Ralonzo

After what happened against the Steelers I think they're trying to hold on. The got one of the best guys in the league for doing that, haha

Right, I was saying that most of the defensive timeouts, the ones in the first half, worked out because the Bills were all fubar trying to line up. That's a different thing than the 4th-and-17 which was the more "classic" McD defensive TO variety where he wanted to see the formation and then adjust the defense, which mostly just lets the offense get on their best play and on the same page and it's usually not the thing they were gonna run the first time, so it gives a bigger advantage to the offense than the defense. As it was a late timeout we saw enough of the original 4th down play in motion to show enough that it would have been a dead desperation heave.

Ok. But the eye-test matched the stat-test which says the Bills were easily the better team, but neither lined up with the scoreboard which said the Bills were only just the better team (1-score game). My perception is that for once it wasn't the refs throwing the lifeline to the Chiefs to keep them in it (well, a little bit early) as much as the Bills game management, which is on the head coach. On the whole most of the infamous defensive timeouts worked out, but I simply LOATHE giving an opponent's offense time to settle themselves and come up with their best play - and when it's the Chiefs it's egregious. Time pressure leads to poorer decisions, and Reid doesn't need any unnecessary advantages.

More specifically the game-day head coaching game management decisions, which to be fair McDermott has gotten better at but yesterday's effort was poor. Game Management involves making decisions which help maximize your team's chance of winning. For instance the failed 4th down at midfield was one where the risk far outweighed the reward even if it had succeeded. It seemed to be a nod toward the trend of "go for it YEAH i got cojones!!!@" lately in the league; that pendulum may have overswung. The timeout on 4th and 17 speaks to "I don't trust my game week coaching without micromanaging this down." This wasn't an obvious fustercluck like those 1st half TO's were. The play that was aborted by the timeout, Mahomes was under instant pressure because his line was gassed and discombobulated and he had to chuck n' duck, that play was DOA. But thanks to the timeout they get into a much better play, the Bills inexplicably put on a eunuch pass rush on the down and they convert. The FG attempt as well, a punt even through the end zone leaves them at best < :20 and a 20-ball needing a TD. That's a whole lot less threatening than the Chiefs 42. There has to be charts, stats, analytics showing this stuff. You don't need to be a legendary HOF gameday coach but jeez, just be average or get someone who understands this stuff into your headset.

I was thinking more along the line of lipids

He spent some time in the offseason transforming his body from a sinker to a floater...

Seattle sees that and throws Drew Lock in the game. Smort.

Auuuughhhh Daniels just Skatteboed his arm

Me watching Tory Horton in the SNF game

Imagine being paid $50 million to answer them!

That wasn't really Hoecht's role. He's the Lorax they've been looking for, so without him they're just relegated to being who they've been without Lorax these past years.

Alls i know is without the timeout, Mahomes was flinging it up for grabs under duress with very little hope. But there was a timeout by McD. After the timeout, the Chiefs had figured out how to get their WR1 WFO beyond the line to gain, because their coaches are good. It was exactly 13-seconds reprised.

This game had the feel of a comfortable Bills win, both lines were dominant, they went to the 4th with a 15 point lead. But McDermott is cementing his reputation as a coach that keeps both teams in the game. His latest iteration would be referred to in poker as a "chip mover" - trying hard to be aggressive but not very smart about it, beause it's not really his nature.

That's because he's the closest thing to Lorax since Lorax. We didn't even really get to see what might have been.

the Bills defense might give up every 3rd and 12 parsecs, but they're better than the Bengals

What do you do? You KNOCK IT DOWN

Why do you not have 2 plays ready coming out of 2MTO

I don't like using the last timeout here.

This will be the Allen RPO again, but the Chiefs will be expecting it this time.

Bills do need to bleed away the Chiefs timeouts, which they are using for the reasons God intended (to stop the clock when they have to)