Why have the Bills not been more successful? (Poll to end all Polls!)

[FireChans]

This is hotly debated but I wanna see the thoughts of TBD. Combination of all three as answers is discouraged.

Edited February 14 by FireChans

[Gregg]

Went with Mahomes/Reid. Although 13 seconds was definitely coaching and the Bills getting in their own way. But with 3 playoff losses to the Chiefs, I think the Mahomes/Reid answer in this poll is the correct one.

[May Day 10]

I hate to say it because it is a loser way to go, but I will chalk it up to bad luck... at least the past 2 seasons.  Last year, they had a lot of adversity with the schedule and a traumatic on-field event.  Injuries too.

 

This season was especially bad with injuries.  It is understated, but they also had a scheduling disadvantage vs the Chiefs.  They had a short week, Chiefs a long one.  Plus the Chiefs got to rest starters an extra week.

 

 

The 13 seconds game was a coaching/program error.  I do think McDermott is a good NFL coach and has his teams motivated and ready to play.  It was proven this season.  Things could have gone south quick at 6-6 and instead the team came to play, and especially when McDermott came under attack.

 

Overall, I think the Bills can/should beat the Chiefs.  They have done it repeatedly in the regular season.  The last 2 times in the playoffs should have won, and I would err more to the side of coaching than I would the Chiefs being too good in both of those instances.  The Bengals seem to be a worse match up than KC.

 

 

So its generally a combination IMO

 

Lots of luck

bad coaching/execution at a few critical times

The Chiefs/Bengals are good (but the Bills should beat them if healthy and we dont have to postpone games and people dont die on the field)

Edited February 14 by May Day 10

[BBFL]

I’d vote all three TBH. 

 

AFCC: Chiefs

13 seconds: Bills getting in their own way & bad luck

Divisional: Bad luck with the injuries to Bernard & Benford. 
 

 

Every answer is right. 🤷‍♂️

[FireChans]

7 minutes ago, Gregg said:

Went with Mahomes/Reid. Although 13 seconds was definitely coaching and the Bills getting in their own way. But with 3 playoff losses to the Chiefs, I think the Mahomes/Reid answer in this poll is the correct one.

To me, does 13 seconds even happen if we aren’t playing Mahomes? I don’t know, but my suspicion is no.

[BBFL]

2 minutes ago, FireChans said:

To me, does 13 seconds even happen if we aren’t playing Mahomes? I don’t know, but my suspicion is no.

If they play the way they did on defense to the exact same tee, then yes. Doesn’t matter who was under center. 

[Gregg]

Just now, FireChans said:

To me, does 13 seconds even happen if we aren’t playing Mahomes? I don’t know, but my suspicion is no.

 

13 seconds should never have happened against anyone. 30 seconds I could understand, and I think the Chiefs had a timeout or two at the time. 13 seconds is not enough time even for Mahomes unless the Bills choke. The Bills 100% ****ed up.

[FireChans]

1 minute ago, BBFL said:

If they play the way they did on defense to the exact same tee, then yes. Doesn’t matter who was under center. 

I don’t agree. 

[BBFL]

1 minute ago, FireChans said:

I don’t agree. 

That’s fine. I think if you give any QB a 10/15 yard cushion the majority can make the 2 throws needed. Again, that’s just me. 
 

👍
 

 

Edited February 14 by BBFL

[FireChans]

2 minutes ago, BBFL said:

That’s fine. I think if you give any QB a 10/15 yard cushion the majority can make the 2 throws needed. Again, that’s just me. 
 

👍
 

 

I’m talking about the entire game. I don’t think any other QB could’ve outscored Allen that game.

[Warcodered]

Winning the Super Bowl is hard.

[Real McClappy]

Add poll option of Defense for all 3 games we lost in the playoffs against the Chiefs. 

 

The stat of only forcing KC to punt 4 times in 3 total playoff games is all anyone needs to know or letting KC average 35.7 pts a game. 

Edited February 14 by Real McClappy

[DrDawkinstein]

Biggest reason: Coaching

 

Second biggest reason: Coaching

 

The team has enough talent to beat anyone. "Any given Sunday" as they say. When we are in the proper headspace, we absolutely dominate as we should. But that is incredibly inconsistent and unreliable. That is coaching.

 

Our talent will compete with the best. But when the going gets tough, a bad break always sinks us. Usually in a Situational Football scenario. That is coaching.

 

I'm am hesitantly optimistic with McD solidifying Brady to give him a full year, and the addition of Babich which should allow McD to go back to being a Head Coach and hopefully working on his own situational football skills.

[Freddie's Dead]

The only team beating the Bills is the Bills.

[Another Fan]

25 minutes ago, May Day 10 said:

I hate to say it because it is a loser way to go, but I will chalk it up to bad luck... at least the past 2 seasons.  Last year, they had a lot of adversity with the schedule and a traumatic on-field event.  Injuries too.

 

This season was especially bad with injuries.  It is understated, but they also had a scheduling disadvantage vs the Chiefs.  They had a short week, Chiefs a long one.  Plus the Chiefs got to rest starters an extra week.

 

 

The 13 seconds game was a coaching/program error.  I do think McDermott is a good NFL coach and has his teams motivated and ready to play.  It was proven this season.  Things could have gone south quick at 6-6 and instead the team came to play, and especially when McDermott came under attack.

 

Overall, I think the Bills can/should beat the Chiefs.  They have done it repeatedly in the regular season.  The last 2 times in the playoffs should have won, and I would err more to the side of coaching than I would the Chiefs being too good in both of those instances.  The Bengals seem to be a worse match up than KC.

 

 

So its generally a combination IMO

 

Lots of luck

bad coaching/execution at a few critical times

The Chiefs/Bengals are good (but the Bills should beat them if healthy and we dont have to postpone games and people dont die on the field)

I thought the Bills playing late Monday that night hurt them as well in the Chiefs game.  When I posted a thread about it though the few responses I got were No

 

 

[BBFL]

5 minutes ago, FireChans said:

I’m talking about the entire game. I don’t think any other QB could’ve outscored Allen that game.

Maybe, you never know. Sometimes the game is just perfectly called for either or both teams. And it was. Who knows who else could have scored that many against us let alone us scoring against their defense and scheme. 

 

That wasn’t where the game was lost. We’ve seen teams with lesser QB’s than Josh put up high scores and stats against the Chiefs. And regarding where the game was lost: that FG drive, any QBs completing those passes with that much space. 

[GunnerBill]

I voted for 1. But it is a combination of all 3.

[FireChans]

9 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

Biggest reason: Coaching

 

Second biggest reason: Coaching

 

The team has enough talent to beat anyone. "Any given Sunday" as they say. When we are in the proper headspace, we absolutely dominate as we should. But that is incredibly inconsistent and unreliable. That is coaching.

 

Our talent will compete with the best. But when the going gets tough, a bad break always sinks us. Usually in a Situational Football scenario. That is coaching.

 

I'm am hesitantly optimistic with McD solidifying Brady to give him a full year, and the addition of Babich which should allow McD to go back to being a Head Coach and hopefully working on his own situational football skills.

No coach in NFL history was coaching up AJ Klein to cover Kelce 

[boyst]

Just now, FireChans said:

No coach in NFL history was coaching up AJ Klein to cover Kelce 

i don't know how many coaches would have fielded Klein to cover kelce when we have a capable second nickel and a benched CB who has shown effective against Kelce.

 

that was a MAJOR concern for that game.

[BBFL]

10 minutes ago, Real McClappy said:

Add poll option of Defense for all 3 games we lost in the playoffs against the Chiefs. 

 

The stat of only forcing KC to punt 4 times in 3 total playoff games is all anyone needs to know.  Giving up 107 pts for a 35.7 pts per game is our exit reasoning.

AFCC was lost on offense. Didn’t do squat after that 1st quarter until it was too late, a 31-15 hole. Defense played their part in it but you had to match that team offensively as it might have been their best season under Reid. 

[DrDawkinstein]

2 minutes ago, FireChans said:

No coach in NFL history was coaching up AJ Klein to cover Kelce 

 

If putting Klein on Kelce was his idea at all then that is a fireable offense. Come up with something better. One of the so-called best DCs in the league should be able to do better.

[Real McClappy]

1 minute ago, BBFL said:

AFCC was lost on offense. Didn’t do squat after that 1st quarter until it was too late, a 31-15 hole. Defense played their part in it but you had to match that team offensively as it might have been their best season under Reid. 

The D gave up 31 pts in 30mins of game play or 2 QTRs. How many teams win in that scenario?

 

The D in all 3 games have been a train wreck. 

[SoonerBillsFan]

43 minutes ago, FireChans said:

This is hotly debated but I wanna see the thoughts of TBD. Combination of all three as answers is discouraged.

2. Hands down.

[BBFL]

1 minute ago, Real McClappy said:

The D gave up 31 pts in 30mins of game play or 2 QTRs. How many teams win in that scenario?

 

The D in all 3 games have been a train wreck. 

Again, they played their part but the offense had to score also. Josh and the offense was phenomenal that whole season. 

[Clyde Smith]

Besides the 13 seconds game, too me it's been injuries to key defensive players for the last two years. If we go into the playoffs healthy, we would be unstoppable.

[frostbitmic]

All of the above would've been the runaway favorite but since it's not there i voted bad luck.

 

It's bad luck to be in the same conference as the Chiefs

It's bad luck to have a home game stolen from you in an "experiment"

It's bad luck losing two key starters in that game, one for most of the year, one for the year.

 

[Don Otreply]

Mostly #2, but that choice should include the players as well, add in some #3 as well, 

[PromoTheRobot]

So McDermott didn't get in the way when the Bills went on a 5-0 tear to grab the #2 seed, but he DID in the way against the Chiefs?

[Warcodered]

31 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

If putting Klein on Kelce was his idea at all then that is a fireable offense. Come up with something better. One of the so-called best DCs in the league should be able to do better.

Do we know if it was Benford's leg on the same side as Milano's? If it was the opposite we could have just sawed off a good one and had one good LB still.

Edited February 14 by Warcodered

[Trust The Process]

This is how I assess blame as to why the Bills haven't been more successful ever since McBeane took over.

 

McD: 55%

Beane: 30%

Players: 15%

 

McD's RECORD IN 1 SCORE GAMES

 

2017: 6-3

2018: 3-3

2019: 4-6

2020: 6-1

2021: 0-6

2022: 7-3

2023: 6-7

 

McD's record in 1 score games including the playoffs is 32-29 equals a winning percentage of 52.4%. This stat proves when its crunch time McD is average, which is unacceptable, and has been detrimental in the playoffs.

 

McD's RECORD ON CHALLENGES

 

2017: 1-3

2018: 0-6

2019: 2-3

2020: 2-3

2021: 1-2

2022: 1-3

2023: 3-3

 

McD has a combined record of just 10-23 on challenges since becoming Head Coach of the Bills. That's a success rate of only 30.3% which is amongst the worst in the NFL when it comes to tossing the flag. Incredibly, McD has never had a season in which he has won more challenges than he has lost. 

 

McD's PLAYOFF VICTORIES

 

2020: Phillip Rivers and Lamar Jackson (Wildcard Round and Divisional Round)

2021: Mac Jones (Wildcard Round)

2022: Skylar Thompson (Wildcard Round)

2023: Mason Rudolph (Wildcard Round)

 

Notice a pattern here? Aside from a 39 year old Rivers, McD's playoff victories came verses QB's who suck.

 

McD's PLAYOFF LOSSES

 

2017: Blake Bortles (Wildcard Round)

2019: Deshaun Watson (Wildcard Round)

2020: Pat Mahomes (AFC Championship Game)

2021: Pat Mahomes (Divisional Round)

2022: Joe Burrow (Divisional Round)

2023: Pat Mahomes (Divisional Round)

 

The pattern here is, aside from losing to Blake Bortles, McD hasn't beaten any great QB's in the Playoffs. Watson was a great QB at the time McD faced him.

 

POINTS ALLOWED IN PLAYOFF LOSSES

 

2017: 1O vs Jacksonville

2019: 22 vs Houston

2020: 38 vs Kansas City

2021: 42 vs Kansas City

2022: 27 vs Cincinnati

2023: 27 vs Kansas City

 

The pattern here is McD's defense is allowing a whopping average of 27.6 PPG in 6 playoff losses. McD is a defensive coach yet his defenses has gotten shredded in 4 of 6 playoff losses, 4 years in a row to be exact. Wrap your brain around that. 

 

NOTABLE PLAYOFF STATLINE IN 3 GAMES VS KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

 

McD's defense only forced the Kansas City Chiefs to Punt a grand total of 4 times in 3 playoff games, and allowed an average of 35.7 PPG. Good grief. How in the world is McD still the head coach of this team? It boggles the mind.

 

Beane shares the 2nd most blame, mostly for doing a bad job with Free Agency. Didn't spend cap dollars wisely, especially on the defensive line. Bad contracts. As far as the draft goes, Beane has done a great job from rounds 4-7 but at an average job in rounds 1-3 which is where you find your blue chip players/difference makers, and where precious cap dollars are spent.

 

The Players shares the least most blame, mostly for not making enough plays to win in crunch time in one score games during the regular season, and more so in the playoffs.

 

The bottom line is stats don't lie, it tells a story.

 

Edited February 14 by Trust The Process
forgot to add one more stat

[FireChans]

11 minutes ago, Trust The Process said:

This is how I assess blame as to why the Bills haven't been more successful ever since McBeane took over.

 

McD: 55%

Beane: 30%

Players: 15%

 

McD's RECORD IN 1 SCORE GAMES

 

2017: 6-3

2018: 3-3

2019: 4-6

2020: 6-1

2021: 0-6

2022: 7-3

2023: 6-7

 

McD's record in 1 score games including the playoffs is 32-29 equals a winning percentage of 52.4%. This stat proves when its crunch time McD is average, which is unacceptable, and has been detrimental in the playoffs.

 

McD's RECORD ON CHALLENGES

 

2017: 1-3

2018: 0-6

2019: 2-3

2020: 2-3

2021: 1-2

2022: 1-3

2023: 3-3

 

McD has a combined record of just 10-23 on challenges since becoming Head Coach of the Bills. That's a success rate of only 30.3% which is amongst the worst in the NFL when it comes to tossing the flag. Incredibly, McD has never had a season in which he has won more challenges than he has lost. 

 

McD's PLAYOFF VICTORIES

 

2020: Phillip Rivers and Lamar Jackson (Won Wildcard Round and Divisional Round)

2021: Mac Jones (Won Wildcard Round)

2022: Skylar Thompson (Won Wildcard Round)

2023: Mason Rudolph

 

Notice a pattern here? Aside from a 39 year old Rivers, McD's playoff victories came verses QB's who suck.

 

McD's PLAYOFF LOSSES

 

2017: Blake Bortles (Lost in Wildcard Round)

2019: Deshaun Watson (Lost in Wildcard Round)

2020: Pat Mahomes (Lost in AFC Championship Game)

2021: Pat Mahomes (Lost in Divisional Round)

2022: Joe Burrow (Lost in Divisional Round)

2023: Pat Mahomes (Lost in Divisional Round)

 

The pattern here is, aside from losing to Blake Bortles, McD hasn't beaten any great QB's in the Playoffs. Watson was a great QB at the time McD faced him.

 

Beane shares the 2nd most blame, mostly for doing a bad job with Free Agency. Didn't spend cap dollars wisely, especially on the defensive line. Bad contracts. As far as the draft goes, Beane has done a great job from rounds 4-7 but at an average job in rounds 1-3 which is where you find your blue chip players/difference makers, and where precious cap dollars are spent.

 

The Players shares the least most blame, mostly for not making enough plays to win in crunch time in one score games during the regular season, and more so in the playoffs.

 

The bottom line is stats don't lie, it tells a story.

 

I’d love to see records of other coaches in one score games.

[DrDawkinstein]

2 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

So McDermott didn't get in the way when the Bills went on a 5-0 tear to grab the #2 seed, but he DID in the way against the Chiefs?

 

Pretty much, yeah. Regular season wins come to this talented team mostly due to Josh.

 

McDermott and the players talked about how he changed after the Dunne piece came out. That was great that he managed to get out of their way during the regular season.

 

But during the playoffs, where talent is largely equal, teams rely far more on coaching to get a win and once again, when we needed him the most, he fell short in his role. Which was destined to happen the moment he took over as DC. Too caught up being a DC, not enough energy spent on being a true HC.

[FireChans]

6 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Pretty much, yeah. Regular season wins come to this talented team mostly due to Josh.

 

McDermott and the players talked about how he changed after the Dunne piece came out. That was great that he managed to get out of their way during the regular season.

 

But during the playoffs, where talent is largely equal, teams rely far more on coaching to get a win and once again, when we needed him the most, he fell short in his role. Which was destined to happen the moment he took over as DC. Too caught up being a DC, not enough energy spent on being a true HC.

Who can forget Josh’s elite performances carrying us against the Chiefs, Cowboys, Chargers, Pats #2 and Dolphins to close out the year? McD was just along for the ride as our boy was lighting up the scoreboard. 

[Trust The Process]

7 minutes ago, FireChans said:

I’d love to see records of other coaches in one score games.

 

Not sure, however, when you have a great QB like Allen, McD must have a better a winning percentage than 52% in one score games. 

[Augie]

I would have clicked on All Of The Above. 

[juno999]

The Bills refuse to give Allen enough playmakers on offense and they spend too much money on defense.

[Augie]

21 minutes ago, FireChans said:

I’d love to see records of other coaches in one score games.

 

Context can be very important at times. 

[FireChans]

10 minutes ago, Trust The Process said:

 

Not sure, however, when you have a great QB like Allen, McD must have a better a winning percentage than 52% in one score games. 

Why?

[DrDawkinstein]

1 minute ago, FireChans said:

Who can forget Josh’s elite performances carrying us against the Chiefs, Cowboys, Chargers, Pats #2 and Dolphins to close out the year? McD was just along for the ride as our boy was lighting up the scoreboard. 

 

 

For the Chiefs, McD wasnt just along for the ride. He was busy having his defense absolutely blow the game, AGAIN, if not for a completely random and lucky Offensive Offside penalty on the Chiefs WR.

 

The Cowboys game saw Brady stick to the run. I'll give McD credit here for how prepared and fired up the ENTIRE team was, but that also goes to highlight my point about our inconsistency, and McD's issues this year filling in the DC spot and leaving the other 2 units without a true leader.

 

Then McD had us roll into LA, get down against Easton f$#&ing Stick and the 5-9 Chargers into the 2nd quarter AND last minute of the game, and giving Stick one of his highest rated games as the Chargers scored on ALL but one of their 2nd half possessions. Thankfully, Josh lead the team on a 13-play last possession drive to get the game winning FG. ALL of our units had issues that day, which speaks to the HC.

 

So unfortunately, no, McD wasnt just along for the ride. Might have been easier that way tho.

 

 

 

25 minutes ago, FireChans said:

I’d love to see records of other coaches in one score games.

 

For the record, I'm with you on this tired, old "one score game" argument. It needs to be stated that the Bills also never get blown out. And since no one is winning ALL the games in the NFL, this "one score game" stat shows that the Bills are always in it, even in our losses. I'll give some credit there.

[msw2112]

3 hours ago, FireChans said:

I don’t agree. 

I agree that I don't agree.