Underrated Play - The 2 point conversion was HUGE . McDermotts aggressiveness paid off Big Time!

[JerseyBills]

Haven't seen this play talked about much at all but it ended up having a huge impact in the 4th quarter . If McDermott decides to take the extra point after the penalty , Cincy is likely down 3 on their final drive and likely call a completely different series. 

 

Now maybe that play calling doesn't get them in FG range , but if it does , they obviously have a chance at a 40 yard FG or so , potentially sending the game to OT. 

 

I thought it was a great call by McD. We had a ton of momentum , the crowd , and a defense that looked incredible . The usually conservative HCs decision turned out to have a huge impact!

 

I'm guessing they saw something on film and were extremely confident rolling Allen out to his right on possessions inside the 5 , as they did on the Knox TD ,then Beasely and he executed those passes to perfection.

[mikemac2001]

Totally agree! 
 

watching the josh Allen mic’d Up I was like damn what a huge call at the time. 

[mannc]

It was a great call and one McDermott definitely would not have made in year one.  He’s learning.

[Rochesterfan]

1 minute ago, mannc said:

It was a great call and one McDermott definitely would not have made in year one.  He’s learning.

 

Is he learning or does he actually have more horses on offense now so going for plays have a higher percentage of working?

2 minutes ago, mannc said:

It was a great call and one McDermott definitely would not have made in year one.  He’s learning.

 

For people that think he is conservative or a mini Jauron- just look at last year later in the season as Josh progressed and the Bills went for more 4th and shorts with his athleticism.

 

McDermott is a good coach and he has a pulse on the team and makes decisions based on team and situation and he has a pretty good feel - even if not everyone agrees.

[mannc]

17 minutes ago, Rochesterfan said:

 

Is he learning or does he actually have more horses on offense now so going for plays have a higher percentage of working?

 

Hard to tell for sure, but I think he’s growing more comfortable and confident and now realizes that sometimes “safe” decisions lose games.

Edited September 24, 2019 by mannc

[Comebackkid]

This didn't escape me. But mainly what was going through my mind was how ironic it was that this was the exact situation that Cincinnati was in on that final drive that got us to the playoffs

Edited September 24, 2019 by Comebackkid

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

He went for it because of the penalty right? 

[H2o]

That conversion kept Cincy from being able to have an opportunity to tie with a FG late. Instead they had to get the ball in the endzone. Insert TreD into that equation and you have a W. 

[RiotAct]

Never know how the game would have played out if we just kicked the XP there... but ceteris paribus, very good decision! 

[Boatdrinks]

The fact that the penalty places the ball at the 1 yard line makes the situation perfect for a “ pick play”. So good that an official threw a flag before Blakeman overruled on the basis of the one yard free zone. I don’t think they saw anything special on film, just that the rule makes the gamble a very good one. 

[Ned Flanders]

Never a realized a defensive penalty, especially a normal five-yarder, on the XP kick sends the ball to the one yard line.

[Just Joshin']

8 minutes ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

He went for it because of the penalty right? 

Yes.

[Rochesterfan]

3 minutes ago, Ned Flanders said:

Never a realized a defensive penalty, especially a normal five-yarder, on the XP kick sends the ball to the one yard line.

 

If they go for 2 pts - the penalty was 1/2 the difference from the 2.

[eball]

3 minutes ago, Ned Flanders said:

Never a realized a defensive penalty, especially a normal five-yarder, on the XP kick sends the ball to the one yard line.

 

Yes -- the offense has the option to enforce at the 2-yard-line and go for two.

[Rochesterfan]

10 minutes ago, H2o said:

That conversion kept Cincy from being able to have an opportunity to tie with a FG late. Instead they had to get the ball in the endzone. Insert TreD into that equation and you have a W. 

 

The conversion also had an impact on the Bills drive.  It made the Cincy lead only 3 points - so the Bills could be more aggressive on their drive once they got into FG range.  
 

If they had not gotten the 2pts and needed the TD because they were down by 4 - it makes the Bills drive much harder and even if they score - it makes the Cincy drive afterwards easier because of the score.

 

Of course what we will never know is the impact on the rest of the game - tons of other choices may have been different.

[The Dean]

35 minutes ago, Rochesterfan said:

 

Is he learning or does he actually have more horses on offense now so going for plays have a higher percentage of working?

 

 

Can't it be both? As this is his 1st HC job, I expect he is learning and growing. Hopefully he will continue to do so for several years.  With that said, the team is also more talented this year, and he is taking advantage of that talent. 

[No_Matter_What]

No offense to anybody but it never stops to confuse me why so many people do not understand simple concept that the game would go totally different in case that we were kicking. Every single snap would be different. It might have had same outcome, but only as a result of completely different actions.

 

Just to be clear - I am not questioning McD's decision. Quite the opposite, I really like it, and I really think it helped us overall.

 

But if anybody thinks that if we made different decision (PAT) at the beginning of the game it wouldn't change anything and it would be 20-17 (instead of 21-17) after Gore's TD with 3 mins left they are completely wrong.

[Rochesterfan]

Just now, The Dean said:

 

 

Can't it be both? As this is his 1st HC job, I expect he is learning and growing. Hopefully he will continue to do so for several years.  With that said, the team is also more talented this year, and he is taking advantage of that talent. 

 

It certainly could be both, but the point is - this was not something that just started - this started last year as Josh showed what he could do.

 

Even with limited talent last year - he started making more choices to go for it and was more successful.

[BillsFanSD]

18 minutes ago, No_Matter_What said:

No offense to anybody but it never stops to confuse me why so many people do not understand simple concept that the game would go totally different in case that we were kicking. Every single snap would be different. It might have had same outcome, but only as a result of completely different actions.

 

Just to be clear - I am not questioning McD's decision. Quite the opposite, I really like it, and I really think it helped us overall.

 

But if anybody thinks that if we made different decision (PAT) at the beginning of the game it wouldn't change anything and it would be 20-17 (instead of 21-17) after Gore's TD with 3 mins left they are completely wrong.

What specifically do you think would have happened differently?  I can't really come up with anything that would NOT have the score 20-17 for Cincinnati's final drive.  (Obviously that drive might go way differently if the offense had the option of attempting a game-tying FG instead of needing the TD).

[Golden*Wheels]

Worked out well--I didn't particularly like it though.

[PromoTheRobot]

Josh Allen is friggin' Superman with some of his throws. His most amazing one was to Zay Jones while he was getting driven back at his knees. That should have taken all the velocity of the ball.  But instead Allen fires the missile and threads the needle to Jones for a first down. That is jedi level stuff.

Edited September 24, 2019 by PromoTheRobot

[T&C]

25 minutes ago, No_Matter_What said:

No offense to anybody but it never stops to confuse me why so many people do not understand simple concept that the game would go totally different in case that we were kicking. Every single snap would be different. It might have had same outcome, but only as a result of completely different actions.

 

Just to be clear - I am not questioning McD's decision. Quite the opposite, I really like it, and I really think it helped us overall.

 

But if anybody thinks that if we made different decision (PAT) at the beginning of the game it wouldn't change anything and it would be 20-17 (instead of 21-17) after Gore's TD with 3 mins left they are completely wrong.

I get what you are saying and I agree. One second in time can change the outcome of most anything, not just football. Basically, the deck would have been reshuffled.

[JerseyBills]

59 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said:

The fact that the penalty places the ball at the 1 yard line makes the situation perfect for a “ pick play”. So good that an official threw a flag before Blakeman overruled on the basis of the one yard free zone. I don’t think they saw anything special on film, just that the rule makes the gamble a very good one. 

Great point ..

[JerseyBills]

19 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Josh Allen is friggin' Superman with some of his throws. His most amazing one was to Zay Jones while he was getting driven back at his knees. That should have taken all the velocity of the ball.  But instead Allen fires the missile and threads the needle to Jones for a first down. That is jedi level stuff.

That was an amazing play. He waited til the last millisecond, knowing he's going to get drilled and hit Zay with a perfectly placed bullet. 

It's every week now where we are seeing runs or throws that are just jaw dropping. 

 

That run on the last drive I believe where Allen escapes pressure in the backfield and dives for the first was another incredible play. 

 

Point is , I think myself and this fan base are seeing these amazing plays so much , maybe we don't appreciate it as much as we should because it's becoming the norm. 

[Fan in Chicago]

So NOT Jauron-esque as some over here have been parroting for a while ??

[ALLEN1QB]

Yep I told my wife toward the end of the game how important was the 2 point conversion biggest play of the game awesome play call

Edited September 24, 2019 by ALLEN1QB

[Plano]

1 hour ago, No_Matter_What said:

No offense to anybody but it never stops to confuse me why so many people do not understand simple concept that the game would go totally different in case that we were kicking. Every single snap would be different. It might have had same outcome, but only as a result of completely different actions.

 

Just to be clear - I am not questioning McD's decision. Quite the opposite, I really like it, and I really think it helped us overall.

 

But if anybody thinks that if we made different decision (PAT) at the beginning of the game it wouldn't change anything and it would be 20-17 (instead of 21-17) after Gore's TD with 3 mins left they are completely wrong.

or if we went for 2 and didn't get it...Cincinatti likely has a chance to win it at the end with a field goal into the wind.

[LSHMEAB]

I was screaming at the TV to go for two after the penalty. Quite honestly stunned McDermott went that route and it would have been the right call even if it failed. You'd have to assume the percentage creeps up past 60 percent at that point that the conversion will be successful.

 

He looked a little bit nervous to me; nervous as in it was somewhat against his nature but he knew it was the right decision. Like to think that experience will allow him to feel more comfortable making those types of decisions that are correct, but uncomfortable. 

1 minute ago, Plano said:

or if we went for 2 and didn't get it...Cincinatti likely has a chance to win it at the end with a field goal into the wind.

The odds are on your side that you'll get TWO in that situation, so it makes no mathematical sense to go for 1. The wind and the fact that a XP is NEVER a guarantee made it a slam dunk, but It was the right decision either way.

[Plano]

3 minutes ago, LSHMEAB said:

I was screaming at the TV to go for two after the penalty. Quite honestly stunned McDermott went that route and it would have been the right call even if it failed. You'd have to assume the percentage creeps up past 60 percent at that point that the conversion will be successful.

 

He looked a little bit nervous to me; nervous as in it was somewhat against his nature but he knew it was the right decision. Like to think that experience will allow him to feel more comfortable making those types of decisions that are correct, but uncomfortable. 

The odds are on your side that you'll get TWO in that situation, so it makes no mathematical sense to go for 1. The wind and the fact that a XP is NEVER a guarantee made it a slam dunk, but It was the right decision either way.

believe me i like the call, just pointing out that it was huge that we got the 2 pointer compared to the 1 or whiffing altogether

[msw2112]

I agree with the earlier post indicating:  1)  McD is evolving as he gains more experience as a head coach and is making better in-game decisions; AND 2)  McD has more confidence in the current squad, which is allowing him to take more risks, as the chances of success are greater.  Not only is he better at down and distance, he's also better with clock management and replay challenges.  I am enjoying seeing the improvement! 

 

That said, I disagreed with the decision to kneel down at the end of the 1st half of the Giants game.  We had time, decent field position, timeouts and lots of momentum.  We let our foot off of their throats and allowed them to get back in the game a little bit.  I would have tried to get into FG range (at least).  I realize that there is the risk of a sack, fumble or INT, but the way the momentum was at that point in the game, I think it would have been worth the risk.

[T&C]

28 minutes ago, Plano said:

or if we went for 2 and didn't get it...Cincinatti likely has a chance to win it at the end with a field goal into the wind.

Some are not getting what he meant. Anything that happened After the play was in the future. If you alter the history, which that play became immediately when it was over, you are altering the future. The game would not have turned out the way it did.

[Rochesterfan]

30 minutes ago, msw2112 said:

I agree with the earlier post indicating:  1)  McD is evolving as he gains more experience as a head coach and is making better in-game decisions; AND 2)  McD has more confidence in the current squad, which is allowing him to take more risks, as the chances of success are greater.  Not only is he better at down and distance, he's also better with clock management and replay challenges.  I am enjoying seeing the improvement! 

 

That said, I disagreed with the decision to kneel down at the end of the 1st half of the Giants game.  We had time, decent field position, timeouts and lots of momentum.  We let our foot off of their throats and allowed them to get back in the game a little bit.  I would have tried to get into FG range (at least).  I realize that there is the risk of a sack, fumble or INT, but the way the momentum was at that point in the game, I think it would have been worth the risk.

 

 

That is fine if you ignore the fact that in that game the Bills had already tried to move within 2 minutes and a major adjustment by the Giants had caused issues with the Bills previous drive and that almost cost the Bills points to let the Giants back into the game minus an amazing defensive effort.

 

After the failed drive and with longer to go and getting the ball after the half - McDermott made a strategic decision to allow his offense to regroup rather than risk letting the Giants back in.  You saw the potential consequences at the end of the half against Cincinnati when Josh fumbled and a lucky break occurred with the ball/player being ruled out of bounds.  We missed a long field goal, but that easily could have been Cincinnati ball on the Buffalo side of the field - completely altering the game and momentum.

 

Sometimes it is ok to kneel down and take a big lead into the half - just as sometimes it is ok to punt.  It may be a bigger win to not score and hold your momentum rather than risk a turn over and giving the other team life.

Edited September 24, 2019 by Rochesterfan