THE ROCKPILE REVIEW – At the One-Quarter Mark

[Tulsabillsfanz]

Great summary of first 4 games by Shaw!  I always enjoy reading his posts.  
 

I’m very happy we’re out to a 4-0 start with a defense that is definitely a work in progress.  It really feels like we have the pieces to put together a championship team.  We’re already there on offense.  Can our young players & suspended players improve our defense, so that by playoff time, we’re feeling confident about both sides of the ball. 

 It’s still early, but you gotta love this start & this season setup for Buffalo!  

 

[oldmanfan]

Love this as always Shaw.  Yes the D has to do no a better job against the run, we all know that.  But we are winning.

[Don Otreply]

Excellent write up Shaw66, you hit the nail on the head as usual, always a great read, thanks, 

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, GASabresIUFan said:

If I had to point out the Bills weaknesses to this point it is containing mobile QBs.  The Bills have allowed nearly 170 yards rushing to Lamar, Rattler, and Fields.  

 

 

I think this is the result of playing a lot of zone and rushing four.  Somehow, when they play Lamar, they've learned to rush with discipline and keep him contained. Other teams, I think they turn the lineman loose a bit more, which means there are gaps for the QB to escape. 

 

It's part of the reason the Bills' rush defense numbers are bad. 

[Rockinon]

28 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

I think this is the result of playing a lot of zone and rushing four.  Somehow, when they play Lamar, they've learned to rush with discipline and keep him contained. Other teams, I think they turn the lineman loose a bit more, which means there are gaps for the QB to escape. 

 

It's part of the reason the Bills' rush defense numbers are bad. 

This style of defense demands stringent gap discipline. The Bills historically have been able to shut down the run when they really want to. I think all the new faces on defense is having a negative effect, but I believe it's fixable. The last couple of years the defense has seen some devastating injuries late in the season. This year though, it feels like so far the injuries have been minor and that reinforcements are coming back just in time to make a strong run later in the season. This plus those new faces learning their role within the defense is only going to make the defense better. Perhaps, by leaps and bounds. It's going to come as a great surprise to many here I think.

[SoCal Deek]

Well done Shaw. I have to admit that I hadn’t ever considered the lack of preseason as well as you summarized it here. The first four games have lined up nicely for our Bills and if you look around the league it’s obvious that many other ‘good’ teams have yet to get their feet completely under them. 

[FireChans]

@Big Turk Justin fields has 5 yards passing vs the Dolphins. 
 

Maybe he’s just a horrific QB

[Billsatlastin2018]

EXCELLENT summation Shaw. It was our first and last return to the old stadium yesterday, after an 8 year absence.  Brought back many old memories from the Glory Years. Because of the intense heat, for the 2nd Half, I spent the entirety on the Upper Concourse, moving back and forth between the live Stadium Exit openings and the shaded TVs. 
 

At one point, seeing Spencer Freaking Rattler get the winless and witless Aints close, I told some fellow fans:

 

” This is a Championship Calibre Team with a High School Defense.” They agreed. However, I am cautioned in two parts:

 

a) Significant cogs in the D are MIA due to injury and idiot PEDs;

b) YOU and my seat buddy yesterday made the same comment. Wait until the end of October to get a full analysis of the status of the team. He also mentioned the shortened pre season, the differentiation of purpose of it in today’s NFL and the careful slotting buildup for each position.

 

I had not thought about the latter much before and has given me much pause for thought. Think, that’s on for sure. So, let’s have the Bills stumble and bumble somewhat or more than somewhat on D, while having their MVP Magician grind out Ws to get us to 6-0, before the PED boys return and 7-0 before the Chiefs come for a spanking at OP, that should finalize the #1 Seed. 
 

(On a personal note, 30 years ago in our 30s and 40s, our group never considered the elements, nor the deficiencies of this old stadium. 3/4 of us yesterday have some mobility issues. We had to get to the top to take the elevator down, because heading down from Row 26 with absolutely NO GUARD RAILS was both dangerous and highly difficult. This is what happens when you age!)

[Shaw66]

37 minutes ago, Billsatlastin2018 said:

 

(On a personal note, 30 years ago in our 30s and 40s, our group never considered the elements, nor the deficiencies of this old stadium. 3/4 of us yesterday have some mobility issues. We had to get to the top to take the elevator down, because heading down from Row 26 with absolutely NO GUARD RAILS was both dangerous and highly difficult. This is what happens when you age!)

Tell me about it! I have to go up just about 5 rows, but I've almost gone down a couple of times. Life always presents new challenges. 

[TFBillsfan]

Q2 focus moves to NE, ATL, Carolina and KC. Can they go 4-0? If so, they’ll need to get tighter on D as ATL and KC have formidable offenses. With the way our D has played and at times when our O can get stagnant, they can’t sleepwalk against NE or Carolina. Keep stacking wins and take care of business! 
 

A win against NE would move the Bills to 3-0 within the AFCE and dang near seal another AFCE title barring something bizarre happening. ATL on the road, who have an arsenal of offensive weapons with a mobile QB, won’t be easy! There will be plenty of BillsMafia at the game. Then on to Carolina, where the Bills can’t stumble  where BillsMafia will be out in full force yet again. Lastly, we close out Q2 with KC at home. Nothing more needs to be said for this game!

 

Getting to 4-0 in Q2, is certainly doable but won’t be easy. 2-2 would be disappointing. But to get to 4-0,  tackling has to significantly improve on the D!

 

LETS GO BUFFALO!

[Ayjent]

The Bills know that they have work to do and know that they are building towards the end of the season.  They know the importance of how to build, by winning each game and staying hungry focusing on what wasn't right in victory, because its a lot easier than the pressure in what is wrong coming off a loss.  The defense isn't what a lot of us hoped and expected and I think that is fair, because I don't see an imposing unit out there that is in sync the way that they need to be for a full game.  They haven't done it yet and I think we'd all like to see it come together for more than a couple of series at a time.   However, as you point out Shaw this team plays well when the time comes for it.  That is a special trait of a veteran, experienced team that knows how to win big games.  Does it mean that they'll be able to turn it on at will to have it go there way?  No.  And I think that is the part that is reason for concern, you can't get too comfortable being in those positions if you can avoid those positions by more consistent play.  Make no mistake about it, though, teams see the Bills and are going to give it their best because they know they are playing a perennial contender with last season's MVP, and other teams have talent, too.  Even the bad ones.  I think we'll see the Bills start to put more complete games together over the next quarter of the season.  That's not to say that they don't want to right now, because I think they do, but I also think this is time to evaluate the schemes and try things that may get scrapped as the season moves on.  Hopefully the inside pitch to the slot receiver as a fourth down call is one of them that already has (too many things can go wrong in execution across the entire OL). 

 

They have to get a handle on scrambling QBs - that is the No. 1 concern I'm seeing from the D.  The Saints game is probably a laugher if that was not such an effective way for the Saints to stay on the field.  That means tackles in space and better pass rush lane discipline.  Things that are correctable, but also what this team's philosophy should excel at with lighter LBs that are supposed to be able to contain and corral such threats.  I still think that they can be more aggressive at times and maybe they will be once they get some teams that can't be counted on as much to beat themselves.   I know people are down on Babich and I get that.  I don't think he has been that impressive either, but I do think they are in the process of retooling and trying a bit of a different approach.  It hasn't clicked yet, and it may not, but I do think if it does - the Bills will likely have the complete team necessary to get where they want to go.

[Figster]

23 hours ago, Walking Tall said:

I just don’t agree with the whole month of September and some of October are “pre-season games”. 
 

If they do away with the pre-season games and scrimmages during the month of August, will it then become September through November are pre-season games?

 

These teams have multiple mini-camps during the off-season that lead up to the official training camp. They didn’t do that in grandpa’s NFL. They also didn’t receive millions of dollars or were expected to know their playbooks inside and out like they are today when training camp arrives. Much less be in tip-top physical shape.

 

The teams with the best talent, coaching, and have less injuries and suspensions will always stand above the rest. Whether it be the first week in September or the last in December.

 

 

 

 

Good post, and I agree with you. Buffalo is off to a great start when it comes to home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Wins now may give Buffalo the luxury of resting players before the playoffs. I view every game/win as important. Final record means something.

 

Love you OP!!!

[Old Coot]

On 9/29/2025 at 11:40 AM, Shaw66 said:

It’s the end of September, and one quarter of the Bills’ 2025 campaign is in the books. It’s a good time to take stock.

 

Let’s take a moment to think about the realities of the NFL season. The first four to six games of the season are problematic, because the wins and losses count but the games are, in a sense, preseason games. Every season it’s the same: teams spend October and as much as half of October trying to figure out how to play.

 

It wasn’t always this way. In the 50s and 60s, the season was 12 games long. Teams played five preseason games, the first two or three to get into shape and practice plays, the last two or three to fine-tune offenses and defenses. Along the way, the teams figured out which rookies could contribute. There was no free agency; except for trades, there were no new veterans in training camp.

 

Today, those five preseason games are the first five games of the regular season. The games we now call preseason games are actually scrimmages designed to install offenses and defenses and work out new and unproven players to see if they might be able to contribute to the team. The players who will actually play during the regular season barely see the field in the modern preseason.

In the modern NFL, each season teams are faced with the problem of playing preseason games in September that actually count in the standings. That is, the objective is to win games at the same time the coaches are trying to put together the team that will win games when the actual season begins sometime in October. That’s when we begin to see which teams actually are good and which teams that, despite having won a lot in September, really aren’t so good.

 

What are the team objectives while they play these preseason games that count?

 

1.    Win games

2.    Avoid major injuries

3.    Work your rookies and newcomers into the offensive, defensive, and special teams units

4.    Begin to develop your offensive and defensive identities

 

So, how are the Bills doing as the preseason winds down and the true regular season—mid-October and beyond—approaches? Very well, thank you very much.

 

Number one, win games. Can’t do better than 4-0. Every team in the AFC that began the season with serious hopes of playing for the Lombardi trophy (Bengals, Ravens, Chargers, Chiefs) is now chasing the Bills. In fact, every team in the entire AFC is now chasing the Bills. Some fans are quick to say, “Yes, they’re four-and-oh, but blah, blah, blah.” It’s preseason, and all the “blah, blah, blah” is simply stuff the team will continue to work on as the preseason winds down and the real games begin. Four-and-oh is four-and-oh, and at this point in the season, pretty much nothing else matters.

 

Number two, no major injuries. Check. As usual, the Bills know more than they’re saying, but—knock wood—there have been no season-ending injuries, and the guys who are down at the moment, including Ed Oliver, Matt Milano, and Spencer Brown, all seem likely to return in the upcoming weeks. Tyler Bass may be the biggest question mark, but Matt Prater has proven to be an excellent replacement.

 

Number three, work your rookies and newcomers in. Check. Getting the newcomers up the learning curve in preseason is critical to late-season success, because there will be injuries, some guys are going to be asked to step up. TJ Sanders and Deone Walker both are getting serious playing time on the defensive line. Dorian Strong held up at corner against the Ravens, and the Bills were working into the lineup against the Saints. (Max Hairston, the Bills’ number one draft pick, is missing out on the opportunity to work into the rotation, at least for now, but Tre’Davious White and Strong are getting the job done at the #2 corner spot.) Cole Bishop, not a rookie but was still playing like one this summer, now seems to be settling into his safety spot. Put aside his spectacular read, reaction, and interception against the Saints; he was consistently in position, consistently tackling, and just generally playing like he belongs out there. Jackson Hawes is playing like he belongs out there, too. Joey Bosa is making plays, which is why the Bills brought him to Buffalo. Shaq Thompson, who played for Sean McDermott in Carolina, is making his presence felt.

 

Number 4, establish your identity. It’s happening. The Bills are a team that can run the ball and can pass efficiently. They are a team that can be exposed to good running attacks but that stops the pass effectively—Sean McDermott’s style. They are resilient; they make mistakes, but they play through them, and at the end of the game they are ready to deliver the plays they need to win. They delivered those plays in spectacular fashion against the Ravens. The games against the Jets, the Dolphins, and the Saints all seemed closer than fans expected them to be, but in each game the Bills took charge when they needed to close out the win.

 

Is everything great with the Bills? No; there are plenty of areas of concern. For me, one of my biggest is that three-headed running-back-by-committee that worked so well last season is missing. James Cook has been spectacular, but Ty Johnson has done little and Ray Davis has disappeared. It’s a long season, and pounding James Cook for 120 yards every game isn’t a great plan for a long season.

 

Pass rush hasn’t been great, but maybe the Bills will benefit when Oliver returns, their two free agents come off suspension, and their rookies continue to develop. All of those guys also may help shore up the run defense, too.

 

Here are a few things I particularly like:

 

1.    The passing game. Every play, the Bills plug in a different collection of skill position players, and every play the defenses have to adjust. Each guy is a threat in his own way: Kincaid, Knox, Hawes, Shakir (oh, my, what a run after catch!), Coleman, Palmer, Moore, Shavers, Samuels, Cook, Johnson. And Josh Allen knows how to find them. His throw in the middle to Shakir on third and eight was miraculous.

 

2.    Terrell Bernard. Lightning quick to the ball.

 

3.    Tre’Davious White. A lot of fans are bashing him, but if he weren’t getting the job done as the number two corner, the Bills wouldn’t be leading the league in yards passing per game. Sure, teams are completing passes underneath against White, but he’s not giving up big plays, and he’s making big tackles. His play on the ball and his tackle to hold Alvin Kamara to two yards on fourth and three was spectacular. Unless I’m mistaken, I saw White lined up once or twice as the single deep safety.

 

4.    Keon Coleman is looking like his head is now into the game and in sync with Josh Allen.

 

5.    Cook has been sensational.

 

The Patriots are coming alive. Sunday night will be another challenge as the Bills continue to become the team they want to be.

 

Let the regular season begin!

 

GO BILLS!!!

 

The Rockpile Review is written to share the passion we have for the Buffalo Bills. That passion was born in the Rockpile; its parents were everyday people of western New York who translated their dedication to a full day’s hard work and simple pleasures into love for a pro football team.

 

 

Nothing much to quibble with here. A spot on analysis, Shaw.

 

I do have a comment. I have an amorphous dread (it comes with being a Bills fan -- hope for the best; expect the worst) of the Bills "playing down" to their opponents. It's mostly on D but also the offense. The O is scoring 30 points a game but the points come in spurts; it's not a consistently productive O.

 

Hopefully both O & D will improve as the new bodies gain experience.

[SoCal Deek]

20 minutes ago, Old Coot said:

Nothing much to quibble with here. A spot on analysis, Shaw.

 

I do have a comment. I have an amorphous dread (it comes with being a Bills fan -- hope for the best; expect the worst) of the Bills "playing down" to their opponents. It's mostly on D but also the offense. The O is scoring 30 points a game but the points come in spurts; it's not a consistently productive O.

 

Hopefully both O & D will improve as the new bodies gain experience.

Your post got me to thinking because I know exactly how you feel…..so I looked it up. The Bills have played 16 quarters of football this season. They’ve scored points in 15 of the 16. (The lone exception was the second quarter on Sunday.) I’d say 15 of 16 is pretty darn amazing. 

[Shaw66]

11 hours ago, Ayjent said:

 I know people are down on Babich and I get that.  I don't think he has been that impressive either, but I do think they are in the process of retooling and trying a bit of a different approach.  It hasn't clicked yet, and it may not, but I do think if it does - the Bills will likely have the complete team necessary to get where they want to go.

Interesting.  I agree.  I think blitzing is becoming part of the defense, rather than something to do when the four aren't getting home.  Making the defense more varied.  

 

Plus whatever they were doing with White is another example.

[Dan Darragh]

On 9/29/2025 at 6:40 PM, Shaw66 said:

The games we now call preseason games are actually scrimmages designed to install offenses and defenses and work out new and unproven players to see if they might be able to contribute to the team.

That was true as recently as a year or two ago; now the preseason games are just glorified tryout camps.  First-teamers used to get a sniff of the field in preseason but now they don't get even that.

[SoTier]

On 9/29/2025 at 1:01 PM, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

Reading this board you would think Tre White has been a massive failure. I always wondered if I wasn’t picking up something ? Because he’s looked pretty solid to me. Actually, I’ve been pleasantly surprised. 

 

Actually,  reading this board one would think the Bills are 0-4 rather than 4-0.

[Ballhawk]

On 9/29/2025 at 12:22 PM, Big Turk said:

IMO, this team is so good, and KNOWS they are so good, that they can "pace themselves" against teams in most games. They know they have a Ferrari they can break out and go 200 mph any time they want, but there is no need to waste the engine or fuel against Honda Civics of the league. Simply go 5 mph faster and then hit the gas a little at the end and win comfortably.  

 

Other teams(even Eagles) are struggling in these games and winning by a last second FG, many times, Bills just cruise to double digit wins.  

 

The Ferrari will come out when they need it. Other games they just show enough for other teams to know they can't keep up (like scoring 30+ for the 14th of the last 15th times Allen has played more than a play).

I agree they seem to be pacing themselves some games. I think this manifests itself in two obvious ways: 

1) How much Josh runs the ball. Game gets close, time for a 30 yards runs up the middle to take control. We keep hearing the 'break glass' euphemism by the broadcasters.
2) Resting starters. When Buffalo rested Ed Oliver, Taron Johnson and Matt Milano against the Jets because of the short turnaround with Miami later that week I was stunned that we took them so lightly. Even if we allow for Ed actually being injured, resting Taron and MM seemed disrespectful to an NFL team (even if it is the Jests, who BTW always play us tough).

I get contending teams see the regular season as the round robin part of the season where you just have to do enough and stay healthy, but I am just waiting for a quality opponent where this tendency will bite us in the ass. 

New England is much improved, if the Bills coast or take them lightly we could easily be 4 -1 

 

[DuckyBoys]

Since we have played teams with a combined record of 2-14 its hard to think were "coasting"  Maybe the Ravens end up with a winning record and it took a lot to get past them  . Maybe Josh is coasting  I know the defense had all they could handle with the teams they played already .   Cautious till the Bills play some teams that are playing good ball.

[JerseyBills]

On 9/29/2025 at 12:33 PM, JP51 said:

I would love to see a 4Q statement game against the Pats... 60 minutes both sides of the ball... a game where I dont have this constants stress LOL... but one that puts the Pats on notice that they are not that good... I suspect I wont be getting my wish though... it is my plight to fret and freak out during games... 

Since Week 1 , I haven't stressed for a second