People are wrongly disappointed - we just beat a very good football team - one better than their 11 & 5 record

[HOUSE]

I am very happy with the win, really

 

Its the damage I incurred for the last 5 minutes.

 

That freaking Hail Murray nearly wiped out all the old people in Lackawanna

[whatdrought]

It felt like a game where we had to beat the Colts, the refs, and ourselves.... but sometimes you get games like that. SB teams find a way to win when they’re not playing perfectly. It happens. 
 

we’re a mentally tough team and we have all the parts needed to go on a run.

[RochesterLifer]

3 minutes ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

the only complaint I have was the huge sack.  Was it because he was “Sugar High” Josh and should have just given himself up. 
 

It certainly was not a good play. However, if in a 60 minute playoff game, against a high quality opponent, you feel the need to point out one poor play, no NFL quarterback - not Brady, Mahomes, Rogers or Manning is going to pass your test.

[Magox]

I just saw an interesting stat.  Indianapolis had 474 yards and no turnovers.  Only 11 other teams in the playoffs had ever done that and their record was 11-0.    Make that 11-1.

 

Also, if it weren’t for the fear of what Buffalos offense particularly Josh Allen and the way he was making these incredible improvisational plays Reich wouldn’t have been so aggressive with his play calls that back fired.

[billsfan1959]

13 minutes ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

the only complaint I have was the huge sack.  Was it because he was “Sugar High” Josh and should have just given himself up. 

 

IMO, Allen did nothing wrong on that play. Lewis went right by Feliciano and Allen did what he always does: evaded the tackle. We have watched him do it all season and make big plays - that is one of the things that makes him so special. Unfortunately, Autry was right there to wrap Allen up. Allen tried to secure the ball and Autry did a good job of forcing the fumble. That was more of good defensive play than it was any kind of mental error or carelessness on the part of Allen.

 

Edited January 10, 2021 by billsfan1959

[Straight Hucklebuck]

Our local media can ask all the softball emotional questions. 
 

For some fans, it has nothing to do about a lack of respect for the Colts, yes they’re a quality team. 

 

However, the 2020 Bills had a Top 5 regular season in Franchise History, so it’s no longer a happy to be there. There is a sense you can’t waste this season getting beat by average Playoff teams.

 

When you see:

- Throwing out of heavy sets in the first half

 

- Not having the confidence to just hand the ball off to our running backs, instead having Josh take hits and expose himself to fumbles.

 

- Kick returners deciding to take balls out of the end zone or not field punts resulting in horrendous field position.

- John Brown rounding off his routes and getting no first half targets at all.

 

- Routinely abandoning 4-wide and gun when it was working

 

- No pass rush 

 

- Poor tackling 

 

- All three Colts Tight Ends having nice days and Milano out of position routinely on blown coverages

 

- The Bills getting lucky that Rivers didn’t look outside once to TY Hilton in the second half despite primary coverage by Josh Norman.

Edited January 10, 2021 by Straight Hucklebuck

[billsfan1959]

1 minute ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Our local media can ask all the softball emotional questions. 
 

For some fans, it has nothing to do about a lack of respect for the Colts, yes they’re a quality team. 

 

However, the 2020 Bills had a Top 5 regular season in Franchise History, so it’s no longer a happy to be there. There is a sense you can’t waste this season getting beat by average Playoff teams.

 

When you see:

- Throwing out of heavy sets in the first half

 

- Not having the confidence to just hand the ball off to our running backs, instead having Josh take hits and expose himself to fumbles.

 

- Kick returners deciding to take balls out of the end zone or not tied punts resulting in horrendous field position.

- John Brown rounding off his routes and getting no first half targets at all.

 

- Routinely abandoning 4-wide and gun when it was working

 

- No pass rush 

 

- Poor tackling 

 

- All three Colts Tight Ends having nice days and Milano out of position routinely on blown coverages

 

- The Bills getting lucky that Rivers didn’t look outside once to TY Hilton in the second half despite primary coverage by Josh Norman.

 

If you think the Colts are just an "average playoff team" you really should look a little deeper into their play this season. They are a very good football team that played, arguably their best game of the year - and still lost. Te Bills certainly were not perfect and there are things they need to continue to improve on. They did what they needed to do and won the game. This is playoff football.

[Codyny13]

19 minutes ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

the only complaint I have was the huge sack.  Was it because he was “Sugar High” Josh and should have just given himself up. 
 

Yea I hated that play too, I don’t think it was bad Josh, I think it just comes sometimes when your always battling every play 

[Bookie Man]

This is a team that won 11 games. They beat teams like GB and Tennessee. They probably should have beaten Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Only afc ranked top 10 in team and scoring offense and defense. They were about 1 play from being division Champs. They played possibly their best game of the year and we played just ok. Actually maybe lucky to get out of there with a win. If Reich just takes points where he should have and Rocket ship doesn't miss a chip shot fg, they probably win. We beat possibly the most rounded out team in the playoffs. HUGE win! 

[Dirtyd415]

9 minutes ago, billsfan1959 said:

 

IMO, Allen did nothing wrong on that play. Lewis went right by Feliciano and Allen did what he always does: evaded the tackle. We have watched him do it all season and make big plays - that is one of the things that makes him so special. Unfortunately, Autry was right there to wrap Allen up. Allen tried to secure the ball and Autry did a good job of forcing the fumble. That was more of good defensive play than it was any kind of mental error or carelessness on the part of Allen.

 

Sorry bud, you don’t get to 33 to go by “doing nothing wrong.”  You go down or fire that pigskin OB in that situation.  The one thing you don’t do is run backwards twisting and bouncing between all pro defenders.  Josh played a very solid game overall, but not being able to see he made multiple mistakes on that one play screams blind homerism.  

[Ya Digg?]

19 minutes ago, whatdrought said:

It felt like a game where we had to beat the Colts, the refs, and ourselves.... but sometimes you get games like that. SB teams find a way to win when they’re not playing perfectly. It happens. 
 

we’re a mentally tough team and we have all the parts needed to go on a run.

So I’m going to nitpick because I agree with everything else, but outside of the fumble, how were the refs against the Bills? I just don’t like this thinking because absolutely every fan base thinks the refs have been told to screw over their team. I’m sure if you looked on a colts discussion board their fans are saying the refs were against them too. Saying the refs are against your team is a weak and lazy argument. Like I said, just nitpicking but I think fans need to be better than that

[billsfan1959]

Just now, Dirtyd415 said:

Sorry bud, you don’t get to 33 to go by “doing nothing wrong.”  You go down or fire that pigskin OB in that situation.  The one thing you don’t do is run backwards twisting and bouncing between all pro defenders.  Josh played a very solid game overall, but not being able to see he made multiple mistakes on that one play screams blind homerism.  

 

You might want to go back and look at the play again, bud. Allen reacted as he has in every other similar situation in which, when it turned out well, I am sure you praised him. He evaded the first defender that was barely touched by Feliciano and was immediately wrapped up by a second defender. He wasn't playing "hero ball," he wasn't situationally unaware, and he wasn't being careless. 

[Straight Hucklebuck]

14 minutes ago, billsfan1959 said:

 

If you think the Colts are just an "average playoff team" you really should look a little deeper into their play this season. They are a very good football team that played, arguably their best game of the year - and still lost. Te Bills certainly were not perfect and there are things they need to continue to improve on. They did what they needed to do and won the game. This is playoff football.

In the Colts franchise history, this 11-5 Colts team is not in their Top 10 best teams ever fielded. 
 

Nobody is disrespecting the Colts. But this Bills team? I expect us to maximize a Top 5 season roster in the 60-year history of the Bills.

[billsfan1959]

Just now, Straight Hucklebuck said:

In the Colts franchise history, this 11-5 Colts team is not in their Top 10 best teams ever fielded. 
 

Nobody is disrespecting the Colts. But this Bills team? I expect us to maximize a Top 5 season roster in the 60-year history of the Bills.

 

Then I am not sure what your concern is. They won and are going on to the next round. I believe they are capable of beating anyone they face; however, if you think they are going to walk through the playoffs like they did their last four games, you are going to be disappointed.

[Bob in STL]

1 hour ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I don’t think anyone is disappointed. But I think there is some concern that what the colts did can be replicated, and we want to know how the Bills will respond to a similar game plan. 

Right on.  Pittsburgh, Tennessee, and Baltimore are all capable of matching up well against us.  I expect another tough game next week and hopefully the home field and not traveling helps us get better prepared.  
 

Just winning that Colts game will us prepare better.  The players responded to McDermott after they game.  “Get some rest and get ready to work”.  

[Matt_In_NH]

Personally I feel relieved and not disappointed at all!

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

Before the game I was also thinkin about how the Colts are much better than even their 11-5 record.

 

First off, a 2 see having to play a 7 seed that is 11-5? That's rare. Won't be happening much at all in the new playoff format. Look at the Saints, they're playing an 8-8 team today.

 

Second, you really just got to give the Colts a mulligan in their week 1 loss to the Jags. If we do that, record wise we are really talking about a 12-4 team and that record matches up with their top 10 league rankings in all three phases of the game.

[Bob in STL]

31 minutes ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Our local media can ask all the softball emotional questions. 
 

For some fans, it has nothing to do about a lack of respect for the Colts, yes they’re a quality team. 

 

However, the 2020 Bills had a Top 5 regular season in Franchise History, so it’s no longer a happy to be there. There is a sense you can’t waste this season getting beat by average Playoff teams.

 

When you see:

- Throwing out of heavy sets in the first half

 

- Not having the confidence to just hand the ball off to our running backs, instead having Josh take hits and expose himself to fumbles.

 

- Kick returners deciding to take balls out of the end zone or not field punts resulting in horrendous field position.

- John Brown rounding off his routes and getting no first half targets at all.

 

- Routinely abandoning 4-wide and gun when it was working

 

- No pass rush 

 

- Poor tackling 

 

- All three Colts Tight Ends having nice days and Milano out of position routinely on blown coverages

 

- The Bills getting lucky that Rivers didn’t look outside once to TY Hilton in the second half despite primary coverage by Josh Norman.

Average playoff team that won 11 games?  that is as good as many division winners. 
 

The Colts ST and Defense outranked the Bills by a significant amount this season. Their offense, especially the running game and their OL passing blocking, is built for playoffs. 
 

It’s unrealistic to think we can win every game by double digit scores. 
 

We can play better but maybe we didn’t play better because the other team is also very good?   

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

1 hour ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I don’t think anyone is disappointed. But I think there is some concern that what the colts did can be replicated, and we want to know how the Bills will respond to a similar game plan. 

 

If this is what we are going to get out of our running game then I'd say just toss out all the running plays. Use the game plan we had against Seattle. I don't want Allen running unless it is on a designed pass play.

[Playoffs?]

Some of you will hate this take... but I think our defense was ‘regaining its form’ in the late part of the season because of who we were playing. Look at the final several games where we won pretty convincingly... I wouldn’t call any of them offensive powerhouses: SF without their QB and Kittle, NE w/Cam and no one, Miami w/Tua, Pittsburgh w/injuries and sputtering offensive play, Denver....

Maybe a false sense of security. 

 

Our D did not fare well against strong offenses (even in wins): Tennessee, KC and Arizona beat us. Seattle hung 34 on us (thank you for that win, Josh).  Rams were a questionable PI call from a comeback win after total defensive meltdown in second half. 
 

Good news is we’re finding ways to come out with wins!  But in my opinion our defense needs some major help, mostly on the line, so we can stop having to put all of the pressure on Josh.  The games continue to get tougher now. Go Bills!

[jimmy10]

A friend who is a massive college basketball fan put it great, he said it’s just like the NCAA tourney now. Survive, move on, have a short memory. 

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

The stats or score doesn’t matter to me 1 but. I wouldn’t care if we won 5-3. Just win the game and get on to the next one. I remember the greatest show on turf rams wining like 12-10 in the playoffs. The playoffs are hard. Everyone left is very good. It just doesn’t matter. Get the win. 

[ngbills]

It’s how we played not who we played. We are better than that. That’s all. I’m sure the players feel the same way. You could see it in Josh post game interview. We won and get another week to show it. 

[JoshAllenReceipts]

1 hour ago, billsfan1959 said:

 

The Colts have a very good, physical defense and they played, arguably, their best defensive game (and overall game) of the season. They had consistent QB pressured the entire game and Allen rarely threw from a clean pocket. He was evading a rush and extending plays almost every time he dropped back. IMO, the Bills do not win that game without Allen playing at an elite level. Outside of Rogers and Mahomes, I don't think any other QB could have done what Allen did in that game. Again, IMO.

 

 

Neither Rodgers nor Mahomes could have done what Josh did given that the Colts were controlling the game in the 1st half.

 

If either Rodgers or Mahomes was the Bills QB yesterday, Bills lose.

 

Josh Allen is the only QB that could have won that game for the Bills. The only one.

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

1 hour ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

That is my hope. But it seems like the remaining playoff teams all have the talent in the right spots to do a lot of similar things. 
 

 

Steelers can't run the ball. Hines was huge today in that 4th quarter against us. I think breaking off two 20+ yard runs?

 

Ravens, Jackson, I can't see him completing third down pass after third down pass against us like Rivers did.

 

Titans have the ability to put up a similar offensive performance that the Colts did yesterday. But there defense is nowhere near as good as the Colts.

[Ya Digg?]

2 minutes ago, Playoffs? said:

Some of you will hate this take... but I think our defense was ‘regaining its form’ in the late part of the season because of who we were playing. Look at the final several games where we won pretty convincingly... I wouldn’t call any of them offensive powerhouses: SF without their QB and Kittle, NE w/Cam and no one, Miami w/Tua, Pittsburgh w/injuries and sputtering offensive play, Denver....

Maybe a false sense of security. 

 

Our D did not fare well against strong offenses (even in wins): Tennessee, KC and Arizona beat us. Seattle hung 34 on us (thank you for that win, Josh).  Rams were a questionable PI call from a comeback win after total defensive meltdown in second half. 
 

Good news is we’re finding ways to come out with wins!  But in my opinion our defense needs some major help, mostly on the line, so we can stop having to put all of the pressure on Josh.  The games continue to get tougher now. Go Bills!

So I do think the Bills defense is significantly improved since the beginning of the year, but there’s also context that goes with some of those early games. In the Rams game it is obvious they took their foot off the gas on both sides of the ball when they were up by 25, then didn’t know how to put their foot back on the gas when it got close. The Seahawks game was never close-Russ and co. got a lot of their yards and points in garbage time type situations. This is not to excuse those defensive performances, you have to play well for 60 minutes, but there is certainly context that you are leaving out. As you could see later in the year, particularly those last 4 or 5 games the zbills didn’t let up on offense or defense so they clearly learned from those earlier games 

[Nick the Greek]

1 hour ago, TroutDog said:

So much can be attributed to field position. Our average start in the first half was our own eight. Terrible. If we start those drives beyond the 20, the playbook is opened back up. 
 

Love the win and love this team!

Andre Roberts and special teams were awful in the first half. 

[jimmy10]

Another friend of mine who is a Giants fan and pulling for the Bills put it really well via text:

 

“Bills fans: Finally a playoff win for first time in 20+ years!

Also Bills fans: our running game chews”

 

 

 

[Man with No Name]

It will not be easily replicated. Taylor has been running as well as anybody. Perhaps even in the same league as Henry over the past month. They have a HoF qb. And a solid D. on top of that, a really good special teams. we have been pummeling our opponents special teams most of the year. 

 

Tennessee is really scary though. Awesome run game. Very competent qb. ANd Tannehill can run as well. just a bit more dynamic than rivers at this point.  But they don't have the colts D. So there's that. 

[Playoffs?]

4 minutes ago, Ya Digg? said:

So I do think the Bills defense is significantly improved since the beginning of the year, but there’s also context that goes with some of those early games. In the Rams game it is obvious they took their foot off the gas on both sides of the ball when they were up by 25, then didn’t know how to put their foot back on the gas when it got close. The Seahawks game was never close-Russ and co. got a lot of their yards and points in garbage time type situations. This is not to excuse those defensive performances, you have to play well for 60 minutes, but there is certainly context that you are leaving out. As you could see later in the year, particularly those last 4 or 5 games the zbills didn’t let up on offense or defense so they clearly learned from those earlier games 

You make a fair point.  There is always more context to speak of... but if I boil down my point, it’s that I don’t believe our D had really been challenged toward the end of the season. They were doing well, and our offense was doing great, and we were winning... but the teams we were playing generally did not have strong offenses. 

[T master]

Am very happy that they won the game but it was way to close they need to get back to what ever they were doing on defense because yesterday they got really lucky and sometimes that's part of it but it's the play offs and luck isn't usually the answer to making a deep play offs run .

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

1 hour ago, TroutDog said:

So much can be attributed to field position. Our average start in the first half was our own eight. Terrible. If we start those drives beyond the 20, the playbook is opened back up. 
 

Love the win and love this team!

 

Man, that was brutal. Story of the game really going into the half. Can't recall the last time we were snake bitten so badly in the battle for field position. 

[Seasons1992]

1 hour ago, Juice_32 said:

I was shocked at the amount of people who wanted Indy in the first round. They scared me more than anyone but possibly Baltimore.

We just beat a really good team without our A game in a grinder of a game. Today is a very good day.

 

The Arizona game, and this game, have made the Bills better. Now they know they can be beat, and hopefully they focus hardcore today on the two AFC games.

[Straight Hucklebuck]

1 minute ago, billsfan1959 said:

 

Then I am not sure what your concern is. They won and are going on to the next round. I believe they are capable of beating anyone they face; however, if you think they are going to walk through the playoffs like they did their last four games, you are going to be disappointed.

Sorry, this same Colts team played a 1-15 Jags team 8 days ago with Mike Glennon atQB and no James Robinson to a 21-14 lead for the majority of the 2nd half of a game that they had to win to get into the Playoffs.

 

We can talk them up, but they were an average Playoff team.

 

And nobody is saying every game is going to be a cakewalk, that’s you embellishing, but we saw with the 2017 Jags or the 2019 49ers, you better win when you have the chance and this team is the best team in 20-years for the Bills.

 

So maximizing should be the goal. Our Coaches no doubt are working their tails off, but that doesn’t mean the fans have to their brains off and “just be happy”. 

[Jay_Fixit]

If you’re disappointed with a win, you probably don’t get hugged enough in your life.

Edited January 10, 2021 by Jay_Fixit

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

Just checked the box score again. Rivers had a 91.9 QBR to a 93.5 passer rating. Rivers balled out yesterday. Colts receivers had some timely drops that really bailed out our defense. Seemed we couldn't stop them at all on 3rd down yesterday. But the Colts shot themselves in the foot a couple times.

 

It's not likely we see another QB in these playoffs put up a 91.9 QBR against us. I mean Josh did it all for us yesterday and outside of the one bad sack/fumble Allen's QBR was 85.0

 

Rivers was lights out. Making all the right plays 

Edited January 10, 2021 by Sammy Watkins' Rib

[billsfan1959]

6 minutes ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Sorry, this same Colts team played a 1-15 Jags team 8 days ago with Mike Glennon atQB and no James Robinson to a 21-14 lead for the majority of the 2nd half of a game that they had to win to get into the Playoffs.

 

We can talk them up, but they were an average Playoff team.

 

And nobody is saying every game is going to be a cakewalk, that’s you embellishing, but we saw with the 2017 Jags or the 2019 49ers, you better win when you have the chance and this team is the best team in 20-years for the Bills.

 

So maximizing should be the goal. Our Coaches no doubt are working their tails off, but that doesn’t mean the fans have to their brains off and “just be happy”. 

 

1. As far as the Colts being an average team: You certainly are welcome to your opinion, no matter how uninformed it may be. 

 

2. The Bills did win when they had the chance. So, kind of a pointless argument.

 

Edited January 10, 2021 by billsfan1959

[Real McClappy]

I'm not disappointed at all.  That Colts team and game plan yesterday could of beat 99% of the teams in the league yesterday.

 

We still came out on top Baby!

[whatdrought]

49 minutes ago, Ya Digg? said:

So I’m going to nitpick because I agree with everything else, but outside of the fumble, how were the refs against the Bills? I just don’t like this thinking because absolutely every fan base thinks the refs have been told to screw over their team. I’m sure if you looked on a colts discussion board their fans are saying the refs were against them too. Saying the refs are against your team is a weak and lazy argument. Like I said, just nitpicking but I think fans need to be better than that

 

 

I'm really struggling to digest this.... 

 

When you win the game by observing the rules, making a damn good play, and coming up big in the biggest of spots - to then have the play incorrectly called (as agreed on by every single person in the world) and the refs to say "eh, ***** it. lets give em another shot." is my very definition of the having to beat the refs as well. The Colts were given undeserved opportunity at the end of the game, and as a result, the Bills defense had to overcome that and win anyway. 

 

Aside from that, there were some ticky tacks as well: multiple uncalled delay of games, a missed helmet to helmet on Diggs on his first deep catch. But those are minor comparably and I wouldn't be saying we had to beat the refs on those alone, even if they were bad calls. 

 

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

3 minutes ago, whatdrought said:

 

 

I'm really struggling to digest this.... 

 

When you win the game by observing the rules, making a damn good play, and coming up big in the biggest of spots - to then have the play incorrectly called (as agreed on by every single person in the world) and the refs to say "eh, ***** it. lets give em another shot." is my very definition of the having to beat the refs as well. The Colts were given undeserved opportunity at the end of the game, and as a result, the Bills defense had to overcome that and win anyway. 

 

Aside from that, there were some ticky tacks as well: multiple uncalled delay of games, a missed helmet to helmet on Diggs on his first deep catch. But those are minor comparably and I wouldn't be saying we had to beat the refs on those alone, even if they were bad calls. 

 

I was telling my wife (who came perilously close to being banished from the viewing room when she remarked it appeared over when we had a two score lead in the 4th) that one of the cool things about the NFL is the magical last minute play that determines the outcome.  The Allen to Digs TD against Az was an example, alas it was replaced by the Hopkins Hail Mary.  
 

The play by Poyer was an incredible, heady play that should be recognized in this category.  He was robbed.