Well that was an absolute crap fest - PostGame thread

[Mikie2times]

It doesn't look like Josh is decisive in knowing where he wants to go with the ball. Almost like he has to see it first. The line didn't exactly help but Josh plays a role. I would be less concerned if it wasn't similar to how he looked a lot of last year. 

 

Kincaid, as Einstein has said a few times, is great with leverage. 

 

It will be interesting to see what the team looks like week 1. I don't think it's as bad as people are making it out, but I also don't think it's completely nothing to see either. We were very bad in nearly every area and created more questions marks in key areas like the OL and defense. 

[billieve420]

1 minute ago, buffblue said:

We are what we are at DL and CB. I think we can get by in those areas.

 

MLB and OT are flat out frightening right now. Add backup QB as well to a lesser degree

Barkley just played his way off the team. Kyle hasn’t been great either but he has the better arm and you hope he gets more comfortable as he learns the offense. However, if Allen misses extended time we are done regardless. Would look to develop younger QB on the practice squad versus keeping Barkley around.

[Wizard]

The penalties and the inability to generate any offense flow or stop on defense is concerning.

 

Yes, this game does not count. Still, the Bills got outplayed, outcoached, and they definitely are not as far along as I would hope a few weeks until the season starts.

 

[QLBillsFan]

15 minutes ago, JerseyBills said:

Penalties killed us

 

Even if we blew them out most importantly there were no injuries to starters or key depth guys.

 

Dawkins and Brown were awful.  Dawkins has been so average for years now

On the bright side, Davis and Kincaid could make doubling Diggs a problem.  

Our OL ? has not been resolved. DD is average but will come around. RT was actually more important than RG… so we missed on a RT who could challenge SB. Like SB but that’s an absolutely huge concern. 
D me think McDermy is laying low. But even if PS it was dreadful!!!

[1ManRaid]

1 minute ago, billieve420 said:

Barkley just played his way off the team. Kyle hasn’t been great either but he has the better arm and you hope he gets more comfortable as he learns the offense. However, if Allen misses extended time we are done regardless. Would look to develop younger QB on the practice squad versus keeping Barkley around.

 

Felt to me like Barkley tried too hard to keep up the momentum from last week after being promoted to QB2 for today.

[Brand J]

29 minutes ago, 1ManRaid said:

After a fluke start of the Steelers scoring 2 TDs on 2 plays, they did a whole lot of diddly and squat against our defense the rest of the game.  After the opening drive, they never again scored points on a drive from further than midfield.

 

They ended up going...

- punt

- punt

- punt

- TD from on drive starting on our 7 yard line that should have been a FG

- FG on a drive starting in our red zone 

- FG on drive starting mid field

- fumble

- punt

- punt

 

Wasn't the first time the Steelers pulled a fluke win on us.  Kyle Allen and Barkley made mistakes trying to out-gunsling the other after Barkley's performance last week heated up the competition for QB2.

 

*edit*

And of course THIRTEEN penalties didn't help.  No idea what to say about that part.

To be fair, the Steelers pulled their offensive starters after those two possessions. They looked like they could have their way with our defense, very Bengals-like. Of course, it is the preseason and there’s no game plan or areas of emphasis to stop… but 1s vs 1s, the Bills got their @**es handed to them. 

[Coach Tuesday]

McD has not been able to get the o-line or special teams right since he got here.  Just can’t seem to do it.

[Brand J]

4 minutes ago, Mikie2times said:

It doesn't look like Josh is decisive in knowing where he wants to go with the ball. Almost like he has to see it first. The line didn't exactly help but Josh plays a role. I would be less concerned if it wasn't similar to how he looked a lot of last year. 

 

Kincaid, as Einstein has said a few times, is great with leverage. 

 

It will be interesting to see what the team looks like week 1. I don't think it's as bad as people are making it out, but I also don't think it's completely nothing to see either. We were very bad in nearly every area and created more questions marks in key areas like the OL and defense. 

Also looks like Josh is still leaving clean pockets far too early which invites the rush and shortens the field. He’ll have to learn to trust this version of the OL, but with Spencer and Dion on the edges giving up pressures to nameless guys, it’s a lot to ask. 

[1ManRaid]

6 minutes ago, JayBaller10 said:

To be fair, the Steelers pulled their offensive starters after those two possessions. They looked like they could have their way with our defense, very Bengals-like. Of course, it is the preseason and there’s no game plan or areas of emphasis to stop… but 1s vs 1s, the Bills got their @**es handed to them. 

 

1s vs 1s getting our butts handed to us lasted all of 2 TDs on 2 plays for the Steelers.  It's called a fluke.  They averaged 4.4 yards per play INCLUDING those 87 yards on 2 plays, compared to our 5.8 yards per play.

 

*edit* 

Outside those 2 TDs, the math works out to 3.1 yards per play for them.

Edited August 20, 2023 by 1ManRaid

[78thealltimegreat]

3 minutes ago, JayBaller10 said:

Also looks like Josh is still leaving clean pockets far too early which invites the rush and shortens the field. He’ll have to learn to trust this version of the OL, but with Spencer and Dion on the edges giving up pressures to nameless guys, it’s a lot to ask. 

He literally didn’t have time to throw on any single pass play rewatch the three drives Dawkins and Brown weren’t just bad they looked USFL level. 

[NickelCity]

20 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said:

Spencer brown simply isn’t good enough.

 

Got a bad feeling he’s going to hold this team back this year, I hope I’m wrong

 

Same as it's been for awhile. The team goes as far as the OLine allows.

 

What was it? #1 vs #2 OLine in the SB last year?

1 minute ago, 78thealltimegreat said:

He literally didn’t have time to throw on any single pass play rewatch the three drives Dawkins and Brown weren’t just bad they looked USFL level. 

 

Multiple plays where 3 (3!) OLinemen looked to be completely turned around by their man. 

13 minutes ago, Mikie2times said:

It doesn't look like Josh is decisive in knowing where he wants to go with the ball. Almost like he has to see it first. The line didn't exactly help but Josh plays a role. I would be less concerned if it wasn't similar to how he looked a lot of last year. 

 

I thought Josh (and Kincaid and Davis) looked pretty good, among a terrible overall starting unit performance...

 

I was most worried about the lack of short options on a number of plays.

[HurlyBurly51]

No good OT…what could go wrong?  Talk about incompetence….pay Josh $250M and put 2 scrubs to protect him out there…smh🤦‍♂️

[vincec]

8 minutes ago, JayBaller10 said:

Also looks like Josh is still leaving clean pockets far too early which invites the rush and shortens the field. He’ll have to learn to trust this version of the OL, but with Spencer and Dion on the edges giving up pressures to nameless guys, it’s a lot to ask. 

He does not have any confidence in his OL. Probably with cause. His running ability is great but he is going to it too quickly.

[Big Blitz]

24 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

Are you really comparing a meaningless preseason game to the season opener?  We seemed ready to go in the NFL opener last year.  To quote a certain qb, “Relax.”

 

Fair.  But it’s not a switch you turn on - plus the team has rookies and guys trying to make the team. 
 

We fight and throw helmets in practice.  Let’s at least get hyped to block TJ Watt and cover George Pickens (we could have drafted him instead of Elam to).  

[Gambit]

17 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Sign Peters.

Trade for a depth veteran OT.

Trade for a LB

This isn't Madden

[somnus00]

I have no issues with being critical during the season. But this was a  preseason game...with vanilla schemes...no game planning... and starters playing to not get hurt in a meaningless game. I'm not worried right now.

Edited August 20, 2023 by somnus00

[Brand J]

7 minutes ago, 1ManRaid said:

 

1s vs 1s getting our butts handed to us lasted all of 2 TDs on 2 plays for the Steelers.  It's called a fluke.  They averaged 4.4 yards per play INCLUDING those 87 yards on 2 plays, compared to our 5.8 yards per play.

 

*edit* 

Outside those 2 TDs, the math works out to 3.1 yards per play for them.

I mean, you can’t just take away their TDs. Would the Steelers have scored a 3rd if their starters remained in the game? Who knows, but they were clearly winning. You call it two fluke plays, I call it superior execution.

8 minutes ago, 78thealltimegreat said:

He literally didn’t have time to throw on any single pass play rewatch the three drives Dawkins and Brown weren’t just bad they looked USFL level. 

Oh yeah, not arguing against Dawkins and Brown, both were terrible. But there was one play in particular on the opening drive, the 3rd down I believe, where he did have time and decided to roll out to his right anyway, which brought the rush in his face and took away half the field. The result was a throw that landed nowhere really.

[Scott7975]

It's just preseason but I was pretty disappointed that these guys were unprepared.  I don't care about losing.  I don't even care about getting blown out.  It's the mental mistakes and penalties.  Especially from vets.  This should not happen from a team of this caliber and I blame this on coaching.  There are terrible teams that look better than this.

[John from Riverside]

51 minutes ago, Big Blitz said:

We should have drafted Breece Hall.

The same Breece hall that isn’t playing right now?

[Big Blitz]

1 minute ago, John from Riverside said:

The same Breece hall that isn’t playing right now?

 

If he was a Bill, you can’t say he’d have a torn ACL.  

[John from Riverside]

The thing that really bothered me in this game was how easy it was for them to score at the beginning of the game and then they just took their offense out

 

I’m trying to remember the last time that the bills allowed something like that in any game

1 minute ago, Big Blitz said:

 

If he was a Bill, you can’t say he’d have a torn ACL.  

You can’t say that he wouldn’t 

The bottom line is he does, and you don’t know who he’s going to look when he comes back from that

Edited August 20, 2023 by John from Riverside

[78thealltimegreat]

5 minutes ago, JayBaller10 said:

I mean, you can’t just take away their TDs. Would the Steelers have scored a 3rd if their starters remained in the game? Who knows, but they were clearly winning. You call it two fluke plays, I call it superior execution.

Oh yeah, not arguing against Dawkins and Brown, both were terrible. But there was one play in particular on the opening drive, the 3rd down I believe, where he did have time and decided to roll out to his right anyway, which brought the rush in his face and took away half the field. The result was a throw that landed nowhere really.

Yes I know the play you where talking about there’s one problem no one was open 

[4BillsintheBurgh]

I thought the post game fireworks were good.

[Dr. K]

Positive outcomes:

 

1) Kyle Allen looked better.

2) Gabe Davis

3) Dalton Kincaid.

4) They can't commit that many penalties regularly, can they?

5) They've got a couple of weeks to work on things.

6) I got nothing else.

Edited August 20, 2023 by Dr. K

[Brand J]

1 minute ago, 78thealltimegreat said:

Yes I know the play you where talking about there’s one problem no one was open 

Because he left the pocket early. Nothing had a chance to develop and no one broke open when he left. 

[MarkKelso'sHelmet]

This game was reminiscent of the Dick Jauron era. There was nothing good to take away. The team struggled with basic things: taking a snap, getting a clean hand off. 12 Penalties in the first half is a clown show. This team is coming apart at the seams. If they play like this, they won't win a game.

 

By the way, Tre White should be cut. He was getting carved up by the second team. He avoids contact and he's slow.  Some guys never come back from major injuries. It's sad but true. He's done. 

[wppete]

AJ Epanesa has been invisible this preseason. Absolutely nothing. 

[Franco_92]

4 minutes ago, MarkKelso'sHelmet said:

This game was reminiscent of the Dick Jauron era. There was nothing good to take away. The team struggled with basic things: taking a snap, getting a clean hand off. 12 Penalties in the first half is a clown show. This team is coming apart at the seams. If they play like this, they won't win a game.

 

By the way, Tre White should be cut. He was getting carved up by the second team. He avoids contact and he's slow.  Some guys never come back from major injuries. It's sad but true. He's done. 

Bills fans are embarrassing and don't deserve the team they have. 

I mean that

[gobills404]

26 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

McD has not been able to get the o-line or special teams right since he got here.  Just can’t seem to do it.

They literally had the best special teams unit in the league last year lol

 

https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/nfl/special-teams/2022/regular

[BillsFan130]

19 minutes ago, somnus00 said:

I have issues with being critical during the season. But this was a  preseason game...with vanilla schemes...no game planning... and starters playing to not get hurt in a meaningless game. I'm not worried right now.

Did you watch the game out of curiosity? And I ask that not to be a jerk.

 

Cause the concerns are 1 on 1 battles in the trenches.

 

They can’t block and they didn’t generate a pass rush with 4 guys.

 

Those are red flags IMO

[wppete]

15 minutes ago, Dr. K said:

Positive outcomes:

 

1) Kyle Allen looked better.

2) Gabe Davis

3) Dalton Kincaid.

4) They can't commit that many penalties regularly, can they?

5) They've got a couple of weeks to work on things.

6) I got nothing else.

Don’t forget O’Cyrus Torrence. He looked good again. 

[PatsFanNH]

1 hour ago, zow2 said:

The thing about the Bills in recent years is that they are a measuring stick game for all opponents. Beating the Bills is big. and Buffalo just didn’t even come close to caring about a preseason game as much as Pittsburgh.  But the penalties are a huge concern.  that will derail important games 

Umm no, that’s the Chiefs and Bengals, especially the Bengals for the Steelers.  People face KC they make it their SB. When they face the Bengals they are a measuring stick. Now teams don’t overlook the Bills by any means but outside of the AFCE no team IMO thinks of them as a measuring stick especially in preseason. 

[Franco_92]

Just now, PatsFanNH said:

Umm no, that’s the Chiefs and Bengals, especially the Bengals for the Steelers.  People face KC they make it their SB. When they face the Bengals they are a measuring stick. Now teams don’t overlook the Bills by any means but outside of the AFCE no team IMO thinks of them as a measuring stick especially in preseason. 

The Bengals have spent 70% of the last two regular seasons either building a 10-7 record as a 4 seed two years ago, or getting to Halloween at 3-4 last year

 

If the Bills are not a measuring stick game, the Bengals are not either lol. It's cool that they get like 15 tipped ball interceptions spread across 5 playoff wins in 2 years, or their QB leading just 7 touchdown drives in 45 attempts on their super bowl run, but that doesn't exactly make me consider them a measuring stick

[gonzo1105]

45 minutes ago, 78thealltimegreat said:

Looking at it objectively every time Josh went back to pass he had a guy in his face. It felt like the Bengals game.

 

Dalton Kincaid is going to be amazing 

Backup QB is a major problem.
MLB and CB2 are going to be serious issues if someone doesn’t emerge soon. 
 

The referees were practically piggybacking the Steelers down the field in this game. 
 

This was a my goodness they can’t be this bad game. 

I disagree with the first sentence a touch. The first two passes Allen dropped back he got hot feet and bailed out of a fairly decent pocket. I was disappointed in that 

[NoHuddleKelly12]

1 minute ago, PatsFanNH said:

Umm no, that’s the Chiefs and Bengals, especially the Bengals for the Steelers.  People face KC they make it their SB. When they face the Bengals they are a measuring stick. Now teams don’t overlook the Bills by any means but outside of the AFCE no team IMO thinks of them as a measuring stick especially in preseason. 

The Bills QB is the Madden cover and perennial MVP contender…reigning East champs and also for foreseeable future imho…there’s no doubt each opponent wants to try to make a statement against the Bills. 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

2 minutes ago, gonzo1105 said:

I disagree with the first sentence a touch. The first two passes Allen dropped back he got hot feet and bailed out of a fairly decent pocket. I was disappointed in that 

Agreed. Seemed like Josh had happy feet back there to start the game. 

[PatsFanNH]

Just now, arcane said:

The Bengals have spent 70% of the last two regular seasons either building a 10-7 record as a 4 seed two years ago, or getting to Halloween at 3-4 last year

 

If the Bills are not a measuring stick game, the Bengals are not either lol. It's cool that they get like 15 tipped ball interceptions spread across 5 playoff wins in 2 years, or their QB leading just 7 touchdown drives in 45 attempts on their super bowl run, but that doesn't exactly make me consider them a measuring stick

Trivia question for you.. who has been in the AFC Championship game the last 2 years?  Yup that’s right the Bengals and Chiefs.. right now everyone outside of Buffalo sees the Bills as the 3rd best team, maybe the 4th since so many love the dang Jets now..  I think it’s funny you point to stats when players just look at it as “these two teams are the best in the league”. 

[BeavercreekBillsFan]

1 hour ago, Einstein said:

 

I expected RT to be an issue.

 

However I didn’t expect Dion to look as bad as he did.

Dion has sucked for a long time now. Brown has just masked it because he’s even worse. But Dawkins sucks too. We don’t have 1 good tackle. Bills will never win a SB until they get serious about building a real OL. 

[Brand J]

4 minutes ago, PatsFanNH said:

Trivia question for you.. who has been in the AFC Championship game the last 2 years?  Yup that’s right the Bengals and Chiefs.. right now everyone outside of Buffalo sees the Bills as the 3rd best team, maybe the 4th since so many love the dang Jets now..  I think it’s funny you point to stats when players just look at it as “these two teams are the best in the league”. 

Pat Mahomes thought the Bengals were better than Buffalo too. And then they went out and proved it - at least in that one game. But I do think the Bills, Bengals, and Chiefs are targets for all other AFC teams. Maybe less so this year because the hype isn’t as strong as last year. 

[Franco_92]

6 minutes ago, PatsFanNH said:

Trivia question for you.. who has been in the AFC Championship game the last 2 years?  Yup that’s right the Bengals and Chiefs.. right now everyone outside of Buffalo sees the Bills as the 3rd best team, maybe the 4th since so many love the dang Jets now..  I think it’s funny you point to stats when players just look at it as “these two teams are the best in the league”. 

There is no player and no team out there saying "Eh, it's just Buffalo...next week on the other hand, oh boy, we play the Bengals"

The Bills have absolutely gotten teams' best swings the last 2 seasons. It's been a treat to watch, and there are soundbites from EVERY COACH WE FACE alluding to the phenomenon. You should hear Saleh talk during Bills week lol. You just wanted to say something unfalsifiable to knock a division rival down a peg. I don't blame you, it's been a long 3 years and will be another long 10.