Seems like a bit too much panic right now

[BVBILLS]

The Patriot's loss was sort of predicable to me. Out coached, out motivated, not as physical, leaning too much on josh, running game doesn't work then bam, we are stuck. Then sprinkle in an end around to Knox for stupidity? The defense only allowed 20, so that is ok. They are too predictable, though. Especially in 3rd and long.

[Sierra Foothills]

13 hours ago, Mikie2times said:

It’s ok for fans to not like elements about this team. All of us just don’t have to turn in our fan card because the regular season success isn’t doing it for us anymore. Most of us already went thru the 90’s. You aren’t beating that group for success without a Super Bowl win so running that back is a tad hollow as Allen approaches 30. So as we fumble thru an insanely weak part of our schedule looking ripe to have KC or somebody else decimate our defense when it matters it’s all valid talk. 

 

I agree that it's absolutely okay for fans to criticize the team.

 

I want to make it clear that I'm not judging those people.

 

What I am saying is that I wonder about those posters who frequently and repeatedly post the same highly-negative and inflammatory messages.

 

Some people have an itch that they want to keep scratching over and over... like they have a sore that they're not allowing to heal.

 

I became a fan of the team in 1968, just in time for the Harvey Johnson Dark Ages. Of course I then lived through the 4 Super Bowl losses and the 17 year drought so I've suffered as much as any Bills fan, not being old enough to enjoy the AFL Championships.

 

I don't believe that the Bills "owe me" anything or that I "deserve" a Super Bowl Championship. I'm trying to enjoy the ride.

 

[frostbitmic]

Not panicking here but major concerns at CB.

 

Going into the Falcons game, besides Benford, our boundary CBs are likely to be White, Ingram, Dane Jackson and Codrington (if activated). That isn't good at all.

 

We should get Strong back in a month unless his injury is more significant than we know.

 

I'm not sure Hairston exists ... He hurt his knee at mandatory mini camp on June 11th and has been on IR for more than a month, I'm not sure he'll see action when he returns this season, if he returns.

 

 

Edited 14 hours ago by frostbitmic

[skibum]

If they just keep doing what they're doing, they will end up with ~13 wins and Josh Allen. I'm not panicking. 

Edited 16 hours ago by skibum

[Success]

12 minutes ago, KOKBILLS said:

 

I'm not panicking at all..

But I do not think they are THAT good right now... Maybe they will be by the end of the year... But I think any of the top 7-10 teams in the AFC...if healthy... can give the Bills a tough game currently... Yes, if the Bills play their best game and are on point they will win those games...Probably by a TD or more. But outside of the Jets game they have not shown that kind of 4 quarter consistency yet. I can't remember the last time this Defense was remotely healthy, and there are massive question marks on that side. Like... There are legit doom scenarios on the Defensive side of the ball... It could get worse. I don't think that will happen... But it's not outside the realm of possibility. And while I believe the Bills Offense should be the best Offense in the NFL, I have zero confidence in Brady's ability to consistently call games to take advantage of the opposing Defense's weaknesses... 

I think a lot of feedback is the reality that right now...this does not look like a team that can win a SB... It looks like a team that can definitely win a SB if this, this, this, and this happens... But we have not seen all the this' happen yet... And the injuries are clouding things a bit... It's not panic... But it's uncertainty...

 

I think we'll know more about this team after Monday.

 

Wasn't it Parcells who said that the season doesn't even really start until November?  And it think it was Belichick who saw September as more of an extended preseason.

 

We have some new receivers, we have players like Bishop who are still developing, we're likely to add 3-4 players to the defense in the coming weeks, and I'd be surprised if we didn't have a big add by the trade deadline.  I feel like this team is still finding its identity, and when you're doing that, there will be some lumps you take early on.

 

This wasn't even THAT big of a lump.  The Pats were playing the biggest regular season game they've had since Brady left - we treated it like just another divisional match-up.  Lost in the loss was that Allen led yet another 4th quarter comeback from 2 score deficit, and probably should have taken the lead if a ref crew that was calling ticky tack stuff all night threw a flag on a blatant PI against Shakir.

 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

The team is missing 3-5 pieces of the defense.  Oliver and Hoecht should help.  As much as I detest PED cheats, I'm looking forward to seeing what Hoecht can do, and I will be a hypocrite cheering for him.  Hairston is unknown. It would be at least encouraging if they opened up his window to return this week.  I'm fine if Shaq starts the rest of the year at LB.  I'm over Milano.  I don't expect much from Ogunjobi.  He is 50/50 that he even returns to the 53. I would not be surprised if he is cut.  If not then the only consternation would be if he dresses and Sanders does not.  

[Orlando Buffalo]

There is far too much panic. We played a game with poor execution, poor officiating, and 3 turnovers. The fact that we were tied with 2 minutes to go means our C game is equal to most teams A game. If we are sloppy this week I will be concerned but one game is gonna happen l, especially when we are the hunted 

[jimmy10]

We weren’t going 17-0. Division games are often close and weird. On to the next week. 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

If the Bills lose, here's Tuesday's media sessions from Beane and McDermott.

[corta765]

The panic which as always post the first loss is always higher imo then others (I admit I was part of it) stems from the fact every major concern that does exist with the team was on full display:

 

-Passing game limited of sorts when it comes to outside WR

-Offense has issues both penalty and turnover related and they partially lose because they aren't scoring 30 points

-defense again has major tackling issues, the CBs look rough, Milano unfortunately goes broke, and the ability to win an ugly defensive game is not there

 

The Bills themselves post KC AFC title loss said we need to help Josh we need to help Josh and were going to throw everything we got into the D. Right now it feels like the exact same team as last year with an offense that will dominate more times than not even though the WR position against certain opponents will have issues while the defense can't make a play in the clutch and it is on the offense to be B+ or better every game.

 

NOW... with that said and the tape out etc.. the defense actually showed some true signs that they maybe are turning the corner a bit, especially with the D line. At CB not sure what you do with Tre looking so old and the two rookies out, trade is probably needed. Milano getting hurt again stinks but I think they can survive depth wise. They are going to get guys back and football is a week to week league. Additionally the offense did leave a lot to be desired in the first half, but Kincaid especially looks like he may have turned the corner and I truly doubt they look that up and down the remainder of the year. So with time yea it is a sucky loss, but mostly because of the AFC Conference/Division component for tie breakers but it happens to everyone. Maye also really did play well and it sucks when your on the receiving end of good QB play which usually is the opposite 9/10 times for us. The biggest thing truly will be if the defense can come together down the stretch with more consistent better tackling play. I am not asking for the Legion of Boom as much as if the offense scores 24 and is relatively mistake free can we count on you to keep the other team to 20 or less? Will find out in the next 10 weeks or so.

[Mr. WEO]

5 hours ago, Success said:

 

Good teams lose to "not as good" teams all the time.  That's why they play games, and it's why even the top teams in the league end up with 3 or 4 losses by the end.

 

 

those 3-4 losses are to "not as good teams all the time"?

[Success]

1 minute ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

those 3-4 losses are to "not as good teams all the time"?

 

If you're a top 3 team - most teams you play will logically be "not as good."

 

Particularly in the division, upsets happen fairly frequently. We saw that in the Pats' dynasty years - not from us, sadly, save one time.  But the Jets and Miami would upset them kind of regularly.

 

[Mr. WEO]

2 minutes ago, Success said:

 

If you're a top 3 team - most teams you play will logically be "not as good."

 

Particularly in the division, upsets happen fairly frequently. We saw that in the Pats' dynasty years - not from us, sadly, save one time.  But the Jets and Miami would upset them kind of regularly.

 

 

it's not that they weren't as good, none even had a winning record.

[Success]

2 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

it's not that they weren't as good, none even had a winning record.

 

The Pats do.

 

And I know the Ravens are collapsing - but believe strongly they will right the ship.

 

It's the NFL.  Anyone can lose to anyone.

 

[Whites Bay]

4 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

I agree that it's absolutely okay for fans to criticize the team.

 

I want to make it clear that I'm not judging those people.

 

What I am saying is that I wonder about those posters who frequently and repeatedly post the same highly-negative and inflammatory messages.

 

Some people have an itch that they want to keep scratching over and over... like they have a sore that they're not allowing to heal.

 

I became a fan of the team in 1968, just in time for the Harvey Johnson Dark Ages. Of course I then lived through the 4 Super Bowl losses and the 17 year drought so I've suffered as much as any Bills fan, not being old enough to enjoy the AFL Championships.

 

I don't believe that the Bills "owe me" anything or that I "deserve" a Super Bowl Championship. I'm trying to enjoy the ride.

 

It's called "perspective".  Yours is an excellent post.  As for me?  "On to Atlanta".

[CSBill]

21 hours ago, Simon said:

It's really made me realize how many folks there are here that I would kick out of a foxhole.

And the Winner of the thread goes to . . . 

[folz]

10 hours ago, billsherd said:

What those losses show is Mike Vrabel is problem. 

 

18 hours ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

3) Mike Vrabel. People are acting like he is the Second Coming of Bill Bellichick. What has this guy really done AS A COACH in the NFL? Had a strong start in Nashville, but never saw the success of his rookie year ever again. Got smoked in the 1st round of the playoffs every time since despite having a great defense, a HOF RB, and AJ Brown. Why are people so quick to crown him over McDermott? 

 

A quick comparison of the two coaches:

 

Sean McDermott: 8-1/3 years as HC; 90-46 (.662 win %); playoffs 7-7 (.500 win %).

Mike Vrabel:         6-1/3 years as HC; 57-47 (.548 win %); playoffs 2-3 (.400 win %).

 

Head-to-Head record between the two coaches is 3 to 3; combined point differential of those 6 games is Buffalo +34 points.

 

Now, before you respond with, yeah well you can't really compare records because Sean McDermott has had Josh Allen, let me remind you that he did not have Josh in 2017---and in 2018 and 2019, Josh was still very raw (not the All-Pro MVP QB he is now by a long shot), and the talent on the roster in all 3 of those years was not great (as we were rebuilding). But, yes, Sean has had 5 years of prime Josh Allen. Now, obviously, Vrabel has not had the quarterback play that McDermott has with Josh (I'm not trying to say that he has), but the QBs he did have were selected 2nd, 3rd, 8th, and 33rd overall in the NFL draft, so not total trash---even if they never reached their potential (Mariota, Maye, Tannehill, Levis). [And coaching/development can play into a QB succeeding or not as well.]

 

But, if you think you can't really compare their records because of QB play, well then since they are both defensive coaches, how about looking at their team's defensive rankings:

 

                 Sean McDermott                        Mike Vrabel

            Yds allowed/Pts allowed       Yds allowed/Points allowed

2017              26             18                          ---              ---

2018                2             18                            8                3

2019                3              2                            21              12

2020              14             16                           28             24

2021                1               1                             12               6

2022               6              2                            23              14

2023               9              4                            18               16

2024              17             11                            ---              ---

2025               9             18                            18                9

Average         10             11                            20               13

 

Vrabel's best defensive rankings were in his first year. He took over a team that had gone 9-7 the previous year and who had made the playoffs, beating the Chiefs in the Wild Card round, before losing to the Patriots. So, he inherited a decent roster (it wasn't a rebuild). In that first year, he repeated the 9-7 record of the previous year (under Mike Mularkey), but Tennessee missed the playoffs.

 

And last note I'll make to billsherd...is Vrabel the problem or is Derrick Henry the problem? In two of the three games that McDermott lost to Vrabel, Derrick Henry had 223 scrimmage yards, 5 TDs, 0 fumbles. We obviously have had issues with Henry no matter what team he is on. Also, two of the three wins that Vrable has over Sean were by 3 points each (the third was a blowout where Henry went crazy).

 

Now, I'm not saying that Vrabel isn't a good coach, I'm just saying that he is not a coach that Bills fans should fear in any way (or believe to be superior to McDermott).