Seriously, How Can We Be This Bad, Consistently?

[JMC]

It baffles me. I wanted to disbelieve all the preseason predictions that we'd be the worst in the league. I had hopes of 7-9, 8-8, 9-7... faint hopes maybe, but still hopes. I had hopes that even if we lost, we'd see a somewhat different Bills team. But what I've seen in the first half is the exact same team I've seen for the last 8+ seasons.

 

Their QB makes last-second plays as pressure comes, and scrambles just as it seems like we're about to take him down. Our QB seems like he can't complete a pass. Throws behind, has passes deflected, hangs onto the ball and takes critical sacks, and throws 3 yard routes on 3rd and 13.

 

Their RBs break tackles and fight for first down yardage even when surrounded by blue jerseys. Our RBs get stuffed at the line of scrimmage more often than not, and get no gain.

 

Their WRs are wide open in our supposedly top-notch secondary, and our WRs can't catch a cold or get separation.

 

Their DL gets in our face on every play, gets their arms up and knocks down passes. Our DL can't seem to get pressure on the opposing QB without bringing an extra three guys. When they do get pressure, the QB seems to break containment and throw for a big play down field, or scrambles for yardage.

 

I don't care what the score is at half time. We should be losing by three touchdowns, as poorly as we played. Even if we make adjustments and somehow manage to win the game, I see exactly the same team making the same mistakes. Maybe it's the pessimism of a decade of watching this stuff, that every mistake seems blown out of proportion, but I was so pumped up for this game, and it's only half time and I seriously feel like I can't watch another season filled with this sad excuse for football. Thirty years I've been a Bills fan, and for the last decade it seems like it doesn't matter who the coach is, who the coordinators are, or even who the players are.

 

I didn't expect to tear up the league this year, but I expected to see some sign of improvement. Some glimmer of hope. This is the Dolphins for crying out loud, not the Patriots, not the Saints, not the Colts. Maybe the Dolphins run the table form here, shock everyone, and go 16-0, but right now I feel like we're making them look good.

[Simon]

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