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NE Game Revisted: How Bills Could Have Won On 2 Plays


Dr.Sack

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In review of the epic showdown two weeks ago, it seemed we let an easily winnable game slip through our fingertips. Sometimes outcomes of games can change based on one or two critical decisions. Here is a strategy we should have employed to win the game knowing we were in a low scoring street fight. Sure Allen struggled, but the Bills moved the ball enough to win the game and were in scoring range. Against a team like NE you need to have drives that end in scores.

 

3rd & 9 ball on NE 35 1st Quarter 3:39.

  • Actual play: Allen is sacked for a 7 yard loss. Bills punt. Score 0-13
  • Better play: Bills run a draw / run to Yeldon or Gore and pick up 5 yards. It's 4th & 4 on the NE 30. Hauschka drills a 48 yard FG. Score 3-13

 

3rd & 10 ball on NE 26 2nd Quarter 0:29. 

  • Actual play: Allen is sacked for a 5 yard loss. Hauschka misses the ensuing 49 yard FG. Score 3-13 at halftime.
  • Better play: Again another draw / run to Yeldon or Gore that picks up 3 yards, it's 4th and 7 on the NE 23. Hauschka drills a 41 yard FG. Score is now 9-13

 

Bills go on to take a 16 to 13 lead on the Allen 1 yard rush. Allen might not get the concussion, but let's assume it still happened. Due to Bills having the lead they kick a FG on 4th & 3 at the NE 3. Hauschka converts a 21 chip shot. Score 19-13. 

 

Final Bills 19 New England 13. 

 

 

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5 minutes ago, 947 said:

Yep. Gain 3 yards instead of losing 5 yards on the sack.

 

4 minutes ago, The Wiz said:

How the bills could have won on 1 play:

Don't get the punt blocked and play how they were all game.  Final score NE 9, BUF 10

 

2 minutes ago, Magox said:

3 + 5 = 8

Right I missed the 5.

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16 minutes ago, Dr.Sack said:

In review of the epic showdown two weeks ago, it seemed we let an easily winnable game slip through our fingertips. Sometimes outcomes of games can change based on one or two critical decisions. Here is a strategy we should have employed to win the game knowing we were in a low scoring street fight. Sure Allen struggled, but the Bills moved the ball enough to win the game and were in scoring range. Against a team like NE you need to have drives that end in scores.

 

3rd & 9 ball on NE 35 1st Quarter 3:39.

  • Actual play: Allen is sacked for a 7 yard loss. Bills punt. Score 0-13
  • Better play: Bills run a draw / run to Yeldon or Gore and pick up 5 yards. It's 4th & 4 on the NE 30. Hauschka drills a 48 yard FG. Score 3-13

 

3rd & 10 ball on NE 26 2nd Quarter 0:29. 

  • Actual play: Allen is sacked for a 5 yard loss. Hauschka misses the ensuing 49 yard FG. Score 3-13 at halftime.
  • Better play: Again another draw / run to Yeldon or Gore that picks up 3 yards, it's 4th and 7 on the NE 23. Hauschka drills a 41 yard FG. Score is now 9-13

 

Bills go on to take a 16 to 13 lead on the Allen 1 yard rush. Allen might not get the concussion, but let's assume it still happened. Due to Bills having the lead they kick a FG on 4th & 3 at the NE 3. Hauschka converts a 21 chip shot. Score 19-13. 

 

Final Bills 19 New England 13. 

 

 

that game completely turned when the Int, that Zay let the CB jump over him as he watched, was incorrectly ruled a completion even after review.

 

Zay was standing out of bounds while contacting the player and ball as the Patriot was still in the air and had not touched down at all yet. This should have been an in-completion. 

This led to 3 pts for Pats and changed strategy immensely going forward.

 

Bills could have kicked a few field goals when getting close and facing 4th down instead of going for it. Bills well could have won the way Bills D was playing that day.

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25 minutes ago, Dr.Sack said:

In review of the epic showdown two weeks ago, it seemed we let an easily winnable game slip through our fingertips. Sometimes outcomes of games can change based on one or two critical decisions. Here is a strategy we should have employed to win the game knowing we were in a low scoring street fight. Sure Allen struggled, but the Bills moved the ball enough to win the game and were in scoring range. Against a team like NE you need to have drives that end in scores.

 

3rd & 9 ball on NE 35 1st Quarter 3:39.

  • Actual play: Allen is sacked for a 7 yard loss. Bills punt. Score 0-13
  • Better play: Bills run a draw / run to Yeldon or Gore and pick up 5 yards. It's 4th & 4 on the NE 30. Hauschka drills a 48 yard FG. Score 3-13

 

3rd & 10 ball on NE 26 2nd Quarter 0:29. 

  • Actual play: Allen is sacked for a 5 yard loss. Hauschka misses the ensuing 49 yard FG. Score 3-13 at halftime.
  • Better play: Again another draw / run to Yeldon or Gore that picks up 3 yards, it's 4th and 7 on the NE 23. Hauschka drills a 41 yard FG. Score is now 9-13

 

Bills go on to take a 16 to 13 lead on the Allen 1 yard rush. Allen might not get the concussion, but let's assume it still happened. Due to Bills having the lead they kick a FG on 4th & 3 at the NE 3. Hauschka converts a 21 chip shot. Score 19-13. 

 

Final Bills 19 New England 13. 

 

 

Allen could have just thrown the ball away like a good QB. Don’t need different playcalls, just our QB to use that thing between his ears.

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43 minutes ago, Dr.Sack said:

Here is a strategy we should have employed to win the game knowing we were in a low scoring street fight.

 

Final Bills 19 New England 13. 

 

 

It's easy to play that game if you assume that just because you call a run that we gain yardage. Life doesn't work that way.

 

Very very (very) few Pats games over the past 15 years have been low-scoring street fights. It's only in hindsight that you can make that assumption. 

 

Over the years, teams that settle for FGs against the Pats lose by being outscored. 

 

There were a lot of plays where if the Bills had done better they'd have won. That's how it works in close games. There were also a lot of plays where if the Pats had done better they'd have won by more. I thought sure you would refer to the punt block. I have no problem with  going pass on those two plays. Throw the ball away if rushed. Or make the field goal.

 

 

Edited by Thurman#1
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43 minutes ago, Dr.Sack said:

3rd & 9 ball on NE 35 1st Quarter 3:39.

  • Actual play: Allen is sacked for a 7 yard loss. Bills punt. Score 0-13
  • Better play: Bills run a draw / run to Yeldon or Gore and pick up 5 yards. It's 4th & 4 on the NE 30. Hauschka drills a 48 yard FG. Score 3-13

 

3rd & 10 ball on NE 26 2nd Quarter 0:29. 

  • Actual play: Allen is sacked for a 5 yard loss. Hauschka misses the ensuing 49 yard FG. Score 3-13 at halftime.
  • Better play: Again another draw / run to Yeldon or Gore that picks up 3 yards, it's 4th and 7 on the NE 23. Hauschka drills a 41 yard FG. Score is now 9-13.

You have to trust your quarterback to throw it away if the play's not there to stay in field goal range.  A draw up the middle to ensure a field goal but pry not a first down is way too conservative.

Edited by Doc Brown
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