The defense sucked....again

[Bermuda Triangle]

most of the threads here seem to be about Allen and his horrid play of late (and I'll be the first to say that he has been really bad), but is the defense getting yet ANOTHER free pass today?

 

The Vikes had their highest yardage output of the season today and converted countless 3rd & 4th and long plays.  I frankly don't even remember the last time Minnesota punted.    Did anyone honestly think that the D would force a punt in OT?  

 

Up 27-10 late in the third quarter, the Vikes gash the Bills for an 81-yard TD (let me guess, Sean - bad run fit, and you'll get that fixed!), score a TD on their next drive, and then march 75 yards, only to get stopped on 4th and goal from the 1.  In OT, they fairly easily drove downfield for the GW FG.

 

Is this the mark of a good defense?

[RiotAct]

no it sure as hell isn’t.  Don’t worry though, Tre White will be back for the Super Bowl!!!!!!

[Ethan in Cleveland]

The defense is missing White, Hyde, Poyer, Elam, Rousseau and now Edmunds. 

That is over half the starters. 

I'm not saying the defense is great, but they at least have an excuse. 

There is no excuse for how poorly Allen is playing. A fumbled snap on the goal line??? That is high school level nonsense. He has been reckless with the ball all year.

[EmotionallyUnstable]

Missing Pieces

 

Poyer

Hyde

Edmunds (2nd half)

White

Elam

Groot

 

Bills Starting Secondary Today:

 

- 6th Rd CB Rookie!

- 6th Rd S

- 7th Rd CB

- Undrafted S (First start)

 

Yet they still came up with huge stops (4th and goal, 3 points in OT) and created multiple take aways.

 

Be mad that we gave up 30 points in regulation all you want, but don’t ignore the fact they were severely hampered by injury and their coaching staff refused to try and do anything brazen to  create an advantage

[Bermuda Triangle]

Just now, Ethan in Cleveland said:

The defense is missing White, Hyde, Poyer, Elam, Rousseau and now Edmunds. 

That is over half the starters. 

I'm not saying the defense is great, but they at least have an excuse. 

There is no excuse for how poorly Allen is playing. A fumbled snap on the goal line??? That is high school level nonsense. He has been reckless with the ball all year.

He's always had issues with snaps under center on sneaks - I had hoped that the issue was in the past, but I guess not.  Truly embarrassing.

 

The D has had plenty of time to adjust to not having Hyde and White.  The failure by Lewis to not simply knock the ball down on 4th and 18 was incredible....has the defense not learned anything from the past 2.5 seasons?

[transient]

If Cam Lewis plays smart situational football and knocks the ball to the ground instead of inexplicably going for the INT on FOURTH and forever the game is over. How that wasn’t drilled into their heads in that situation is beyond me. If the ball that he got a hand on first is simply batted down it’s a Bills win. 

[Big Turk]

2 minutes ago, transient said:

If Cam Lewis plays smart situational football and knocks the ball to the ground instead of inexplicably going for the INT on FOURTH and forever the game is over. How that wasn’t drilled into their heads in that situation is beyond me. If the ball that he got a hand on first is simply batted down it’s a Bills win. 

 

I simply don't understand how a team that practices as much situationally as the Bills do under McD are so bad in those situations when they actually happen.

[Simon]

1 minute ago, transient said:

If Cam Lewis plays smart situational football and knocks the ball to the ground instead of inexplicably going for the INT on FOURTH and forever the game is over. How that wasn’t drilled into their heads in that situation is beyond me. If the ball that he got a hand on first is simply batted down it’s a Bills win. 

 

He has no business being out there in an NFL defensive backfield.

I know he's become an excellent ST's player and that the DB room is decimated by injuries, but he has yet to show anything he belongs out there with that defense.

[ALLinALLEN]

The D has been decimated with injuries but I'm still so confused as to the plan and the play of the guys up front.

 

Oliver, Miller, Epenesa, Phillips, Lawson, Settle, and Boogie and NOBODY can get pressure enough to make plays or force throws? And Leslie and sean (the D whisperer) dont have the brains to maybe adjust the scheme or plan when 6 defensive back/lb's are out? It's mind blowing no adjustments have been made there.

 

Will probably throw a 1st round pick there again next year thinking that'll solve it...

[thenorthremembers]

1 minute ago, Simon said:

 

He has no business being out there in an NFL defensive backfield.

I know he's become an excellent ST's player and that the DB room is decimated by injuries, but he has yet to show anything he belongs out there with that defense.

Agree he doesn't but they probably put him out there because Jaquan Johnson showed what an absolute liability he is playing down in the box.  They have no good options right now.

[Big Blitz]

Are Tim Settle and DaQuan Jones playing?

 

Didn’t notice them at all.  
 

 

[DCbillsfan]

Good points being made.  Just a demoralizing loss.  For me, I'm ignoring all of this crap about the Super Bowl, #1 seed, and playoffs.  I just want win number 7.

[zow2]

I was at the game but barely noticed Von. Did he do anything?! There were so many drop backs by Cousins today and i saw him

hardly pressured.  OT it got a little better. but he still threaded passes.

[Motorin']

17 minutes ago, Bermuda Triangle said:

most of the threads here seem to be about Allen and his horrid play of late (and I'll be the first to say that he has been really bad), but is the defense getting yet ANOTHER free pass today?

 

The Vikes had their highest yardage output of the season today and converted countless 3rd & 4th and long plays.  I frankly don't even remember the last time Minnesota punted.    Did anyone honestly think that the D would force a punt in OT?  

 

Up 27-10 late in the third quarter, the Vikes gash the Bills for an 81-yard TD (let me guess, Sean - bad run fit, and you'll get that fixed!), score a TD on their next drive, and then march 75 yards, only to get stopped on 4th and goal from the 1.  In OT, they fairly easily drove downfield for the GW FG.

 

Is this the mark of a good defense?

 

No free passes! You better be standing in the locker room Monday morning charging them for their hall passes! 

[BisonMan]

From the fumbled snap to the failure to play a 4th and long like it's a Hail Mary situation, I certainly think coaching is to blame. 

 

The Bills knew they were going to run a QB sneak the second that they made the goal line stand. Allen and Morse should have been practicing snaps on the sideline for a minute or two when that situation arose to ensure the most like failure point on that play was taken care of. Make a good snap there and the game is over or, at worst case, we give up a safety and set them back into their territory with no TOs and very little time. 

 

On the 4th and long for the Vikings, the coaches should have been drilling it into the secondary to play that like a Hail Mary and just try to "knock it down". The should have called a timeout before that play to ensure that everyone was on the right page because that was the ballgame if we just communicate that correctly to the players. 

 

Going back to the KC playoff game, the same knuckleheaded coaching showed up with 31 seconds left. Trying to keep them away from the sidelines while they had 3 timeouts. Timeouts were meaningless, yardage was the key point of failure. Again, they blew it. 

 

I hate to say it but Bill Bill Belichick doesn't have teams making those mistakes. 

[RiotAct]

14 minutes ago, EmotionallyUnstable said:

Missing Pieces

 

Poyer

Hyde

Edmunds (2nd half)

White

Elam

Groot

 

Bills Starting Secondary Today:

 

- 6th Rd CB Rookie!

- 6th Rd S

- 7th Rd CB

- Undrafted S (First start)

 

Yet they still came up with huge stops (4th and goal, 3 points in OT) and created multiple take aways.

 

Be mad that we gave up 30 points in regulation all you want, but don’t ignore the fact they were severely hampered by injury and their coaching staff refused to try and do anything brazen to  create an advantage

Care emoji 

[Charles Romes]

8 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

He has no business being out there in an NFL defensive backfield.

I know he's become an excellent ST's player and that the DB room is decimated by injuries, but he has yet to show anything he belongs out there with that defense.

I think what the DBs are told is that the best way to avoid PI called every other play now is to always go aggressively for the ball and by making it clear you are going for the catch all contact with the defender may be excused and the PI flag will not come down. Jefferson is just a vastly superior player. 

[Mango]

The defense held up better than I thought they would today. Jefferson was a cheat code. 
 

With 6 starters out the defense needed the offense more than ever to keep them fresh. Defensive woes didn’t start until the offense sputtered. 

[Mr. WEO]

13 minutes ago, transient said:

If Cam Lewis plays smart situational football and knocks the ball to the ground instead of inexplicably going for the INT on FOURTH and forever the game is over. How that wasn’t drilled into their heads in that situation is beyond me. If the ball that he got a hand on first is simply batted down it’s a Bills win. 

 

Come on.  It's not "inexplicable".  That ball was sailing over Jeffersons head--naturally the DB is going to put his hands together thinking he's catching an INT.  Jefferson makes an insane catch.  That's not one I'm putting on Lewis.  

[CoudyBills]

23 minutes ago, RiotAct said:

no it sure as hell isn’t.  Don’t worry though, Tre White will be back for the Super Bowl!!!!!!

In 2024

[thenorthremembers]

8 minutes ago, Big Blitz said:

Are Tim Settle and DaQuan Jones playing?

 

Didn’t notice them at all.  
 

 

Jones has been a pretty good 1 tech.  Settle is useless.

[CoudyBills]

19 minutes ago, EmotionallyUnstable said:

Missing Pieces

 

Poyer

Hyde

Edmunds (2nd half)

White

Elam

Groot

 

Bills Starting Secondary Today:

 

- 6th Rd CB Rookie!

- 6th Rd S

- 7th Rd CB

- Undrafted S (First start)

 

Yet they still came up with huge stops (4th and goal, 3 points in OT) and created multiple take aways.

 

Be mad that we gave up 30 points in regulation all you want, but don’t ignore the fact they were severely hampered by injury and their coaching staff refused to try and do anything brazen to  create an advantage

The defense gave up 23.

[Saint Doug]

23 minutes ago, RiotAct said:

no it sure as hell isn’t.  Don’t worry though, Tre White will be back for the Super Bowl!!!!!!

This isn’t a Super Bowl team. Maybe next year once all injuries are worked out.  

[RiotAct]

Just now, Saint Doug said:

This isn’t a Super Bowl team. Maybe next year once all injuries are worked out.  

yep, next year for sure, my man.   FOR SURE

[Success]

9 minutes ago, DCbillsfan said:

Good points being made.  Just a demoralizing loss.  For me, I'm ignoring all of this crap about the Super Bowl, #1 seed, and playoffs.  I just want win number 7.

 

Best way to look at it.  Ignore the hype and expectations. We're 6-3, in the thick of the playoff race, and have a pretty favorable schedule ahead.

 

Just keep fighting, every week.

 

[Codyny13]

20 minutes ago, EmotionallyUnstable said:

Missing Pieces

 

Poyer

Hyde

Edmunds (2nd half)

White

Elam

Groot

 

Bills Starting Secondary Today:

 

- 6th Rd CB Rookie!

- 6th Rd S

- 7th Rd CB

- Undrafted S (First start)

 

Yet they still came up with huge stops (4th and goal, 3 points in OT) and created multiple take aways.

 

Be mad that we gave up 30 points in regulation all you want, but don’t ignore the fact they were severely hampered by injury and their coaching staff refused to try and do anything brazen to  create an advantage

24 pts at that, w/ 5 starters out…unreal 🥱

[Toyo321]

21 minutes ago, transient said:

If Cam Lewis plays smart situational football and knocks the ball to the ground instead of inexplicably going for the INT on FOURTH and forever the game is over. How that wasn’t drilled into their heads in that situation is beyond me. If the ball that he got a hand on first is simply batted down it’s a Bills win. 

Our CB's have not learned anything even after the D-Hop catch in the game with Arizona 2 years ago  If our coaches can't even address this issue two years later, that is proof that the entire coaching staff is crap.  The coaching is the major problem the last 3 seasons.

Edited November 14, 2022 by Toyo321

[SirAndrew]

The 80 yard touchdown run was inexcusable. You can’t give up that type of play on the ground with a lead. If the opponent is going to run, at least make them use up some clock. The defense is quite depleted, but we constantly give up big runs. It reminded me of the long run Taylor had for the Colts when we got crushed at home last season. Being dominated by the run and giving up long runs has been a theme, regardless of who’s on the field. That’s a scheme/coaching issue imo. 

[CoudyBills]

3 minutes ago, RiotAct said:

yep, next year for sure, my man.   FOR SURE

I see what you did there.  Championship!!!

[Bermuda Triangle]

3 minutes ago, CoudyBills said:

The defense gave up 23.

Commanders gave up 20 to the Vikes last week.

[BeastMaster]

Besides Cousins making multiple miraculous throws to one of the best receivers in the game and the Cook run, they were pretty solid. JJ shouldn't have came down with all of those.

 

They held twice when it could have been the difference in the game

 

Given the injuries...I think they were decent

[RiotAct]

1 minute ago, CoudyBills said:

I see what you did there.  Championship!!!

For sure.  Everyone healthy. Here we GO.

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

We had a 27-10 lead in the second half. You let a guy run an 80 yard TD like it was 1974. You continued to give up big plays on 3rd and long. Couldn’t get a stop on multiple 4th downs. Make a ***** stop. Stop asking your QB to just throw you back every week. Get off the goddamn field. Blitz. Knock a pass down. Bat a ball. Wrap a RB up. Stop letting a QB stand in the pocket and cut you up on 3rd down

[CoudyBills]

5 minutes ago, Bermuda Triangle said:

Commanders gave up 20 to the Vikes last week.

Ok?

[clayboy54]

3 minutes ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

We had a 27-10 lead in the second half. You let a guy run an 80 yard TD like it was 1974. You continued to give up big plays on 3rd and long. Couldn’t get a stop on multiple 4th downs. Make a ***** stop. Stop asking your QB to just throw you back every week. Get off the goddamn field. Blitz. Knock a pass down. Bat a ball. Wrap a RB up. Stop letting a QB stand in the pocket and cut you up on 3rd down

Please remind me of what happened in 1974. I was pretty stoned that year.

[Codyny13]

8 minutes ago, Toyo321 said:

Our CB's have not learned anything even after the D-Hop catch in the game with Arizona 2 years ago  If our coaches can't even address this issue two years later, that is proof that the entire coaching staff is crap.  The coaching is the major problem the last 3 seasons.

I don’t think a rookie 6th rd pick learned anything from that play 2 years ago, and I’m sure the coaching staff has coached to knock balls down, hell, i learned that when I was playing pop Warner ball in the 6th grade. The kid wanted to make a play, and he made the wrong one, and if they interview him, I guarantee that he says that the coaches tell them to knock the ball down.  I don’t see the coaching be the main reason for this loss, although I hated the 4th and 2 call, the coaching staff didn’t turn the ball over FOUR TIMES!

[JakeFrommStateFarm]

17 minutes ago, thenorthremembers said:

Jones has been a pretty good 1 tech.  Settle is useless.

I was always worried that we may have settled a little too soon for Tim

[PromoTheRobot]

46 minutes ago, Bermuda Triangle said:

most of the threads here seem to be about Allen and his horrid play of late (and I'll be the first to say that he has been really bad), but is the defense getting yet ANOTHER free pass today?

 

The Vikes had their highest yardage output of the season today and converted countless 3rd & 4th and long plays.  I frankly don't even remember the last time Minnesota punted.    Did anyone honestly think that the D would force a punt in OT?  

 

Up 27-10 late in the third quarter, the Vikes gash the Bills for an 81-yard TD (let me guess, Sean - bad run fit, and you'll get that fixed!), score a TD on their next drive, and then march 75 yards, only to get stopped on 4th and goal from the 1.  In OT, they fairly easily drove downfield for the GW FG.

 

Is this the mark of a good defense?

The defense made mistakes and generated almost no pressure on Cousins, but twice..TWICE...in crunch time they stopped the Vikings with goal to go. They won us the game until we gave it away.

Edited November 14, 2022 by PromoTheRobot

[Buffalo Junction]

27 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

Come on.  It's not "inexplicable".  That ball was sailing over Jeffersons head--naturally the DB is going to put his hands together thinking he's catching an INT.  Jefferson makes an insane catch.  That's not one I'm putting on Lewis.  

Absolutely not, but I definitely believe Tre takes that as a pick. 

[KOKBILLS]

40 minutes ago, transient said:

If Cam Lewis plays smart situational football and knocks the ball to the ground instead of inexplicably going for the INT on FOURTH and forever the game is over. How that wasn’t drilled into their heads in that situation is beyond me. If the ball that he got a hand on first is simply batted down it’s a Bills win. 

 

Exactly...I lost my voice screaming at that one...

 

As bad luck would have it for Bills fans, the only way Jefferson has a chance to make that miracle catch and pull it down is because Lewis freezes the ball at that exact point trying to catch it...What an incredibly major blunder...