It's strange to feel unsettled after a 35-0 division road win

[Pokebball]

I think we all know the Bills are better than what we're seeing on the field.  I feel like they are underperforming; and they are.  The penalties on the O line, the pass or route differences between Josh and the WRs, not getting the plays in timely (numerous times Josh was looking up at the booth, waiting for the play to be called), among other things.  I hope this is all simply the time it takes for offenses to gel and get it together, like we've heard for years.

 

I'm going with some patience for another game or two.

[NickelCity]

Allen looks almost...tentative. Slower to pull the trigger and certainly "aiming" his throws without stepping into them. I agree that it is unsettling. 

 

I have faith he'll round into form at some point. 

[CincyBillsFan]

27 minutes ago, 2020 Our Year For Sure said:

I've seen Brady/New England drop a couple early in the year and make me think they've fallen off, then win the Superbowl. The season is a process-- nobody wins the Superbowl in September. It's about what we will be three months from now. No need to overreact.

This is spot on.  The Bills are now legit Super Bowl contenders.  The goal in the first half of the season is to win more games then you lose and stay healthy.  Style points mean nothing in the first half of the season.

 

It's in the 2nd half of the season that you go on a run.  That has been the formula for deep playoff runs for most teams over the last 20 years.  Hell, that's exactly what Tampa did last year and Tennessee did the year before.

 

 

 

 

 

[Success]

This kind of hand-wringing after a 35-0 win is what we used to call a 1st world problem during the drought.

 

Not saying it isn't okay to have some concern. But it kind of is.

 

[hondo in seattle]

Although I get maryland-bills-fan's sentiment, I feel "unsettled" too.

 

During the drought, I was thrilled with any win, not matter how undeserved it may have been or how sloppy the offense  or defense  may have played.   But now, for me, it's not about individual wins.  It's about a Super Bowl season and so far this year we haven't played like Super Bowl contenders.  

 

Last year, our passing offense was the key to the team's success.  Our pass D was okay.  Our rush D was maybe less than okay.  Our running attack was mediocre.  We won a lot of games because our aerial assault was nearly unstoppable.   This year that strength has been missing.  

 

So, yeah, 35-0 was a lot of fun and I am still feeling the afterglow of a one-sided victory against a division opponent.  But there's a nagging worry deep inside me that taints the joy just a little bit.   

 

 

[GETTOTHE50]

Ok great now imagine how Miami fans feel

[billybrew1]

49 minutes ago, Inigo Montoya said:

This team will go as far as Josh Allen can take it.  When he came in for those couple of series in the last preseason game it looked like he would start the season without any rust to knock off.

 

I'm as big of a Bills' homer as any here, but it's hard to ignore that Josh just isn't playing very well right now.  Admittedly, he set the bar pretty high last season and if he were to have a little bit of regression this year I wouldn't be too upset.  After all, he had an MVP level season last year.  At this point though he has regressed more than a little bit.

 

I'm not sure what the issue is.  The entire offense is just out of sync right now.  From Daboll to the O-Line to Josh and his WRs, it's just not clicking yet.  Things won't get any easier next week.  That Washington defense is tough and they can get after the QB. 

 

If Josh and the offense can find their rhythm and keep the defense playing at this level, the Bills are going to be very formidable.  Let's hope things start to click for the offense soon.  It's really strange to watch the Bills win 35-0 and feel unsettled about it.

 

 

It's mostly Josh, imho.... Hopefully, he can snap out of it.

 

Lets focus on the positive. Our defense is better than expected. We just witnessed McD's best defensive game he ever had as a HC. Miami had around a million chances to do something with Josh petering out on us and the defense never flinched. I'm pretty proud of that D! Greg Rousseau (Groot) And AJ Epenesa (the terminator) look like solid keepers. I can't wait to see Basham.

Our Special Teams aside from the huge blocked punt has played very well too. McKenzie is electric as a returner, just the one bad play really.

The OL bounced back heroically today, imho. All five played tough, imho....

We have three weeks for Josh to find his 2020 level of play. That's a fair amount of time. If Josh can do it, and if our defense can slow down Mahomes for four quarters (as he just needs one, the bastard!) we can beat them.

[FireChans]

1 minute ago, GETTOTHE50 said:

Ok great now imagine how Miami fans feel

At least we aren’t those losers isn’t a SB winning attitude.

[hondo in seattle]

3 minutes ago, GETTOTHE50 said:

Ok great now imagine how Miami fans feel

 

Actually, at one point when I was thinking about the ineptitude of the passing game, I did imagine that.   It made me feel much better because, of course, I remember being on the losing end of games like this.

[Orlando Tim]

51 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

It's kinda ironic that the 2 players most fans (including myself) had issues with last year are playing very well. Devin & Dawson are balling, where others are struggling. 

This is something I completely missed-Devin has been the best player on the offense when they have given the opportunity. 

[Big Blitz]

1 hour ago, RunTheBall said:

We just put 35 offensive points up on a good defense and played mediocre on offense. What you guys are feeling is the pressure of increased expectations. This team can win and win BIG without Josh Allen playing his best and that’s a good thing. I have no doubt Josh and the O will round into form. We took a lot of teams by surprise last year and now they are game planning specifically for what we want to do.

 

 

Exactly this.   

[GETTOTHE50]

6 minutes ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

Actually, at one point when I was thinking about the ineptitude of the passing game, I did imagine that.   It made me feel much better because, of course, I remember being on the losing end of games like this.

Their drops brought me back to the dark days briefly. It’s very concerning when you see your teams wideouts drop the balls that often 

[Malazan]

55 minutes ago, maryland-bills-fan said:

35 to nothing.... and all the delicate nasty nancies are leaking into their panties.   What did you want 85 to minus 13?

 

Yes. Absolutely. 

[CincyBillsFan]

7 minutes ago, Buffalo Timmy said:

This is something I completely missed-Devin has been the best player on the offense when they have given the opportunity. 

True but in a backhanded way this is also contributing to why Allen and the passing game have struggled.  Teams are selling out 100% to stop the pass and are getting gashed by the Bills on the ground. 

[1ManRaid]

We put up 7 TDs without Josh Allen being Josh Allen for most of the game.  Either just have to adjust playcalling, or he's still adjusting to the hype of live crowds.  I don't think it's regression.

 

Things are going to get nasty when he's back on his game and our D stays good.

[DuckyBoys]

I'm actually more settled.  Defense has been fantastic.  D line rotation seems to be working,  They got the run game going and when was the last time the Bills had two inside the 10 yard td runs from someone else than Allen. Not worries about Josh  ,  I think he actually benefits and settles himself knowing he doesnt have to be all world every week  Think we handle Washington fine next week.  Josh will improve back to his lofty standards  Hope we avoid the injury buy going around  Lot of top talent already down around the league  What was the Bills last shut out?  Has to have been a very long time

[buffalo2218]

2 minutes ago, 1ManRaid said:

We put up 7 TDs without Josh Allen being Josh Allen for most of the game.  Either just have to adjust playcalling, or he's still adjusting to the hype of live crowds.  I don't think it's regression.

 

Things are going to get nasty when he's back on his game and our D stays good.

If he gets back on his game with this defensive line foaming at the mouth, which I hope is before KC and TN, we may pull out a win against KC and the Titans? Titanic toejam. I REALLY hope he hangs his jewels in Nissan Stadium

[Royale with Cheese]

17 minutes ago, GETTOTHE50 said:

Ok great now imagine how Miami fans feel

Jets fans too.  Zach Wilson at one point had as many completions as INT’s.  While Darnold has been looking good.

[benderbender]

I'm very encouraged by the defense. Not every team can give their QB time to find his range, come to grip with his newfound expectations, AND still manage to win. We drought survivors are so worried about the other shoe dropping that we can't wrap our minds around the possibility of JA coming around and becoming a more complimentary offense. It isn't crazy, just the trauma we lived through: 4-1 Trent Edwards getting his brain broken, the Fitzpatrick contract season that started 5-2.

 

Allen doesn't even have to be the 2020 version for this team to make a deep run. But we'll need at least the 2019 version. 

Edited September 20, 2021 by benderbender

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, Inigo Montoya said:

This team will go as far as Josh Allen can take it.  When he came in for those couple of series in the last preseason game it looked like he would start the season without any rust to knock off.

 

I'm as big of a Bills' homer as any here, but it's hard to ignore that Josh just isn't playing very well right now.  Admittedly, he set the bar pretty high last season and if he were to have a little bit of regression this year I wouldn't be too upset.  After all, he had an MVP level season last year.  At this point though he has regressed more than a little bit.

 

I'm not sure what the issue is.  The entire offense is just out of sync right now.  From Daboll to the O-Line to Josh and his WRs, it's just not clicking yet.  Things won't get any easier next week.  That Washington defense is tough and they can get after the QB. 

 

If Josh and the offense can find their rhythm and keep the defense playing at this level, the Bills are going to be very formidable.  Let's hope things start to click for the offense soon.  It's really strange to watch the Bills win 35-0 and feel unsettled about it.

 

 

 

If the Dolphins didn't throw up all over themselves all game, it would have been a much closer contest. I didn't know Brissett was the backup, but I knew anyone would have been better than Tua. I thought we screwed the pooch knocking him out.