PoundingDog

No they were not. You can see a defender right on the sideline at the top of the frame in the video. Hindsight is 20-20 and you say they were going for Hail Mary. But I'd not be surprised Rodgers told his receivers in the huddle something like "if you see them defending the sideline, go to the endzone." Rushing 4 and drop all 7 deep would indeed concede a field goal attempt because Rodger can probably complete a sideline 15 yard out in 6 seconds - and that is a high percentage play. That's why I advocate for just a normal defensive play, rush 4, zone coverage, 2 deep safeties. With the current version of Rodgers not able to extend play like Mahomes/Jackson etc., the ball would be out of his hand within 3 seconds. Breakdown may happen, like the Texans game where they gave up a 75 yarder. But you got to trust your players executing what they have spent most of their time preparing for - the normal defensive plays.

Ideally a true #1 receiver but I'm not optimistic it will happen in Buffalo. If I'm given a choice of paying a #1 receiver $35 million a year vs paying 2 near top linemen with $17.5 million each to protect Josh on every play, I'll choose the latter. Ideal world is we draft such a receiver so we get 4-5 years of that performance without paying thru the nose. Currently this team needs a speed guy on the outside to push a safety deeper. A guy like a John Brown in his prime. The Bills think they have that guy in MVS, but so far he has not panned out. Coleman is OK thus far, par expectation. They are giving him a lot of snaps hoping for some improvement in the 2nd half of the season. Collins logged most snaps among receivers but he's really a below average WR in this league as far as receiving options, and it shows.

I guess we will see from the coach's video to see how the defense is set up. Clearly, as McDermott admitted, the Bills were playing the sideline, which is a higher percentage play from the Jets or anyone else's perspective, but the Jets were going for broke on Hail Mary. Overall, I don't think you can say people are going to live or die on Hail Mary day in and day out but proper preparation for your players matter. I don't know what McDermott said during the timeout prior to the play. If Hail Mary is not mentioned, it is a failure. Having 5 guys right before Rodgers launched the throw near him - not pressuring him - is inexcusable. You gotta tell guys to defend the Hail Mary as soon as you see the receivers are darting for the end zone if your strategy is not to rush the passer. Personally I feel for McDermott and Co. going forward, just play your normal defense in those end of game, end of half scenarios. You are likely to have more success. The strength of McDermott led defense is to have guys in proper position and not giving up big plays. Just stick to that. We have done just that in the Arizona game and this Jets game at the end. Oh by the way for obvious Hail Mary defense, please get Coleman or Elam onto the field. We need some size and better ball tracking guys instead of small-ish DBs and Safeties back there.

Good thing Josh is not taking risks like he used to. But where are we running the ball after all the success first half?

You but you probably kill 5-6 seconds. Then punt.

You have like around 16 seconds in your end zone. And you want to throw the ball where the other team has 3 timeouts? What is the chance you score? Do a run play and kill the clock!!! If it is Allen who wants to throw, this is where you step in to say NO!

Execution wise, receivers has a lot to be desired. Timing depth are all off. When Allen scrambles every one in the endzone, no one in the middle

Can the Bills make the playoffs? I think we can, beating up on bad teams should get us there. After that, it's all about performing in January - the Chiefs showed us time again. I know we have been so keen on "measuring up" to the top teams, getting the Chiefs to play in Orchard Park, etc. in the past. Turns out what really matters is being healthy and playing well in January. Maybe the McDermott and Co. know that now. Being a champion of the regular season does not count much. Let's the young guys play. See what we can do Sunday. Learn and improve. Just don't lose games you are supposed to win.

Admit that I might be harsh. Hope he finds a way to take a step forward this season, much like he did last year where his 2nd half is clearly a step forward from his first half of the rookie season.

I'm getting around that conclusion ... Kincaid is going to be 25 in 2 weeks, kind of older guy coming out of college. Those great ones breakout in their second season in NFL, like Kelce who Kincaid is often compared to, once they figure out what NFL is. How often do teams bracket Kelce and he still gets open in his heydays? When Diggs came to Buffalo, teams do the same and he still got open. Now teams do that to Kincaid and nothing happens even with the same QB throwing the ball.

I hear you. Both Edwards and Hamlin are bit players in NFL. They can function with a a star player next to them. Edwards is an example of that in Tampa and KC. You just have to trust McDermott and Co. on safeties that they deemed Hamlin is above Edwards right now. We can only hope Bishop can become that star safety one day. If Bishop shows that he belongs the next couple of games (not a star), when Rapp returns, your wish just might be granted that they push Hamlin to the bench.

Based on Johnson interview etc. I think he might be in line to return the next 2 weeks. As far as Rapp goes, I'm actually excited to say "Welcome to NFL Bishop." From the limited number of snaps he played in garbage times and replacing Rapp last Sunday night, He sure looks to be the most physically gifted Safety the Bills ever had, at least in McDermott era. Size and Speed. The draft guide says he's instinctual, well we haven't see that. But if it is true, he needs to play to get used to the NFL speed and power, how opposing teams schemes play out on the field (instead of reading from films). He may take some lumps but we WILL need him to solve our Safety issues down the line.

Well, his sack incentives are now in jeopardy. Maybe the NFL is doing the Bills a favor.🤐

Not sure he's main culprit. Once Ed "successfully" penetrated (The Raven probably allowed that), Williams actually diagnosed correctly that it's a run and stepped forward. But the Ravens had plan for him - an O-lineman shot thru the gap Ed vacated and waited for Williams. If Williams beat the O-Lineman, it would be a play "above the scheme". I don't know any Bills LB of the last 10 years is capable of semi-consistent "above the scheme" play to be honest, but I do admit Bernard and Milano occasionally able to use quickness to beat the lineman to the hole. On the other side of the hole, The Ravens had one receiver facing Douglas and Rapp and he correctly chose to engage Rapp. So a scheme play here should be Douglas going into the hole to interfere Henry if not tackling him down outright, until the help, Damar, joining in. The result, based on the scheme, would be a good play for the Ravens like 10 yard or so. But neither Douglas nor Damar laid a hand on Henry. This is not unique to Bills. I've said we need some guys who can play "above the scheme" and right now there is none on defense. If Chiefs Chris Jones were in Rousseau's position, one-on-one against an O-lineman, he might've tossed the guy aside and made the play directly on Henry. So everything could've gone wrong like we saw for the Bills on this play but one guy capable going above the scheme play saves all. That, my man, is the difference between the Chiefs and the Bills of the last few years in my opinion.

On that first Henry TD, they let Oliver in wham blocked to inside. Rousseau probably had the responsibility of edge containment in case Henry or Lamar goes outside. Dorian saw the hole but was taken by the tackle and the Guard sealed off Baylon. The WR came up blocked Rapp who tried to firing into the hole. The free guys are Douglas and Damar. Douglas is probably the biggest culprit not wanting to getting in there directly in Henry's path; Damar just took a bad angle.

A lot of it is on coaching. Ed's role is penetrating at 3-tech. The Ravens said, go ahead and penetrate, but we'll wham block you with their 300 lb FB while Henry runs right by on the other side of the FB. It happened over and over again.

Organizationally, we have not drafted well in DT position. Oliver is a good player. They got Carter but none at 1 tech position for years, even in later rounds.

Williams has shown potential, probably the most physical LB the Bills have had in McDermott era, and yes that includes Edmunds. Last night he looked to be the only one who can bring down Henry one-on-one. And he has enough speed as we saw in earlier games. He needs to play, period. He has issues with coverage like taking the first step in the wrong direction, but you can see it is getting less in that area and now into finer details of covering routes like last night's Hill's TD - though I'd say it is probably a very tough task for any Bills LBs in that situation. The question is whether we see now is his ceiling. I hope not, and all it matters is where he'll be at by the end of the season.

The balance of run/screen and pass is not there.

Still. It is an off schedule play. I want to see if they have something more sustainable - kind of regular office like to get the offense going

Starts at LOS. The Bills were not good on both. The O-Line started to get better last couple of drives. The D-Line needs to take charge for any hope. I'll say penetrate and go for broken instead of reacting

Didn't have to take the shots there. But maybe the Ravens were taking the middle away. Can't see from the TV

They still need to run the ball. Can't lose that even now

I'm not sold on the coaching staff perfection in the post season. During the long regular season, yes and I have posted my belief that credit to MerDermott's tight run ship for early season successes. In post season, I think everything you do is open book, teams pretty much know what you can and cannot do. It comes down to execution - let's face it all playoff teams are pretty good in that department, injuries - that's luck, and difference makers - I'm talking about HOF level plays that Cover 1 people termed "above the scheme". The Bills had no luck last couple of years, but they certainly lacked number of people who can play "above the scheme." The Chiefs consistently had Mahomes, Kelce, Jones, and Hill while he was there do that in the playoff, plus a few guys a game here and a game there. In the playoffs, the Bills got consistent performance from Allen, a game from Davis, that's about it. I believe the Bills brass recognized that and brought in Von, but he's hurt the last 2 years and contributed nada. So far this young season, we see some great signs: Allen looked to be taking another step. Von is trending back to his old form. A few young players offers some great promise (I might call Shakir is playing above the scheme right now). We need some luck on injury of course; I'm not relying on Milano being back, not even Johnson/Bernard back to form, just no more serious injury going forward. Keep an eye on Von. To the outsiders, I think people are afraid of Von being a true force coming to the playoff time for us, just like we are all afraid what Rogers might do for the Jets in the playoff time. Von has consistently played above the scheme in his career, and the Bills are sorely missing such a guy on defense in the past.