Toledo Bill Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 At least once a year under this regime we play a game where there is a feeling of helplessness.. The other team runs or passes at will and we literally cannot adjust or stop them. Our offense is finessed based (can pass but cannot run). Continuous errors (mental and physical) are made. My first houghts were that they are a soft or weak team but in many ways, throughout the season they show heart. That makes me assume that they are overmatched and out coached. Why can’t we run the ball? Why are there games where we are run over or cannot generate any semblance of a pass rush? I am afraid the Bills are a good team but until some changes are made regarding the talent level of both lines “good” is the best we will see. I also question if the McBean combination is all we hope it is. They may also be “good” but not great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobbRiddick Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 Monday night, 1991. Undefeated 5-0 Bills got destroyed by the Chiefs 33-6. I'm calling this our Chiefs game (hoping next week's Chiefs game isn't the Chiefs game...) and if we see the Titans again in the playoffs we'll be out for sweet revenge. To be fair to the Bills, this was a tough prep week for them with all the uncertainty, plus the injuries. They also were possibly overconfident after their hot start. This can either serve as the start of a downward spiral or a wake-up call. Hopefully it's the latter. Now it's all about Mahomes and the Chiefs. If they get blown out again then the wheels will be off the bandwagon but if they play a great game and come out with a win then this will be put down as an anomaly. I do think Josh looked rattled, like he was shocked the offense wasn't having its way and then started forcing things because he felt he had to make a play. He seems smart and able to learn from his experiences so hopefully that's what he does with this 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo_Stampede Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 NFL is week to week. Mike Tyson has a great quote stating "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." I have a similar saying for evaluating teams and QBs. You don't know how good you are until you get punched in the mouth. Meaning that until you face adversity and until you lose you don't know how good you are. Your response to the adversity and the loss is what makes you. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thurman#1 Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 1 hour ago, Toledo Bill said: Weak, soft or just overmatched? IMO, injuries are killing us. Milano and White are two of our best three on defense, and losing the top two CBs hurts a lot. But if we look like that consistently, we'll have to think about applying those terms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freak-O Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 9 minutes ago, Gene1973 said: I really think fans need to stop comparing this Bills team to the 90's Bills. Not even close. Those teams had better everything, coaching to talent. And they had a lot more heart and will to win. They should replace the charging buffalo on the helmet with a picture of Edmunds, he personifies this team. Weak. Guys like Bill Cower can love on McDermott all they want, so far McDermott has proven time and time again he can't beat good teams in spots that really matter. Once again, as week 5 or 6 rolls around, the Bills' season comes crashing back to earth, the national media will pull back on the praise as per usual, and the Bills return to a middling team that can't step on anyone's throat, and certainly cannot take the division from Belichick. NFL media personalities like Kyle Brandt probably feel foolish this morning... I'm truly baffled by the negativity... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keukasmallies Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Utah John Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 1. Allen wasn't right all game. His footwork this season has been fine, but not against the Titans. He wasn't balanced, he was throwing flat footed a lot, he was throwing off his back foot, he sailed a couple of passes to open receivers. He even threw an honest to God interception, his first of the year, when he failed to see the defender. I don't have any idea what caused his problems this week, but I hope his coaching entourage can figure it out and straighten it out. 2. I hope this game was this year's Philadelphia game. The Bills put up a stinker against Philly last year, for no apparent reason. Then they got it figured out. 3. The Bills have been a tightly knit bunch all season, in love with each other. In this game they played like they'd been jilted. I know we won't ever hear the true story, but I suspect that White and maybe Brown just didn't want to play against the covid team, and so they bailed on their teammates. We won't know whether that's true or not, but the other players do, and they looked a lot like guys who suddenly are questioning the family values that they've built up. 4. Where again are the team leaders? Who is it who steps in and gets his teammates fired up, or reads the the riot act when they're not producing? Especially on D, there doesn't seem to be anyone. Edmunds might be playing hurt, and credit to him if he's doing that, but he's also playing badly. It seems like Hyde and Poyer are tight with each other but not the rest of the D. 5. Paging Ed Oliver. Phone call for Mr. Oliver. Has anyone seen Ed Oliver? 6. Not that it mattered, but Tannehill was WAY past the the line of scrimmage when he threw that late TD pass. Being a glutton for punishment, I rewound to the actual play, and it is as clear as day that Tannehill was well past. I don't know why all the replays omitted the line on the field showing where the line of scrimmage was. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_In_NH Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 The mistakes piled up last night and really impacted the game. Most of the mistakes are not systemic. What is disturbing is the defense seems to allow qbs to stand in the pocket and pick the defense apart at will. That has been consistent. With and without Milano and White. They are not getting pass rush at all right now. Having said all that we need to give the Titans some respect. They are a hard nosed, well coached old school team. They went into NE and Balt in the playoffs and win. A lot was made about how the Titans would play. On one hand they had a long break. On the other hand they were not able to gather much. I think the break helped them more than it hurt. The bills are banged up a bit and that had an impact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H2o Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 (edited) The defense has some real problems right now. Missing Star, the constant TSW whipping boy, has hurt the DL. Not having White, Milano, and Wallace showed big time. Edmunds doesn't seem to be healthy and at the same time is making the same mental errors he did as a rookie. Our blitz packages are the least creative and easy to read in the league as they always do exactly what they show you pre-snap. The offense isn't going to be able to carry us every single week. Tonight there were some bad drops, they clearly missed John Brown, the running game is non-existent, and it was like once the momentum shifted right before half it was lights out. We have a lot of work to do and the toughest part of our schedule on deck. We need to get healthy and McD/Frazier have to figure this defense out if we want to host a playoff game. Edited October 14, 2020 by H2o 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beast Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 The Titans are a better team than we are.There is a reason they went the the Conference title game last season and are 4-0 right now. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Joe Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 It’s one game and no one was suggesting they would be 16-0 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsPride12 Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 45 minutes ago, Utah John said: 3. The Bills have been a tightly knit bunch all season, in love with each other. In this game they played like they'd been jilted. I know we won't ever hear the true story, but I suspect that White and maybe Brown just didn't want to play against the covid team, and so they bailed on their teammates. We won't know whether that's true or not, but the other players do, and they looked a lot like guys who suddenly are questioning the family values that they've built up. 39 minutes ago, Gene1973 said: If White really did fake an injury to not play the COVID-19's, that's a bad look... C'mon guys this is a hell of an assumption! Although the Bills did look awful I highly doubt this was the case Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Joe Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 3 minutes ago, Gene1973 said: Well, it's not just one game though. The D has played poorly in all 5 games so far... True...I’m not giving up on the season yet though.. are you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CommonCents Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 Wasn’t Star healthy when the Bills ran out and signed Liuget last season? I remember the run D being a worry last season. Is his absence a convenient excuse? Maybe I’m not remembering correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSBill Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 The biggest issue is the Defense. They have not been good, and last night was the worst. The problem is, that is a personnel issue that cannot be fixed mid-season: there are needs at D-line, linebacker, and D-backs. That is the scary part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProcessTruster Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 really banged up right now (no White, Brown, Singletary, Moss, Spain, Milano, etc) and going against a really good team coming off 2 weeks complete rest, playing at home. nuff said. they'll be back. hopefully all the Star L. haters now realize how big a blow it was when he opted out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Joe Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 Just now, Gene1973 said: No, they still prob make the playoff's, but I don't think they are a top team in the AFC, nor will they beat the Pats for the AFCE crown. Same results as last season most likely, with the play of the offense and defense reversed. In my opinion they will win the AFCE... time will tell.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Joe Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 1 minute ago, Gene1973 said: This coaching staff can't compete with NE's... Come on Gene... our team will be back.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niagara Dude Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 1 hour ago, Thurman#1 said: IMO, injuries are killing us. Milano and White are two of our best three on defense, and losing the top two CBs hurts a lot. But if we look like that consistently, we'll have to think about applying those terms. I will agree with you on White but please stop with Milano, the guy is an average player who people want to hype up as some stud LB Even when he played we were getting killed and could not stop anyone. Not enough play makers on defense and it shows 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 the injuries and the odd week may have doomed us to a loss the whole way though, but this team was very poorly coached last night. constant mistakes, we had what, 5 or 6 false starts, two or 3 on one of our only good drives? drops, guys on D totally out of position, off sides. these are the mark of an unprepared team. vrabel at this point is simply a better head coach than mcd. i really hope mcd can turn it around, but we were beaten schematically and in terms of preparation. the pats were missing their qb, and were able to play (albeit in losses) very good teams close in high profile games. they are missing talent from last year and still got their guys ready to ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM57 Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 At least once a year this happens. They just show up completely flat and look like it's the first time they've played football. It doesn't even have to be against a particularly talented team. 2017 it was the Saints running for 300 yards and winning 47-10 2018 it was the 1-5 Colts winning 37-5 2019 was the Eagles running at will I don't understand why it happens, but it happens. I've learned to just accept it and move on to the next game 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 1 minute ago, Niagara Dude said: I will agree with you on White but please stop with Milano, the guy is an average player who people want to hype up as some stud LB Even when he played we were getting killed and could not stop anyone. Not enough play makers on defense and it shows i'd say he is above average, but you aren't wrong. he's not some stud. honestly, between our scheme on D and the people we have added and drafted lately, we have the reason for why our d fell from near the top in the nfl to horrible. i think our scheme works when all parts are working, but any cracks in the dam and we just fall apart. we aren't anti-fragile! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niagara Dude Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 Just now, colin said: i'd say he is above average, but you aren't wrong. he's not some stud. honestly, between our scheme on D and the people we have added and drafted lately, we have the reason for why our d fell from near the top in the nfl to horrible. i think our scheme works when all parts are working, but any cracks in the dam and we just fall apart. we aren't anti-fragile! Dude the problem is Beanne has sunk a lot of money into medicore defensive players and we just do not have any play makers, amazing that Jordan Phillips's cap number is 4 million this season and we have Klein's cap number around 6 million Even games we won i was worried about how soft our defense was and no pass rush 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 1 minute ago, Niagara Dude said: Dude the problem is Beanne has sunk a lot of money into medicore defensive players and we just do not have any play makers, amazing that Jordan Phillips's cap number is 4 million this season and we have Klein's cap number around 6 million Even games we won i was worried about how soft our defense was and no pass rush well, i have to remind myself of the old adage "it's never as good or as bad as you think it is". i agree, we just don't have big and physical players (vs Ten who just rumble all night long) and our back ups and new DL have really sht the bed. with tre white kinda falling off (perhaps been hurt all year) we just don't have difference makers out there. we do have to remind ourselves tho, overall our d has been outstanding over the past 3 years. i do feel like that since the second half of the texans game, it seems like they are always playing desperation, they need to fly to the ball and make big plays to have an impact, but they don't suffocate and choke the O, instead they are kinda like a cowboy holding onto a bull, just trying to make it to 8 seconds. that said, the titans O didn't exactly light the world on fire against us, we lost due to special teams and turnovers (their average start was insane, ours was bad) and just way way too many mistakes. we had them stopped a few times, but a penalty, or just blown assignment let them convert 3rd downs. just a badly prepared unfocused team. i really really hope we get this right vs kc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Cubed Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 This team was never going to go 16-0 and they were most certainly going to have a game like this. They'll probably have another 2 or 3 of them. It was a combination of a lot of things. The game plans were awful. The coaching was bad. The players didn't show up and there was a rash of injuries. I'm on to the Chiefs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aireskoi Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 The Titans looked bigger, faster, and stronger. They had a chip on their shoulders from nothing the Bills did, but they took it out on them. Josh was rattled but still made big plays and kept swinging. Some huge 3rd down throws that could have been part of a comeback, but the Titans were not making mistakes like the Bills did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 Big impact from Ed Oliver last night. Mister invisible strikes again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 3 hours ago, Toledo Bill said: Weak, soft or just overmatched? Yep. Sometimes you're the pigeon; sometimes you're the statue. 4-1, baby, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannc Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 42 minutes ago, BillsPride12 said: C'mon guys this is a hell of an assumption! Although the Bills did look awful I highly doubt this was the case Hey, it’s a message board...speculation is ok here. I mean, you do have to wonder, don’t you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niagara Dude Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 7 minutes ago, colin said: well, i have to remind myself of the old adage "it's never as good or as bad as you think it is". i agree, we just don't have big and physical players (vs Ten who just rumble all night long) and our back ups and new DL have really sht the bed. with tre white kinda falling off (perhaps been hurt all year) we just don't have difference makers out there. we do have to remind ourselves tho, overall our d has been outstanding over the past 3 years. i do feel like that since the second half of the texans game, it seems like they are always playing desperation, they need to fly to the ball and make big plays to have an impact, but they don't suffocate and choke the O, instead they are kinda like a cowboy holding onto a bull, just trying to make it to 8 seconds. that said, the titans O didn't exactly light the world on fire against us, we lost due to special teams and turnovers (their average start was insane, ours was bad) and just way way too many mistakes. we had them stopped a few times, but a penalty, or just blown assignment let them convert 3rd downs. just a badly prepared unfocused team. i really really hope we get this right vs kc I think we will be fine on offensive side, even though Allen had an off night he still moved the ball and scored points. We really need to make some adjustments on defense, it's been an issue all season. When you look closer, we could have easily lost Rams game and Raiders game because they could not stop anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mannc Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 30 minutes ago, Gene1973 said: This coaching staff can't compete with NE's... They can compete with them, they just can’t beat them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSE Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 1 hour ago, Aussie Joe said: It’s one game and no one was suggesting they would be 16-0 I was suggesting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvbillsfan Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 We always have that one game early in the season where we look like we don’t belong in the field. mcdermott has always righted the ship. It does feel weird that we are this worried about defense. Hopefully we can get everyone healthy on that side of the ball and get to work. Seems like every game this year someone key is missing. Not worried yet. Even if we lose to the Chiefs we’ve got the Jets and Patriots coming after that. Those two are the games we really need IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H2o Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 Another thing that I believe is showing up is the loss of Lorax. He may not have been on the field for every single play, but the guy was in a way the heart and soul of this defense. You would see him talking to people on the field and on the sidelines explaining situations to them. A LOT of knowledge went out the door when he retired. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsherd Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 D is soft, and we were overmatched on the offensive side of the ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharky7337 Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 52 minutes ago, Gene1973 said: This coaching staff can't compete with NE's... I agree with this. Look how many opt outs on D NE had and they still get it done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Turk Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 Just seemed unfocused and overconfident like they expected the Titans to just roll over for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCBills Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 Mentally soft last night. It started when all the questionable players became inactive. Led by the highest paid player in this team, who developed a mysterious back injury coinciding with a potential Titans match up. It bled into the game in the form of drops, penalties and a lack of focus. Josh Allen was off, but still played well enough to win the game if everyone else wasn’t completely out of sorts. I trusted McD to keep this team focused through the chaos of this past week, but it’s clear they weren’t, and it’s clear the defense has systemic issues that need to be addressed. It starts with finding a leader on that side of the ball. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyBuffalo Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 I’m not sure how anyone can have any confidence in a team that gets smoked 42-16 in a game that is your first true test of the season. I mean that’s almost a 4 touch down difference. Losing a close one would be rough but to get embarrassed like that is, to use my teenage daughter’s favorite description of things these days, DISGUSTING. And it’s almost happened before this season. I think most of us watched the Rams game. While that ended in a victory it was very close to being an extremely embarrassing loss. It certainly was embarrassing for the defense. If they aren’t ticked off after this loss and play well next week it will be a clear indication of what this team is all about. Sizzle with no steak. That can result in a few games of fun for those fans that have never played the game in real life. Here’s to hoping they come back with a vengeance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuncha Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts