An Encouraging Loss

[smuvtalker]

Guys,

 

A loss is never an easy thing to swallow, especially for us Bills fans this day and age, considering the fact we have arguably the best, most talented team in the NFL AND are the consensus super bowl favorites.  I go into every game fully expecting to win, and there's not a team in this league that scares me.

 

With that said, and for the first time in a very long time I was very nervous heading into this game, for obvious reasons:  starting two rookie CB's against two of the fastest and talented receivers in the league, both starting safeties out, our two best defensive tackles out and a third less than 100%, one of our starting LB's less than 100%, our number two WR less than 100%, ditto for our starting TE.  THEN, right before kickoff we find out our center is out for the game.  Really?  

 

No worries.  But to add injury to more injury, during the course of the game, we manage to lose two more starting offensive lineman!  Our RG AND RT.  Oh yeah and btw, our all world number one WR is lost for significant chunks of minutes due to cramping/injury. 

 

Due to injuries or whatever, our offensive line was overwhelmed all game.  Even though he threw for 400 yards, Josh looked out of sync for much of the day. He rarely had any time to throw, as it seemed like the offensive line was completely overwhelmed by Miami's front four.  The pocket seemed to collapse around him all day, and even though the stat line says he was only sacked four times, he was hurried or knocked down far too often. Singletary was blown up at or behind the line several times.  Singletary's rushing numbers, 9 carries for 13 yards. Moss's rushing numbers (minus his 43 yard scamper), 3 carries for 3 yards.

 

Buffalo giftwrapped Miami a TD by giving them the ball at the 6 yard line.

 

That last drive of the first half, Van Rotten was utterly abysmal in his snapping duties, and was singlehandedly responsible for us going into the locker room without at least a FG attempt. 

 

The usually reliable Bass missed what should have been a chip shot 38 yard FG.

 

Tua gifted Milano with a pass right into his mitts that should've been a guaranteed pick six.

 

Yet despite ALL that happening to us, despite everything that went wrong, there we were at the end of the game in a position to limp out of Hard Rock Stadium with a W.  Going into a game vs a hated division rival, in 90 degree temps, missing a frumptillion players, and losing by 2?

 

I don't think I realized it FULLY, until today, just how effing deep, talented, and utterly amazing this team is, and the potential to do other-worldly things on the football field.   When this season is said and done, I really wont even try to guess how many records are shattered.  

 

I remain as encouraged as ever after today's loss.  Maybe even more so.

 

LET'S GO BUFFALO!

 

[Simon]

I know what you're saying, but you are going to get absolutely hammered for that title. 

[julian]

Yeah this wasn’t the jags or Colts loss last year, I feel like this defense proved today once healthy will be dominant this season.

 

 I’d rather have an ugly win but in no way does this slow down the train, get yourself to 4-3 or 5-2 and the 1 seed is very much in play.

[Solomon Grundy]

Thank you @Simon. There's NOTHING encouraging about a loss. 

[DallasMac]

Appreciate the post.  I agree that as annoying as today's loss was I think this team wins that game more times than not.  The injuries piling up are a real concern though.  Hopefully they heal up and are ready to go next week.

[Aussie Joe]

Always look on the bright side of life

 

Every cloud has a silver lining

 

This is the loss we had to have

 

Did I miss any?

[OZBILLS]

The loss we had to have. Get it out of the way early

1 minute ago, Aussie Joe said:

Always look on the bright side of life

 

Every cloud has a silver lining

 

This is the loss we had to have

 

Did I miss any?

 

One week at a time. She'll be apples mate

[Aussie Joe]

2 minutes ago, OZBILLS said:

The loss we had to have. Get it out of the way early

 

One week at a time. She'll be apples mate

 

As I said on another thread earlier.. my favourite is :

 

I was over the loss in 5 minutes

[PetermansRedemption]

6 minutes ago, Aussie Joe said:

Always look on the bright side of life

 

Every cloud has a silver lining

 

This is the loss we had to have

 

Did I miss any?

Turn the page 

 

onto Baltimore 

[K-9]

15 minutes ago, Aussie Joe said:

Always look on the bright side of life

 

Every cloud has a silver lining

 

This is the loss we had to have

 

Did I miss any?

[Success]

Personally, I wasn't planning on 20-0.  And after so many years of irrelevancy, being the SB fave was fun - but also a bit too much attention.  

 

We'll never be under the radar this season, but we also won't be the most talked about for a week at least.  I'd obviously always prefer the win, but taking some pressure & scrutiny off the season is at least a small silver lining.

 

[klos63]

1 hour ago, smuvtalker said:

Guys,

 

A loss is never an easy thing to swallow, especially for us Bills fans this day and age, considering the fact we have arguably the best, most talented team in the NFL AND are the consensus super bowl favorites.  I go into every game fully expecting to win, and there's not a team in this league that scares me.

 

With that said, and for the first time in a very long time I was very nervous heading into this game, for obvious reasons:  starting two rookie CB's against two of the fastest and talented receivers in the league, both starting safeties out, our two best defensive tackles out and a third less than 100%, one of our starting LB's less than 100%, our number two WR less than 100%, ditto for our starting TE.  THEN, right before kickoff we find out our center is out for the game.  Really?  

 

No worries.  But to add injury to more injury, during the course of the game, we manage to lose two more starting offensive lineman!  Our RG AND RT.  Oh yeah and btw, our all world number one WR is lost for significant chunks of minutes due to cramping/injury. 

 

Due to injuries or whatever, our offensive line was overwhelmed all game.  Even though he threw for 400 yards, Josh looked out of sync for much of the day. He rarely had any time to throw, as it seemed like the offensive line was completely overwhelmed by Miami's front four.  The pocket seemed to collapse around him all day, and even though the stat line says he was only sacked four times, he was hurried or knocked down far too often. Singletary was blown up at or behind the line several times.  Singletary's rushing numbers, 9 carries for 13 yards. Moss's rushing numbers (minus his 43 yard scamper), 3 carries for 3 yards.

 

Buffalo giftwrapped Miami a TD by giving them the ball at the 6 yard line.

 

That last drive of the first half, Van Rotten was utterly abysmal in his snapping duties, and was singlehandedly responsible for us going into the locker room without at least a FG attempt. 

 

The usually reliable Bass missed what should have been a chip shot 38 yard FG.

 

Tua gifted Milano with a pass right into his mitts that should've been a guaranteed pick six.

 

Yet despite ALL that happening to us, despite everything that went wrong, there we were at the end of the game in a position to limp out of Hard Rock Stadium with a W.  Going into a game vs a hated division rival, in 90 degree temps, missing a frumptillion players, and losing by 2?

 

I don't think I realized it FULLY, until today, just how effing deep, talented, and utterly amazing this team is, and the potential to do other-worldly things on the football field.   When this season is said and done, I really wont even try to guess how many records are shattered.  

 

I remain as encouraged as ever after today's loss.  Maybe even more so.

 

LET'S GO BUFFALO!

 

I felt this way soon after the game ended, then I realized how many blown chances we had. Milano drop pick 6, Davis should be TD, Allen bad pass on 4th at the 1, last drive McKenzie not getting out of bounds... those mistakes had nothing to do with injuries or heat... we blew this one. I'm not panicking or anything, but we blew it.

[MarlinTheMagician]

On to Baltimore.  I think McKenzie and Allen both said "we will learn from this."  That is the right attitude.  It defines nothing, take from it what we can - and yeah, under different circumstances they know, we know and I think even Dolphins fans know (at least the ones I spoke to), that we would beat them handily.  We should have today.

 

[alanvh2o]

We left a ton of plays on the field and Miami really did not.

[RyanC883]

so sick of the close loss “learning opportunities”.   With all the chocking in various ways in close games they have learned nothing.  

[Victory Formation]

Not worried about it. This happens to every solid NFL team more than once every year. I don’t care if you’re New England, Green Bay or Kansas City, it happens.

[Nextmanup]

No one can rationalize better than a Bills fan.

 

I mean we are talking world class ability to rationalize any situation.

 

Next we will hear that it was actually a good thing that we lost.

 

 

[MarlinTheMagician]

3 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

No one can rationalize better than a Bills fan.

 

I mean we are talking world class ability to rationalize any situation.

 

Next we will hear that it was actually a good thing that we lost.

 

 

I think Bills fans do the opposite of rationalising losses.  DOOOM is predicted.  It is easy not to feel much doom after this one, at least for me.  No chronic weakness with the team was shown, like when Indy ran on us for what seemed like 300 yards.  It was hot, we were beat up and we left plays on the field.  Stuff happens.

[Allen2D̶i̶g̶g̶s̶TBD]

I was very encouraged by how well our young guys played in the secondary. They gave up a couple big plays, but held Tua in check and made Tyreek Hill irrelevant.

[K-9]

6 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

No one can rationalize better than a Bills fan.

 

I mean we are talking world class ability to rationalize any situation.

 

Next we will hear that it was actually a good thing that we lost.

 

 

Huge difference between being rational and rationalizing. 

[GreggTX]

To play as well as they did with so many guys injured was inspiring. I can hardly wait for the rematch with a healthier roster -- especially among starters and that OL.

[Murdox]

If we struggle against Baltimore, I'll start to worry.  Our team didn't look like it could handle the heat in Miami today (in addition to the players that were out), but we still looked like the better team for most of the game.  We will beat them in Buffalo.

[JerseyBills]

Best I felt about a loss in maybe my lifetime 

We dominated them in every category, with 9 starters out the game and a couple backups!

Unfortunately we made some crucial errors in crucial spots. That's fixable..

Salute to Miami. They played hard.

 

It won't be close when they come to Orchard Park. 

[par73]

Realize all of the issues they were facing, but isn't it about time this team finishes one of these games with a win?

[gordong]

39 minutes ago, RyanC883 said:

so sick of the close loss “learning opportunities”.   With all the chocking in various ways in close games they have learned nothing.  

 I hear the NJ jets are looking for fans. 

[folz]

2 hours ago, Nextmanup said:

No one can rationalize better than a Bills fan.

 

I mean we are talking world class ability to rationalize any situation.

 

Next we will hear that it was actually a good thing that we lost.

 

 

 

Did you really expect this team was going to go 17-0?

 

Tell me how many teams would win against a solid, division rival missing their two star safeties, two starting DTs, starting CB, starting center and then lose their #2 WR in the first quarter (Kumerow was #2 today, Gabe obviously still isn't 100%, but gutted it out when Kumerow went down), lose their backup center and have to start a kid just called up from the practice squad, lose their right tackle, their right guard, and have their two healthy receivers cramping up and barely able to stay on the field in the 2nd half, etc., etc.

 

It was 99 degrees on the field with no wind/breeze. And the Bills sideline in the Sun all day (another big advantage for the Phins).

 

These aren't rationalizations, those are the reality of the game today. Did they make mistakes, execute poorly at key times, etc. Yes, they did. But to not be able to see this as a valiant effort under very difficult circumstances and act as if it should have been an easy win or something, seems to be more in the realm of fantasy to me than any of these so-called rationalizations.

 

I chalk this one up like the New England wind game last year. Yes, we should have still won, but I'm not calling for anyone's head. Just horrible circumstances from start to finish. Suck it up and move on to the next game. 

 

I also think a lot of people are underestimating how much the first two weeks took out of the team. Two big, primetime games against two very good teams. The Bills mustered up a lot of energy for those two games. And coming back from that on a short week with as many injuries as we had was a tough ask to get the W, and yet with all of that, we only lost by 2 in their house with a chance to win it at the end. We held their offense in check and outgained them significantly, with a huge disparity in time of possession. I'm not dismissing the mistakes that led to the loss, but I am understanding of them.

[Aussie Joe]

15 minutes ago, folz said:

 

I chalk this one up like the New England wind game last year. Yes, we should have still won, but I'm not calling for anyone's head. Just horrible circumstances from start to finish. Suck it up and move on to the next game. 

 

 

 

It would be nice for the Bills to win a game that they didnt dominate and in fact may not have been the better team... 

 

 

[Billy Claude]

Encouraging losses are only for teams in rebuild mode (i.e., the previous lost against Miami in Allen's first year), but I agree that this lost is not discouraging, as long as any injuries are not serious and they bounce back next week.  At least it puts to bed all that 17-0 nonsense.

Edited September 26, 2022 by Billy Claude

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

1 hour ago, Aussie Joe said:

 

It would be nice for the Bills to win a game that they didnt dominate and in fact may not have been the better team... 

 

 

GTFOH 

 

This is the better team.

 

 

 

 

 

[ProcessTruster]

Well, they come to WNY on Dec 18 in a game that will probably be at night, so they'll get a taste of their own medicine when its in the 20's at game time.

[BreezeMafia]

Would rather not lean on any moral victories.  Have a suspicion this loss is going to haunt us later in the year.

[Aussie Joe]

1 hour ago, Joe in Winslow said:

GTFOH 

 

This is the better team.

 

 

 

 

 

GF…

 

Never says fhey weren't better …what’s your comment got to do with the post you quoted? 
 

They were the better team and lost…

 

When was the last time they won a game when they weren’t the better team? like Miami did yesterday…

Edited September 26, 2022 by Aussie Joe

[Johnnyp566]

The goal is the number 1 seed. Who’s playing or not is irrelevant during the game. They had opportunities and they blew it. This will be a .500 team at this time next week. 

[billsfan1959]

6 hours ago, Nextmanup said:

No one can rationalize better than a Bills fan.

 

I mean we are talking world class ability to rationalize any situation

 

There is a segment of every fan base that sees things through rose colored glasses rationalizes just about everything to feel better about their team.

 

Just as there is a segment of every fan base that sees everything through a veil of negativity and constantly whines.

 

6 hours ago, Nextmanup said:

 

Next we will hear that it was actually a good thing that we lost.

 

 

 

You might not want to listen to Von Miller's post game interview where he states "A loss like this is good medicine." Of course we all know he doesn't know nearly as much about football as you do...

[nikuman]

I have two thoughts on this game: By the 4th quarter it felt like a preseason game where our JV team was playing against Miami's starters. And lost by two points. Any other team with 60-70% of their starters out would have been roasted, but our JV showed a lot of heart in keeping it close.

 

Which brings me to my second point. I don't know if many of you are old enough to remember the Epic in Miami game (vs SD), but this game brought those memories rushing back. In all of these years, I haven't seen a game that compared until today. If you haven't seen it, watch it.

[Niagara Dude]

7 hours ago, RyanC883 said:

so sick of the close loss “learning opportunities”.   With all the chocking in various ways in close games they have learned nothing.  

I am hopeful that this loss will change our thinking late in games,  I think Sean's got over the hump on offensive side and is not afraid to play aggressive style football on offence.  Sean and Frazier now need to start thinking of playing more aggressive on defensive side,  With Von Miller/ Rousseau/Philips/Oliver/Boggie they have the horses to start attacking/blizing more and getting sacks turnovers in these close games.  The front 7 contains our most talented players,  they need to start unleashing them.  Frazier was a member on that famous Bears defence,  not suggesting we go 100% that direction but occasionally throw in some aggressive plays that came from that defence. 

[smuvtalker]

5 hours ago, folz said:

 

Did you really expect this team was going to go 17-0?

 

Tell me how many teams would win against a solid, division rival missing their two star safeties, two starting DTs, starting CB, starting center and then lose their #2 WR in the first quarter (Kumerow was #2 today, Gabe obviously still isn't 100%, but gutted it out when Kumerow went down), lose their backup center and have to start a kid just called up from the practice squad, lose their right tackle, their right guard, and have their two healthy receivers cramping up and barely able to stay on the field in the 2nd half, etc., etc.

 

It was 99 degrees on the field with no wind/breeze. And the Bills sideline in the Sun all day (another big advantage for the Phins).

 

These aren't rationalizations, those are the reality of the game today. Did they make mistakes, execute poorly at key times, etc. Yes, they did. But to not be able to see this as a valiant effort under very difficult circumstances and act as if it should have been an easy win or something, seems to be more in the realm of fantasy to me than any of these so-called rationalizations.

 

I chalk this one up like the New England wind game last year. Yes, we should have still won, but I'm not calling for anyone's head. Just horrible circumstances from start to finish. Suck it up and move on to the next game. 

 

I also think a lot of people are underestimating how much the first two weeks took out of the team. Two big, primetime games against two very good teams. The Bills mustered up a lot of energy for those two games. And coming back from that on a short week with as many injuries as we had was a tough ask to get the W, and yet with all of that, we only lost by 2 in their house with a chance to win it at the end. We held their offense in check and outgained them significantly, with a huge disparity in time of possession. I'm not dismissing the mistakes that led to the loss, but I am understanding of them.

Excellent, excellent points you bring up, especially with the heat.  It seemed to me like we really struggled with the heat and cramping.  Not to say Miami's players didn't too, but it looked like our guys were really struggling.  In the 4th, Diggs just looked absolutely gassed.  

You also made a great point about how much those first two games, both prime time national spotlight games might have taken a toll on us, both physically AND emotionally.... coupled with us having so many injuries AND coming into Miami on a short week.  

To leave as many plays and points on the field like we did and still be in a position to win the game is a testament to just how good this team is.  

[smuvtalker]

7 hours ago, alanvh2o said:

We left a ton of plays on the field and Miami really did not.

This x 100.  This is what it really boiled down to in a nutshell.  If you think about it, we basically played our worst game of the short season and Miami gave us their very best and played lights out, making very few mistakes(or at least we couldn't capitalize on them). 

 

You take that into consideration coupled with us missing damn near half the team, and only losing by two, in the last seconds of the game.....I can't help but be encouraged.  This team, firing on all cylinders, is simply UNSTOPPABLE.  Period.

[Beast]

After a night of thinking about this the offense didn't do their job. End of story. 

 

3 points in the final two and a half quarters is pathetic.

Edited September 26, 2022 by Beast

[quinnearlysghost88]

It was an encouraging loss. Go look at the box score. They had a 21 yard rusher and Tua had 186 yards. 
 

it’s one of those games where if you get a do-over on any one of like 10 plays you win the game. Missed FG, the 45 yard waddle catch on 3rd and 22, strip sack, goal line play calls, two different spiking scenarios, Milano missed pick 6, etc.