Kudos to Defense - The Offense is What Failed

[BuffaloBaumer]

Blame the heat, the injuries, the drops, the missed, fgs, the off-throws by Allen, but nobody better be blaming the defense for a second. This also brings into the conversation that McDermott has his hands all over this defense and the schemes they come up with every week.  He is regarded as arguably the best defensive coach in the game. The offense failed yesterday and there is no reason to look any further.

 

This offense is the best in the NFL by a mile and obviously the heat played a big factor into decision making, speed, and flat-out exhaustion. Look at the other teams in the AFC yesterday and how they lost. As soon as these guys are even 75% healthy, there is nothing that can stop them. A 2 point loss in Miami, in that heat, with those types of injuries, with a chance to win in the last minute? How they almost pulled that off is a miracle to begin with. 

[Mickey]

Granted, the defense played waaaaay better than anyone had any right to expect and the offense did have a lot more mistakes. The defense did have a few blunders though.  Milano dropping a pick 6 and needlessly pushing Tua down drawing a flag certainly made a difference. Giving up a first on 3rd and forever late in the game also played a role in our defeat. I blame Frazer for that one as we only rushed 3 but still it was a critical down where we had everything going for us and we blew it. 

[zow2]

The offense is the best in the NFL by a mile, because of Josh Allen.  That's not even debatable.  So I'll give him a break for an errant throw here and there.  I mean even when he makes plays at the end of games to tie or win (i.e. Tampa last year, 13 seconds..) the great McD/Frazier defense blows it.  

 

Yesterday was just one of those stupid games...like Jacksonville last year.  As a matter of fact, our last 3 games in Florida have been crushing losses.

[buffalobillswin]

This was one of the first times I can recall where having possession for that long was actually a bad thing. I seriously feared someone on the o-line was going to collapse and die on the field. 

[CincyBillsFan]

43 minutes ago, BuffaloBaumer said:

Blame the heat, the injuries, the drops, the missed, fgs, the off-throws by Allen, but nobody better be blaming the defense for a second. This also brings into the conversation that McDermott has his hands all over this defense and the schemes they come up with every week.  He is regarded as arguably the best defensive coach in the game. The offense failed yesterday and there is no reason to look any further.

 

This offense is the best in the NFL by a mile and obviously the heat played a big factor into decision making, speed, and flat-out exhaustion. Look at the other teams in the AFC yesterday and how they lost. As soon as these guys are even 75% healthy, there is nothing that can stop them. A 2 point loss in Miami, in that heat, with those types of injuries, with a chance to win in the last minute? How they almost pulled that off is a miracle to begin with. 

And the defenses success was in no small part due to the offense running 90 plays and having 41 minutes of TOP. The offense accomplished what was it's number one goal yesterday - protect the defense by controlling TOP.  The problem, and why over time this game will be viewed as a fluke in which a number of bad things happened simultaneously to the Bills O, was that the Bills didn't convert their enormous offensive statistical accomplishments to points.

 

In the end the offensive injuries and heat effects neutered the Bills in the red zone.  And unlike the defense which at least had a week of practice to figure out how to handle the injuries the O lost key players in real time forcing them to scramble on the fly.

 

 

 

 

[Niagara Dude]

45 minutes ago, BuffaloBaumer said:

Blame the heat, the injuries, the drops, the missed, fgs, the off-throws by Allen, but nobody better be blaming the defense for a second. This also brings into the conversation that McDermott has his hands all over this defense and the schemes they come up with every week.  He is regarded as arguably the best defensive coach in the game. The offense failed yesterday and there is no reason to look any further.

 

This offense is the best in the NFL by a mile and obviously the heat played a big factor into decision making, speed, and flat-out exhaustion. Look at the other teams in the AFC yesterday and how they lost. As soon as these guys are even 75% healthy, there is nothing that can stop them. A 2 point loss in Miami, in that heat, with those types of injuries, with a chance to win in the last minute? How they almost pulled that off is a miracle to begin with. 

Played well most of the game when they were rushing 4 and getting pressure,  Frazier blew it and cost them the lead late on that 3rd & 22 and only rushing 3. When will we see a game where our defence carries us late?  Sorry but Frazier screwed up 13 secs and again yesterday let TUA make a huge play playing conservative football.

[Billz4ever]

1 minute ago, Niagara Dude said:

Played well most of the game when they were rushing 4 and getting pressure,  Frazier blew it and cost them the lead late on that 3rd & 22 and only rushing 3. When will we see a game where our defence carries us late?  Sorry but Frazier screwed up 13 secs and again yesterday let TUA make a huge play playing conservative football.

Only rushing 3 when your secondary has been decimated by injuries defies logic.  The last thing you want to do in that situation is give the opposing QB time to find the hole in the coverage.

[BuffaloBaumer]

1 minute ago, Billz4ever said:

Only rushing 3 when your secondary has been decimated by injuries defies logic.  The last thing you want to do in that situation is give the opposing QB time to find the hole in the coverage.

For sure that was the 1 major blunder of the day

[RoyBatty is alive]

16 minutes ago, buffalobillswin said:

This was one of the first times I can recall where having possession for that long was actually a bad thing. I seriously feared someone on the o-line was going to collapse and die on the field. 

It was like the old Ali rope-a-dope where let your opponent pound the hell out of you body but tighten up to block any knockout.  That long drive in Q3  was too long, our o line man were gassed, toward the end receivers couldn't barely catch ball all exacerbated by the heat.  I always thought it was the offensives advantage to be on the field longer unless you are in the blazing sun.

[Billz4ever]

3 minutes ago, BuffaloBaumer said:

For sure that was the 1 major blunder of the day

 

I was too disgusted to watch any postgame, but was McD or anyone asked about that bonehead defensive call?  That was the play of the game IMO.

[whorlnut]

We need to invest heavily on the offensive line this off-season. 

[All_Pro_Bills]

3 minutes ago, BuffaloBaumer said:

For sure that was the 1 major blunder of the day

Before the 3rd and 22 play I was expecting them to bring the pass rush and put the hammer down but I was disappointed once again by the lack of situational awareness in the defensive play call at that moment.  Situation being, you've got them down, now put them out, and don't hang out your 3rd string secondary.    

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

I don’t think anything failed us. A few execution errors and flukey plays is the difference. Can’t win them all And can’t convert 100% of the time in the red zone. 

[mjt328]

I'm not blaming anybody.  I've never seen an NFL team as ravaged by injuries as I witnessed yesterday.

There was a point we had about 20 guys down, and it was absolutely shocking that we kept the game that close.

 

Losing Mitch Morse prompted multiple bad snaps, costing us at least 3 points.  It also forced us into shotgun later in the game, which limited us in the Red Zone.  Then we lost Spencer Brown to heat stroke.  Then our backup center Greg Van Roten.  Then Ryan Bates.  One more injury and we would have been playing a Tight End or Fullback at one of the Guard/Tackle spots.  And that's just the O-Line.

 

It was clear Gabriel Davis wasn't anywhere near ready to play, and probably should have sat.  On the first drive, we lost his backup Jake Kumerow to an ankle injury.  That pretty much destroyed our ability to stretch the field.  Then Dawson Knox got hurt.  As the game wore on, Stefon Diggs and Isaiah McKenzie were constantly going down.  On much of the final drive, Josh had nobody to throw to but Quinton Morris and the running backs.

 

[aristocrat]

We're 1-7 when I think when Allen throws more the 49 times.  Heard it on a podcast this morning. Gotta get a little more balance than that. Not a lot of running but some running. Gotta get the o line eating. 

[RoyBatty is alive]

1 minute ago, ScottLaw said:

Nobody asks tough questions to McDermott in the Buffalo media… I’m sure Sal was there kissing their feet after a tough loss.

This is true but it beats having snarky Jerry Sullivan asking derogatory, obvious  and unnecessary questions,

[Billsfan1972]

Miami barely had the ball.  The last Miami drive to don't count. 

 

Allowing them to complete 3rd & 22 like that not good and 3 drives in the redzone all TDs too.  

 

Okay, not great (but many injuries too).

[JohnBonhamRocks]

3 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I don’t think anything failed us. A few execution errors and flukey plays is the difference. Can’t win them all And can’t convert 100% of the time in the red zone. 

Not with that mindset!

[RoyBatty is alive]

2 minutes ago, aristocrat said:

We're 1-7 when I think when Allen throws more the 49 times.  Heard it on a podcast this morning. Gotta get a little more balance than that. Not a lot of running but some running. Gotta get the o line eating. 

Stats like that are so incredibly misleading/useless....along the same vein when team A runs for over 180 yards they win 90% of the time.  There is a cause and effect statistically, not every instance but statistically.  Correlation versus causation.

[Billz4ever]

3 minutes ago, JohnBonhamRocks said:

Not with that mindset!

 

Play calling in key situations what a huge contributing factor.  3-man rush on 3rd and 22.  2nd and goal from inside the one and Josh is in the shotgun?  C'mon man.

[Wo-Bah]

7 minutes ago, mjt328 said:

I'm not blaming anybody.  I've never seen an NFL team as ravaged by injuries as I witnessed yesterday.

There was a point we had about 20 guys down, and it was absolutely shocking that we kept the game that close.

 

Losing Mitch Morse prompted multiple bad snaps, costing us at least 3 points.  It also forced us into shotgun later in the game, which limited us in the Red Zone.  Then we lost Spencer Brown to heat stroke.  Then our backup center Greg Van Roten.  Then Ryan Bates.  One more injury and we would have been playing a Tight End or Fullback at one of the Guard/Tackle spots.  And that's just the O-Line.

 

It was clear Gabriel Davis wasn't anywhere near ready to play, and probably should have sat.  On the first drive, we lost his backup Jake Kumerow to an ankle injury.  That pretty much destroyed our ability to stretch the field.  Then Dawson Knox got hurt.  As the game wore on, Stefon Diggs and Isaiah McKenzie were constantly going down.  On much of the final drive, Josh had nobody to throw to but Quinton Morris and the running backs.

 

To the bold: Assuming Bass makes the FG, there's the difference in the game.

[Billz4ever]

3 minutes ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

Stats like that are so incredibly misleading/useless....along the same vein when team A runs for over 180 yards they win 90% of the time.  There is a cause and effect statistically, not every instance but statistically.  Correlation versus causation.

Outside of the scoreboard, the Bills dominated this game.  Miami barely broke 200 yards of offense, had 15 first downs to our 31, and had the ball all of 18 minutes.  We couldn't close the deal when we had the ball.  Too many wasted opportunities.

Edited September 26, 2022 by Billz4ever

[BADOLBILZ]

 

The offense killed their home field advantage hopes last year as well.    They have limitations on offense that were not addressed in the slightest last offseason.

 

The defense has been overloaded with 1st round picks and big dollar contracts...........they played "well" yesterday........the big pass to Waddle goes on Frazier........but they didn't make the game changing play or turn the ball over.     If Milano catches that gimme pick six they win the game.     There are going to be days where the defense has to do more than they did yesterday because that side of the ball has been favored lopsidedly with regard to personnel.   We know about the injuries but the defense is practically two deep EVERYWHERE.    The offense is threadbare on the OL and at WR and TE after the starters.

[LABILLBACKER]

Milano dropping an easy pic6 and that 3rd & 22 fail might disagree. But yes the defense out played the offense. The only winner yesterday was the heat.

Edited September 26, 2022 by LABILLBACKER

[Billz4ever]

5 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

The offense killed their home field advantage hopes last year as well.    They have limitations on offense that were not addressed in the slightest last offseason.

 

The defense has been overloaded with 1st round picks and big dollar contracts...........they played "well" yesterday........the big pass to Waddle goes on Frazier........but they didn't make the game changing play or turn the ball over.     If Milano catches that gimme pick six they win the game.     There are going to be days where the defense has to do more than they did yesterday because that side of the ball has been favored lopsidedly with regard to personnel.   We know about the injuries but the defense is practically two deep EVERYWHERE.    The offense is threadbare on the OL and at WR and TE after the starters.

Very true and given the injuries we already had on the offensive side, I can't understand how they didn't know heat could be a major factor here for the remaining starters. The D was only on the field 18 minutes and gave up 21 points.  Their D should've been the ones gassed, but because we were running a lot of short yardage gain plays, our own offensive game plan bit us in the backside.

Edited September 26, 2022 by Billz4ever

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

17 minutes ago, JohnBonhamRocks said:

Not with that mindset!

haha— true.

 

I will say that if you want to fault the red zone efficiency, blame the defense. They gave up 3 for 3 inside the red zone. Johnson was late on the slant; Johnson penalty gave the dolphins new set of downs inside the 5; and the other one the run D didn’t hold up.

[Sestak4ever]

We left way too many points on the field yesterday. I estimate a possible 20 points. 

[BuffaloBill]

OP seems to forget that the Bills D benefitted from ball control offense.  O-line was also depleted.  This was a team loss not an o loss.

[SCBills]

40 minutes TOP doomed the Bills. 
 

Credit to the Dolphins for relentlessly blitzing and keeping the big plays locked down. 
 

Bills had no gas when they got to the red zone on these 7-8 minute drives.  
 

4th Quarter, half the starters were out due to their bodies giving out on them.  
 

I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. 

[Matt_In_NH]

It was a weird game, I agree to a point, scoring 17 points is just not enough.  The defense got some stops but the offense also limited the possessions Miami had by having long drives which greatly benefited the defense.   Unfortunately they did not close(score) enough.  The long drive in the third quarter where Davis almost scored took a lot of the offense.   The heat played a role in not scoring in the third and fourth quarters, at least you wont convince me otherwise.  

[LABILLBACKER]

10 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

The offense killed their home field advantage hopes last year as well.    They have limitations on offense that were not addressed in the slightest last offseason.

 

The defense has been overloaded with 1st round picks and big dollar contracts...........they played "well" yesterday........the big pass to Waddle goes on Frazier........but they didn't make the game changing play or turn the ball over.     If Milano catches that gimme pick six they win the game.     There are going to be days where the defense has to do more than they did yesterday because that side of the ball has been favored lopsidedly with regard to personnel.   We know about the injuries but the defense is practically two deep EVERYWHERE.    The offense is threadbare on the OL and at WR and TE after the starters.

The organization has invested more on the defensive side over the years so it's perfectly justifiable to expect more from them. The offense last season had 3 great fails in the regular season to Pittsburgh,  Jacksonville and NE.  But once we enter the playoffs,  it's been the defense that has bounced us out against Houston and KC twice. 

[Billz4ever]

1 minute ago, Matt_In_NH said:

It was a weird game, I agree to a point, scoring 17 points is just not enough.  The defense got some stops but the offense also limited the possessions Miami had by having long drives which greatly benefited the defense.   Unfortunately they did not close(score) enough.  The long drive in the third quarter where Davis almost scored took a lot of the offense.   The heat played a role in not scoring in the third and fourth quarters, at least you wont convince me otherwise.  

Along with dumb play calling, IMO.  2nd and Goal from inside the one and Josh is in the shotgun?  If you can't run a QB sneak a couple times for half a yard, we have much bigger problems.

[whorlnut]

2 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

The organization has invested more on the defensive side over the years so it's perfectly justifiable to expect more from them. The offense last season had 3 great fails in the regular season to Pittsburgh,  Jacksonville and NE.  But once we enter the playoffs,  it's been the defense that has bounced us out against Houston and KC twice. 

Good points

1 minute ago, Billz4ever said:

Along with dumb play calling, IMO.  2nd and Goal from inside the one and Josh is in the shotgun?  If you can't run a QB sneak a couple times for half a yard, we have much bigger problems.

It’s called bad oline depth. 

[Matt_In_NH]

4 minutes ago, Billz4ever said:

Along with dumb play calling, IMO.  2nd and Goal from inside the one and Josh is in the shotgun?  If you can't run a QB sneak a couple times for half a yard, we have much bigger problems.

Agree. The read option was dumb right there 

[Billz4ever]

6 minutes ago, whorlnut said:

Good points

It’s called bad oline depth. 

Which is strange considering Miami was able to run the ball and score on us in short yardage goal-to-go and it's our D that is supposed to be the better unit.

 

Josh is bigger than most linebackers.  He can't fall forward for less than a yard with 3 cracks at it?

 

It's not that they can't do it, it's more of the coaching staff not having faith in the line and trying to get cute with play calling instead of lining up under center and running it right down their throat and getting a yard.

Edited September 26, 2022 by Billz4ever

[gobills404]

The Bills had 4 consecutive drives that ended at the Dolphins 25 yard line, 11 yard line, 20 yard line, and 2 yard line. They got 3 points on those 4 drives. 

[LABILLBACKER]

10 minutes ago, Sestak4ever said:

We left way too many points on the field yesterday. I estimate a possible 20 points. 

You could argue 30 pts.

Milano, Gabe, Isaiah=21

Missed fg, 2 spikes =9

And that doesn't include the gifted td on Devin/Dion wiffing their block resulting in the fumble. 

 

 

[Billz4ever]

1 minute ago, gobills404 said:

The Bills had 4 consecutive drives that ended at the Dolphins 25 yard line, 11 yard line, 20 yard line, and 2 yard line. They got 3 points on those 4 drives. 

Great stat.  Bout sums up why we lost when just about every other stat line makes it look like we should've won by a comfortable margin.

[TheyCallMeAndy]

1 hour ago, buffalobillswin said:

This was one of the first times I can recall where having possession for that long was actually a bad thing. I seriously feared someone on the o-line was going to collapse and die on the field. 

I agree, the gameplan to keep Waddle and Hill on the sideline was very good, but the TOP killed Buffalo in the long run. At the end of the day, Bills missed 2 TDs and a FG and lost by two. 

[Magox]

It was just one of those fluky sort of games where we got the L.   So many injuries going into the game, lots of injuries during the game, players dehydrated and gassed who didn't have anything left in the tank at the end.   Not to mention all the missed opportunities by players and the perplexing elimination from the playbook of the QB sneak.  That 2nd and 1 from the goal line and not just having Allen QB sneak with having Gilliam and Zack Moss there to push him in was for me the most frustrating part of the game.

 

That 3rd and 22 that they converted I don't put on Frazier or McD, Waddle made a very nice cut to the middle he sold the post and that is where the Safety bit and turned him around. Even though that was a hugely impactful play, I chalk that up to being a great play call and execution.  The defense played really well, despite not being able to get consistent pressure.

 

The Bills are clearly the better team, but with all these mishaps, weather and injuries it proved to be too much to overcome.

 

Next time the Bills will blow them out.