newcam2012

I don't think motivation is going to be a major factor here. It's more about game plan, schemes, adjustments, execution, talent, a little luck, etc.. Motivation is really far back. Ok then just give Pitt and the Jags the wins because they must win.

Miami has a lot to play for. If they lose I believe they go to Arrowhead to play vs winning and playing at home vs a weaker team. That's a huge difference. Not to mention this division rivals dislike each other. I'm sure the ass whipping Buffalo gave them in week 4 sucked. In short, Miami will be every but motivated and energetic to play.

I don't know. If the Bills get in they are more than capable of running the table. Of course the path is easier as a 2 seed. I'm a bit concerned about the Bills offense and special teams. Both have been pretty inconsistent. I think the defense is starting to peak. D Jones and AJ back really helps. Douglas was a great addition that was badly needed. McD D has been good at finishing games.

I agree I'm just fearful the Bills lose to Miami and miss the playoffs. I would be so disappointed. This is my thought process as well. I just can't get a feel for this team.

Bills 24 Miami 23

I'd be shocked if Pitt or the Jags lose. It's possible but I truly think the Ravens may want to lose to try to knock out the dangerous Bills' team.

I don't think the will be unfocused and or unprepared. I have no worries on this front.

I want the Bills to beat Miami so bad!!! I can't even put it in words. My heart will be beating rapidly. I suspect a close game but a Bills blowout would be ecstasy. Great post too!

Nice breakdown. Not a lot to quibble about here. I think it boils down to whether you feel a coaching change would be beneficial and worth the risk. Not an easy decision.

I don't fear the unknown. I'd be willing to hire a new creative young offensive mind. Ben Johnson is at the top of the list. He makes Geoff look special. Imagine what he can do with Allen.

You do realize that the Bills are hanging on to dear life to make the playoffs? It's been a roller coaster of a ride this year. The consistency of the team has been disappointing. Coaching has to share some of the blame. McD has seemingly been very and very bad with not a lot of in between. The team's run going into Sunday has been impressive. Hope it's not too little too late. This Sunday will tell us a lot about the team and it's coaches.

Great post. That's pretty much how I see it. McD is a solid coach and above average but change is needed. I think the time has come for a new regime. I think the McD message has lost it's muster and effectiveness. I have no doubt McD will be successful coaching a middle of the road team. I think he'd be a great Charger coach.

I hope you have a crystal ball and you know more than us.

Amen Mike! Thanks for reassuring my thoughts. They could easily be on their couches watching TV after Sunday. I hope not to the max.

When you have a ring it puts you in a different category. Go through your list and count who has a ring FireChans. I'll stand behind McD isn't elite come playoff time. You can compare other coaches and stats. 13 seconds and the Cinci thrashing just can't be dismissed as a whatever. Is that elite in your eyes? There's only one thing that will convince me that McD is elite. He's gotta bring that Lombardi Trophy to Buffalo. I guess we will disagree to disagree. Good day sir. At least I'm not all alone here. I agree. The McD show has run its course. Great run but it's time to finish what he started.

There's no doubt McD has a great track record of making the playoffs. I don't think anyone is arguing that. You talked about since 2017 and him being one of the top coaches. Stats can definitely be deceiving and skewered in many directions depending on where you are trying to go. Let's dig deeper and paint a different picture. McD is 4-5 in the playoffs. Firechans that's a whooping 44% win percentage. Are you saying that's elite? Cream of the crop? Top notch? More specifically, let's look at the last three years when Allen was clearly elite. Well, let's just leave it at we all know the results. Not sure how any football fan can say McD was elite. A case certainly can be made of the opposite. Moreover, amoung the football people the whispers are McD and the Bills just always seemingly fall short. Can't argue that with only one AFC championship game on his resume. A big fat loss at that. Josh Allen tick tok clock is running... I'm not sure how any football fan or Bills fan can come away with McD is an above average playoff coach. 13 seconds and both playoff games last year are screaming off the charts. Multiple blown leads and not finishing are screaming off the charts. Do you know the window a coach and an elite QB together have to make a SB appearance and win it? Let's just say the window has passed. No way no how is McD a quality playoff coach. Your breakdown doesn't tell a complete picture. In fact, I'd call it deceptive. No offense.

It's not like number 17 and the offense has been humming. In fact, I'd argue Allen has played pretty poorly. In his last four games, he's the worst rated QB passing under no pressure. That's just crazy that the Bills are still winning. I don't think the current version of Allen gets it done on Sunday. I'm extremely interested in seeing the adjustments Miami makes on offense. The Bills D destroyed their rhythm and timing.

The dolphins are 13- 3 at home. The home field is very big here.

That's fair. I don't think Herbert is in Allen's league. Just my opinion. He also has a SB ring. Tick Tok...

This is hogwash. Mahomes and Burrow aren't moons ahead of Allen in talent. It's ridiculous to say Allen can't beat Mahomes or Burrow. He had Mahomes beat and the coach shi! the bed in 13 seconds. Allen has beaten Mahomes in the regular season more than once. The "yet" doesn't give you an out here. Burrow is very good but it's can be argued Josh is better. Either way there's not a huge difference to say Allen can't beat Burrow. The Bills coaching staff was abysmal in the Bengals playoff game. That's when I firmly knew McD wasn't the guy. The "yet" doesn't give you an out here. Football is a team sport led by a QB driven league. Allen has not progressed further in the playoffs not because of Allen. There's a lot of reasons and it's not that Allen can't beat Mahomes or Burrow yet. What a crazy statement. Look at coaching and game planning as a start as to why the Bills can't get over the hump. Other variables are applicable such as injuries, player execution, and team weaknesses. How many more chances do you give McD to fail? How many more excuses? Mahomes, Burrow, Reid, injuries, coordinators, special teams coach, PTSD, bad luck, etc... Pick one or more.

It's not a hard concept whatsoever. Good coaches get fired all the time. The best examples are in the NBA. Many fired coaches get opportunities afterwards in the NFL too. Often they end of being coordinators too. In a perfect world I'd be satisfied if McD remained the DC. Often it's about creating change and progressing to the next step. Do you think the team is progressing under McD? I don't and think change is a reasonable solution to jump start the team ahead. This upcoming Miami game is huge. A loss and a playoff miss certainly will open up some eyes. Eyes that have been closed shut for two years. Maybe even yours? This would devastate the fan base on a temporarily. As a football fan, I could see myself watching the entire post season with anger and disappointment. I suspect my disapproval for McD will grow and more support will gather. Sure hope this doesn't happen.

Who said McD has no responsibility for building the Bills into a top franchise? I didn't. When you land a Josh Allen it's pretty much a given you can sleepwalk into a top 10 franchise. He that good. The issue and the debate is why the Bills haven't been able to even sniff a super bowl. Frankly, they haven't even been close!!! There are several reasons why and one IMHO includes McD. Of course,you disagree. Should this fan base accept a good regular season as a success, playoff appearances as a success? One playoff win and out as a success? This is what we've gotten under McD. Success can be measured and interpreted in many ways. I'd argue the goalpost have dramatically moved for at least a couple of years. McD continues to fall short. Not sure how Bills fans nonchalantly dismiss the 13 second nightmare and the Bengal thrashing as hoe hum. What's the next occurrence of failure? Can't wait to hear your excuse.

I think in retrospect we Bills fans will regret that the regime stuck with McD too long. I get that he's a good coach and has done a lot of great things in Buffalo. He fits the persona to a T. That shouldn't be lost in the conversation. With that said, I would welcome a change. I've seen enough...

Ok tell me how you think McD developed Josh Allen? What are your thoughts if the Bills lose to Miami and miss the playoffs? It's not unbelievable because the last two years McD has been incompetent in the playoffs. Do you recall 13 seconds and a blowout loss to the Bengals? What's more unbelievable is you can't see how incompetent McD was. You can go back further in the playoffs and see how his team blew it in Houston and Jacksonville too. It's a pattern not an anomaly.

That's a stretch. McD is a defensive guy and is pretty much hands off on the offense. Jordan Palmer was probably the one guy who really helped develop Josh and his mechanics, vision, and confidence. I suppose McD can get a backdoor pat on the pat for this. I'd argue McD hasn't fully taken advantage of their franchise QB. One loss in an AFC championship game is the furthest the team has gone under Allen. I think that is a pretty big failure. Sure one can argue the opposite with consecutive playoffs appearances.