The Ringer: How Did the Buffalo Bills Go From the Top of the AFC to the Fringe of the Playoff Picture?

[DCOrange]

1 hour ago, Big Blitz said:

And 21 TDs to 8 INTs.  

 

Allen hasn't regressed but oline and running game have 

 

And Herbert got to play Pittsburgh's JV defense last night.  It's nice to dump it off to a RB that makes 6 guys miss 

 

This Ruiz hates Allen - for those that don't follow him on Twitter.  But the other stuff about the O is correct and Allen can only over come so much.  Especially with Beasley hurt and Sanders beginning to run out of gas. 

 

Heard this stat today..  Sanders is currently NUMBER 1 in air yards per target (it might be per catch) in the league - and he is dead LAST in YAC.  Only Diggs and Knox have been good run after catch.   

The run game hasn't really regressed, at least not in any meaningful way from last year. Singletary's numbers are up across the board this season. Moss' YPC is lower but his DVOA is up. Our rushing stats as a team are up across the board as well. Allen's numbers are down pretty much across the board: TD%, INT%, YPG, YPA, NY/A, QBR, passer rating, etc. Everything is at least slightly trending down compared to last year despite a much easier slate of games this year.

 

Is it as simple as Allen playing worse? Maybe a little bit, but there's plenty of blame to go around and even if he is playing a bit worse than he did a year ago, he certainly isn't our weakness or anything.

 

Fact of the matter is, we rely on our QB moreso than most teams in the league, so any slight regression in his play will be felt more than a lot of other teams would.

Edited November 22, 2021 by DCOrange

[CincyBillsFan]

4 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

I dont know how much I can agree with this. At least the 99% part. Bad protection and lack of run game are certainly big factors. But his insistence of playing hero ball and going deep is on him, and also contributes to the "bad protection" factor.

 

Get the ball out quick. We are running the Patriots playbook. We KNOW those quick passes to Welker/Edelman/BEASLEY exist. They used them in lieu of a run game for years. Short pass, ball out QUICK.

 

As the article shows, even when he makes short passes, he is holding it for 3 seconds and only making the short pass as a dump off. Usually after staring down the receiver as well.

Again against the Colts Allen was throwing all sorts of quick short passes.  Were you watching the game?  The issue though was twofold:

 

* Any kind of negative yardage play (you know those off tackle runs that lose 2 yards) or penalty (you know holding & false starts) screws this up and forces us to try to stretch the field.  This is why short quick passes are seldom a sustainable form of offensive scheme (see Jets Mike White and Dolphins Tua this season or last years Steelers team). 

 

*  The other issue with the short passing scheme is it chews up time. This would be great if the Bills defense could get a running team off the field but in two losses they haven't been able to.  So yesterday, the Bills had the ball twice from the start of the game to the 2 minute warning.  TWICE!!!!  They scored a TD on one of those drives and on the other drove to the Colts 30 before back to back O-line penalties took them out of FG range and into a 3rd & 18. By the time the Bills got the ball for a 3rd possession they were down 24 - 7 in the last 2 minutes of the half. Hardly the place to go check down Charlies.

 

 

 

 

[CincyBillsFan]

2 hours ago, ngbills said:

But for argument sake - he could be why we 6-4 and not 9-1 or 8-2. That is a better debate than saying he is the reason we are not 3-7. This D has been lights out and a ton of QB's could have us at 6-4 especially with the easy schedule. 

The defense has NOT been lights out when we've faced a strong offense.  Even against KC the Chiefs moved up and down the field.  Allen put pressure on Mahomes and the Chiefs Offense by moving the ball and scoring 31 points.  This forced Mahomes and the Chiefs to force the ball leading to bad TO's. 

 

And for sure I would hang the primary reason for the Bills losses against TN & Indy on the defense.

 

 

[CincyBillsFan]

4 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

 

It's a factor. But we saw the Patriots utilize a short, quick passing game in replacement of a running game for YEARS. It can be done. We aren't even trying it. Which is weird considering Daboll was with the Pats during that time.

The Pats were able to do this because:

 

*  They committed very few offensive penalties. We used to cry that it was because the refs were in the bag.  The reality is that the Pats coach their players not to commit dumb penalties and if they keep doing it they get rid of them.

 

*  During those years the Pats had a great O0line to enable a strong running game. And while they didn't have a King Henry or Taylor they did have a stable of solid NFL RB's.  Our O-line and RB's wouldn't see the field on those Pats teams.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DrDawkinstein]

5 minutes ago, CincyBillsFan said:

Again against the Colts Allen was throwing all sorts of quick short passes.  Were you watching the game?  The issue though was twofold:

 

* Any kind of negative yardage play (you know those off tackle runs that lose 2 yards) or penalty (you know holding & false starts) screws this up and forces us to try to stretch the field.  This is why short quick passes are seldom a sustainable form of offensive scheme (see Jets Mike White and Dolphins Tua this season or last years Steelers team). 

 

*  The other issue with the short passing scheme is it chews up time. This would be great if the Bills defense could get a running team off the field but in two losses they haven't been able to.  So yesterday, the Bills had the ball twice from the start of the game to the 2 minute warning.  TWICE!!!!  They scored a TD on one of those drives and on the other drove to the Colts 30 before back to back O-line penalties took them out of FG range and into a 3rd & 18. By the time the Bills got the ball for a 3rd possession they were down 24 - 7 in the last 2 minutes of the half. Hardly the place to go check down Charlies.

 

 

Yeah I watched the game. But did you read the article this thread is based on?

 

Quote

Allen’s 2.91-second average time to throw was his second-highest of the season...

 

So not sure I completely agree with your assessment.

 

My point in the post you quoted was about getting the ball out QUICKLY. Like much closer to 2 seconds.

 

And to use those plays as a substitute for a running game, since we have neither the line nor the backs to run the ball.

 

Obviously, when we're in a situation that takes away the running game (being down big, late), then that takes away all of those plays, and we're going to try to push it downfield.

 

However, I have seen the Pats effectively control the clock even with the short game, since the plays are quick and the WR is typically on an out route and already heading to the sideline. I can specifically remember Edelman crushing the Ravens over and over in a playoff game with simple, short, quick outs that moved the ball down the field but took little time off the clock.

 

It isnt checking down to any Charlies. That would be what Josh was doing yesterday after holding the ball far too long.

 

I'm talking designed, fast, short passes. Get the ball out immediately to the primary receiver.

3 minutes ago, CincyBillsFan said:

The Pats were able to do this because:

 

*  They committed very few offensive penalties. We used to cry that it was because the refs were in the bag.  The reality is that the Pats coach their players not to commit dumb penalties and if they keep doing it they get rid of them.

 

*  During those years the Pats had a great O0line to enable a strong running game. And while they didn't have a King Henry or Taylor they did have a stable of solid NFL RB's.  Our O-line and RB's wouldn't see the field on those Pats teams.

 

The offense gets far less penalties when OL only have to block for a second instead of 3 or 4. They jump far less when the entire O is in a rhythm from connecting short, quick passes.

 

They were ok, and made to look better by the passing game. Agreed none of our current schlubs would be let in their building.

[maddenboy]

12 minutes ago, Buffalo619 said:

Not making the playoffs would be a Billsy epic disaster.  On the fringe after this past embarrassing lose. Boys better put their man boots on and finish. We can still win the division if they could harden up a bit. 

Its starting to feel like we will miss the playoffs.  And be better next year for it.

 

Like when you lose one game badly, and later in the season you say "in hindsight that was a good loss for our team.  woke us up."

 

I can hear us in 2022 saying "It sucked like hell to miss the playoffs the year after the AFCCG, but in hindsight, that was just what this team needed.  To remember to take every single play seriously, and not just start planning for the playoffs in training camp."

[Hapless Bills Fan]

4 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

 

It's a factor. But we saw the Patriots utilize a short, quick passing game in replacement of a running game for YEARS. It can be done. We aren't even trying it. Which is weird considering Daboll was with the Pats during that time.

 

Most years the Patriots ranked top-10 in rushing attempts and yards.

 

Except for Brady's very first years, they were never a run-first team, but they have always had a good enough run game that if teams wanted to win over them, they had to respect it.

 

I can remember several painful and frustrating Bills-Pats games where we successfully shut down their passing attack and they ran it down our throats- over.  and over.

[FilthyBeast]

One important item to start considering.....I forgot the official statistic, but something like the last 10 years regarding the final four teams in the playoffs the previous year (conference championship games) at least one did not make the playoffs at all the following season.

 

For a while everyone thought this year that team was the Chiefs and the trend would continue, but they are well back on track to not only make the playoffs but win the AFC West again. So right now that team looks like the Bills which would have been crazy to think just a few weeks ago but you reap what you sow and this team is falling off the map and will essentially be buried if they don't find a way to beat the Saints on the road.

[Patrick Duffy]

3 minutes ago, FilthyBeast said:

One important item to start considering.....I forgot the official statistic, but something like the last 10 years regarding the final four teams in the playoffs the previous year (conference championship games) at least one did not make the playoffs at all the following season.

 

For a while everyone thought this year that team was the Chiefs and the trend would continue, but they are well back on track to not only make the playoffs but win the AFC West again. So right now that team looks like the Bills which would have been crazy to think just a few weeks ago but you reap what you sow and this team is falling off the map and will essentially be buried if they don't find a way to beat the Saints on the road.

That means absolutely nothing. Now if Bills continue to play like yesterday (which I 100% don't think they will) absolutely they would and should miss playoffs.

 

But if they do make playoffs or if they don't will have nothing to do with that, which goes without saying imo

[Scott7975]

3 hours ago, ngbills said:

But for argument sake - he could be why we 6-4 and not 9-1 or 8-2. That is a better debate than saying he is the reason we are not 3-7. This D has been lights out and a ton of QB's could have us at 6-4 especially with the easy schedule. 

 

They were not lights out against Indy or Tenn.

[ngbills]

29 minutes ago, CincyBillsFan said:

The defense has NOT been lights out when we've faced a strong offense.  Even against KC the Chiefs moved up and down the field.  Allen put pressure on Mahomes and the Chiefs Offense by moving the ball and scoring 31 points.  This forced Mahomes and the Chiefs to force the ball leading to bad TO's. 

 

And for sure I would hang the primary reason for the Bills losses against TN & Indy on the defense.

 

 

Disagree. Before yesterday Tenn is the only team that did jack. 

4 minutes ago, Scott7975 said:

 

They were not lights out against Indy or Tenn.

Score 24 and they are 8-2

[Scott7975]

5 minutes ago, ngbills said:

Disagree. Before yesterday Tenn is the only team that did jack. 

Score 24 and they are 8-2

 

What?  I dont get it.  How does the defense giving up a score every drive become the Bills 8-2 if they score 24?  

[ngbills]

7 minutes ago, Scott7975 said:

 

What?  I dont get it.  How does the defense giving up a score every drive become the Bills 8-2 if they score 24?  

The D has put them in a position to win every game but Ten and Ind. 

[Jrb1979]

Today on WGR they were saying if the Bills don't win the last 3 AFC games it will come down to Tie Breakers. Their AFC record is only 5-4. 

[Scott7975]

Just now, ngbills said:

The D has put them in a position to win every game but Ten and Ind. 

 

Yes and that is half our losses.

1 minute ago, Jrb1979 said:

Today on WGR they were saying if the Bills don't win the last 3 AFC games it will come down to Tie Breakers. Their AFC record is only 5-4. 

 

That would be correct.  We had a good conference record but that is no longer the case.  They need to sweep the Pats pretty much.  Not much room for error there.

[Scott7975]

1 minute ago, ScottLaw said:

Depends…. A split with the Patriots and if they tie them with the same record(assuming they beat the Jets in week 18) then Bills would win the division due to division record tie breaker. …. As of right now though I think the Patriots would beat the Bills in both games. 

 

Yeah thats what I was getting at.  As for the Patriots beating the Bills... yeah if the Bills dont get their ***** together its going to look just like the Indy game.

[Patrick Duffy]

18 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Depends…. A split with the Patriots and if they tie them with the same record(assuming they beat the Jets in week 18) then Bills would win the division due to division record tie breaker. …. As of right now though I think the Patriots would beat the Bills in both games. 

Well I definitely agree, if Bills have the same Oline personnel having to play as yesterday/Jags Pats could for sure sweep. If they have Brown, Mongo back with DW back at G which with that line-up they have been at their best pretty much, no way do Pats win both games. I could see a split, but as long as Bills don't put that same Oline with Ford out Bills should win at least 1

 

 

Edited November 23, 2021 by Sheneneh Jenkins

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Just make the playoffs and go on a run. Allen is still a top 3 QB. He can make up for a lot of deficiencies. He can also play hero ball and lose games too. Allen is the only hope this year.

 

Beane and his precious future draft picks may have cost the team a chance at a championship this year. 

[BarleyNY]

1 hour ago, FilthyBeast said:

One important item to start considering.....I forgot the official statistic, but something like the last 10 years regarding the final four teams in the playoffs the previous year (conference championship games) at least one did not make the playoffs at all the following season.

 

For a while everyone thought this year that team was the Chiefs and the trend would continue, but they are well back on track to not only make the playoffs but win the AFC West again. So right now that team looks like the Bills which would have been crazy to think just a few weeks ago but you reap what you sow and this team is falling off the map and will essentially be buried if they don't find a way to beat the Saints on the road.

I know this stat.  It’s been 25 straight seasons where at least one of the four teams who made it to the NFC and AFC championship game did not make the playoffs the following season.  That’s a hell of a stat.  The extra playoff team in each conference might help end the streak though.  

[DrPJax]

8 hours ago, BuffaloRebound said:

Certainly validates what most posters are saying.  Defenses don’t even have to think about defending the run against Bills.  And our defense isn’t built to stop the run.  

It does. Article makes it look fairly simple.  The defenses have figured out our team has been built predominantly with passing n mind in offense.   This is compounded by mcds lack of offensive knowledge/ concepts being a defensive specialist.  He turned all his trust to Daboll , who many have noted , does not have a history of running top rated offenses.  He focused on the passing game given the qb with an amazing arm.  He has Refused to develop any real semblance of a running game, even at times with some success he remains arrogant in his refusal to commit to it.  Example; moss& motor struggle, yet Brieda never saw the field until the 9 th week and even with success yesterday early in the game , he got less than 10 touches. Actually happened the year before as well when despite occasional success, Yeldon remained benched.  Brieda has speed that made the difference in success of run plays , but Daboll obviously is not proficient at run design so he still avoids it.  
Why tho, when it’s knowledge around the league how to make Josh struggle , would the head coach ALLOW the lack of running to continue?   I just can’t see longer tenured , successful coaches like Tomlin, Belicheck ,etc deferring. To the offensive coordinator with the teams success on the line.   We all as amateurs see the issue and problems it’s creating.  One dimensional offense which is getting easier to defend.  The season Is on the line ; question is can Mcd either demand a different gsme plan from Daboll or does he have fortitude to turn play calling over , at least as a trail , to someone like the qb coach if Daboll can’t design or refuses to run more?   That’s not hyperbole, we are the last place playoff team and the toughest part of the schedule remains. Josh is not responding to coaching as he refuses to throw Short routes before holding the ball and repeatedly checking if he could still try a deep pattern like the one that  resulted in the first int yesterday.  My gut feeling, based on 5 years of Mcd, is we see no changes and we will get out-coached by the Bucs , and the pats .    Mcd is a guy of habit , he hasn’t yielded so far , and I expect more of what we saw when we play teams with strong running games which is unfortunate watching  the pats offense and with Belicheck s history of almost total dominance over Mcd.
 

Mcd, who seems to be very loyal , may be struggling with his admirable loyalty, as it makes it difficult to confront those he sees as equal peers, like Daboll and Frazier.  Despite two games ( and others in prior seasons where we saw absolute beat downs against running teams) Frazier  absolutely would not switch out of the 4-2-5 even against the two best runners in the league !  It’s almost a level of arrogance that says, go ahead and beat us, pound us, but I / we will show you eventually We are right and this d is better if WE JUST EXECUTE it properly.  Frazier’s D has seemed ok against lessor competition , but the Titans and Colts , actual playoff caliber teams, ran all over our D.   The colts threw for under 140 yards, yet we stuck in a defensive scheme designed to defend the pass which was getting blown away by the power  run blocking scheme.    Who’s really in control of the D.?  Is the 4-2-5 mcds scheme which he will steadfastly stick to regardless of in game results, or is it from Frazier and Mcd’ s personality won’t allow him to demand  a change even as we see results consistently showing the Bills can’t compete against capable running teams. I don’t know how else to explain watching your d being destroyed , yet not even trying any different scheme!  Didn’t Mcd once take over play calling in the D?   This game , I believe, is emblematic of the problems that I can’t envision suddenly going away and us going on a winning streak !  Facts are facts; we haven’t won two in a row in a month so what woiod make us think  we suddenly will win out?  Even if we get lucky and beat the Saints, I can’t see yesterdays team beating the Bucs or the Pats.  That article seems well researched and this team seems on track for disappointing results. Mcd is a guy of habit , and I think it will take the reality of having this season slowly slip away before making needed changes next year. I really hope this is Dabolls last year with the Bills. Two years of ignoring running and a balanced offense is enough for me. I’m on the fence with Frazier , willing to see if he is capable of adapting when we face this years Pars and Bucs.   The results are what I hope drives mcds staff choices for the next year. 
 

Lastly, as I stated before ,hearing players like Josh say “ that’s not us” ,is part of this culture that Mcd has fostered and in some ways I think hinders them from honest self evaluation.  The “24” hour rule seems ok On the surface, as the mantra echoed by every player that “ it’s just one game, we will flush it”: yet is like a state of denial.  EVERY GAME matters, success is built on prior success.  Losing. Also builds on itself. These losses matter; already we have lost a goal of a home AFC  CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ( in all likelihood) , and in getting to the SB, home field matters; how coukd we not know that after losing in KC!?   Time for this team to face facts!  Josh, yes you are a mediocre 6-4 team with no offensive identity , and you Need to be honest that ( despite stats , as only W’s matter) your play and turnovers are contributing to losses.  Stop the lip service about “ I can’t do that” , “ I’ve got to be better with ball security” etc thats heard every week  , and ACTUALLY PLAY THAT WAY !  Be a leader, get in some guys faces ( like the o line guys getting you killed, remember Kelly chewing out house Ballard)  actually TAKE THE SHORT OPEN ROUTES instead of holding the ball so long!   Why not get  back to work on your fundamentals ( balls above, behind, low to open receivers when you are NOT PRESSURED) !  Your play has slipped and let’s not keep focusing on MVP crap!  
 

I greatly respect Mcd , but the mantra of it’s just one game, ( losing against the colts was a much different loss than the jags or Steelers loss) downplays and minimizes the significance of a bad trend and almost makes admitting emotion like anger over a loss akin to a bad trait!  We need some leaders on this team who actually get pissed, show that ALL these games have meaning, quit dismissing losses as “ that’s not us” ,and point out each loss means  a ton if we end up on the road for the entire playoffs!  This culture may be adding to the softening of this team as they give at least the appearance that losing is so quickly forgotten , and it really isn’t that bad !   I would love to see them get back on a winning streak , but so far I admit I don’t see clues leading me to be hopeful, and that article is also shooting up warning flares!   

[Reks Ryan]

9 hours ago, GoBills808 said:

I would be interested in seeing your list of guys who would have this team at 6-4. Specifically which other ton of QBS would have won the Chiefs game.

I agree w your premise. Allen is not the problem.  And he might be the toughest guy on a team that is lacking tough guys.

 

But most replacement level QBs would’ve beat Jax with the way our D played.  So that’s a trade off on the Chiefs game.  Bills D destroyed the Fish, Jets, and Texans.   Allen was awesome against WFT

[Weatherman]

14 hours ago, Success said:

To me, 99% of Allen's regression is factors he can't control.

 

Bad protection & run game. Similar issues to last year when he did well - but clearly, defenses have adjusted to who the Bills are.  When a D doesn't respect the run game, it gets much harder for a QB.

 

Josh’s decision making has been poor.  He refuses to throw the ball away and forces awful throws into double and triple coverage.  

[Nihilarian]

15 hours ago, LABILLBACKER said:

Nope. Run the ball and stop the run requires players we currently don't have on the roster. 

I don't fully agree with this. Tough to stop the run playing the entire game in a nickle defense.

 

The Bills could run the ball "if" they focused on doing just that. Instead they keep focused on that mid to deep passing game that most every team has figured out how to defend. I don't get how an offense refuses to overcome a scheme that can be beaten by a certain defense.

 

McD needs to have his assistants make some scheme changes or this team doesn't even sniff the playoffs in 2021.

[Solomon Grundy]

16 hours ago, BuffaloRebound said:

Certainly validates what most posters are saying.  Defenses don’t even have to think about defending the run against Bills.  And our defense isn’t built to stop the run.  

Levy's famous quote "in order to win in the NFL you have to be able to run and stop the run". Maybe plaster it to wall in Daboll office? 

[stosh64]

18 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2021/11/22/22796777/buffalo-bills-lose-colts-skid-playoffs-patriots-afc-east
 

 

That seemed to blame mostly Josh, I blame mostly Daboll.  His fat ass has to go.

[colin]

10 minutes ago, stosh64 said:

That seemed to blame mostly Josh, I blame mostly Daboll.  His fat ass has to go.

 

 

the d got run out the building vs tenn and indy (as a prior post mentioned).  if we didn't have a penalty on the kick off return for a td, we go up 4 vs tenn with little time left.  if we converted in ther ed zone, we go up 4 w no time left.  that was a close game at the least.

 

vs indy, we got super trucked and mashed, but even a really good defensive performance woulda lost that game.

 

against jax and pittz, d played well, special teams and offensive woes killed us.

 

between the above, and the massive penalty problem, this team is simply not coached well or disciplined.  any adversity gets us sulking.

 

and to me the biggest and most obvious element of this is Daboll.  he's a fat clown who has one great statistical season in a strange no audience covid year when allen broke out with diggs and beaz and davis balling out of control.  he is reverting to the mean of his career with a quickness.  his trash scheme, garbage protections, and complete lack of feel for who a game is going and how to organize an O is just glaringly obvious.  

 

im willing to let mccorch and the d corches work their way back to my good graces, but the offensive staff are rank beginners and have simply been bailed out by allen being super man much of the time.

[thenorthremembers]

Stopped reading when they said we havent had injury issues.  We played last game without 4 starters.   Weve had plenty of injury and covid issues.

[SoCal Deek]

The Bills are ten weeks into the season. The roster isn’t going to change now and neither is their ability to run block. So what do you do? As much as I cringe to say it, they may have to abandon the run altogether and just consider short  passes as their version of the run game. Quick slants, short bunch formations, WR screens and misdirection throw back plays galore. Move the chains.  

[CEN-CAL17]

Cause it’s a physical sport. This Bills team just isn’t physical enough in the trenches. McD thinks they are. Yet it’s been proven in multiple games they can’t run the ball or stop the run.  If we take McDs word… it must be all poor game planning. Now it’s on the coaches.  
 

Reasons are….. Poor play in the trenches, Game planning and coaching. 

[DCOrange]

11 minutes ago, thenorthremembers said:

Stopped reading when they said we havent had injury issues.  We played last game without 4 starters.   Weve had plenty of injury and covid issues.

I mean, it's an objective fact lol. Knox, Edmunds, Star, and Brown have missed a couple games and that's pretty much it. Another way to look at it can be found on Spotrac, where they track the % of a team's salary cap tied up in players on reserve lists.

 

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/injured-reserve/

Buffalo is #31 out of 32 with $5 million worth of players on reserve. The Chiefs are dead last at $4.4 mil while the average team (excluding Buffalo) has $22.5 mil on reserve (Denver is #1 at $40.8 mil).

 

Buffalo is almost always near the bottom of the league in terms of salary wasting away on reserve lists; be it weirdly good luck or something our medical team does, we're pretty much always significantly healthier than our opponents.

[HappyDays]

17 hours ago, GoBills808 said:

The author uses this video as evidence for what you're suggesting Allen should be doing:

 

https://streamable.com/rl02sf

 

This is an empty set WITH A SEVEN STEP DROP! There are two checkdown options but it's obvious the intent on this play is for a deep pass...there is a reason he holds the ball for a long time and his short passes are dump offs: that's largely what's being called/available.

 

Also Allen made the correct read on the play based on the leverage of the safety:

 

 

What actually happened is that Davis was unable to separate on his break and both DBs had excellent reps.

 

It's laughable that people are asking Allen to anticipate all of that happening and throw a check down on 3rd and 18.

 

Side note - Davis cannot be trusted as a #2 outside WR. He has good vertical speed and makes difficult catches but does not separate well. He has the skill set of a very good #4 WR.

[Jerome007]

Since they play the 4-2-5 nickel so much, why not try an occasional 5-2-4? They have a lot of DLs so that they could use 5 at times, and free the LBs to tackle if nothing else.

 

When the opposing OL is pushing the Bills DL 3-4 yards down the field, it matters little if it's nickel or not back there.

 

Since the Jets game, the Bills O have used the FB a lot more and added a 6th OL a few times too. Try something different on the D when facing run heavy teams!

[Success]

Others have said it, but it is ironic:  Beane focused the offseason on getting past KC, which I think most of Bills fandom thought was logical.  And we beat KC.

 

But now we have a hard time with every other good team.  It all seems so glaring when I watch other teams - the good ones can ALL run, and most can stop the run. The Bills aren't really built to do either right now.

 

[FilthyBeast]

16 hours ago, BarleyNY said:

I know this stat.  It’s been 25 straight seasons where at least one of the four teams who made it to the NFC and AFC championship game did not make the playoffs the following season.  That’s a hell of a stat.  The extra playoff team in each conference might help end the streak though.  

 

That's truly insane if it's that long but still very telling and a bad omen because as mentioned the only viable candidate right now is the Bills.

 

Packers and Bucs aren't perfect but both are locks for the playoffs at this point. And the Chiefs aren't going to magically revert back to the team they were a few months ago and it's crazy but their defense might be the best in the league right now and it's no coincidence this is happening with an elite player like Chris Jones back in the lineup and healthy.

 

So yay if the Bills don't magically turn things around they will keep that streak going sadly.

[DrDawkinstein]

1 hour ago, Success said:

Others have said it, but it is ironic:  Beane focused the offseason on getting past KC, which I think most of Bills fandom thought was logical.  And we beat KC.

 

But now we have a hard time with every other good team.  It all seems so glaring when I watch other teams - the good ones can ALL run, and most can stop the run. The Bills aren't really built to do either right now.

 

 

Stating the obvious but...

 

The mistake there is building to beat one team instead of building to beat any and every team with classic, foundational football. Especially in a league with rules that create churn, parity, and set the stage for that one team to be completely different year over year.

[JohnNord]

On 11/22/2021 at 1:52 PM, YoloinOhio said:

https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2021/11/22/22796777/buffalo-bills-lose-colts-skid-playoffs-patriots-afc-east
 

 

I don’t think the issue is as much on Josh as it is around his supporting cast.

 

What were the commonalities in 3 out of 4 Bills losses offensively?

 

- Bills offensive line was absolutely overwhelmed

- Bills had no threat of a running game.

- Josh unraveled when things were going poorly.

 

I think #3 is a factor of the other two.  
 

In 2 of the 4 games the Bills defensive line was just manhandled and they couldn’t get the opposing offense off the field.

 

The issues is physicality on offense and defense. 

[Nextmanup]

17 hours ago, BarleyNY said:

I know this stat.  It’s been 25 straight seasons where at least one of the four teams who made it to the NFC and AFC championship game did not make the playoffs the following season.  That’s a hell of a stat.  The extra playoff team in each conference might help end the streak though.  

Just goes to show how up and down the NFL can be from just 1 year to the next.

 

And yet football fans constantly make the mistake of judging "now" based on what happened "last year."

 

The league is very even to begin with, and then every team is a moving work in progress, every year.

It's all a very fluid situation and making assessments based on absolutes determined 6 months ago is foolish.

 

A lot of Bills fans here, right now, are having trouble realizing that New England is a huge threat to us this season.

 

I think they watched NE play their first few games on TV this year, and concluded they weren't that good based on those performances.  So they get slotted away in their mind as "not good" when in fact, they are playing much better than us lately and probably have a better defense....with much better coaching to boot.

 

 

[Patrick Duffy]

2 hours ago, Success said:

Others have said it, but it is ironic:  Beane focused the offseason on getting past KC, which I think most of Bills fandom thought was logical.  And we beat KC.

 

But now we have a hard time with every other good team.  It all seems so glaring when I watch other teams - the good ones can ALL run, and most can stop the run. The Bills aren't really built to do either right now.

 

 

14 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Stating the obvious but...

 

The mistake there is building to beat one team instead of building to beat any and every team with classic, foundational football. Especially in a league with rules that create churn, parity, and set the stage for that one team to be completely different year over year.

I'm not sure the whole focus was just on beating KC. I'm sure was definitely part of it, but I find it hard to believe Beane as a GM made every decision/etc just for KC. I think it's possible that part of reason for quiet off season could be because he had/has the confidence that this same roster can get it done? 

 

But yeah, I agree some of the focus was KC, but not everything

 

 

[DrDawkinstein]

2 minutes ago, Sheneneh Jenkins said:

 

I'm not sure the whole focus was just on beating KC. I'm sure was definitely part of it, but I find it hard to believe Beane as a GM made every decision/etc just for KC. I think it's possible that part of reason for quiet off season could be because he had/has the confidence that this same roster can get it done? 

 

But yeah, I agree some of the focus was KC, but not everything

 

 

 

I'd like to agree with you, but with the way the KC game has served as such a demarcification point between the Good Bills, and Bad Bills, it seems not only the FO, but the entire team came into this season with a singular focus. Not, unfortunately, winning the Super Bowl. But rather, beating the Chiefs. And once we did that, everyone checked out.

[Patrick Duffy]

2 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

I'd like to agree with you, but with the way the KC game has served as such a demarcification point between the Good Bills, and Bad Bills, it seems not only the FO, but the entire team came into this season with a singular focus. Not, unfortunately, winning the Super Bowl. But rather, beating the Chiefs. And once we did that, everyone checked out.

Well I mean of course the team was pumped and eager to get a piece of KC with the Championship game loss on their mind. I'm talking about Beane in general as other poster said. A GM would be doing a bad job if focusing the entire off season making decisions/roster moves etc basing it off one team.