We are on to Philadelphia

[GunnerBill]

Okay Sunday was not a great performance. It was the closest the defense has come to a down day all season (21 points is still better than average in the modern NFL) and the first half offense was simply not good enough. But, having said all of that, the Bills won the game.

And now the games that will define this Buffalo Bills football season are about to begin. There are enough "must have" games left on the schedule - Dolphins, Redskins, Broncos and Jets - that the Bills can win 9 games without really beating anyone. Three of those four games are at home. 9 wins might get the Bills into the playoffs in this morass of averageness that is the 2019 AFC.

But 9-7 beating some ordinary teams is not what this team should aspire to be. It has a top 3 defense. It has a Quarterback who for his flaws and the inconsistency seems to come alive in the 4th Quarter. It doesn't have elite offensive playmakers but it has enough guys who can make plays to win games.

This team should be aspiring to really make a statement in Buffalo. Not another 9-7. A real season that demonstrates the culture is changed and that changes the national narrative. 10, 11 even 12 wins are feasible. But to get there the Bills must first get to 6-1 and separate themselves from the chasing playoff pack. To do that they must beat a Philadelphia team that has its own struggles but for those struggles is only two years removed from hoisting a Lombardi.

What I want to see on Sunday is a Bills team that has regained its focus and comes out ready to play from the first whistle. A team that senses the opportunity in front of it. A team for whom scraping in to the post season is no longer sufficient.

Eagles, Browns, Cowboys, Ravens, Steelers. Five games in the next eight weeks that will show us who these Bills really are.

We are on to Philadelphia.

[ALLEN1QB]

I live outside Philly these fans are ready to jump after losing to the Cowboys like that. If Buffalo puts a shellacking on them it will put them over the edge

[Royale with Cheese]

I kinda want to see the Bills do what they did in the opener....come out throwing.  That's where Philly's D struggles...they give up the most 40+ yard passing plays so far (I believe eight and just overall....can't cover anyone.  This is where we need to win the game.  

Edited October 22, 2019 by Royale with Cheese

[jimmy10]

8 minutes ago, ALLEN1QB said:

I live outside Philly these fans are ready to jump after losing to the Cowboys like that. If Buffalo puts a shellacking on them it will put them over the edge

Yeah, Iggles fans genuinely scare me. Of the top three dirtbag fanbases, Oakland is basically KISS, we Bills fans are mainly good-natured dirtbags, but Philly fans are on another level. 

Edited October 22, 2019 by jimmy10

[Chandler#81]

on the philly WHAT? Cream Cheese? Bandwagon? Santa beatings?

 

To the likely topic, Eagles are a wounded animal. Hot & Cold, hit & miss. Their last game was a disaster even though their still in 2nd place in their crappy division. They will play with desperation and it’s going to take a 4 Quarter game to win. 

If we get down by 10 or so early, please don’t Boo. The Bills have shown one true consistency this year. They’re resilient. We’re chasing the team of the Century in ours. If we truly want to play at home in January, this is critical toward that goal. 60 minutes or more. Whatever it takes.

[Capco]

Brown and the TEs should have a good game.  I'd love to see Duke come out and dominate their secondary physically.  

[TH3]

I am concerned (see what I did there) with the use of "I need to see".....When did "I need to see" become such a thing? Need to see Josh throw 300.....need to see a signature win....need to see a complete game...need to see a long ball

 

This site is rife with people who "need to see" something.....see something or what? If you use that term you should tell us what you are going to do if you don't see it and follow through!

 

You are gonna get on the blower and call Tpegs and Beane? Completely lose your interest in the Bills? Cancel your seasons? Or are you just gonna double down with more stuff that you "need to see" ?

 

  

[JESSEFEFFER]

2 minutes ago, Chandler#81 said:

on the philly WHAT? Cream Cheese? Bandwagon? Santa beatings?

 

To the likely topic, Eagles are a wounded animal. Hot & Cold, hit & miss. Their last game was a disaster even though their still in 2nd place in their crappy division. They will play with desperation and it’s going to take a 4 Quarter game to win. 

If we get down by 10 or so early, please don’t Boo. The Bills have shown one true consistency this year. They’re resilient. We’re chasing the team of the Century in ours. If we truly want to play at home in January, this is critical toward that goal. 60 minutes or more. Whatever it takes.

 

I found the booing to be interesting.  I did not feel it was boo worthy given the way things went but some in my section were quite angry.  The D ran into a Dolphins offense infected with Fitzmagic and the offense had trouble finishing their drives due to whom they are at this point in time.  Fitzmajic does wear off eventually and the offense does finish games well. 

 

Now, I have done my share of halftime booing based on lethargic, sloppy or timid play as my only means of expressing my displeasure but I really have not seen much of that with this team.  Sloppy is often the other side of the coin of being aggressive so I can accept some of that within a game especially with a young team refining their style of play.

 

 

[Mr. WEO]

This will be an interesting game.  Eagles circling the drain.  Need a strong put down.

[RiotAct]

I am off the Philadelphia.  

[JESSEFEFFER]

3 minutes ago, TH3 said:

I am concerned (see what I did there) with the use of "I need to see".....When did "I need to see" become such a thing? Need to see Josh throw 300.....need to see a signature win....need to see a complete game...need to see a long ball

 

This site is rife with people who "need to see" something.....see something or what? If you use that term you should tell us what you are going to do if you don't see it and follow through!

 

You are gonna get on the blower and call Tpegs and Beane? Completely lose your interest in the Bills? Cancel your seasons? Or are you just gonna double down with more stuff that you "need to see" ?

 

  

 

Years ago my brother told of a visit to Toys-R-Us he made with his son who was probably  around 4 at the time.  He was really into some type of toy at that time, maybe Beast Wars, and was doing his best lobbying effort.  "But Dad, I NEEEED it!," he said.  Funny how my nephew, who is almost a pediatrician now, knew at the age of 4 the difference between the words "want" and "need" and thought it could help his case.

 

Need is a transactional word.  We need "this" for "that."  Give a mouse a cookie..........

[BuffaloHokie13]

I did have a piece of cheesecake this morning, but I feel fine. Maybe I'll just hydrate a bit before going anywhere. 

[RiotAct]

32 minutes ago, TH3 said:

I am concerned (see what I did there) with the use of "I need to see".....When did "I need to see" become such a thing? Need to see Josh throw 300.....need to see a signature win....need to see a complete game...need to see a long ball

 

This site is rife with people who "need to see" something.....see something or what? If you use that term you should tell us what you are going to do if you don't see it and follow through!

 

You are gonna get on the blower and call Tpegs and Beane? Completely lose your interest in the Bills? Cancel your seasons? Or are you just gonna double down with more stuff that you "need to see" ?

 

  

Relax.  It’s a discussion board, and people are saying what they need (really want) to see out of the team before they completely buy in.

[JoshAllenHasBigHands]

37 minutes ago, TH3 said:

I am concerned (see what I did there) with the use of "I need to see".....When did "I need to see" become such a thing? Need to see Josh throw 300.....need to see a signature win....need to see a complete game...need to see a long ball

 

This site is rife with people who "need to see" something.....see something or what? If you use that term you should tell us what you are going to do if you don't see it and follow through!

 

You are gonna get on the blower and call Tpegs and Beane? Completely lose your interest in the Bills? Cancel your seasons? Or are you just gonna double down with more stuff that you "need to see" ?

 

  

 

A simple like does not encapsulate how I feel about this post. As fans, we can need whatever we want, but it doesn't matter. Love it. 

[Royale with Cheese]

22 minutes ago, BuffaloHokie13 said:

I did have a piece of cheesecake this morning, but I feel fine. Maybe I'll just hydrate a bit before going anywhere. 

 

OMG you're so fat.

[Gray Beard]

Kay Adams on GMFB said to pick up John Brown on your fantasy team this week.  Curse?

[Shaw66]

36 minutes ago, JESSEFEFFER said:

 

I found the booing to be interesting.  I did not feel it was boo worthy given the way things went but some in my section were quite angry.  The D ran into a Dolphins offense infected with Fitzmagic and the offense had trouble finishing their drives due to whom they are at this point in time.  Fitzmajic does wear off eventually and the offense does finish games well. 

 

Now, I have done my share of halftime booing based on lethargic, sloppy or timid play as my only means of expressing my displeasure but I really have not seen much of that with this team.  Sloppy is often the other side of the coin of being aggressive so I can accept some of that within a game especially with a young team refining their style of play.

 

 

You're right about this. 

 

I don't boo them ever, but that's just me.  In any case, as I said someplace else, I thought fans were booing because they weren't getting what they expected or wanted.  That's just selfish.

 

The team wasn't playing all that badly.   They had the penalties, which was a problem, and they made some other mistakes.  But other than that, they'd moved the ball, as well as the Dolphins, they just hadn't finished drives well.  The Dolphins were playing really well.  

 

The commentators are talking more these days about game specific game plans.  That's the league - you plan week by week.  Your opponent plans week by week.  The Dolphins clearly had prepared for the Bills really well.  The Bills had prepared not quite as well, but well enough that they were able to get the job done.  

 

People who say the Bills should have crushed the Dolphins and therefore were playing badly are just wrong.   The evidence is the Jets.   The Jets were pretty bad to horrible most of the season, then man handle the Cowboys.  Then they were blown away by the Pats.  We weren't upset when the Pats beat the Cowboys, but somehow fans are outraged because the Dolphins modestly outplayed the Bills for a half.   It's just the nature of the league.  

[Bleedbuffaloblue]

I too don’t think the booing was warranted. I wasn’t there, but home watching on tv I was not happy at all with the way things were playing out in the first half . Definitely did not want this game to turn into another notch in Fitzmagic’s gun stock! Kept hoping and praying for more of the Bills late game heroics and fortunately was rewarded. Just can’t help but think we might just be witnessing the start of something special this season. 

An old guy can hope anyways, right? GO BILLS !

[Florida Bills Fanatic]

2 hours ago, BuffaloHokie13 said:

I did have a piece of cheesecake this morning, but I feel fine. Maybe I'll just hydrate a bit before going anywhere. 

If you had washed it down with a shake from Anderson's, you'd be my new hero!

[Buddo]

I was a bit surprised at the booing, yet understood it.

 

I think the fans were basically saying that the team needed to get over itself.

 

Just in case the coaches somehow failed to point it out at the half.

 

I also believe it was aimed at the overall sloppy play on both sides of the football. Too many mistakes, penalties, etc. many of which were pretty poor showings, from missed tackles to eminently catchable footballs dropped. And far too many pre-snap penalties. They might drive the coaches mad, but they really get fans pissed.

[Patrick Duffy]

Well one Eagle we won't have to worry too much about is Agulor lol. Saw a segment on one of the football shows where Wentz threw pretty much a perfect ball and all he really had to do was extend to catch it. Guy didn't even attempt to make a play on the ball.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

4 hours ago, Capco said:

Brown and the TEs should have a good game.  I'd love to see Duke come out and dominate their secondary physically.  

 

I'd like to start out by hoping that Brown didn't aggrevate his hammy and Duke's shoulder is not serious.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

11 minutes ago, Patrick_Duffy said:

Well one Eagle we won't have to worry too much about is Agulor lol. Saw a segment on one of the football shows where Wentz threw pretty much a perfect ball and all he really had to do was extend to catch it. Guy didn't even attempt to make a play on the ball.

 

I had a look on all-22 and I don't think that ball was as catchable as it looked from the angle they showed.  I think it was thrown a bit too long, thus too high for him to lay out and catch it.

[Patrick Duffy]

28 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I had a look on all-22 and I don't think that ball was as catchable as it looked from the angle they showed.  I think it was thrown a bit too long, thus too high for him to lay out and catch it.

Oh, I didn't see the all-22. I just saw the one angle they showed and from the one they showed it looked as if he basically just needed to extend his arms.But if the all-22 shows different then you may be right.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

3 minutes ago, Patrick_Duffy said:

Oh, I didn't see the all-22. I just saw the one angle they showed and from the one they showed it looked as if he basically just needed to extend his arms.But if the all-22 shows different then you may be right.

 

Frankly, it was tough to tell but I watched it in slomo from both angles and the broadcast and came to that conclusion.  It might have been a possible catch for a guy with a big vertical leap who launched himself but it wasn't a "gimmee"

[Alphadawg7]

6 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

Okay Sunday was not a great performance. It was the closest the defense has come to a down day all season (21 points is still better than average in the modern NFL) and the first half offense was simply not good enough. But, having said all of that, the Bills won the game.

And now the games that will define this Buffalo Bills football season are about to begin. There are enough "must have" games left on the schedule - Dolphins, Redskins, Broncos and Jets - that the Bills can win 9 games without really beating anyone. Three of those four games are at home. 9 wins might get the Bills into the playoffs in this morass of averageness that is the 2019 AFC.

But 9-7 beating some ordinary teams is not what this team should aspire to be. It has a top 3 defense. It has a Quarterback who for his flaws and the inconsistency seems to come alive in the 4th Quarter. It doesn't have elite offensive playmakers but it has enough guys who can make plays to win games.

This team should be aspiring to really make a statement in Buffalo. Not another 9-7. A real season that demonstrates the culture is changed and that changes the national narrative. 10, 11 even 12 wins are feasible. But to get there the Bills must first get to 6-1 and separate themselves from the chasing playoff pack. To do that they must beat a Philadelphia team that has its own struggles but for those struggles is only two years removed from hoisting a Lombardi.

What I want to see on Sunday is a Bills team that has regained its focus and comes out ready to play from the first whistle. A team that senses the opportunity in front of it. A team for whom scraping in to the post season is no longer sufficient.

Eagles, Browns, Cowboys, Ravens, Steelers. Five games in the next eight weeks that will show us who these Bills really are.

We are on to Philadelphia.

 

Definitely probably the worst game of the year for the D, but I also dont think it was really that bad.  Mainly because when the game mattered, the Bills D gave up 14.  That last Miami TD, Bills were up 2 scores and were playing softer to run the clock down.  Onside kick conversions are at 0% for 2019 and nearly impossible to convert under the new rules.  So they were working the clock more on that drive than anything.   

 

They did still allow the score, so not excusing them...but to get down the field, Bills let them have some cushion to chew clock.  So I think the defensive woes have been a bit exaggerated around here and during the game.  We had some huge defensive plays too that turned the game and even sealed it for us.  

 

Now the first half, both sides of the ball were struggling and flat.  But in the 2nd, Jordan Philips single handedly turned the tide of this game with his sack on Fitz near the goal line which led to the Tre INT the next play.  

[dollars 2 donuts]

5 hours ago, ALLEN1QB said:

I live outside Philly these fans are ready to jump after losing to the Cowboys like that. If Buffalo puts a shellacking on them it will put them over the edge

 

 

Putting a shellacking on other teams early and taking them out of the game is in our wheelhouse, so it should be no problem.

 

...it's our mojo.

 

...it's our jam.

 

...it's how we roll.

[Alphadawg7]

Funny...in terms of the Bills gaining more clout as a team to watch out for, Phill is a lose lose situation.  Even with the 2nd best record, Bills are still looked at as the worst playoff team if the season ended today and basically being overlooked for NE, KC, HOU, BALT, and INDY.  

 

If we beat Philly, people are going to just say we beat up another bad team as they would then be a couple games under .500

If we lose the game, people are going to say see the Bills aren't as good as their record and only beat the lower tier teams

 

Which for me, is a great for us...because I prefer us being the underdog, the team people are sleeping on just before we come into the stadium and punch them in the mouth.  

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

5 hours ago, TH3 said:

I am concerned (see what I did there) with the use of "I need to see".....When did "I need to see" become such a thing? Need to see Josh throw 300.....need to see a signature win....need to see a complete game...need to see a long ball

 

This site is rife with people who "need to see" something.....see something or what? If you use that term you should tell us what you are going to do if you don't see it and follow through!

 

You are gonna get on the blower and call Tpegs and Beane? Completely lose your interest in the Bills? Cancel your seasons? Or are you just gonna double down with more stuff that you "need to see" ?

 

  

EXACTLY.

 

So much the self importance lol

 

[CowgirlsFan]

Exactly and I am coming to the game.

[chaccof]

I thought the game was in Orchard Park?  No?  Wha'd I miss?

[billsfan_34]

8 hours ago, Royale with Cheese said:

I kinda want to see the Bills do what they did in the opener....come out throwing.  That's where Philly's D struggles...they give up the most 40+ yard passing plays so far (I believe eight and just overall....can't cover anyone.  This is where we need to win the game.  

After we abandoned the run after Gore ripping off 9 the pass game was putrid in the first half. Personally I am sick of the empty backfield. Lets pound it and mix in some play action. Change to an empty backfield at the line when it’s favorable by splitting motor out. 

[TroutDog]

7 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

You're right about this. 

 

I don't boo them ever, but that's just me.  In any case, as I said someplace else, I thought fans were booing because they weren't getting what they expected or wanted.  That's just selfish.

 

The team wasn't playing all that badly.   They had the penalties, which was a problem, and they made some other mistakes.  But other than that, they'd moved the ball, as well as the Dolphins, they just hadn't finished drives well.  The Dolphins were playing really well.  

 

The commentators are talking more these days about game specific game plans.  That's the league - you plan week by week.  Your opponent plans week by week.  The Dolphins clearly had prepared for the Bills really well.  The Bills had prepared not quite as well, but well enough that they were able to get the job done.  

 

People who say the Bills should have crushed the Dolphins and therefore were playing badly are just wrong.   The evidence is the Jets.   The Jets were pretty bad to horrible most of the season, then man handle the Cowboys.  Then they were blown away by the Pats.  We weren't upset when the Pats beat the Cowboys, but somehow fans are outraged because the Dolphins modestly outplayed the Bills for a half.   It's just the nature of the league.  

I’m not sure about this. With the team getting the entire week off, I believe it was, as a number of them said post game (and was mentioned countless times on WGR this week), they were rusty and out of sorts. 
 

I suspect the entire week off will benefit them long term but, perhaps, caused them unforeseen challenges in the first game back. Just my opinion. 

[ny33]

7 hours ago, Gray Beard said:

Kay Adams on GMFB said to pick up John Brown on your fantasy team this week.  Curse?

In what world would John Brown not be owned, at minimum, after week 1?

[Shaw66]

2 minutes ago, TroutDog said:

I’m not sure about this. With the team getting the entire week off, I believe it was, as a number of them said post game (and was mentioned countless times on WGR this week), they were rusty and out of sorts. 
 

I suspect the entire week off will benefit them long term but, perhaps, caused them unforeseen challenges in the first game back. Just my opinion. 

The players may have said that, but what do the players know?  Really.   Even if they had the thought, they weren't going to say the game plan sucked.  

 

Either way, however, the Bills coaching failed.  If the players were rusty and out of sorts, they weren't ready to play.  That's on the coaches.  If they had a lousy game plan, that's on the coaches.  As someone said, the players didn't look like they weren't trying. 

[TroutDog]

13 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

The players may have said that, but what do the players know?  Really.   Even if they had the thought, they weren't going to say the game plan sucked.  

 

Either way, however, the Bills coaching failed.  If the players were rusty and out of sorts, they weren't ready to play.  That's on the coaches.  If they had a lousy game plan, that's on the coaches.  As someone said, the players didn't look like they weren't trying. 

I respectfully disagree. After a week off it is no surprise to me that many were still in ‘coast’ mode. 
 

The game plan couldn’t have been all bad since we won. ? 

Edited October 23, 2019 by TroutDog

[Capco]

4 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I'd like to start out by hoping that Brown didn't aggrevate his hammy and Duke's shoulder is not serious.

 

Oof I forgot. 

 

Booooo!

[GunnerBill]

4 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

Definitely probably the worst game of the year for the D, but I also dont think it was really that bad.  Mainly because when the game mattered, the Bills D gave up 14.  That last Miami TD, Bills were up 2 scores and were playing softer to run the clock down.  Onside kick conversions are at 0% for 2019 and nearly impossible to convert under the new rules.  So they were working the clock more on that drive than anything.   

 

They did still allow the score, so not excusing them...but to get down the field, Bills let them have some cushion to chew clock.  So I think the defensive woes have been a bit exaggerated around here and during the game.  We had some huge defensive plays too that turned the game and even sealed it for us.  

 

Now the first half, both sides of the ball were struggling and flat.  But in the 2nd, Jordan Philips single handedly turned the tide of this game with his sack on Fitz near the goal line which led to the Tre INT the next play.  

 

100% agree. They let up 21 but when the game was really live they gave up 14.

[GunnerBill]

4 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Frankly, it was tough to tell but I watched it in slomo from both angles and the broadcast and came to that conclusion.  It might have been a possible catch for a guy with a big vertical leap who launched himself but it wasn't a "gimmee"

 

That is how I saw it too. Really tough but just about makeable. 

1 hour ago, Shaw66 said:

The players may have said that, but what do the players know?  Really.   Even if they had the thought, they weren't going to say the game plan sucked.  

 

Either way, however, the Bills coaching failed.  If the players were rusty and out of sorts, they weren't ready to play.  That's on the coaches.  If they had a lousy game plan, that's on the coaches.  As someone said, the players didn't look like they weren't trying. 

 

So maybe I am biased having been a much better coach than player in another sport. But I believe motivation mainly comes from within. Do the coaching staff deserve some flack for the Bills coming out flat? Sure. But it is mainly on the players for me.