McD strategy blunders

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, stuvian said:

If we're going to criticize Clappy we should also point at Andy Reid who refused our invitation to run Kareem Hunt down our throat. We were in dime defense the whole game and our run D is a known vulnerability 

 

Hunt sucks. That's why.

[Matt_In_NH]

It is not as easy as people think it is.   And no one on this board judges other coaches as harsh as they judge McDermott.  A couple weeks back I watch Kyle shanahanntake a terrible second half timeout to get the defense right.  Yet I bet people think he is far superior. 

[ganesh]

On 11/4/2025 at 6:51 PM, WIDE LEFT said:

 

Sunday McD strikes again. A strategy coach would have strongly advised against kicking that last field goal. A punt, a punt angled out of bounds ( to prevent any possible return) was the correct strategic decision. It’s virtually impossible for a team drive the ball down the field, 80 + yards, in 22 seconds with zero timeouts. It’s even unlikely a team could even get in position to throw a Hail Mary under those circumstances. Recall the 13 seconds game KC had all three timeouts and only needed a FG. Instead McD blunders again, and Mahomes second last pass was way too close to tying that game. These games are won on the margins, especially playoff games, and his strategic blunders have cost the Bills playoff losses in the past, and I don’t see any improvement in this area.Hire a strategy coach, not to make the final decision but to present best options away from the chaos that is an NFL sideline 
 

 

Ideally, they should have gone for the 4th down instead of kicking the field goal.  Even if they don't make it (as long as they don't take a sack) the Bills would have gained another 8 yards than the missed FG.  And if they make the 1st down, then they simply can run out the clock.   It was possibly the right decision among the three choices. 

[WIDE LEFT]

Famous Seinfeld episode - George finds success by doing the opposite of what he thinks the right decision is. McD should give it a try:

1. 13 second game - no brainer. From the decision to kick it out of the end zone to the ridiculous way he set his defense, if he just would have done the opposite of what he decided to do, we win the game.

2. Home opener last year - less than 2 minutes to go, up by three at Arizona 15 yard line, he takes the ball out of Allen’s hands, runs 3 straight times, settles for field goal, Bills up by dreaded 6. A Kyle Murray pass to our 5 yard line is defected by the finger tips of our db, game saved. Two weeks later v Houston, minute to go, Bills at our OWN 1 yard line, tie score, he now decides to throw three times. All the things that can go wrong with ure QB throwing out of the end zone, ie a holding penalty for a safety etc. His decision cost us this game. In both situations, he should have done the opposite.

3. Yesterday- for all the criticisms of his bend but don’t break scheme, the one time he really NEEDED to deploy that scheme, he mangles it. Cinci last drive  - we could afford to have them score a TD, but it was absolutely necessary to keep everything in front of them, make CINCI burn clock before scoring their TD. But no, not McD. He allows a 50 second TD drive. The last TD pass to Higgins he blitzes, leaves Trey White one on one with Higgins. The EXACT OPPOSITE of the type of D scheme he should be employing in that situation. Allen then bails him out again, with his 3rd & 15 scramble to put away a game that should have been put away by then, except for another McD meltdown.

 

Rest of the league is 6 & 42 when their D gives up more than 32 points. The Bills are 3-0. Allen constantly overcoming McD failures. It’s his defense, his scheme, multiple draft & free agent resources given to his D. And it consistently fails miserably against top competition, playoffs & top QBs. How long do you stay with this guy who is lucky enough to have the best QB in football yet undermines him at every turn

 

i can appreciate the positives McD brings, but it’s not enough. It’s not just me, a regular fan. Andy Reid is going to the HoF someday, and it was his decision to fire McD and the McD scheme. Reid has never employed a D scheme like that since.

 

 

 

 

 

[Simon]

8 minutes ago, WIDE LEFT said:

Famous Seinfeld episode - George finds success by doing the opposite of what he thinks the right decision is. McD should give it a try:

1. 13 second game - no brainer. From the decision to kick it out of the end zone to the ridiculous way he set his defense, if he just would have done the opposite of what he decided to do, we win the game.

2. Home opener last year - less than 2 minutes to go, up by three at Arizona 15 yard line, he takes the ball out of Allen’s hands, runs 3 straight times, settles for field goal, Bills up by dreaded 6. A Kyle Murray pass to our 5 yard line is defected by the finger tips of our db, game saved. Two weeks later v Houston, minute to go, Bills at our OWN 1 yard line, tie score, he now decides to throw three times. All the things that can go wrong with ure QB throwing out of the end zone, ie a holding penalty for a safety etc. His decision cost us this game. In both situations, he should have done the opposite.

3. Yesterday- for all the criticisms of his bend but don’t break scheme, the one time he really NEEDED to deploy that scheme, he mangles it. Cinci last drive  - we could afford to have them score a TD, but it was absolutely necessary to keep everything in front of them, make CINCI burn clock before scoring their TD. But no, not McD. He allows a 50 second TD drive. The last TD pass to Higgins he blitzes, leaves Trey White one on one with Higgins. The EXACT OPPOSITE of the type of D scheme he should be employing in that situation. Allen then bails him out again, with his 3rd & 15 scramble to put away a game that should have been put away by then, except for another McD meltdown.

 

Rest of the league is 6 & 42 when their D gives up more than 32 points. The Bills are 3-0. Allen constantly overcoming McD failures. It’s his defense, his scheme, multiple draft & free agent resources given to his D. And it consistently fails miserably against top competition, playoffs & top QBs. How long do you stay with this guy who is lucky enough to have the best QB in football yet undermines him at every turn

 

i can appreciate the positives McD brings, but it’s not enough. It’s not just me, a regular fan. Andy Reid is going to the HoF someday, and it was his decision to fire McD and the McD scheme. Reid has never employed a D scheme like that since.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let's just go ahead and fold this right into your other McDermott thread you started. 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

11 minutes ago, WIDE LEFT said:

Famous Seinfeld episode - George finds success by doing the opposite of what he thinks the right decision is. McD should give it a try:

1. 13 second game - no brainer. From the decision to kick it out of the end zone to the ridiculous way he set his defense, if he just would have done the opposite of what he decided to do, we win the game.

2. Home opener last year - less than 2 minutes to go, up by three at Arizona 15 yard line, he takes the ball out of Allen’s hands, runs 3 straight times, settles for field goal, Bills up by dreaded 6. A Kyle Murray pass to our 5 yard line is defected by the finger tips of our db, game saved. Two weeks later v Houston, minute to go, Bills at our OWN 1 yard line, tie score, he now decides to throw three times. All the things that can go wrong with ure QB throwing out of the end zone, ie a holding penalty for a safety etc. His decision cost us this game. In both situations, he should have done the opposite.

3. Yesterday- for all the criticisms of his bend but don’t break scheme, the one time he really NEEDED to deploy that scheme, he mangles it. Cinci last drive  - we could afford to have them score a TD, but it was absolutely necessary to keep everything in front of them, make CINCI burn clock before scoring their TD. But no, not McD. He allows a 50 second TD drive. The last TD pass to Higgins he blitzes, leaves Trey White one on one with Higgins. The EXACT OPPOSITE of the type of D scheme he should be employing in that situation. Allen then bails him out again, with his 3rd & 15 scramble to put away a game that should have been put away by then, except for another McD meltdown.

 

Rest of the league is 6 & 42 when their D gives up more than 32 points. The Bills are 3-0. Allen constantly overcoming McD failures. It’s his defense, his scheme, multiple draft & free agent resources given to his D. And it consistently fails miserably against top competition, playoffs & top QBs. How long do you stay with this guy who is lucky enough to have the best QB in football yet undermines him at every turn

 

i can appreciate the positives McD brings, but it’s not enough. It’s not just me, a regular fan. Andy Reid is going to the HoF someday, and it was his decision to fire McD and the McD scheme. Reid has never employed a D scheme like that since.

 

 

 

 

 

[Sweats]

12 minutes ago, WIDE LEFT said:

Famous Seinfeld episode - George finds success by doing the opposite of what he thinks the right decision is. McD should give it a try:

1. 13 second game - no brainer. From the decision to kick it out of the end zone to the ridiculous way he set his defense, if he just would have done the opposite of what he decided to do, we win the game.

2. Home opener last year - less than 2 minutes to go, up by three at Arizona 15 yard line, he takes the ball out of Allen’s hands, runs 3 straight times, settles for field goal, Bills up by dreaded 6. A Kyle Murray pass to our 5 yard line is defected by the finger tips of our db, game saved. Two weeks later v Houston, minute to go, Bills at our OWN 1 yard line, tie score, he now decides to throw three times. All the things that can go wrong with ure QB throwing out of the end zone, ie a holding penalty for a safety etc. His decision cost us this game. In both situations, he should have done the opposite.

3. Yesterday- for all the criticisms of his bend but don’t break scheme, the one time he really NEEDED to deploy that scheme, he mangles it. Cinci last drive  - we could afford to have them score a TD, but it was absolutely necessary to keep everything in front of them, make CINCI burn clock before scoring their TD. But no, not McD. He allows a 50 second TD drive. The last TD pass to Higgins he blitzes, leaves Trey White one on one with Higgins. The EXACT OPPOSITE of the type of D scheme he should be employing in that situation. Allen then bails him out again, with his 3rd & 15 scramble to put away a game that should have been put away by then, except for another McD meltdown.

 

Rest of the league is 6 & 42 when their D gives up more than 32 points. The Bills are 3-0. Allen constantly overcoming McD failures. It’s his defense, his scheme, multiple draft & free agent resources given to his D. And it consistently fails miserably against top competition, playoffs & top QBs. How long do you stay with this guy who is lucky enough to have the best QB in football yet undermines him at every turn

 

i can appreciate the positives McD brings, but it’s not enough. It’s not just me, a regular fan. Andy Reid is going to the HoF someday, and it was his decision to fire McD and the McD scheme. Reid has never employed a D scheme like that since.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[WIDE LEFT]

On 12/8/2025 at 1:55 PM, Ridgewaycynic2013 said:

 

[Buffalo716]

On 11/5/2025 at 3:50 PM, GunnerBill said:

 

Hunt sucks. That's why.

You got to admit Andy reads obsession with his terrible shotgun inside zone is not typical Andy Reid 

 

Like the game is moving by... Kareem hunt actually is probably the best running back this year in the NFL for 3rd and 2 or 4th and two and shorter 

 

He's converting at an insane clip.. no I obviously don't think he's a top 25 running back.. but he is one of the better short yardage backs running rn

 

But everything about Andy reids offense is out of whack... People should seriously question mahomes and what his long-term legacy will look like

 

Because it looks like he was propped up by a bunch of Hall of famers and he's a really good quarterback without them.. he's not one of the best quarterbacks of all time like he was anointed... He's nowhere close to the Montana Brady Manning group

 

And reid has no more scheming that can mask it

 

 

Edited 6 hours ago by Buffalo716

[WIDE LEFT]

Possible return of Phillip Rivers to Colts is good reminder of the deficiency of McD schemes. It was a playoff game in Buffalo, River’s last NFL game, and he threw for well over 300 yards, once again shredding a McD defense in a playoff game, even when McD had Hyde & Poyer in their prime. Allen heroics once again bailed out McD 

[Draconator]

2 minutes ago, WIDE LEFT said:

Possible return of Phillip Rivers to Colts is good reminder of the deficiency of McD schemes. It was a playoff game in Buffalo, River’s last NFL game, and he threw for well over 300 yards, once again shredding a McD defense in a playoff game, even when McD had Hyde & Poyer in their prime. Allen heroics once again bailed out McD 

Are you perpetually stoned? Pro Tip: If you don't know what perpetually means, Google is your friend. 

[Buffalo716]

4 minutes ago, WIDE LEFT said:

Possible return of Phillip Rivers to Colts is good reminder of the deficiency of McD schemes. It was a playoff game in Buffalo, River’s last NFL game, and he threw for well over 300 yards, once again shredding a McD defense in a playoff game, even when McD had Hyde & Poyer in their prime. Allen heroics once again bailed out McD 

 

That was a team that averaged like 27 points per game in the regular season lol

 

And Philip Rivers was playing his heart out for the last time... We held them under what their regular season average was

[WIDE LEFT]

Just love this kind of response. Can’t respond to the substance of the post. Can’t explain why a McD scheme got trashed by a 40 year old QB on his last legs. Being unable to fashion a reasonable response/defense, resorts to  an ingenious stoned/perpetual take. Wow such insight into the NFL

7 minutes ago, Draconator said:

Are you perpetually stoned? Pro Tip: If you don't know what perpetually means, Google is your friend. 

 

5 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

 

That was a team that averaged like 27 points per game in the regular season lol

 

And Philip Rivers was playing his heart out for the last time... We held them under what their regular season average was

 

[Buffalo716]

4 minutes ago, WIDE LEFT said:

Just love this kind of response. Can’t respond to the substance of the post. Can’t explain why a McD scheme got trashed by a 40 year old QB on his last legs. Being unable to fashion a reasonable response/defense, resorts to  an ingenious stoned/perpetual take. Wow such insight into the NFL

 

 

They scored 24 points 

 

It doesn't matter if a team has 800 yards of offense.. you keep fighting you keep playing the only thing that matters is how many times you let them into the end zone 

 

Colts offense was good that year and we held them to 24... That's the only thing that matters dude 

 

The only thing that matters

 

Steve spagnola is worshiped around here and he got his ass kicked versus the Eagles last year lol 

 

Dude it happens... The only allowed 24 that's the only thing that matters

 

The Ravens have the most pro bowlers in the NFL the last 6 years.. they have less to show them the bills 

Edited 6 hours ago by Buffalo716

[Draconator]

5 minutes ago, WIDE LEFT said:

Just love this kind of response. Can’t respond to the substance of the post. Can’t explain why a McD scheme got trashed by a 40 year old QB on his last legs. Being unable to fashion a reasonable response/defense, resorts to  an ingenious stoned/perpetual take. Wow such insight into the NFL

 

 

 

I don't debate those void of reality. 

[WIDE LEFT]

Averaged 27 in the regular season huh? We are talking playoffs, not regular season. Regular season you get to play a lot of average & below average teams. Half your games are at home (and Indi has a dome) Bit different than a playoff game, playing  on the road in cold BUFFALO. Rivers did not average 300 yards a game passing in regular season, but he threw for well OVER 300 yds v Buffalo and McD D in January.

1 minute ago, Draconator said:

 

I don't debate those void of reality. 

Don’t = Can’t 

[Draconator]

2 minutes ago, WIDE LEFT said:

Averaged 27 in the regular season huh? We are talking playoffs, not regular season. Regular season you get to play a lot of average & below average teams. Half your games are at home (and Indi has a dome) Bit different than a playoff game, playing  on the road in cold BUFFALO. Rivers did not average 300 yards a game passing in regular season, but he threw for well OVER 300 yds v Buffalo and McD D in January.

Don’t = Can’t 

 

Fine then. You step in and see how you do coaching an NFL game, and let us all talk about the crappy job you did. 

 

Bottom line which you cannot deny, the Bills won the game. It doesn't matter who bailed out who, or how it was done, they won, end of story, period. 

[GunnerBill]

30 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

You got to admit Andy reads obsession with his terrible shotgun inside zone is not typical Andy Reid 

 

Like the game is moving by... Kareem hunt actually is probably the best running back this year in the NFL for 3rd and 2 or 4th and two and shorter 

 

He's converting at an insane clip.. no I obviously don't think he's a top 25 running back.. but he is one of the better short yardage backs running rn

 

But everything about Andy reids offense is out of whack... People should seriously question mahomes and what his long-term legacy will look like

 

Because it looks like he was propped up by a bunch of Hall of famers and he's a really good quarterback without them.. he's not one of the best quarterbacks of all time like he was anointed... He's nowhere close to the Montana Brady Manning group

 

And reid has no more scheming that can mask it

 

 

 

Agree I have talked about the Chiefs O elsewhere. I don't think has been well coordinated and designed for much of this year.

[todd]

Sometimes it's good to have a reminder of why you have someone on the blocked list.

[hondo in seattle]

On 11/4/2025 at 2:33 PM, Buffalo Ballin said:

All we have to say is this, if we don't reach the AFC Title game this season, then what?

 

Okay, let's forget 13 seconds.

 

- Cincinnati Bengals eliminating us in 2023 Playoffs.

- Kansas City Chiefs eliminating us in 2025 AFC Title game.

 

McD doesn't have anyone to hide behind anymore. Started last year. Even Josh Allen owned up and took responsibility for losses.

 

Yes, we have a terrible defense this season. However, the latest win vs. Chiefs show that we can still hang. This team, as we said multiple times, starts and ends with Josh Allen. NOT McD.

 

We cannot piss away Josh Allen's prime years especially since, NOW, he's on pace to win 2nd League MVP award. If we don't reach AFC Title game, then what? Protect McD at all costs? I think "NO."

 

 

 

I understand, and share, the frustration.  But let me ask you, is this squad good enough to reach the AFC Title game?

 

It's a little simplistic to say we have Josh Allen so McD should get us a ring.  The rest of the squad matters and it's not SB quality.  

 

I don't judge McD on how many trophies he raises up.  I judge him against the roster Beane gives him and the injury report.  I ask myself, Is McD overperforming or underperforming versus the guys he has on the field?  I believe in most years he's given us more wins than we had a right to expect from the roster that Beane has given him.  

 

Nobody is talking about 'protecting' McD.  Those of us who don't want him fired believe we're probably better off with McD at the helm than whatever replacement Terry would choose if McD was fired.  

 

Considering the roster weaknesses and injuries, McD would deserve a golden statue in Niagara Square if he coached us to victory in Santa Clara.