Game week thread - Bills at Dolphins

[BearNorth]

Ron Torbert is the referee for Sunday's game.  In 2024 he was ranked #4 among the crews.

He last had us for the Seattle game last season a 31-10 road win.

 

 

[oldmanfan]

11 minutes ago, loveorhatembillsfan4life said:

Honestly, I think there is so much to unpack that there are valid arguments for any side you take.

 

We can’t even threaten to stretch the field which is a problem. It’s a problem because the stats and eye test are showing that our Wr can’t get open. 

 

We have a generational Qb who isn’t even in the top ten passing yards.. which is crazy with his talent in my opinion.

 

But, we seem to have incredible balance because Cook is cooking , yet we don’t want to employ him on 3rd down,  our Oline is nasty and some of the young Defensive resourses being thrown into action now have me quite excited for the rest of the season.

 

Like mentioned above though these playoff games are going to come down to one or two plays. At this point I might have more confidence in our D making a big play. 

 

So while I don’t agree that the offense lost the last playoff game, when it came down to a Got to have it moment/play last year .. we failed to execute.

 

Who is our got to have it player on Offense right now when we need to make a 3rd and long in the playoffs?

 

My hope If it comes to that, 

Cook is on the field

Kincaid continues to become  the player we think he should be. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The idea is to not be in 3rd and long situations.  But the answer to your question is going to depend on the team we’re playing and where the best matchup is to gain 7 yards.

[CincyBillsFan]

1 hour ago, Royale with Cheese said:

Did the recipe of having a #1 WR in Diggs work in the playoffs for a few us?

Narratives are strong.  
We broke our franchise record in points last year but our offense sucked.

These are good points.  The Bills were locked in their own version of the movie Groundhog Day and the only way out was to change things completely. 

 

The problem is that with the CAP and drafting stricture of the NFL changing things completely in a short period of time is almost impossible.  The Bills chose to do it on the offensive side of the ball by reinventing what they do and changing how they would use their elite unicorn of a QB.  I've seen this type of change play out over several seasons as a teams elite QB ages but I have never seen it done in less the one season with the elite QB at his prime.

 

Like others it makes me uncomfortable because I've been conditioned to see Allen play a certain way and when he's on he's unstoppable and it's exciting as hell.  But this just seems weird to me. However, you can't deny the results over the last 25+ games.

 

 

 

 

[Royale with Cheese]

3 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said:

I think a lot of fans just like to look at the last possession of the game and say: "Well we were down by 3 and couldn't score so it's the offenses fault we couldn't win".

 

True in a sense you would like more on the last drive.

But 29 points in arrowhead against that defence should be more than enough to win. Especially when KCs offence was a mess last year and they scored 32 against us

The next game, KC had 12 yards of offense at halftime against the Eagles.  That’s how bad our defense was last year.

[eball]

1 hour ago, NeverOutNick said:

Have we beat the chiefs in the playoffs yet? Have we gotten to a SB with this staff? Have we done enough to finally do either of those things? I don’t think so but here’s hoping 🙏🏻 

 

Do you not believe KC viewed Sunday's game as hugely important to their season?

 

[Buffalo4Life01]

10 minutes ago, eball said:

 

Do you not believe KC viewed Sunday's game as hugely important to their season?

 

I took a quick peek over at Chiefs Planet and they don't seem concerned at all after losing to us.  They all pretty much agree Andy Reid has two game plans for the Bills each year.  One for the regular season in which they are vanilla on both sides of the ball and one in the playoffs where they always end up fooling, confusing, and beating Buffalo.  I hope this year will be different but isn't that the definition of insanity?  

Edited 3 hours ago by Buffalo4Life01

[eball]

Just now, Buffalo4Life01 said:

I took a quick peek over at Chiefs Planet and they don't seemed concerned at all after losing to us.  They all pretty much agree Andy Reid has two game plans for the Bills each year.  One for the regular season in which they are vanilla on both sides of the ball and one in the playoffs where they always end up fooling, confusing, and beating Buffalo.  I hope this year will be different but isn't that the definition of insanity?  

 

Sure.  I mean, as we all know, the fans on a team's message board have their fingers right on the pulse of everything happening.

 

🤦🏻‍♂️

 

[Buffalo4Life01]

4 minutes ago, eball said:

 

Sure.  I mean, as we all know, the fans on a team's message board have their fingers right on the pulse of everything happening.

 

🤦🏻‍♂️

 

Well, that's how it seems to work over here at TBD, no?  If you missed my point, it is that Reid takes McDermott to school every single time they meet in the playoffs.  Why, if they meet again this year, do you think it will be any different?  Something I noticed while watching the game, KC didn't leave anyone in to chip Bosa. Not a single time.  Bosa was active in their backfield all night.  Somehow I don't think that will be their game plan if we see them again in the playoffs.  Just as an example.  We all know when it comes to facing KC in games not during the regular season, they are 100% in our heads.  That goes for the players, coaches, and the fans.  Anyone saying otherwise is fooling themselves.  They are the ONLY AFC team I do not want to see in the playoffs.  I don't care what their record is how how great the Patriots and Colts have looked so far.  KC in the playoffs is our kryptonite.  That's pretty obvious even to outsiders and casual fans. 

 

[eball]

Just now, Buffalo4Life01 said:

Reid takes McDermott to school every single time they meet in the playoffs.

 

Aside from the first AFCCG the margins of victory in the other playoff matchups are 6, 3, and 3 points.  If that's your definition of taking someone to school, carry on, brother.

 

[BVBILLS]

If josh plays them this year like last week's game, Bills will win. He was like a lazer accurate robot.

Edited 3 hours ago by BVBILLS

[Big Turk]

2 minutes ago, BVBILLS said:

If josh plays them this year like last week's game, Bills will win. He was like a lazer accurate robot.

 

The Bills won't just win if he plays like that. Allen will be in a hat on the sideline by the early 3rd quarter and Trubisky will have to leave his daytime job moonlighting as a backup Drive Thru Orderer and come in and play QB.

Edited 3 hours ago by Big Turk

[boyst]

11 hours ago, TBBills Fan said:

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 

in this years NFL i bet they blow us out lol

53-0

it's weird this year.

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

I’m going to try this one more week here. I know everyone is obsessed with WR. A WR is never going to matter in this offense . It’s by design, make peace with it. We are always going to run through the RBs and TE. The one thing left that can really unlock this thing is a second RB. A 1a that gives you a change of pace from cook. It was looking like Davis but he’s terrible this year….Why not bring Gore up? The guy has done nothing but flash. He’s an excellent football player. He’d be an amazing complement to Cook. Gore up and being a legitimate good RB2 is the road to an unstoppable offense. Give it a shot 

Edited 2 hours ago by Brianmoorman4jesus

[TheWei44]

1 minute ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

I’m going to try this one more week here. I know everyone is obsessed with WR. A WR is never going to matter in this offense . It’s by design, make peace with it. We are always going to run through the RBs and TE. The one thing left that can really unlock this thing is a second RB. A 1a that gives you a change of pace from cook. It was looking like Davis but he’s terrible this year….Why not bring Gore up? The guy has done nothing but flash. He’s an excellent football player. He’d be an amazing complement to Cook. Gore up and being a legitimate good RB2 is the road to an unstoppable offense. Give it a shot 

Not sure why the discussion is focused on Davis vs. Gore - It's Davis vs. Johnson, and Johnson was the choice last week, and he did just fine.  Maybe have Gore replace Davis as the number 3?  I'd be fine with that.

21 minutes ago, Buffalo4Life01 said:

Well, that's how it seems to work over here at TBD, no?  If you missed my point, it is that Reid takes McDermott to school every single time they meet in the playoffs.  Why, if they meet again this year, do you think it will be any different?  Something I noticed while watching the game, KC didn't leave anyone in to chip Bosa. Not a single time.  Bosa was active in their backfield all night.  Somehow I don't think that will be their game plan if we see them again in the playoffs.  Just as an example.  We all know when it comes to facing KC in games not during the regular season, they are 100% in our heads.  That goes for the players, coaches, and the fans.  Anyone saying otherwise is fooling themselves.  They are the ONLY AFC team I do not want to see in the playoffs.  I don't care what their record is how how great the Patriots and Colts have looked so far.  KC in the playoffs is our kryptonite.  That's pretty obvious even to outsiders and casual fans. 

 

I am not sure what you can discern from fan reaction but I can't imagine their plan was to let Bosa and company destroy Mahomes, getting the most hits of any game in his career (and worst completion % IIRC).  Come on, that doesn't pass the smell test.  And the Chiefs really needed a win too (just for the win given their record and also since it's an AFC game and also re h-to-h tiebreaker vs. Bills).  But of course their game plan if we see them in the playoffs will be different - It will address deficiencies from the regular season game, have a bunch of other wrinkles, etc., etc.

[Mat68]

1 hour ago, CincyBillsFan said:

These are good points.  The Bills were locked in their own version of the movie Groundhog Day and the only way out was to change things completely. 

 

The problem is that with the CAP and drafting stricture of the NFL changing things completely in a short period of time is almost impossible.  The Bills chose to do it on the offensive side of the ball by reinventing what they do and changing how they would use their elite unicorn of a QB.  I've seen this type of change play out over several seasons as a teams elite QB ages but I have never seen it done in less the one season with the elite QB at his prime.

 

Like others it makes me uncomfortable because I've been conditioned to see Allen play a certain way and when he's on he's unstoppable and it's exciting as hell.  But this just seems weird to me. However, you can't deny the results over the last 25+ games.

 

 

 

 

Drew Brees only Superbowl in NO came with his lowest Attempt as a Saint.  They had a run game.  Allen finally has a run game.  Utilize it.  Allen is still great.  He doesn't have to throw 40 times a game.  Get under center beat up defenses hit shots over top in PA.  That is the formula to win.   

[dollars 2 donuts]

16 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

It's because Joe flacco gets rid of the ball faster than burrow even though flacco traditionally doesn't have a super quick release 

 

Flacco also doesn't have any pressure on him.. so he could just let it rip

 

 

 

Somebody posted, I believe on X, the disparity in drops backs and sacks that Burrow has compared to Flacco, which supports what you are saying, Buff.

 

 

15 hours 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 here ya, CBF.  I am not dunking on Joe by any means.  he is really good and I like him.  However, the weapons he has go so very, very long to his success that  just think some of his praise should be tempered a bit.

 

 

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

I’m interested to see who fills that role that 55 was playing. I think we unlocked something with this defense and I think it’s way more about the role than the player itself. I can see 58, 42 or 56 taking that over and doing very similar things. I’m excited about our defense for the first time since 2017

[Johnnycage46]

58 minutes ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

I’m going to try this one more week here. I know everyone is obsessed with WR. A WR is never going to matter in this offense . It’s by design, make peace with it. We are always going to run through the RBs and TE. The one thing left that can really unlock this thing is a second RB. A 1a that gives you a change of pace from cook. It was looking like Davis but he’s terrible this year….Why not bring Gore up? The guy has done nothing but flash. He’s an excellent football player. He’d be an amazing complement to Cook. Gore up and being a legitimate good RB2 is the road to an unstoppable offense. Give it a shot 

What about Cook's play leads you to think we need a 2nd RB this week for this game?

[TPS]

1 hour ago, Buffalo4Life01 said:

Well, that's how it seems to work over here at TBD, no?  If you missed my point, it is that Reid takes McDermott to school every single time they meet in the playoffs.  Why, if they meet again this year, do you think it will be any different?  Something I noticed while watching the game, KC didn't leave anyone in to chip Bosa. Not a single time.  Bosa was active in their backfield all night.  Somehow I don't think that will be their game plan if we see them again in the playoffs.  Just as an example.  We all know when it comes to facing KC in games not during the regular season, they are 100% in our heads.  That goes for the players, coaches, and the fans.  Anyone saying otherwise is fooling themselves.  They are the ONLY AFC team I do not want to see in the playoffs.  I don't care what their record is how how great the Patriots and Colts have looked so far.  KC in the playoffs is our kryptonite.  That's pretty obvious even to outsiders and casual fans. 

 

Andy Reid is in the top 3 GOAT coaches. Not many people out-coach him in the playoffs. Not that it hasn’t happened, but no one consistently does. 
it seems clear to me that the main key to beating KC is a 4 man pass rush that wins more often then not. It wasn’t just Bosa this game either. Groot had one of his best games; Epenesa and Solomon also had pressures. 
KC had no answer for the Eagles pass rush last year. There isn’t much a coach can do when your OL gets manhandled by the DL, especially if you’re unable to run the ball.
If the Bills don’t have anymore DL injuries, and they get Oliver, sanders, and Jones back, I would expect a similar result.  

[pennstate10]

8 minutes ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

I’m interested to see who fills that role that 55 was playing. I think we unlocked something with this defense and I think it’s way more about the role than the player itself. I can see 58, 42 or 56 taking that over and doing very similar things. I’m excited about our defense for the first time since 2017

I agree that Hiecht was very impressive playing a DT/DE/LB hybrid position. Let’s call it animal. 
 

I would also like to see the Bills continue to use this position. 
 

I think Bosa would  be the best candidate currently on the team. Same weight and frame as Hoecht, and maybe a bit more explosive. And he played LB at LAC. 
 

The argument against this move is you would be weakening the DE group to have him play a position that he hasn’t played. 
 

I think Milano and Williams are both too light at 230ish to line up at DT

1 hour ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

I’m going to try this one more week here. I know everyone is obsessed with WR. A WR is never going to matter in this offense . It’s by design, make peace with it. We are always going to run through the RBs and TE. The one thing left that can really unlock this thing is a second RB. A 1a that gives you a change of pace from cook. It was looking like Davis but he’s terrible this year….Why not bring Gore up? The guy has done nothing but flash. He’s an excellent football player. He’d be an amazing complement to Cook. Gore up and being a legitimate good RB2 is the road to an unstoppable offense. Give it a shot 

Gotta disagree here. 
Teams are playing heavy box to stop Bills run. They can do this because Bills don’t have a deep threat, or a WR that can separate in the intermediate area. 
 

If Bills had a #1 outside receiver, the opponents would clog the LOS and middle much less.