The Athletic - some grim stats (new Tim Graham piece)

[dave mcbride]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6720217/2025/10/16/buffalo-bills-josh-allen-brandon-beane-gm/

 

"Pass protection has been diddly-poo. Allen was sacked 14 times last year. He has already been taken down 12 times, eight over the past three games. Pro Football Reference has charted Allen with a career-low 2.0 seconds of pocket time and 15 scrambles (rushes on plays designed to be a pass), which would put him on pace for 71 this season. His career high was 57 scrambles in 2022.

 

Discipline has been diddly-poo. The Bills have committed 35 penalties [in the past three games], 30 of them accepted for 209 yards. They drew 15 flags against the Patriots and four in the first quarter alone versus the Falcons, including a Gregory Rousseau offside that erased a takeaway and a Tre’Davious White pass interference on a third-down incompletion to extend a touchdown drive. Opponents have accepted at least eight penalties in three straight games, something the Bills haven’t experienced in four years.

 

Turnover margin has been diddly-poo. The one trend everybody knew Buffalo couldn’t count on forever was its kooky 25 consecutive games without a negative turnover margin. Buffalo was a minus-4 combined against New England and Atlanta.

 

Their run defense has done diddly-poo. Despite amassing 26 tackles for losses on runs, fourth most in the NFL, they’ve allowed 5.8 yards per carry, with 3.9 yards after contact, both league worsts. Only the Tennessee Titans, who fired their head coach this week, have allowed more than the Bills’ nine rushing TDs.

 

Open-field tackling has been diddly-poo. At safety, Sports Info Solutions has Taylor Rapp down for seven missed or broken tackles and Cole Bishop for three, most comically on Bijan Robinson’s 81-yard touchdown run Monday night. Also, 34-year-old Jordan Poyer is on the field again.

...

On the 15 balls thrown into White’s coverage, he has allowed 11 receptions (73.3 percent) for 114 yards and a touchdown, while also committing pass interference twice, defensive holding twice and missing four tackles. And he missed a game.

 

Christian Benford has surrendered an even higher passer rating, 18 of 28 attempts (64.3 percent) for 174 yards and four touchdowns with a pass interference, a defensive hold and an illegal contact.

...

Beane was so cocksure Allen’s solo act would work again that the GM made only minor moves to improve the offense. Beane even seemed willing to let running back James Cook walk in 2026.

 

In a post-draft interview on the Bills’ flagship radio station WGR 550-AM, Beane lashed out at the hosts for criticizing his lack of attention to wide receiver throughout the offseason. The club thought Beane was righteous and entertaining enough to feature his rant — that the Bills even had to bleep — at the very beginning of their behind-the-scenes draft special. The Bills didn’t lead with material about the rookies they drafted; they wanted to ridicule.

 

Through six games, the receiver criticism looks legitimate. The highest draft picks haven’t made an impact, and receiver production has been negligible.

 

Almost a year ago to the day, with concerns over the wideouts and the Bills coming off back-to-back losses, Beane traded for Amari Cooper, and although the five-time Pro Bowl receiver didn’t light up the stat sheet, his presence was credited for opening up the offense.

 

To make a similar deal now, of course, would require Beane to admit he was wrong this offseason."

 

Edited 4 hours ago by dave mcbride

[streetkings01]

It’s what we already knew……this team at the moment isn’t very good. We didn’t need stats to tell us that…..our eyes told us that!

[zow2]

I'm not sure Josh is going to be able to "Superman" his way out of this.  The biggest sure thing to me coming in to the season was the Oline, and how good they are.  That is the biggest letdown to me. They have regressed, are not that physical, don't have the attitude from previous seasons, look sluggish...and James Cook breaks like 5 tackles on a lot of his medium gains.  It's probably why Ray and Ty can't find any openings when they get their few carries.  Fix the Oline and i think the entire team will be much better.  A good Oline is something that travels well to road games.

[billsfan89]

Just now, zow2 said:

I'm not sure Josh is going to be able to "Superman" his way out of this.  The biggest sure thing to me coming in to the season was the Oline, and how good they are.  That is the biggest letdown to me. They have regressed, are not that physical, don't have the attitude from previous seasons, look sluggish...and James Cook breaks like 5 tackles on a lot of his medium gains.  It's probably why Ray and Ty can't find any openings when they get their few carries.  Fix the Oline and i think the entire team will be much better.  A good Oline is something that travels well to road games.

 

I do wonder if the stacked boxes and heavy blitzing are what is causing the issues? If you have WR's on the boundary that are being left on islands 1 v 1 on the outside and you have 3 LB's 4 DL and a safety high up in the box plus a safety creeped up over the top is there much an o-line can do? 

[thenorthremembers]

3 minutes ago, zow2 said:

I'm not sure Josh is going to be able to "Superman" his way out of this.  The biggest sure thing to me coming in to the season was the Oline, and how good they are.  That is the biggest letdown to me. They have regressed, are not that physical, don't have the attitude from previous seasons, look sluggish...and James Cook breaks like 5 tackles on a lot of his medium gains.  It's probably why Ray and Ty can't find any openings when they get their few carries.  Fix the Oline and i think the entire team will be much better.  A good Oline is something that travels well to road games.

 

Spencer Brown is a complete mystery to me.  I've never seen a tackle so good at run blocking and so poor at pass protecting.  The right side of the line has been bad this year.  McGovern hasnt exactly been stellar either.  That said, I still think Dawkins and Edwards are very good. 

3 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

 

I do wonder if the stacked boxes and heavy blitzing are what is causing the issues? If you have WR's on the boundary that are being left on islands 1 v 1 on the outside and you have 3 LB's 4 DL and a safety high up in the box plus a safety creeped up over the top is there much an o-line can do? 

I think the struggles on the interior could have a lot to do with that.   Brown seems to get beat right off the snap however.  For a guy who is supposed to be a great athlete at tackle he gets beat bad by speed rushers, and outside to inside moves. 

[dave mcbride]

1 minute ago, thenorthremembers said:

 

Spencer Brown is a complete mystery to me.  I've never seen a tackle so good at run blocking and so poor at pass protecting.  The right side of the line has been bad this year.  McGovern hasnt exactly been stellar either.  That said, I still think Dawkins and Edwards are very good. 

I think it's a numbers game. Teams just don't worry about the receivers enough to not blitz frequently. Just look at Cincy last night: their receivers either get open immediately or are open if they're not really open because they're so good. The Bills don't have that.

[CincyBillsFan]

The good news is that a lot of these problems can be fixed. 

[Dillenger4]

How can we fix the CB issue? Without trading for one and getting Max back?

[Gregg]

2 minutes ago, CincyBillsFan said:

The good news is that a lot of these problems can be fixed. 

 

By Beane and McDermott? If this season goes south and really goes south (NO PLAYOFFS) then Terry is going to have to think about cleaning house. But if they do come back both should be on the hot seat in 2026.

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

An actual, respected (?), sports journalist that's critical of McBeane? 

 

I'll get my popcorn ready 

[Negan]

When's the 2026 draft?

[CincyBillsFan]

1 minute ago, Dillenger4 said:

How can we fix the CB issue? Without trading for one and getting Max back?

Good point.  I was mostly thinking about fixing the offense.  Every tine I look at the defenses problems I get queasy.  I do think the tackling can be improved.  These guys are pros and a return to good tackling fundamentals is a matter of working at it in practice.

 

 

1 minute ago, Gregg said:

 

By Beane and McDermott? If this season goes south and really goes south (NO PLAYOFFS) then Terry is going to have to think about cleaning house. But if they do come back both should be on the hot seat in 2026.

I may be hopelessly optimistic here but I'm betting the Bills go on a run after the bye, win the division and lock up a 2nd or 3rd seed.  

[Gregg]

2 minutes ago, CincyBillsFan said:

Good point.  I was mostly thinking about fixing the offense.  Every tine I look at the defenses problems I get queasy.  I do think the tackling can be improved.  These guys are pros and a return to good tackling fundamentals is a matter of working at it in practice.

 

 

I may be hopelessly optimistic here but I'm betting the Bills go on a run after the bye, win the division and lock up a 2nd or 3rd seed.  

 

If they go a run, then the #1 seed is still in play. The Steelers dropping to 4-2 helped. The Chiefs are 3-3. The Colts are 5-1 but can they keep it up. The AFC looks wide open this year.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

I get that Graham strikes me as anal retentive, with a tendency toward corprophilia.

[Goin Breakdown]

The Beane interview and tour afterwards ridiculing Jeremy and Joe was the point that I lost respect for Beane. We talk about culture in the organization and our GM never bothered to actually listen to the show. He heard 2 mins before he got on and made a huge assumption. He lacked culture right there.  He was so arrogant to even suggest that J&J didn't remember we had signed Palmer in the offseason. Ooooooh Palmer fixes everything. Meanwhile not a day goes by that Beane doesn't sign yet another low to mid level WR. 
His team is a mess. His money handling is a mess. His drafting is a mess. 
Pride before the fall. I'm here for it if it means fixing this mess somehow. 

[LABILLBACKER]

This whole McDermott / Beane experience has been diddly poo.

[Kirby Jackson]

I think that this place is overreacting. Everything is fine. R-E-L-A-X

[Sweats]

6 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I think that this place is overreacting. Everything is fine. R-E-L-A-X

[jahnyc]

Wonder how these stats compare to last season at this point and interesting that there appear to be significant breakdowns on both the offense and defense (and not resulting from new players).  Also a bit disconcerting is that these stats are coming out of a series of games against teams that are not considered strong teams this season.  We will face better teams as the season progresses.

[Charles Romes]

Tim Graham piece = one step away from Tyler Dunne piece