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

[Dr.Sack]

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. 

 

 

[TroutDog]

These are always fun but, in reality, everything would change after the first change. 
 

I’m with you, it was a winnable game. What matters to me at this point is that Josh learns that he MUST protect the ball above all else. 

[DBilz2500]

Score effects would change how NE would be playing as well. They would be playing to score at end instead of take a knee and play calling and strategy would be different from their end. 

[Warcodered]

So if they gain 3 yards a 49yd kick becomes 41?

[947]

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

[The Wiz]

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

[BuffAlone]

this is an absolute fruitless exercise. everything changes after the first point has altered. 

[Magox]

6 minutes ago, Warcodered said:

So if they gain 3 yards a 49yd kick becomes 41?

3 + 5 = 8

[HOUSE]

If only I had married the Kings daughter

[Warcodered]

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.

[cba fan]

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.

[4merper4mer]

3rd and a half to goal instead of bogus ref spot on 2 after Brown's catch could have resulted in a TD easily.

[BringBackOrton]

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.

[Thurman#1]

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 October 12, 2019 by Thurman#1

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

6 minutes ago, Warcodered said:

 

 

Right I missed the 5.

Always assume there is a 5 when adding or subtracting numbers under 10. It’s a prime.  Pretty much learn that day one in home school. 

[GreggTX]

Punt doesn't get blocked and returned for a TD. Bills win 10-9. Oh wait. They missed the PAT. My bad. Well, we would have won in OT then, right?

Edited October 12, 2019 by GreggTX

[Freddie's Dead]

Refs call the PI/facemask/holding on Gilmore vs. Smoke, and it's 1st and goal for the Bills at the Cheats 9 yard line.  Refs call the facemask on Josh instead of the INT on the sidelines which ended Zay's career in Buffalo?  Bills still driving...

[Doc Brown]

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 October 12, 2019 by Doc Brown

[CommonCents]

If we are doing this, I’d say activating Duke and benching Zay could have been the difference. Would Duke have gave up on the pick? Would Duke have changed the play calling inside the 5 at the end of the game? 

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

If John Brown doesn’t get tackled on the 1 with a wide open corner and only Gilmore to beat

Edited October 13, 2019 by Brianmoorman4jesus

[artmalibu]

I will boil it down to 1 play.

 

Dont have a blocked punt.

[Nick the Greek]

That’s football. Close games come down to a few plays.. even calls by the ref. 
 

with this being the case, that is why SPECIAL TEAMS IS SOOOO IMPORTANT. 

[JoPar_v2]

Yes run draw plays all game that’s the ticket!

[Don Otreply]

We had our chances for sure, our 2nd chance will be our redemption.

 

Go Bills!!!

[Hapless Bills Fan]

56 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

 

If we're going to do the "what if?" this is my choice.

 

But also, what the folks who say "everything changes after one play" are saying.  You really can't change 2-3 plays and have it be the same game.

 

Without the blocked punt though, I think the changes would be in our favor.  We had just had a squirrely series on offense.  Incomplete pass, dug into a 2nd-and-15 hole by Lee Smith, fumble recovered by us, incomplete pass.  A nice deep punt gives Josh a chance to sit and regroup, watch the plays, talk to his coaches and Barkley.  Hopefully not too long a chance if our D does its Thang, but a chance. 

 

[Giuseppe Tognarelli]

2 hours ago, Dr.Sack said:

 

• 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. 

A 6-point field goal? Inconceivable!

[Maine-iac]

1)Allen doesn't take the sack.

2)Allen doesn't take the sack

3) Allen throws the ball more accurately on interception #2 (Jones was actually open) and it's a  TD.

4)Someone recognizes the extra man in to rush the punt and puts a blocker on them.

 

 

I thought I was watching a rerun most of the Pats/Giants game.

[letsgoteam]

What happens if Yeldon comes down with the catch and gets a TD?

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

3 hours 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

 

Exactly.  Gunners come in to block and punt gets of a solid boot instead of a NE TD

[Success]

Yeah, and if Spiller just hadn’t fumbled, or McKelvin, or...

 

It’s the gods.   They favor tables, and the splitting of tables angers them like nothing else.

[KD in CA]

Or...learn how to block on a ***** punt.

[Kwai San]

3 hours ago, TroutDog said:

These are always fun but, in reality, everything would change after the first change. 
 

I’m with you, it was a winnable game. What matters to me at this point is that Josh learns that he MUST protect the ball above all else. 

 

      /\

This 1001%.  Both sentences stand on their own merit.  Both are 100% true.

[wagon127]

Im over that game. Just beat them in week 16 now!

[row_33]

5 hours ago, Warcodered said:

So if they gain 3 yards a 49yd kick becomes 41?

LOL

 Not sure why people waste their time reconstructing what night have happened

 

they always change it so their team comes out perfect and the other team was powerless to make any change in real time to the different score and situation in real time

 

 

[BringMetheHeadofLeonLett]

We fuggin lost, like any other game.  

 

 

And that's the beauty of it.  And that's why Tampa Bay Twelve went home in a huff.  They might still beat us again, but their ride is over

[Buffalo Barbarian]

I can do it one play.

 

dont give up blocked punt for a touchdown.

 

 

[MJS]

Do the Patriots get to change two of their plays too?

 

Like, instead of throwing an INT on the goal line, they throw a TD pass instead, or kick a field goal at least?

 

Instead of allowing Josh Allen to run in for a TD, they cover him and stop him?

 

 

[LABILLBACKER]

9 hours 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

 

8 hours ago, BringBackOrton said:

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.

These 2 plays cost us the game.  But the good news is our Defense is dominant and Brady isn't anymore. 

[Xwnyer]

12 hours 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. 

 

 

real reality avoid the damn blocked punt by realizing both gunners uncovered by either throwing a pass to them first down or TD or come back in and block.  Prevents 6 points and than Bills kick FG in fourth and game over Bills 5-0

[ny33]

12 hours 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. 

 

 

Good stuff, but we were lucky to win both the Bengals and Jets games thanks to Mr. Hyde showing up far too often and Dr. Jekyll disappearing for quarters at a time. Encouraging that we were within a score after Allen’s first half and shows that this team can beat anyone.