10/18/21 Gameday Bills @ Titans Postgame thread

[Governor]

6 hours ago, klos63 said:

No it doesn't send that message. There's more to the decision than that. That's just a overused cliche type of explanation. Not based in reality.

Yeah. I kick the FG there. You’re on the road and you give yourself other chances to win in OT. I didn’t like the decision or the play call. Analytics don’t factor in game situations.

Edited October 19, 2021 by Governor

[Coach Tuesday]

Very disappointed in Frazier.  If you’re clever enough to scheme to beat Mahomes, you should be able to stop the Michigan State offense on third downs.  First and second downs were fine, but never adjusted to what the Titans were doing on third and long which was to move Brown inside and behind a stack for a free release inside.  Never brought pressure.  Just let Tannehill sit back and find Brown over the middle over and over again with zero adjustment.  Totally inexcusable and frankly arrogant.  

[Back2Buff]

Tried to warn people before the game the Titans were the better team but no one seemed to want to listen.

 

Bills have played one of the worst schedules out there.  Titans beat the bills 9/10 times.  Bills have a lot of work to do.

[Coach Tuesday]

Did somebody say something?

[KCNC]

I want Tannehill - in Buffalo - in January.  I really want that.

[Back2Buff]

6 minutes ago, KCNC said:

I want Tannehill - in Buffalo - in January.  I really want that.

 

Um, Henry comes with Tannehill.

[wjag]

The afterglow:

 

1.  Can't be too upset with the loss.  Was a great game and was a cliff hanger until the end.

2. I think the difference in the game was the DLINE had no push when it really needed it.

3. Henry is a machine.

4. Can't fault the Offense for this one.

5. Give credit where credit is due.  Titans were undermanned and dropping like flies, yet played like a wounded animal.

6. This game had a playoff feel to it.

7.  Hardest two game stretch is now in the books

8. Vrabel with the redux of the Musical City Miracle was actually genius.  It was set up to work..  Imagine our outrage today had it worked.

9. I don't fault Buffalo for going for the win.  The Defense was not going to stop Henry if the game continued into OT.

10. I can take this loss and move on.  Same as Arizona last year.  Buffalo left it on the field.

11. Oh Andre...

Edited October 19, 2021 by wjag

[colin]

big tough dirty and well coached.  that's what kills us.  it didn't matter that they had a ups driver and a barrista playing CB, they just jammed us up front and abused our o line, and got pressure on josh like every single 3rd down.  

 

on the other side, the d just folded hard.  milano had no business playing, he looked awful.  odaba or whatever his name is is our worst lineman, addison is meh, hughs is meh + a bit of flashes here and there.  AJ and basham on the bench didn't help us at all.

 

if we are making one move into the bye/trade deadline, it has to be for an OG.  we need someone nasty on the left side.

 

bills played hard, but made too many mistakes.  IMO this loss is down to coaching.  we weren't prepared well enough (couldn't get the O to operate without josh running around like his hair is on fire, bad bad bad special teams penalties, and a dumb kick off strategy) and vrabel drew up the exact game plan necessary to make us shoot ourselves in the foot.  he put his guys in the best position to win, we just lined up and begged 17 to be super man up and down the field.

[North Buffalo]

Last play call with all those options a little hard headed but I get it... josh slipped

 

still big boy football game both teams hitting hard...

 

Bills need another big linebacker who can run and hit...

 

Rookie D liners were non existent and have some work to do to play at that level...

 

Coaches need to learn to adjust faster...

 

Still good learning experience and Bills played hearts out... all you can ask for and it was a great game.

 

 

 

Edited October 19, 2021 by North Buffalo

[Virgil]

1 hour ago, Chandler#81 said:

Well, *Coach*, it was a management decision to beef up the middle of the Dline for the game. Harry played very well, stuffing holes and providing inside rush pressure. But you have to take off your BBFS sunglasses to see. 

And it was a poor decision.  Zero sacks, and rarely any pressure in passing situations.  I am actually somewhat okay with their run defense.   
 

[BananaB]

7 hours ago, Generic_Bills_Fan said:

Passing the ball in that situation wouldve absolutely terrified me...so much can go wrong not to mention they don't want to end a game with a tossup type PI so they let the defense get away with some stuff 

We moved the ball 83 yards in about 2 minutes, I’m not even sure if we had a third down until we were knocking on the door.  Atleast have the pass option in there. We played for 6 inches instead of two yards. I’m not mad they went for it, I’m mad they backed out of going for the end zone and played for the first down when there was very little difference. 

[Bob in STL]

7 hours ago, Norcalbillsfan said:

Henry definitely is one of a kind. Just saying tampa bay saw the bills defense have no answer at all to the play action (yes obviously because of henry) and tampa will try to expose that weakness of the middle cuz it was a massive weakness tonight.

Tampa does not have Henry.  Big difference. Tampa presents many other problems though.  

Edited October 19, 2021 by Bob in STL

[4BillsintheBurgh]

8 hours ago, buffalo2218 said:

Rousseau was active, but didn't see him in much

I was actually wondering if he had gotten hurt, didn't see him in the second half much.

[Bob in STL]

52 minutes ago, BananaB said:

We moved the ball 83 yards in about 2 minutes, I’m not even sure if we had a third down until we were knocking on the door.  Atleast have the pass option in there. We played for 6 inches instead of two yards. I’m not mad they went for it, I’m mad they backed out of going for the end zone and played for the first down when there was very little difference. 

Well, 6 inches gets you a few more plays.  I’ll bet if they tried to score and failed a lot of people would cry about the 6 inches.  
 

Bottom line is our OL got pushed back on the left side.  Yes Allen slipped but there was nothing there in the way of a push. 

Edited October 19, 2021 by Bob in STL

[stevestojan]

From an objective standpoint, hell of an entertaining game. I agree with the decision to go for it; the Titans scored on their previous 7 drives I believe. The play call was even OK (if he had tossed it and the RB lost yards, we would have gone nuts. You put the ball in your superstar’s hands. It was just a tremendous defensive effort. 
 

From my subjective opinion, I was sick about it, but I’m still impressed with our offense. 

[Thrivefourfive]

Coaching staff and active roster decisions - if this game plan worked, great for them. They’re geniuses. But it didn’t. Failed miserably. They gave up the run AND the pass. 
 

Monday morning tells me that next time, do what you do best — shut down the pass. You can’t attempt to shut down the run and then leave yourself open to the pass. This is the NFL and every team can complete ten yard IN routes. Stop letting the other team force your hand. Play Buffalo Bills football and dictate on your terms. No, Tannehill didn’t look like Marino out there, but he also didn’t get sacked. So when Henry does his thing, which is most predictable, you can’t let them eat their dessert too. 
 

Kill the quarterback, force turnover/punts, get up by 14, then you take Henry and make the Titans a more beatable team. That’s the adjustment I’d make for next time. 

[Orlando Tim]

This game to me is the definition of better to be lucky than good. They got the pop up interception, they caught the ball of Poyers helmet, the horrible officials hurt us more( though bad all around), Josh slips at end when we need 6 inches. Lots of little things that if one goes the other way we win. Feels like Cardinal game last year, we lost because of a few funny bounces to a team we should have beat. That being said if they get healthy I will not want to face them again.

[stevewin]

9 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

If Allen goes right on that sneak it's a TD. I'm not sure why he ran right into the teeth of DL alignment. OL blocks right, Allen goes left. Dawkins has to reach a powerful DT. 

I fel like they kind of outsmarted themselves with the run up from shotgun to quick do the sneak - just didn't seem like it allowed things to be set from our side and also got the D even more zoned in.

 

It's crazy to me to not be able to get 6 inches with a QB sneak.   How does Brady always fall forward for a yard on QB sneak - always.  Can't every QB just watch tape and do what he does?  I would be in the group that would be second guessing "why not just do a QB sneak!" if they did anything else.  It's just crazy to me you can't convert those 6 inches.

 

I also can't believe how unlucky the scramble before was - great effort play, but just shift the ball 6 inches towards the goal line as you are falling - geez.

[Giuseppe Tognarelli]

1 hour ago, Back2Buff said:

Tried to warn people before the game the Titans were the better team but no one seemed to want to listen.

 

Bills have played one of the worst schedules out there.  Titans beat the bills 9/10 times.  Bills have a lot of work to do.

You again. What a troll. The Titans are not the better team. Give me a break.

[TylerD]

Hell of a game last night. Was hoping you guys could pull it off but it was great none the less. 

[CircleTheWagons99]

Daboll can go. Im done with him. His game plans suck and Josh bails him out. 

[Orlando Tim]

9 minutes ago, CircleTheWagons99 said:

Daboll can go. Im done with him. His game plans suck and Josh bails him out. 

You know both his grandparents who raise him died in the past few weeks? Maybe cut him a little slack for yesterday since he was so good in KC, not to mention we put up 31.

[RyanC883]

3 hours ago, 78thealltimegreat said:

Did you check his stat line? 

 

yeah, did you notice that he left Sanders WIDE OPEN for a TD, but checked it down?  Happened a few other times.  Josh had a game against 2 backup QBs with amazing receivers.  He should have a great stat line.  Any QB would in that game.  JA did not make the deep passes he needed to, he didn't keep his head up for the long ball when being flushed from the pocket.  I don't want excuses here, because he's hit those passes before.  He was good last night, not "tremendous."  

5 minutes ago, Buffalo Timmy said:

You know both his grandparents who raise him died in the past few weeks? Maybe cut him a little slack for yesterday since he was so good in KC, not to mention we put up 31.

 

not to sound harsh, but (1) this was an issue before his Grandparents died.  (2) if it is his Grandparents; then it's on McD to put a different coach in.   Daboll has all the weapons, and fails in the red zone this often, and can't put up over 31 on a team with an utterly depleted D that has given up the most deep balls all year.  Yeah, offensive play calling was an issue.  

[Mat68]

Last night it sucked.  Overall, the team needs those kind of games.  The offense has been about 60 to 75% thus far.  They should come out of the bye on fire.  Next big test in Tampa.  Buffalo wasnt going undefeated.  3 losses imo takes the 1 seed and Buffalo is in position to do it. 

[Livinginthepast]

What a horrible end to the evening. I hate night games and lying awake thinking of how annoying it all was. A few thoughts.

 

1. Our run game hasnt been horrible but it seems to have a knack for not getting done when it matters. We stumbled in the red zone because the Titans knew they could easily stop Singletary or Moss and just key on the pass. Not getting a veteran running back in the offseason was a major mistake. Even at the end the Titans knew Josh would run it as we wouldnt trust our Rbs to get it done.

 

2. The lack of defensive adjustments in game by Fraser is maddening. Just like the playoff game in KC.  The Titans were not pressured by our pass rush and then Brown just gashed us repeatedly.  This isnt 1960, you have spotters in the booth that can update Frasier in real time about the offensive adjustments so why dont we adjust our schemes to keep up. If you are not getting pressure then drop some of these guys into coverage on passing downs! I didnt think the run d was that bad and there was major holding on the long TD by Henry that directly led him to get free. Unbelievable, they call phantom penalties when it was that blatant and directly allowed a TD.

 

3. Vrabel has to be the biggest dbag in the NFL. Smug obnoxious, arrogant and stupid. Yet we let him off the hook and enable him to further dbaggery by gifting him that victory with our mistakes and poor decisions. For me this might be the worst part of the loss!

 

4. It was nice to see Beasley back in the groove. He looked angry out there.

 

5. Is Diggs one of the most hated WRs in the NFL? that guy seems to take a lot of dirty and late hits designed just to hurt him. 

 

6.I had no problem with the 4th down call or most of the other decisions. The problem was execution in some areas. I think this loss may help them in the long run!

[Orlando Tim]

3 minutes ago, RyanC883 said:

 

yeah, did you notice that he left Sanders WIDE OPEN for a TD, but checked it down?  Happened a few other times.  Josh had a game against 2 backup QBs with amazing receivers.  He should have a great stat line.  Any QB would in that game.  JA did not make the deep passes he needed to, he didn't keep his head up for the long ball when being flushed from the pocket.  I don't want excuses here, because he's hit those passes before.  He was good last night, not "tremendous."  

 

not to sound harsh, but (1) this was an issue before his Grandparents died.  (2) if it is his Grandparents; then it's on McD to put a different coach in.   Daboll has all the weapons, and fails in the red zone this often, and can't put up over 31 on a team with an utterly depleted D that has given up the most deep balls all year.  Yeah, offensive play calling was an issue.  

We put up 31 after putting up 35, 43, 40, 38. You are not being reasonable. 

 

 

This is acceptable if they are clearly not looking for holdings otherwise. If you take two TDs off our board on small holds and allow this one to stand it is unacceptable. 

[RyanC883]

1 minute ago, Buffalo Timmy said:

We put up 31 after putting up 35, 43, 40, 38. You are not being reasonable. 

 

I am being reasonable.  He needs to, and usually does, see those wide open WRs.  We played BACKUP ROOKIE CB'S.   We should have put up a TON on them.  I'm not saying he sucked, he was good.  Not elite last night.  

[Apocalypse Nuts]

10 hours ago, clayboy54 said:

You can’t ask for a better game for the audience. Sadly, the Titans played the best game of their lives. Congrats to them for that. Now, we can regroup and run the table.

 

No complaints about the Bills from me, just a little disappointed.

Agree 100%.  The Titans brought their A Game and played their asses off.  That last play was a fine example of just how great their coaching is plain and simple.  There were numerous examples of that on both sides of the ball last night.  One of the best coached games I have ever witnessed probably.  
This loss doesn’t hurt me so much personally.  I rather enjoyed it actually in many respects.  This felt like an old K-Gun style shootout from the 90’s.  Was it perfect?  No.  But are they ever really?  Not really.  We’re not going to face a Mack Truck like Henry every week thankfully and the D held up decently IMO.  JA17 had a monster game but still has much to learn.  And he will and the other 31 teams should be very afraid of that prospect.

10 years from now we will probably appreciate this game more.  And the reality for this team is that losing a game truly makes them stronger.  I have immense confidence in their coaching staff coming off of losses.  

Edited October 19, 2021 by Apocalypse Nuts

[Dan]

27 minutes ago, Livinginthepast said:

What a horrible end to the evening. I hate night games and lying awake thinking of how annoying it all was. A few thoughts.

.

 

2. The lack of defensive adjustments in game by Fraser is maddening. Just like the playoff game in KC.  The Titans were not pressured by our pass rush and then Brown just gashed us repeatedly.  This isnt 1960, you have spotters in the booth that can update Frasier in real time about the offensive adjustments so why dont we adjust our schemes to keep up. If you are not getting pressure then drop some of these guys into coverage on passing downs! I didnt think the run d was that bad and there was major holding on the long TD by Henry that directly led him to get free. Unbelievable, they call phantom penalties when it was that blatant and directly allowed a TD.

 

This has big one of my biggest concerns with our coaching staff.  They can come up with great game plans.   But then sometimes, they don’t!    The issue is, when they don’t, they’re extremely slow to adjust, if at all.   
 

Quite clearly the defensive game plan wasn’t working last night and they seemed unwilling to change things up. 
 

Another issue, for me, is that they seem to love their situational players to an extreme.  Benching 2 DLinemem that have been consistent and playing well for players that haven’t is the definition of over thinking it. Sometimes I wish they’d just line up and play who has been producing rather than pulling the hidden ringer off the bench.  
 

it’s all great when it works, but when it doesn’t it makes the second guessing go into overdrive!  Lol 

26 minutes ago, Buffalo Timmy said:

23 minutes ago, RyanC883 said:

 

I am being reasonable.  He needs to, and usually does, see those wide open WRs.  We played BACKUP ROOKIE CB'S.   We should have put up a TON on them.  I'm not saying he sucked, he was good.  Not elite last night.  

No... you’re not. 

 

26 minutes ago, Buffalo Timmy said:

We put up 31 after putting up 35, 43, 40, 38. You are not being reasonable. 

 

This is acceptable if they are clearly not looking for holdings otherwise. If you take two TDs off our board on small holds and allow this one to stand it is unacceptable. 

I don’t wanna start bashing the Refs again, but they miss more holds of Bills players than seems reasonable.  Heck, Jerry Hughs could probably get a rope tied around him and dragged down and they wouldn’t call it.   The league hates him.  

Edited October 19, 2021 by Dan

[CircleTheWagons99]

37 minutes ago, Buffalo Timmy said:

We put up 31 after putting up 35, 43, 40, 38. You are not being reasonable. 

 

 

This is acceptable if they are clearly not looking for holdings otherwise. If you take two TDs off our board on small holds and allow this one to stand it is unacceptable. 

White was held on that play as well....

[Mango]

9 hours ago, Buffalo619 said:

Yeah, he looked almost concussed. It was an average game for him. His stats were good, but something wasn’t right all night. Took several bad sacks and made some questionable throws. Slipped on a critical 4th down.  
 

 

 

So I will agree Allen had some off throws. But also some dimes. I am generally one to be critical of Allen first, but this one is on the OL. He was regularly throwing off platform all day. Most certainly on a number of deep shots that caused him to under throw (which never happens). Tennessee got the better of our OL last night. Allen was our saving grace. 

[78thealltimegreat]

46 minutes ago, RyanC883 said:

 

yeah, did you notice that he left Sanders WIDE OPEN for a TD, but checked it down?  Happened a few other times.  Josh had a game against 2 backup QBs with amazing receivers.  He should have a great stat line.  Any QB would in that game.  JA did not make the deep passes he needed to, he didn't keep his head up for the long ball when being flushed from the pocket.  I don't want excuses here, because he's hit those passes before.  He was good last night, not "tremendous."  

 

not to sound harsh, but (1) this was an issue before his Grandparents died.  (2) if it is his Grandparents; then it's on McD to put a different coach in.   Daboll has all the weapons, and fails in the red zone this often, and can't put up over 31 on a team with an utterly depleted D that has given up the most deep balls all year.  Yeah, offensive play calling was an issue.  

We have the 30th rated oline and one of the worst sets of backs in the league yardage wise give it a rest your hatred of Allen over the years shows up we get the point 

[CincyBillsFan]

I read an article this morning moaning about our lack of production in the Red Zone.  Well why is anyone surprised?  The strength of this offense is Allen and the WR's.  Outside the red zone it's tough to defense this combo.  But in the red zone when the field shrinks it's a lot easier.  At this point you need to depend on your RB's and O line.  And therein lies the problem.

 

 

[BananaB]

3 hours ago, Bob in STL said:

Well, 6 inches gets you a few more plays.  I’ll bet if they tried to score and failed a lot of people would cry about the 6 inches.  
 

Bottom line is our OL got pushed back on the left side.  Yes Allen slipped but there was nothing there in the way of a push. 

Problem was we limited ourselves playing for the first down. I got no problem  having a drive stalled on a QB sneak, I got a problem having a game come down to its results.  Rather have a short yardage play that makes them cover more of the field, maybe we get in the end zone or just the first down. I understand Allen slipped but they knew what was coming, more then Dawkins did. 😂  

Edited October 19, 2021 by BananaB

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, RyanC883 said:

 

I am being reasonable.  He needs to, and usually does, see those wide open WRs.  We played BACKUP ROOKIE CB'S.   We should have put up a TON on them.  I'm not saying he sucked, he was good.  Not elite last night.  

 

Dude, it all starts up front.  If a QB has time to stand in, he has time to scan the field and see receivers.  If he's running full tilt his vision is limited. Can you reasonably think Josh Allen had time to scan the field and see receivers last night?

 

Also, 31 points IS a TON.  The problem wasn't that we didn't put up a ton of points, the problem is that our defense allowed the Titans to put up a ton-plus.  If we allow the opponent 34 points every week, we won't win many games.

[mannc]

29 minutes ago, CincyBillsFan said:

I read an article this morning moaning about our lack of production in the Red Zone.  Well why is anyone surprised?  The strength of this offense is Allen and the WR's.  Outside the red zone it's tough to defense this combo.  But in the red zone when the field shrinks it's a lot easier.  At this point you need to depend on your RB's and O line.  And therein lies the problem.

 

 

Yep.  Sometimes the simple answer is the correct one.

Just now, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Dude, it all starts up front.  If a QB has time to stand in, he has time to scan the field and see receivers.  If he's running full tilt his vision is limited. Can you reasonably think Josh Allen had time to scan the field and see receivers last night?

 

Also, 31 points IS a TON.  The problem wasn't that we didn't put up a ton of points, the problem is that our defense allowed the Titans to put up a ton-plus.  If we allow the opponent 34 points every week, we won't win many games.

Can't argue with this, but as I said in the gameday thread, Josh was a bit off last night.  On a lot of his throws, the ball was not coming out of his hand clean.  I have no explanation for it, but I've seen that happen to him before. 

[Logic]

A few thoughts:

- There is blame to go around for this loss. It's reasonable to say that the offense should have scored more TDs and less FGs, or that Josh failed to see open checkdown options a time or two. It's also reasonable to say that when your offense scores 31 points, you should win the game. The defense couldn't stop a nosebleed the entire second half, so they certainly deserve a big share of the blame, too.

- Even with all that the offense and defense could have done better, the Bills still drove the ball down the field at the end and were six inches away from a 1st and goal with 20 seconds left. 

- I can't help but wonder if Knox going out with injury ultimately cost the Bills the game. On the 4th quarter drive where Allen failed to throw to the wide open Tommy Sweeney in the flat and the Bills ultimately wound up punting...I just wonder if things would have been different had Knox been in the game. No sense in wasting too much time wondering, though. What happened, happened.

- Credit where credit is due: That was a gutsy, impressive win by an undermanned Titans squad that had faced a couple devastating on-field injuries to key players. Vrable's cute little punt return lateral troll attempt was lame, and I'm glad that it didn't work. Other than that, I can only tip my cap to the Titans for going blow for blow with the Bills, digging deep, and finding a way to pull out the win. 

- I'm with McDermott 100 times out of 100 on that decision to go for it on 4th. Analytics and common sense both tell me it was the right call. I also have no problem with the QB sneak being the playcall there. Josh gets those better than 90% of the time. It wasn't the Xs and Os that cost the Bills this game, it was the Willies and Joes. Execution wasn't up to snuff, period.

- It's been said by others, I'm sure, but it sure does feel to me like the Bills sort of needed this loss. To lose the way they lost, right before the bye week (just like last year)...it seems like this was the type of adversity, the type of rallying cry, the type of "re-set and re-focus" loss that this Bills roster often thrive on. Instead of spending the next two weeks hearing how they're Super Bowl favorites, they'll spend the next two weeks with a sick feeling in their stomach, knowing that execution cost them a winnable game.

Edited October 19, 2021 by Logic

[x-BillzeBubba]

Fix the redzone O, we win that game easy

[WideNine]

3 hours ago, Virgil said:

And it was a poor decision.  Zero sacks, and rarely any pressure in passing situations.  I am actually somewhat okay with their run defense.   
 

 

This.

 

I was ok with how the middle of the dline played for the most part.

 

Without more early scoring from the offense we could not "cheat" towards leaving the run to our front 4 on 3rd downs and playing the pass/doubling Brown.

 

We were too susceptible to play action in the second half which is exactly the Titan's game with Henry.

 

Us older fans with some grey in our hair remember how a KC team was built around their Nigerian Nightmare RB Christian Okoye. A bruising runner whose style reminds me of Henry.

 

He and Bills MLB Shane Conlan had some epic collisions.

 

The one drawback to building your team around one player though is the drop off when they get dinged. RBs take a lot of hits - realistically the Titan's offense (as it is built today) likely has a small window to win it all.

 

Tennessee has no one on their bench that defenses will scheme for like Henry.

 

 

 

[ArdmoreRyno]

Not going through 33 pages of posts.... but the only team I worry about post-season is Tennessee. 

 

Remember our game pre-bye week last season? We didn't lose a game after regrouping. 

 

We will be fine.