that was a red flag that White was terrible and couldn't even cover a guy that can't seperate from anyone. We were right on both accounts.

23 and 22 years ago I had two sons that are amazing young men, college educated, but are not good enough to play WR or CB...

Add Hamlin to the list

Bailey Zappe is on the PS...lol

Starting Flacco behind that line is tanking. He is a leader in the NFL in INT/attempts when he plays

Very odd. Because Jackson drops into coverage which is pretty rare for a DE to do. Either it was some ultracrazy defense where Bernard is actually supposed to be the contain or Jackson didn't know the play. I mean how the hell can it be that hard to know the play book??? There can't be 5 defensive plays in the entire playbook that has the DE drop into coverage, and he thought that was the call???

I said that two weeks ago...

Changes for this week...I focused on the offense because that side of the ball has talent and the scheme can be fixed/changed. The defense is hopeless. The only chance they have is to force turnovers and to score early and often to force the opponent out of the run game. 1. They should work almost exclusively out of the no huddle in the 12 personnel package with Coleman and Shakir at WR. No defense in the league can match Kincaid. He has become an adequate blocker. Both Knox and Kincaid can split out at WR. Shakir can still be the slot with twin WRs to one side and double tight to the other side. This base offense with Cook and Allen would be unstoppable. 2. I am not anti-run on first down, but they need a few more play action plays on first down 3. If they get 2nd and less than 3 take your deep shot then 4. Roll Allen out of the pocket more. It will slow the opponent pass rush 5. A bit more off-tackle runs. Cook looks like he is ready to break one of those soon. 6. Keep running from under center. maybe sneak in a couple pistol plays but no running out of shotgun except next item. 7. Trick play for the week - Thurman Thomas direct snap in shotgun. Always loved this play and it would be a nice wrinkle to bring back 8. Get Johnson a bit more involved on third down. He has struggled so far this season but he has been a reliable pass catcher in the past 9. Sit Ray Davis and dress two RBs. Sit Shavers. Dress Samuel, Moore(can be emergency RB3 if needed), and Codrington for KR. Leave Shakir as the designated punt catcher. 10. On defense, they need to blitz more. They can't get home rushing four and the coverage can not defend long enough for a coverage sack. It's time to start putting more pressure on the QB with LB, CB, and S blitzes. The Bills have had very few short fields to work with this season - maybe one? This puts extra pressure on the offense to be perfect. Blitzing might give up some yards but may also create a turnover. The reality is the defense sucks right now and is going to give up yardage no matter what. McDermott needs to dust off the Jim Johnson DC playbook and start dialing up the heat. If McD is true to his word and he actually want to learn and improve then he needs to adjust to the personnel he has. 11. Put Milano on IR 12. Start Shaq even if Williams is healthy 13. Trade a 7th for Rasul Douglas and cut White. The team needs a wake-up call and White is beyond awful.

Correct they showed it on replay. No conspiracy. They played better. They are coached better. Can't fault the refs when Palmer lines up and leaves Brown uncovered. It is a HS level mistake. We got the calls in the 4th quarter and just like magic people stopped complaining about the refs. They missed PI on the defender who had Coleman's jersey, and the Bernard hit on Maye could have been a no call but he did hit his head with a glancing blow. And the off-sides against their defense was a bit of a gift too as Brown was late in jumping. The Patriots player did not make contact and was already back onsides when Brown touched him. Could have easily been called against Brown.

This is the best argument for a change if they fail in the playoffs again. We all see the same issues that are not being corrected. But it is not going to happen so there really is little reason to even talk about it much anymore. I've dialed down my anti-mcD posts, because it is just too sad to think about the wasted opportunities. And to me that is the worst indictment of all, the passion for me at least is waning knowing that it's probably not going to change. Here is the other big issue. We've already been there four times and lost. Many fans feel a successful season can end without a Lombardi. For many of us though, without a championship it is just more frustration.

He was a good HC that couldn't sniff a SB with one of the best defenses ever assembled. Of course he had something to do with that. However, if it was not for Manning waiving off the punt team when they were losing in the playoffs he may never have won a SuperBowl.

I agree. What we don't know for sure was whether it was supposed to be a handoff or a fake. The blocking suggests it was supposed to be a handoff. Knox's reaction suggests he was not expecting it - most likely because he forgot the play call. But it's possible it was meant to be a bootleg - though very unlikely.

Yes I actually think the Bills will win a SuperBowl with McDermott. Just like Dungy was carried to a SuperBowl win, so will McDermott. Both are decent men that shrink in the moment and were outclassed by their contemporaries - Belichick and Reid. Allen is just as talented as Manning was and he was able to overcome Dungy. If Beane can keep a competent O-line in front of Allen for the next 3-4 years they will win one.