Keys to Success against the Pats

[Virgil]

Tomorrow is big game to me, not for final standings, but to complete this journey the Bills are on this season.  This game means something to both the Bills and the Pats tomorrow, and possibly more to the Pats.  Yes, I know we can still win the division if Miami pulls off the upset next week, but the odds of that are low.  Home Field and a bye week is more on the line for the Pats this week with the Chiefs breathing down their necks.  So, beating the Pats in Foxboro in December when the Pats are relatively healthy and need the game would be something we also haven't done in almost 20 years.  Winning this game would drop the final monkey off our back and give McD his first win over the hoodie.  And honestly, for the first time in a long time, I genuinely believe they can.  There are no moral victories here.

 

1)  Mistake free football - No special teams gaffs, not turnovers in our own territory, just strong fundamentals. 

 

2)  Play OUR defensive game - Let the dogs eat and play our game  We don't need to get cute.  Stick to your assignments, don't let the trick play catch you off guard, and just hit them hard.  Let Shaq, Oliver, and Phillips hunt.

 

3)  Keep the defense guessing - Utilize Brown in motion to free him up, give Knox and Foster some jump balls, fake the jet sweep to Foster, run the hurry up intermittently to not let the Pats adjust.  More importantly, Allen needs to get some first downs early against the zero blitz to make them back off a bit.

 

 

Someone else said 20 points is the goal and I agree.  If we get to 20 points, we win.  Again, no moral victories.  No more BS plays that catch us off guard or refs to help them.  Punch them in the ***** mouth and make the Pats sweat week 17.

[LB48]

I say just play OUR game and see if the PATS can beat us!

[DCbillsfan]

If the Bills win tomorrow, Billsmafia will go nuts!! The Bills will go from believing they can win to knowing they can.  

[3rdnlng]

16 minutes ago, Virgil said:

Tomorrow is big game to me, not for final standings, but to complete this journey the Bills are on this season.  This game means something to both the Bills and the Pats tomorrow, and possibly more to the Pats.  Yes, I know we can still win the division if Miami pulls off the upset next week, but the odds of that are low.  Home Field and a bye week is more on the line for the Pats this week with the Chiefs breathing down their necks.  So, beating the Pats in Foxboro in December when the Pats are relatively healthy and need the game would be something we also haven't done in almost 20 years.  Winning this game would drop the final monkey off our back and give McD his first win over the hoodie.  And honestly, for the first time in a long time, I genuinely believe they can.  There are no moral victories here.

 

1)  Mistake free football - No special teams gaffs, not turnovers in our own territory, just strong fundamentals. 

 

2)  Play OUR defensive game - Let the dogs eat and play our game  We don't need to get cute.  Stick to your assignments, don't let the trick play catch you off guard, and just hit them hard.  Let Shaq, Oliver, and Phillips hunt.

 

3)  Keep the defense guessing - Utilize Brown in motion to free him up, give Knox and Foster some jump balls, fake the jet sweep to Foster, run the hurry up intermittently to not let the Pats adjust.  More importantly, Allen needs to get some first downs early against the zero blitz to make them back off a bit.

 

 

Someone else said 20 points is the goal and I agree.  If we get to 20 points, we win.  Again, no moral victories.  No more BS plays that catch us off guard or refs to help them.  Punch them in the ***** mouth and make the Pats sweat week 17.

Pressure on Brady up the middle.

[CLTbills]

This is the first time that I can remember that I literally feel like we are going up there as the better overall team. 

What is this?!?!

[TigerJ]

Yeah, it's not real complicated this time around.  Don't make the kinds of mistakes they made in September.  They out gained the Patriots then, and would have won without  the turnovers and blocked punt.

[CommonCents]

Kick their ass, dance, go home.

 

It’s quite simple. 

[Formerly Allan in MD]

Don't let Edelman kill you.

[CommonCents]

1 minute ago, Formerly Allan in MD said:

Don't let Edelman kill you.

Edelman is hurt. Not Patriot kind of hurt but actually hurt. He couldn’t hurt Justin Rogers.

[Formerly Allan in MD]

Just now, CommonCents said:

Edelman is hurt. Not Patriot kind of hurt but actually hurt. He couldn’t hurt Justin Rogers.

Understood, but we've heard this before.  Rogers?  Must you?

[CommonCents]

1 minute ago, Formerly Allan in MD said:

Understood, but we've heard this before.  Rogers?  Must you?

Been saying all week this is different. Bills are winning by double digits tommorrow. Pats have too many all toast team candidates to get the job done against this Bills team.

 

Gilmore running his yap won’t help either. Get ready for some dancing and lots of drinking. Don’t worry about .....Jules. ?

[Happy]

This game will be more about our offense.  We need the offense vs the Dallas game to show up rather than the offense from the game vs NE in late Sept.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

Score

more

points

 

[K-Apps]

Special teams, can’t give them a blocked punt TD or Bojorquez can’t muff a punt to get them a short field. 

[iccrewman112]

For me targeting Patrick Chung in the passing game is critical. If you watch him the last 2+ years he is slow get to receivers in the zone defense, and has lost a step in deep coverage thus giving extra cushion of the snap.

 

i try to get Foster matched up on him in crossing routes, and a deep shot or two. And TE routes that are not curls. You want to catch the ball moving since he likely won’t be tight with coverage. Opportunity for Yards After Catch with well placed throws.

[Buffalophil1948]

Run the dam ball, hold on to the dam ball, then run it some more. Force our will on them, don't let them dictate how the game is played 

[beacon]

I'm thinking NE will run first and use a lot of different screens. Their screen game is good. Disguise them well.They want to grind it out. Long drives. Probably throw a trick play or two in there. Pressure up the gut and stay in lanes. Brady is still Brady. Although he's burned us so many times I have that feeling this is a great opportunity to really set the Bills on their way. Can't wait for tomorrow. Go Bills!!!

[ganesh]

1 hour ago, CLTbills said:

This is the first time that I can remember that I literally feel like we are going up there as the better overall team. 

What is this?!?!

I wouldn't say we are yet..

 

Our offense is on par with theem

Our Defense is on par with them

Their ST is BETTER than ours 

 

[Michael1962]

Play Fearless(ly).  Seriously, barring injury which is always a risk, we don't have much to lose.  The Pats* on the other hand do.

[DRA3196]

Protect the ball, play sound football on offense by taking what the patriots give them and play fearless. Our ST needs to play smart by not committing dumb penalties and execute during punts and kickoffs.

If we can dominate both lines of scrimmage.  

I would love too see a TO or 2 by our defense.

It is time for the Bills to take their place among the leagues best teams. And get inside NE's head. Don't let the Patriots breathe tomorrow.

 

HEART

[RevWarRifleman]

I'm particularly with you on #3, Virgil. Run the hurry up from time to time. Especially get up to the line & snap the ball quickly after a big play. It catches their D off

balance at the time.

[Ga boy]

We win if we play like we did in Heinz Field, but please no consecutive run plays in the red zone.  Ugh!!  Our linebackers will take care of the short stuff, but Brady may get a couple for 30 yards.  Also, be sure to check the air in the ball. 

[stevewin]

Biggest thing is dont gift them a TD with special teams gaffe, and protect the ball in the second level.  Be aware of guys comimg from behind, and dont needlessly fight for extra yards that arent there.  Two arms on the ball and get down.  They are going to be trying to strip the ball esp from Singletary.  More than ever Cheaters need big game changing plays from ST and defense - dont give those to them

[Best Williams Available]

Or this Key...

[947]

Need to get hits on Brady. Even if we get a couple inevitable bogus RTP penalties early. Give him happy feet & let the secondary do the rest.

[ganesh]

Involve Singletary in the game. Don't put the entire game on Josh Allen's shoulder.    Involve Kroft. He is a huge target

[row_33]

No boneheaded penalties or turnovers 

 

Bengals held with them for 29 minutes, then fumbled a punt return

 

then INTs and a pick 6 early in the second half 

 

ball game

[Estro]

The key to winning vs the Pats boils down to 1 thing:

 

Allen

 

Can he find solutions to the 0 blitz?

[TAinLack.]

Innovative offensive game plan, tough defense and limit our penalties.

[atlbillsfan1975]

2 hours ago, row_33 said:

No boneheaded penalties or turnovers 

 

Bengals held with them for 29 minutes, then fumbled a punt return

 

then INTs and a pick 6 early in the second half 

 

ball game

That’s been NE all year. They feed of another teams mistake and use the momentum. Even in that Giants game early in the year. 
NE is an average talent team that plays smart football. NE can not line up and beat the top half of the teams in the league if those teams play smart. It’s been trending this way for the last few years. This year the Pats age and lack of depth is really showing. 
I hope our young much more talented roster comes out loose and ready, it shouldn’t really be a ball game.

[Fixxxer]

keep the score close

 

don't shoot yourself in the foot

 

don't panic

 

the Patriots feast on teams that aren't patient

 

keep pounding the ball at them, they run blitz a lot but they're not big up front, eventually you will break them

 

if they use the standing up D against an empty backfield, tell Allen to run a quick QB sneak for easy yards

 

scheme guys open in the passing game, moreso early in the game so that Allen can get in rhytm

 

against this Patriots team, take the points whenever you can

 

On D, be prepared to stop the run and trick plays.

 

be sound on ST

 

 

[Scott7975]

9 hours ago, K-Apps said:

Special teams, can’t give them a blocked punt TD or Bojorquez can’t muff a punt to get them a short field. 

 

I swear Bojo has some of his worst games against the Pats.  Its almost as if its on purpose.  This year he has 5 punts 1 blocked net avg 26.7 yards.  Last year he had 5 punts net avg 31.6.  Both his worst two games.

[HamSandwhich]

10 hours ago, CommonCents said:

Edelman is hurt. Not Patriot kind of hurt but actually hurt. He couldn’t hurt Justin Rogers.

I don’t know man, going from what they said was the best he felt in practice all year to all of a sudden hurt? Could they be trying to sandbag it? Try to get the Bills to game plan else where? Am I being too conspiracy theorist? 

[BigBobby]

Simple:

1. Don't let gore anywhere near the field to kill drives

2. Go back to playing fast paced and spread out

[BeastMaster]

Allen will be key.

 

He's gonna have to show up and make them respect his ability to beat them with his arm. 

 

I expect better from him and also believe he learned something from that first game.

 

Go out and beat the pressure packages, Josh!

[Whites Bay]

1 hour ago, BigBobby said:

Simple:

1. Don't let gore anywhere near the field to kill drives

2. Go back to playing fast paced and spread out

Agree with much of what's been said here, but definitely with your Point 1.  I'm finished with Frank Gore.  I know that causes great umbrage to the purists.  But he's done, he's toast.  The only time I want to see him out there is as a decoy, and then have him stay in to pick up the blitz, which he does really well.  Stick to your strengths - keep Allen on his feet, Frank.

 

And watch for heavy - almost EXTREME - efforts on the part of the Pats* to strip the ball from Singletary.  Singletary has a fumble problem, the league is starting to understand it, and there's no other team that would focus on simply getting inside an opponent's head and giving him the mind f**k like the Pats*.  Singletary HAS to hold on to the ball.  I could see this one factor being the entire key to the game.  Singletary succeeds?  Bills walk off the field blowing kisses to the (remaining front-runner) fans and pointing at the scoreboard.  Singletary starts fumbling and doubting himself?  Long flight back to Buffalo.

[davefan66]

Keys to the game

 

- no boneheaded special teams penalties.  Can’t keep starting 10 to 20 yards back from where punt return was.

- Competent run game

- mix in some no-huddle.  Or the muddle-huddle. Don’t rush the play, just keep them from switching defenders.

- no turnovers

- beat Edelman into the ground early on.  He’s hurt, keep him that way.

 

Most important - knock Brady around.  Keep him off his game.

Edited December 21, 2019 by davefan66

[row_33]

3 hours ago, atlbillsfan1975 said:

That’s been NE all year. They feed of another teams mistake and use the momentum. Even in that Giants game early in the year. 
NE is an average talent team that plays smart football. NE can not line up and beat the top half of the teams in the league if those teams play smart. It’s been trending this way for the last few years. This year the Pats age and lack of depth is really showing. 
I hope our young much more talented roster comes out loose and ready, it shouldn’t really be a ball game.

Im attacked for saying it....

 

but the Pats for a few years now have played very conservative and don’t mind going 3 and out, then pounce on opponent boneheaded miscues like a hawk on an an inevitable squirrel 

 

they’ve even let possibly winnable games go and have taken a loss 

[The Wiz]

7 hours ago, ganesh said:

Involve Singletary in the game. Don't put the entire game on Josh Allen's shoulder.    Involve Kroft. He is a huge target

This was my thought as well. 

 

A heavy dose of Singletary and short completions that chip away at them.

 

Keep possession and move the sticks. 

 

The defense is going to do what it does. 

[Iron Maiden]

3 hours ago, atlbillsfan1975 said:

That’s been NE all year. They feed of another teams mistake and use the momentum. Even in that Giants game early in the year. 
NE is an average talent team that plays smart football. NE can not line up and beat the top half of the teams in the league if those teams play smart. It’s been trending this way for the last few years. This year the Pats age and lack of depth is really showing. 
I hope our young much more talented roster comes out loose and ready, it shouldn’t really be a ball game.

I would disagree here...especially on defense, they are stacked...probably the best secondary in the league....Collins, Hightower and Van Noy for LBs.....can't think of a better trio in the NFL....