How many times did Bernard get pancaked tonight?

[bmur66]

Looks like a safety or DB out there.

[BillsFanForever19]

I said it back when I was reviewing upcoming contracts and after the deal was announced - I would not have re-signed Terrel Bernard this offseason.

 

He had a very good 2023. But he took a noticeable step back in 2024, both from a numbers standpoint and just an eye test standpoint. He was not flashing like he was the year before. He always seemed to be out of position. He also was getting dinged up.

 

I would have waited on re-signing him and wouldn't have re-signed him if he didn't return to his 2023 form. Middle Linebacker is not a premium position. And if he performs this year like he did last year, you could get an equal performance and potentially better by spending a 3rd Round Pick - as Middle Linebackers generally aren't taken very high. 

[Sojourner]

Was a rough showing from the majority of the defense. 
 

Oliver was about the only one who was decent the whole game. Dorian Strong had some rough moments but for his situation he did great!

Small shoutout to Dorian Williams too, he played reasonable. 

Biggest concern is the Safety position. 
 

Rapp and Bishop were atrocious. That needs improved ASAP. 

[colin]

im banging this drum, but i think it's right.

 

i really am convinced that we have our d with too many reads and too much inter dependence.  we have heard time and time again no d uses more pre snap communication that ours does.  it just makes it too easy to break our integrity and it means teams, especially teams like baltimore, have too easy a time finding things that work.  the bishop late blitz play was because the snapped the ball super quick, since they knew we were disguising out intent.  we need more of a comprehensive and cohesive idea so we can play fast, but i think our coaches go the other way to make it too complicated with too many reads.

 

i remember reading about rex ryan's d being so multiple and hard to run only certain players can run it properly.  well, last year and every playoffs since the 2021 season our d has been worse that what that one was for us, there needs to be a way to run the d without analysis paralysis.

[vincec]

4 hours ago, SCBills said:

I honestly don’t know what the plan is for the Ravens on Defense. 
 

We’re built to slow down the Chiefs, Bengals etc.. but anytime we play them in a big spot, we have 45 injuries and McDermott/Beane get an excuse. 
 

Against the Ravens, we have undersized, quick DT’s and undersized, quick linebackers. 
 

We need another plan aside from “load the box and hope Lamar spazzes” when it comes to a potential playoff rematch. 
 

Hairston & Hoecht could help, the rookie DT’s and Bishop need to get more reps (or sign Peppers), but we built this Defense knowing the Ravens pose a matchup threat. 

They are? Let me know when that happens.

[Billzgobowlin]

We match poorly against the Ravens defensively but still came up big at the end.  

[Dafan]

Ok, we just played Henry and Lamar...and won.  Next to Bills and Lions last year, I believe they had an amazing offense.  Buffalo D is not designed to stop the run...rbs or qbs.  Its expected to take away most of the passing game and let our offense score.

[Niagara Dude]

6 hours ago, Walking Tall said:

Small linebackers usually are not going to fare well when your defensive line can’t offer some resistance.

Or maybe the Bills need to start drafting bigger guys,  seems like all LB'S on this team are 6 feet tall and no more then 230 lbs

[Walking Tall]

14 minutes ago, Niagara Dude said:

Or maybe the Bills need to start drafting bigger guys,  seems like all LB'S on this team are 6 feet tall and no more then 230 lbs

I don’t disagree.

[thenorthremembers]

Bernard's size wouldnt be as big an issue if he played with better gap control last night.   He played the wrong gap multiple times allowing cut backs.  The defense will get better the more they play together.    

[Magox]

It appears to me that the Bills made a tactical decision to prioritize pass rushing DT's this year, and I'm for it and that is what would be needed against teams like the Chiefs, however I always thought that they needed to go after a highly effective big-bodied run stuffing 1 technique this year and they didn't do that.  The rookie Walker has the frame but he's not a true 1 technique.   The team that is being built right now has the Chiefs in mind, but clearly the Ravens have their way with the Bills interior defensive lineman.

[The Firebaugh Kid]

It'll improve with Hoecht and Larry O. Those are two big pieces we don't have, on top of Max/Tre. 

 

[WNYFAN1]

Ball bounces a bit differently, and the defense would definitely be the story of the day.
 

Great win, but damn, that defense was pretty horrible.

[PayDaBill$]

4 hours ago, BobbyC81 said:

Hairston has the speed they need but he’s small.  He’d have no chance vs Henry, but who does.  You’d need a 6-4, 250 LB who runs at least a 4.4 to deal with Henry and there aren’t many of those on the planet.

Or Oliver 😉

[BuffaloRebound]

Love the heart this team has, but our defense is a problem.  Jets offense is kind of a poor man’s version of the Ravens so it will be interesting how we look next week.  I really don’t know what our Back 7 does on most plays.  Receivers were either wide open or Henry and Lamar ran untouched.  We took nothing away.  Our stops were largely individual plays by Oliver and Bosa and Rousseau.  

[SoonerBillsFan]

7 hours ago, Walking Tall said:

Small linebackers usually are not going to fare well when your defensive line can’t offer some resistance.

When you play a power team, its on the DL who, overall minus Oliver, greatly underperformed.