Hermes

It's a mystery wrapped inside of an enigma. Only known by an elite few here at TWS, the rest of us can only provide musings at the origin of this one

My apologies! FIFY 😉

I think so too.. I will say I thought Stevenson appeared to have more breakaway speed though. When he decided to go it was like lightning in a bottle. But it seemed to take him too long to actually decide when to go so he got caught up in the mix. I'm not sure Mckittrick would hold that job past this year Obviously I'd never call him that in public but I think on the boards it's the perfect thing to call him. When I'm watching the games at home I'm always rooting for 'McKittrick' instead of McKenzie when he's on the field.

I'm not sure if anyone else noticed but against the Bucs McK was active; specifically on offense, rather than, special teams. This is a clear indication of the Bills perceived use of him heading down the stretch. McDermott clearly wanted to send him a message about ball security by benching him on STs for two games. This allows him to channel that extra energy and unleash it on offense for a 2021 Superbowl run. There were countless times they set him in motion and looked the other way. Indicating to me that the would like to see those plays come to fruition when it truly matters. In a sense the Bills are counting on Mckittrick to help win them a Superbowl!

Yes. Bc at that moment how much would it have hurt. If anything it would've fired the team up even more. You act like these plays happen in a vacuum. They don't. There are so many factors that go into every little interaction and I'm sure that the Bills were feeling that. If someone, anyone (Diggs) fed into that energy it could've completely altered the course of the game

Yes. That is exactly the expectation they should go into the game with. Just go out there and beat the other team regardless of what the refs do. Win so convincingly, that the refs can't possibly effect the outcome of the game. Put the outcome of the game beyond a reasonable doubt. Show the world how great you truly are, that nothing can stop what's about to happen. The Bills embrace that mindset, they win the Superbowl this year. Refs be damned

I really like your first point! That long run by Singletary was a huge unnoticed play for the Bills

That's just a difference of opinion I suppose. I'm notorious for being using more aggression/ force than is necessary in these types of situations.. So I'm probably in the wrong here lol

If only the rest of the board could just enjoy discourse after a game like you guys..

If he literally stops his route because he is being held/ interfered with and then gets a PF unnecessary roughness that's still a win for the Bills. Have you ever seen it happen on a game bc I have not. It would take that DPI/hold to an entirely different level.

In all fairness this isn't so much about the refs and penalties as it is the Bills response to what they perceived as penalties.

Fair enough. The games are truly two different beasts, however, the physicality isn't lost in translation. Diggs should've turned and given the defender something bc the refs would've been forced to throw a flag since there's so many of them. They would've got into their little huddle and discussed the whole play and why the flag was thrown. The replay would've been looked at and in all honesty I doubt Diggs would've gotten a flag. If, at that point, they looked at the review, and saw the jersey tug which led to a Diggs response, could they not call it on the defense. The NFL would look even worse than it does right now in regards to officiating

I don't disagree. It was absolutely DPI, or holding at the least. I'm saying Diggs should've either turned and thrown a shoulder or aggressively attacked the ball. Instead, he chose to put his hands out to B word to the refs. Either option at that point would've been preferable. I'm sure McD peaches not to do that but at some point just let the emotion flow over. Utilize that energy to do something rather than nothing Exactly. The Bills can't just look for these calls, bc they just don't get them. Do something different and see what happens.

I'm saying that if the refs are gonna let it be physical be physical back. At that point "F" the rules and give the defense what they're giving you. If they throw a flag and then it's on the offense, at that point it's even more egregious what the defense did and didn't get called for. There's replay in modern sports so anyone with eyes would be able to see even moreso how that particular play, played out.

Yeah, the Diggs play. He had the awareness to throw his hands out for a flag, at that point, plant, pivot, and give a two hand shove

The Bills player should know what the expectation is at this point. They are going to be on the bad end of things. Deal with it If they get punched in the head they wouldn

So either the kick is at the same field position or the bills get another shot at the end zone (and possibly a further kick, which is a chip shot for Bass)

Send a message to the defense that they're either going to have to be more physical or back off. Its psychological. The refs at that point are irrelevant and if they do throw a flag. Odds are they'd look at the whole play again rather than just a penalty on Diggs Not entirely. But the team at that point must've known they weren't going to get any calls going their way. So force the issue. Make the refs throw the flag and from what we've seen in the NFL the offense generally gets the benefit of the doubt

If they call a penalty it's not a loss of downs and they get another shot at the game winning score

How much would a flag there have hurt the Bills? In any instance it would've been inconsequential. They either would've gotten another shot or a 15yard penalty. So what!?

You know what I get it. I've played sports at high levels throughout my life, rugby, not Football, but man even if it takes getting a penalty do something. Diggs reacted enough to get his hands out to look for a call, he could've done something else at that point too, no?

It's not about what the refs called or didn't call. It's about the aggressiveness of the Bills players in those situations. Idgaf if Diggs gets called for a penalty, send that dude to the ground and make him pay for grabbing you like that.

It sucks that the refs didn't call it. For sure. But what happens if Diggs turns around on the first one and shoves the defender to the ground. What do the refs do at that point?

Bills lost. Whatever.. They didn't close out the game when they had the chance, time to move on. Anyway, the PI the penalties clearly affected the Bills more than the Bucs to say the least. (My issue isn't that the Bills didn't get the calls or not. That's entirely irrelevant.) It's the players reactions to what they perceived as penalties. On the long ball to Diggs if he would've fought through it, instead of looking for a flag, he might've had a chance at the ball and possibly a TD. On the fade to Diggs in the EZ on the 3rd before the FG to tie, he had pretty much no chance with the defender grabbing and essentially tackling him when the ball is in the air. On the DPI that set the Bucs up in OT, not sure if it was Dane or Levi, he got in good position but got pulled away and managed to get a call against him. In all of the circumstances the Bills players needed to be more aggressive. Diggs lack of aggressiveness when he let himself get pulled away from the play. He either needed to press the issue on the first and grab the DB by the arm and literally throw him off of his jersey. Force the issue with the refs and make them throw a flag. The EZ throw was a travesty but if Diggs sees that he isn't going to get the ball there, due to interference or not, then get physical with the DB. Take his helmet and smash it in the turf. Again, make the refs throw the flag. On the DPI in OT if the DB would've fought for the ball more instead of just trying to defend against a catch he might be had a pick or at least shown how much he was being prevented from making a play. In all of these instances if the Bills would've pressed the issue and been more aggressive it would've led to something happening differently. Would anyone have been mad if Diggs got an OPI on either of his plays bc he retaliated? What it the DB would've fought through contact and made a great day on the ball and ended up with a turnover. At the end of the day football is an emotional game and sometimes you need to let those emotions flow through.

If you're a Bucs fan!