Ray Stonada

NE game in December 2020 The one with Diggs 3 TDs

Did we have two or even three timeouts in that situation?

Tanking when you are .500 or above feels crazy…

Meanwhile, KC is 29-10!

But right now we still have a chance to right the ship, win out and make the dance. If we lose the next one our chances are way down, and if we lose two we're out. Anyway, I think it's possible but yes, agree there is a low chance of McD getting canned during the season. But it's not zero. Have to admit, I just saw this post on @Italian Bills thread: I'd like to know Andy Reid and Sean McVay's record in these.

This makes sense. And, if we lose to KC but then win out, we still have a roughly 50% chance of making the playoffs under Brady. Also that gives you four games to see how Brady does bringing home close games. Kinda crazy to think McDermott might be done after our next game or two... I do think it is possible.

I honestly feel like I am numb to terrible losses because of the last 4 years. Losses that would drive a Chiefs or a Giants fan to jump out the nearest window make us Bills fans yawn and say, "Yeah. Happens."

Great examples, thanks.

I am not sure if Nick Effing Wright has any inside scoops!

This cracked me up bad!

I thought about making Brady the interim coach too, but it's just too rash to me when playoff chances are alive. Maybe you could try it if we lose to KC and Dallas, and sit at 6-8? You'd need to add a defensive coordinator.

What would you do, if you were Terry or Kim Pegula, the Bills (for the Sabres, I have no clue)? Curious to hear. For me, number one, take advantage of the bye: this week, I call McDermott and Beane separately into my office. I have a consultant with me who is ready to present them with the numbers on the late-game and overtime collapses from the 2019 playoffs to now, and where this ranks among NFL teams (it may well be dead last over that time). The consultant will have also ran the numbers on other top coaches' records in similar situations (tied or within one-score in the fourth quarter). Say that our goal is to being a Super Bowl victory to Buffalo, and that their progress so far has peaked in 2020 with the AFC title game appearance, and gone in reverse each season since--with the exception of the 2021 playoffs where we looked unstoppable but for another defensive collapse against Kansas City. Ask each (again, separately) why they think these issues are happening. Is it that our players are at fault? Is it that the players are tired, that they're not prepared, or they are not executing the plan? Or is the plan itself not right? Is it end-game strategy, and game management? Having heard their diagnosis, I ask what their plan to stop these collapses from happening is. I ask each if the other is currently up to the task of fixing this. If McDermott and Beane are on the same page, I ask the consultant to gather a group of advisors (drawn from high level NFL ex coaches, players, and GMs) to give us advice on their diagnosis and their plans to fix it. And we empower them to put that plan into place, NEXT WEEK. That's the best chance I can imagine giving them to stop this insanity. If they can't, then we don't make the playoffs, and I am interviewing new head coaches in January, and getting rid of McDermott. Beane gets to meet the new head coach and see if there is a fit between them. To my mind, Beane has done the job lately... From the 2023 draft, Kincaid and O'Torrence look good, Dorian Williams is promising. In 2022, Beane picked Cook, Terrell Bernard, Khalil Shakir, and Christian Benford. He finds good veterans, like Daquan Jones, Leonard Floyd, Rasul Douglas and Linval Joseph. Where he could improve is finding real STARS, not just good NFL starters. Whether Beane stays will depend on how he reacts to the new head coach. Essentially, if I owned the team I would not be firing McDermott till the end of the year. But I would doing investigation of whether he is capable of fixing this. (I have my doubts.)

If we do win out and make the playoffs that will buy McDermott another year from the Pegulas. If we win a playoff game or better it probably buys him two more years. If we get to the Super Bowl it buys him this board’s goodwill again. (Unless we lose on a late defensive collapse…)

They faded exactly the same way against Houston and the Chiefs in the playoffs in 19 and 21. And in this game, the Eagles only had the ball for 23 minutes. Not long enough for guys to be gassed.

Bills took the Eagles to OT, where McD has the WORST record in the HISTORY of the NFL (coaches with at least 7 OT games ). He got them right where he wanted them... lol

Exactly. And yet he never does this with guys on D or ST. He has a bone to pick with offensive guys. It's effing sanctimonius.

"McDermott and Beane are smart football guys, smarter than you and me. That's why we never question what they do."

Bench Cook for a mistake, or put him right back in to atone for it. Either way, if another player does something stupid, treat them the same way. Be consistent, McDermott! Don't make this into a weird fixation on punishing your whipping boy. It's laughable if he thinks this sends any good message to the team.

About our playoff chances: We have 6 losses. The division leaders are Miami, KC, Baltimore, and Jax. There are 3 wildcard spots, and currently there are FIVE other teams with less than 6 losses, most of which have a better conference record. No matter what we do, other than win out, it's gonna be tough. I'm starting to wish we would lose the next two weeks and end the misery.

I feel like it would be tough to get Josh to tank. You might have to sit him.

I am trying to convince myself that if McD is shockingly let go, and Doc Brady made interim head coach, we could win the Super Bowl. Just based on Brady's innate feel for situations. But... we'd have no defensive coordinator. AAAAHHHH.

"According to TruMedia, when tied or winning by one score in the fourth quarter or overtime this season, the Bills rank a horrendous 31st in both EPA and third-down conversion rate." https://theathletic.com/5092023/2023/11/27/buffalo-bills-philadelphia-eagles-officials/

With compliments to your friend https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/upshot/buffalo-bills-nfl-playoff-picture.html#phi-buf-12=loss PS we currently have a 17% chance according to them.

I agree. But best to be up three scores by the 4th quarter, otherwise we might get McD'ed.