Thoughts on Bengals Game.

[Einstein]

It had the feeling of a game that we were about to be blown out in.

 

Obviously things can change quickly but that’s the feeling I had when play stopped.

[BullBuchanan]

Just now, Boatdrinks said:

Yeah, you would’ve thought they were the steel curtain out there Vs Josh.. he was completely neutralized…

I wouldn't go that far, but Josh hasn't looked like the Josh of pre-season MVP discussion since the KC game. Once again he looked just a little off - as evidenced by his misses to McKenzie and Beasley. Cinci on the other hand looked dominant. I don't see our defense being able to keep up with them. their top 2 WRs are leagues better than what we can offer on defense right now. It looked like the beginning of a blowout to me.

[nkreed]

36 minutes ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

I don’t understand the Bills with 5 years of experience with Allen don’t have a designed Allen run call built into every possession <8 yards and in.
 

The first drive there were multiple times Josh had to ask for the play again over the noise. I'm fairly confident he called the second down play I'm the RZ. He clearly throws his hands down in frustration at about 22 seconds on the clock. I think he was hoping that his normal play call in that situation (a HB run up the middle) was going to be jumped and was hoping that misdirection was going to work. Instead they were fortunate he didn't hand the ball off.

4 minutes ago, mbowman14 said:

It was going to be a run by Motor but the Corner on McKenzie didn't follow him across with his Jet Motion.  Instead when McKenzie motioned, that Corner blitzed and Spencer Brown couldn't get to him in time as they weren't expecting that blitz.  Josh sensed that handing it off would have been a 5 yard loss and kept the ball.  You can see in Diggs' reaction up top as he clearly thought it was a running play and made no attempt to run a route.  Dion Dawkins was also downfield leading you to believe it was a run.

It was a backyard football reaction. He made the right decision, IMO.

[Royale with Cheese]

10 minutes ago, teef said:

just look who they are.  does that shock you at all?

 

I shouldn't be right?

[Einstein]

25 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

I simply am astonished that there are people who think that game was already over in the first quarter down by 4.  WOW, that is amazing to me.

 

It wasn’t the score that made me think that.

 

It was context.

We we’re down 4, the Bengals we’re effortlessly driving again, and we were already down 2 defensive starters due to injury in the first 8 minutes.

 

This wasn’t the Bears we were playing where we could easily come back. It’s an elite team.

[nkreed]

Just now, BullBuchanan said:

I wouldn't go that far, but Josh hasn't looked like the Josh of pre-season MVP discussion since the KC game. Once again he looked just a little off - as evidenced by his misses to McKenzie and Beasley. Cinci on the other hand looked dominant. I don't see our defense being able to keep up with them. their top 2 WRs are leagues better than what we can offer on defense right now. It looked like the beginning of a blowout to me.

To Bease, that's a normal miss for all QBs. To McK he thought there was pressure and didn't step into it. He would likely have seen that and improved moving forward.

[BlazinBill]

Is this really a conversation after watching 8 minutes - how many games this year showed why you play all 60 minutea- that's not just Bills games either - so much thought on what ifs on this board- sure take your mind of reality with your nonsense takes.

 

[Royale with Cheese]

1 minute ago, Einstein said:

 

It wasn’t the score that made me think that.

 

It was context.

We we’re down 4, the Bengals we’re effortlessly driving again, and we were already down 2 defensive starters due to injury in the first 8 minutes.

 

This wasn’t the Bears we were playing where we could easily come back. It’s an elite team.

 

You're right.  The Bengals can't be come backed on.  Evidence was last week when they were up by 22-0 at halftime, Burrow had just under 300 yards passing in the first half with 3 TD's.  The Bengals have an elite team so the Pats never had a chance in the game.

[nkreed]

1 minute ago, Einstein said:

 

It wasn’t the score that made me think that.

 

It was context.

We we’re down 4, the Bengals we’re effortlessly driving again, and we were already down 2 defensive starters due to injury in the first 8 minutes.

 

This wasn’t the Bears we were playing where we could easily come back. It’s an elite team.

I think that second drive wasn't what you thought is was... 3rd and short. Would they have gotten it, likely, but I think the defense was beginning to settle down.

[DJB]

1 hour ago, NewEra said:

The bengals had 8 plays on offense…..

 

an nfl game has multiple twists and turns.  Game plans change.  Coaches adjust.  We can’t tell much of anything based on what we saw.  

True but what we did see was that our D looked bad against their offence

[Big Turk]

5 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

I wouldn't go that far, but Josh hasn't looked like the Josh of pre-season MVP discussion since the KC game. Once again he looked just a little off - as evidenced by his misses to McKenzie and Beasley. Cinci on the other hand looked dominant. I don't see our defense being able to keep up with them. their top 2 WRs are leagues better than what we can offer on defense right now. It looked like the beginning of a blowout to me.

 

Kinda like the same they looked like against the Pats and then did nothingin the 2nd half?  Cincy does a lot of that...they look great for a half but then don't score much the other half.  Hell, even the Bills have done that.  Nothing could really be "figured" out from what we saw to start.

[Casey D]

1 minute ago, DJB said:

True but what we did see was that our D looked bad against their offence

Did you watch both halfs of the Bengals Pats?  Things change.  That's why they play 60 minutes, not 10.

[NewEra]

1 hour ago, newcam2012 said:

Prayers go out to Hamlin. That's obviously the most important priority! Waiting in agony for positive results. 

 

However, maybe we can just talk a little football just to escape reality and cope with the sad occurrence of events. With no disrespect, I'd like to address the 5 min and change of the game. Please no disrespect is intended.

 

Bengals elected to get the ball and moved through the Bills D like Swiss cheese. They made an early statement that their offense had no fear. They immediately went after Tre. Tre is not the Tre of old. No way can he play Chase one on one. Very surprised that the Bills immediately blitzed Burrow. Burrow has killed the blitz all year. Not sure what Fraizer was thinking. After that, it was Burrow playing catch with his receivers. Early on it appeared that the Bills secondary and zone scheme was over matched by their receivers.

 

Their second drive which ended in the tragic event started out similarly to the first. At this point, it looked as though the Bills couldn't stop their potent offense.  Would the Bills be able to make adjustments and tighten up? They have done this in the past.

 

The Bills offensively on their first and only drive looked good. The were well balanced mixing in the run and pass. It was quite different than the explosive fast striking offense of the Bengals. The Bills methodically moved the ball down the field. It was clear the Bengals were going to pressure Allen. It looked like the Bills O was working very hard for every yard and first down. Tough way to score and win. I felt like the Bills had to be precise on every play with little room for error. Turned out to be true with the Beasley missed pass and catch. 

 

My early thoughts of the game were that this was going to be a very difficult game for the Bills to win. Bengals offense was simply too good and too explosive for the Bills. Meanwhile, the Bills offense was had little room for error. Allen was going to be pressured throughout the game. I still felt like the Bills offense would score plenty. 

 

We will never know how they game would have ended. Just pure speculation on my part. Early on the Bengals were the much better team. Get well #3. 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, NewEra said:

The bengals had 8 plays on offense…..

 

an nfl game has multiple twists and turns.  Game plans change.  Coaches adjust.  We can’t tell much of anything based on what we saw.  

Meanwhile…..the board agrees with who?  Certainly not 8 plays means so much guy.  

[Royale with Cheese]

3 minutes ago, Casey D said:

Did you watch both halfs of the Bengals Pats?  Things change.  That's why they play 60 minutes, not 10.

 

There's about a half dozen on this board who do not  believe it's a 4 quarter game.

[BullBuchanan]

6 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

Kinda like the same they looked like against the Pats and then did nothingin the 2nd half?  Cincy does a lot of that...they look great for a half but then don't score much the other half.  Hell, even the Bills have done that.  Nothing could really be "figured" out from what we saw to start.

If your gameplan was to have Cinci lay down to us later in the game, ok. My opinion is from the perspective that when they are playing at their best, which it looks like they were, they outclass us in most positions on the field.

Edited January 3, 2023 by BullBuchanan

[without a drought]

Usual suspects saying their usual things.

 

Give it a F'n rest for a bit.

[NewEra]

21 minutes ago, teef said:

just look who they are.  does that shock you at all?

The sadness brigade runs deep in this thread.  

8 minutes ago, DJB said:

True but what we did see was that our D looked bad against their offence

For 8 plays…….

 

how is this SO difficult for people to comprehend?  It’s unreal and a bit sad

[Chandler#81]

I’m dealing with many ‘friends’ who’ve been blasting the Bills Defense on the opening drive. Morons. Here’s my response:

 

“Get a grip. Cincy has a very dynamic offense. Very best trio of WRs and a Super Bowl QB. Everyone who follows the Bills closely knew it would be a barn burner between Allen & Burrow. It was developing exactly as anticipated. Allen threw a ***** pas that Beasley managed to get open to make the catch but isn’t 7’ tall..”

 

Damn. They’re worse than this lot!

[SCBills]

1 hour ago, Steptide said:

The throw to Bease on 3rd down was huge. Cost us 7 points. I was upset they didn't go for it. Felt like the score was about to be 14 - 3.  Not sure why the bills defense wasnt covering the middle of the field. 

 

In the moment, I agree with you completely.  

 

This defense struggles early in games.  I'm sure the coaches have faith that they would hold the Bengals down, or to a FG, on the following drive... but that feels misguided given their recent struggles until they settle in.

 

Felt 3 meant nothing at that moment.  Also felt like we would get 7 unless we screwed up... which we did on 2nd and 3rd down... wasn't anything the Bengals did. 

 

 

[NewEra]

3 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

If your gameplan was to have Cinci lay down to us later int he game, ok. My opinion is from the perspective that when they are playing at their best, which it looks like they were, they outclass us in most positions on the field.

They outclass us at most positions on the field….. oh man.  
 

ok I need to go for a run.