Game week thread - Bills at Dolphins

[CincyBillsFan]

7 hours ago, dollars 2 donuts said:

 

 

I think Joe Burrow is really good.

 

I also have traditionally rooted for Joe Flacco.

 

However, with what Joe has been able to do in Cincy I have to ask...is Burrow really THAT good?

 

I am hoping that we get the Flacco that we played the year before when he was in Indy.

 

 

One thing that they haven't mentioned while talking about the 470 yards and 4 TD's is that Flacco also threw 2 INT's and he lost a fumble.  Burrow is likely to have had less TO's to go along with his high end production.

 

 

[finn]

48 minutes ago, CincyBillsFan said:

One thing that they haven't mentioned while talking about the 470 yards and 4 TD's is that Flacco also threw 2 INT's and he lost a fumble.  Burrow is likely to have had less TO's to go along with his high end production.

 

 

Yeah, but you're comparing an ancient Flacco to a guy who is his prime. I think Burrow might be overrated. Think of what Allen could do with those receivers. Either one would instantly be the best WR on the team. 

 

By not getting him a true WR1 since Diggs, Beane has done a disservice not just to Allen and the Bills but to the entire NFL community, who haven't had the  pleasure of seeing what the best QB in the league can really do. It's like Usain Bolt running with a weight vest. 

[Big Turk]

1 hour ago, CincyBillsFan said:

One thing that they haven't mentioned while talking about the 470 yards and 4 TD's is that Flacco also threw 2 INT's and he lost a fumble.  Burrow is likely to have had less TO's to go along with his high end production.

 

 

 

I remember "Tiny Hands, Frosted Tips" used to have issues holding onto balls as well...except maybe his center's...

Edited 13 hours ago by Big Turk

[Shortchaz]

1 hour ago, finn said:

Yeah, but you're comparing an ancient Flacco to a guy who is his prime. I think Burrow might be overrated. Think of what Allen could do with those receivers. Either one would instantly be the best WR on the team. 

 

By not getting him a true WR1 since Diggs, Beane has done a disservice not just to Allen and the Bills but to the entire NFL community, who haven't had the  pleasure of seeing what the best QB in the league can really do. It's like Usain Bolt running with a weight vest. 

I think it speaks to limitations of even a “high powered” offense. You’re unlikely to score on every drive regardless of your prowess. I think this is the argument many posters have been making for a better defense.

 

i.e. One high paid receiver is unlikely to improve your offense absolutely if you’re already a great offense. You only have x amount of possessions. 

Edited 12 hours ago by Shortchaz

[Big Turk]

14 minutes ago, Shortchaz said:

I think it speaks to limitations of even a “high powered” offense. You’re unlikely to score on every drive regardless of your prowess. I think this is the argument many posters have been making for a better defense.

 

i.e. One high paid receiver is unlikely to improve your offense absolutely if you’re already a great offense. You only have x amount of possessions. 

The Bills are the #1 ranked offense in the NFL. I mean at some point people just have to accept they can be good in ways that they don't agree with and score a crap ton of points without having to throw 50 yard bombs.

Edited 12 hours ago by Big Turk

[Scott7975]

22 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

The Bills are the #1 ranked offense in the NFL. I mean at some point people just have to accept they can be good in ways that they don't agree with and score a crap ton of points without having to throw 50 yard bombs.

 

Sigh. I don't know why people keep saying "50 yard bombs."  Most people are just talking about having an intermediate game of anything from 10-20ish yards. Notice in the KC game they had some downfield explosive plays. Those weren't 50 yard bombs. It was however, what most people were talking about. Throwing balls behind the los to Shakir is only going to work so long. I'm surprised they got away with it as many times as they did against KC considering they do it about 5 times a game.

 

The team needs to be able to turn it on when they are down. Twice they haven't been able to this year and its why we are in a division race that has a good chance of not breaking our way like it did last season. Pats are good and they have the softest schedule in the league. They aren't Miami that are going to lose their last 6 to give us the division back.  The offense is good when we have a lead or within a score. Not so much when you are down multiple scores and lack time.

[NeverOutNick]

31 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

The Bills are the #1 ranked offense in the NFL. I mean at some point people just have to accept they can be good in ways that they don't agree with and score a crap ton of points without having to throw 50 yard bombs.

That’s fine but let’s see if this recipe finally works in the playoffs when it actually matters. Would be nice to stretch the field with someone other than an often injured TE

[finn]

37 minutes ago, Shortchaz said:

I think it speaks to limitations of even a “high powered” offense. You’re unlikely to score on every drive regardless of your prowess. I think this is the argument many posters have been making for a better defense.

 

i.e. One high paid receiver is unlikely to improve your offense absolutely if you’re already a great offense. You only have x amount of possessions. 

It depends on what you mean by "great." I don't think this offense is great at this point, do you? Very good, balanced, efficient at times, but not great. And that's just my point. With two and possibly even one top receiver, this very offense has the potential for true (like historical) greatness. It has the offensive line, the back, the tight ends, and certainly the quarterback. All it lacks (putting aside the coordinator) is at least one elite wide receiver. They wouldn't need to score on every drive, just one or two more times a game than they are now. That is what I mean by Beane letting us all down by settling for Shakir and a bunch of backups.

 

I get it, he has a lot of holes to plug on defense. I don't even blame him, really, although I think a historic offense could just outscore everyone. But it's a bit sad to think what we're missing. 

[Buffalo Ballin]

We want a better defense to eat clock. That's all that is.

[BigAl2526]

On 11/3/2025 at 1:55 PM, Success said:

This can be the start of a nice run for us in the next month+.  No one is "easy" (Miami rarely is, though the record w/ them is lopsided), but every team that we play until the Pats is a team we should beat.  

 

I think the silver lining of New England being real competition is that it will help prevent any let-ups.  We're in a tight division race & every week matters.

 

The pressure is still on for sure.

[TBBills Fan]

I expect Miami to come out flat this week. I've worked for companies closing, I'm visiting their are similarities in how it must feel to the dolphins locker room.  You are there, but there is a certain lack of energy and darkness hanging overhead 

[Big Turk]

34 minutes ago, NeverOutNick said:

That’s fine but let’s see if this recipe finally works in the playoffs when it actually matters. Would be nice to stretch the field with someone other than an often injured TE

 

Why do we need to see if it works when we already know it does and the thing we need to see "work" is that the defense doesn't give up an extra 2 TDs to KC like they do every time they play.

36 minutes ago, Scott7975 said:

 

Sigh. I don't know why people keep saying "50 yard bombs."  Most people are just talking about having an intermediate game of anything from 10-20ish yards. Notice in the KC game they had some downfield explosive plays. Those weren't 50 yard bombs. It was however, what most people were talking about. Throwing balls behind the los to Shakir is only going to work so long. I'm surprised they got away with it as many times as they did against KC considering they do it about 5 times a game.

 

The team needs to be able to turn it on when they are down. Twice they haven't been able to this year and its why we are in a division race that has a good chance of not breaking our way like it did last season. Pats are good and they have the softest schedule in the league. They aren't Miami that are going to lose their last 6 to give us the division back.  The offense is good when we have a lead or within a score. Not so much when you are down multiple scores and lack time.

 

It goes back to the saying that execution of the play is more important than the actual play itself. 

 

The Bills routinely will run the same play over and over again, especially in the run game and it keeps working. Why? Because they are very good at executing it.  

 

I wouldn't put much stock in the mid October 2 game slide like they have every single year at the same time and people say the same thing and then it's all shown to be meaningless.

[Dr. Who]

5 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

Why do we need to see if it works when we already know it does and the thing we need to see "work" is that the defense doesn't give up an extra 2 TDs to KC like they do every time they play.

 

It goes back to the saying that execution of the play is more important than the actual play itself. 

 

The Bills routinely will run the same play over and over again, especially in the run game and it keeps working. Why? Because they are very good at executing it.  

 

I wouldn't put much stock in the mid October 2 game slide like they have every single year at the same time and people say the same thing and then it's all shown to be meaningless.

It isn't meaningless when it costs them the #1 seed. Great that they are good at executing plays they can count on. Sometimes that turns into predictability in crucial moments, and some of those haven't turned out well in the big games. Regardless, it would still be a good thing to have a better, more reliable boundary receiver as a tool in the kit. 

[NeverOutNick]

8 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

Why do we need to see if it works when we already know it does and the thing we need to see "work" is that the defense doesn't give up an extra 2 TDs to KC like they do every time they play.

No what works is Josh putting on his cape. We didn’t have field stretchers in last years playoffs either. Ever wonder why all the WRs (outside of Diggs who is actually good) do nothing once they leave Buffalo? It’s Josh…get him someone to make the defense honest so the 15+ behind the LOS passing plays we do each week actually surprise teams once in a while come playoff time

 

But I do agree that McD is garbage come playoffs time. Always some excuse for why his D doesn’t come through no matter what players are on the field 

Edited 11 hours ago by NeverOutNick

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

2 hours ago, finn said:

Yeah, but you're comparing an ancient Flacco to a guy who is his prime. I think Burrow might be overrated. Think of what Allen could do with those receivers. Either one would instantly be the best WR on the team. 

 

By not getting him a true WR1 since Diggs, Beane has done a disservice not just to Allen and the Bills but to the entire NFL community, who haven't had the  pleasure of seeing what the best QB in the league can really do. It's like Usain Bolt running with a weight vest. 

I think the bengals are the cautionary tale of going too far the opposite way of what the bills have done.  The oline and defense are consistently garbage even in the regular season.  Not even sure they’re a playoff team with burrow and even if they are he takes so many damn hits all year long that it’s a miracle he’s even available week to week 

Edited 11 hours ago by Generic_Bills_Fan

[Big Turk]

37 minutes ago, NeverOutNick said:

No what works is Josh putting on his cape. We didn’t have field stretchers in last years playoffs either. Ever wonder why all the WRs (outside of Diggs who is actually good) do nothing once they leave Buffalo? It’s Josh…get him someone to make the defense honest so the 15+ behind the LOS passing plays we do each week actually surprise teams once in a while come playoff time

 

But I do agree that McD is garbage come playoffs time. Always some excuse for why his D doesn’t come through no matter what players are on the field 

 

Good execution beats surprise most times.

[Shortchaz]

1 hour ago, finn said:

It depends on what you mean by "great." I don't think this offense is great at this point, do you? Very good, balanced, efficient at times, but not great. And that's just my point. With two and possibly even one top receiver, this very offense has the potential for true (like historical) greatness. It has the offensive line, the back, the tight ends, and certainly the quarterback. All it lacks (putting aside the coordinator) is at least one elite wide receiver. They wouldn't need to score on every drive, just one or two more times a game than they are now. That is what I mean by Beane letting us all down by settling for Shakir and a bunch of backups.

 

I get it, he has a lot of holes to plug on defense. I don't even blame him, really, although I think a historic offense could just outscore everyone. But it's a bit sad to think what we're missing. 

Theoretical ideals are fine they just don’t match reality. The easiest way for this team to improve (wins and losses) is for the defense to improve (over last year). 
 

what should be, what could be, and what is. 
 

adding a great wide receiver to an already high quality/excellent offense doesn’t move the needle because it overvalues the positive impact and undervalues the negative impact. Check out the bengals and cowboys. 
 

would it be nice to have a better wide receiver 1? Sure. But they would also need to do all the other things our receivers do as well as create separation at a higher rate. 

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

The dolphins always seem to hang around and play us tough. Be nice to beat them like 33-3 for a change 

[BADOLBILZ]

1 hour ago, Dr. Who said:

It isn't meaningless when it costs them the #1 seed. Great that they are good at executing plays they can count on. Sometimes that turns into predictability in crucial moments, and some of those haven't turned out well in the big games. Regardless, it would still be a good thing to have a better, more reliable boundary receiver as a tool in the kit. 

 

 

Yeah, I mean.........meaningless @Big Turk?   That's a totally absurd thing to say after these annual swoons have routinely hampered their playoff positioning.

 

The need for help on the boundary is not new.   The moment Gabe Davis got elevated to WR2 they got less efficient and explosive in the passing game.  Turning it over to him was obviously a mistake from the get-go.  They've reduced the turnovers with him gone but they can't consistently move the ball in the air the way a team with an MVP level QB should.  

 

Struggles in the passing game have cost them a number of early and mid-season games the past few years.......leaving them out of a #1 seed........and then that passing game eventually floundered again in their last 3 playoff defeats.   Particularly at the end of the last two,  with the ball in hand and a chance to close out the game.

 

I mean the only divisional or championship game where they've passed the ball well is the 13 seconds game and that's 1 of 7 games.   People want to blame the offense for giving up a TD more per game in those divisional and AFCCG's but the offense also scores a TD less.   

[Coffeesforclosers]

Here's your factoid of the week.

 

If we beat the Dolphins, the all time record between us and Miami improves to 62-62-1. We'll have officially erased "0 for the 70s".