11/9/25 GAMEDAY Bills at Dolphins Post Game Thread

[T.E.]

When you watch other games, it seems like most teams have a pass offense that runs more effectively than ours. A good mix of plays, not too much predictability, receivers being schemed open, etc.

 

The Bills offense makes everything look difficult. I'm not even sure what their objective is. They don't go downfield, they don't throw slants, they don't throw to backs. It almost feels like there's no actual gameplan outside of "Make it happen, Josh."

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Thinking about this more, the roster has sort of been built because of how defenses have been playing us for several years— stop all big plays. We are now built to pound the rock and win with ball control and defense. 

 

It’s actually a winning formula, but it depends on a high level of execution and patience. We can’t commit penalties, be behind the sticks, and commit turnovers. We have to be patient and innovative with the run game and using the RBs and TE’s in the passing game. 

 

Today, it was a mess because of the sloppy execution and game script. 

[Bruffalo]

1 minute ago, transient said:

I also saw a guy making mistakes because he was pressing to make something happen, and trying to keep plays alive to give his terrible receivers time to uncover and getting the hell beaten out of him in the process. By not making life easy for him they're also unnecessarily exposing him to injury. 

I’m not trying to hand wave away the pressing, because it’s a legitimate critique, but who wouldn’t be pressing when this is what you’re given to work with? 
 

 

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

In the simplest way of asking

 

how many chances is McDermott really going to get? I mean when the guy first got here Andrew luck was still a franchise QB. Thank you for reversing the fortunes of this team but how many more chances is he getting? Every single one? Does he get Josh’s entire prime? Does he get his entire career? Like FFS man when do we say enough? Before this guy is a statue…we gotta see if someone else can get us what we want. You can’t just keep writing off seasons. Nobody is getting any younger here. Is the guy going to get 10 chances? It’s truly ***** us here. You gotta go to McDermott and say like, you got this run. Get to the Super Bowl or can we move you to the front office? Please, or else it ends in a way you won’t like

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Seriously, for HIS mental health, they should trade him to a team that'll use him, and bring in a game manager to play complementary football.

[Billz4ever]

1 minute ago, CincyBillsFan said:

Yea what the hell was that?  I mean how much time does he practice onside kicks? Was there concern over the Prater injury?  I mean I would think an old timer like Prater has some wicked spins or hops he could put on the ball.  But Davis?  That looked like a bad HS onside kick.

 

 

 

It's hard to convert on an onside kick as it is.  Expecting to do it with a guy who's not a kicker and never done it in a game is just not a serious attempt.

[dorquemada]

well, he's more than a QB

4 minutes ago, Walking Tall said:

I’m convinced this wide receivers core is going to get Allen injured by years end.

 

I think Allen is going to save himself at some point.  He'll get a mystery injury in practice like the other 20 guys 

[transient]

Just now, bouds said:

He really doesn't look like hes having fun at times.  

 

Like Josh can say he's more than a football player, or that if a SB happens it happens and he's not worried about it, game doesn't define him, but right now it seems like he's not enjoying the game.  Also, looks like he's a step slower when trying to rush, which makes sense, he's almost 30, but if we we're in his shoes we'd probably be feeling similarly, or maybe we're reading too much into it....probably the later.

There's no room for him to run. Teams know he's not a threat to throw because his receivers suck, so they pressure him and play the run. Before he can take off they've got him by the ankles.

[2003Contenders]

The 3rd down conversion play to Samuel was classic Josh with the Superman cape. He bought an extra 10 seconds literally running all over the field before Samuel finally broke open. You could tell after that play he was gassed -- but still doing his best to persevere.

 

It is pretty clear that the receiving corps he has to work with sucks- and he knows it. But he just wants to win so bad. Contrast that with the "I don't care" body language that Coleman exhibits.

Edited 1 hour ago by 2003Contenders

[NORWOODS FOOT]

1 minute ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

Seriously, for HIS mental health, they should trade him to a team that'll use him, and bring in a game manager to play complementary football.

I wouldn’t even be mad. Josh is a special player that deserves a special situation. Not the kind of “special” the Bills have to offer. 
 

[vanhalen26]

Would you be shocked if he requested a trade in the off season?

[bouds]

2 minutes ago, transient said:

There's no room for him to run. Teams know he's not a threat to throw because his receivers suck, so they pressure him and play the run. Before he can take off they've got him by the ankles.

 

It could be, he's also older with a lot of mileage on those wheels, how long can he keep up the two way threat.  

[Dick_Cheney]

What do you expect?

 

Allen knows better than anyone the reality of the situation. I'm sure early in the season he had hope that things would somehow gel and it would work out, or god forbid we'd bring in actual talent. That clearly hasn't been the case, and the crazy thing is, there are numerous free agent WRs who are markedly better than what we are working with, and it's a crime we haven't brought anyone in, and if we still don't after this week, then I really don't understand football.

 

The problem is two fold. Allen's weapons are limited so the passing attack or downfield whatever you want to call it is essentially non existent. Not only does this suck on its own, but it pretty much allows the defense to limit everything else you try to do to compensate. I'm tired of people showing the occasional downfield catch as proof that we do indeed have a legit passing game. We don't. Statistically speaking, any QB will make a downfield throw to somebody here and there. That's not enough. There's no consistency. 

 

The second problem, which is becoming just as much of a problem if not a larger problem then that, is again, JOSH KNOWS THIS. It's in his head. He's thinking about it all week at practice. He's looking at the gameplan and just thinking oh jesus christ here we go again. And then when he hits the field and is once again hit by the train of reality that is the fact he has nobody to throw the ball to, it's over. It's in his brain and it's under his skin. It then impacts every other aspect of his game. He knows it's on him to make something happen. It's hero ball. It's reckless decisions praying that it works because doing things by the numbers just isn't an option anymore. That turns into interceptions. That turns into fumbles. That turns into the game we saw today. 

 

There are 2 possible solutions. Get rid of Brady and come up with some brilliant offensive scheme, or bring in new players. That's it. That's all there is. 

 

If nothing changes, expect Josh to continue to regress toward the mean, and kiss our season and the playoffs goodbye. 

[DuckyBoys]

Think he's having even less fun than we are watching this dumpster fire of a pass game  Watching him throwing downfield to the likes of Coleman and Shavers is reminding me of the Kelvin Benjamin Zay Jones Charles Clay triplets they trotted out in the salary cap purge year How can a GM seriously mishandle the wr position so many times?  I don't get it  How do you go in with Coleman/Shavers/Palmer as your only outside wrs and feel you are set to be a SB contender?

[transient]

1 minute ago, Bruffalo said:

I’m not trying to hand wave away the pressing, because it’s a legitimate critique, but who wouldn’t be pressing when this is what you’re given to work with? 
 

 

Trust me, I'm not criticizing him for it. It's a product of the desperation he's clearly feeling that's showing on his face, IMO. Same with the fumble on the tush push. If the Bills were playing with any rhythm, I don't think he tries to extend the play like that, but, while he would never come out and say it, I think he felt like he was the team's only hope today.

[billsfan_34]

6 minutes ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

I'm overwhelmed 

As much as that Russian in the woods that had a few goodfellas eating ketchup packets? 😂

[Sojourner]

10 minutes ago, Bruffalo said:

Anyone who thinks Allen’s play and ability is even in the top 10 of the Bills’ problems is delusional. 
 

This is probably the worst WR room in the modern NFL era. Combine that with extremely predictable playcalling and we are seeing what it looks like when a generational talent is handcuffed with trash around him.

 

I saw a guy giving it his all while nobody else stepped up at all today. A total team failure that starts with the coaching.

Cleveland is bad. TEs are a wash there. 
 

Other than that?
The Ravens aren’t far off this group. 
Maybe the Giants without Nabers. 
Tennessee is pretty brutal. 
Raiders are rough. 

Patriots aren’t that great, they just got speed. I think Shakir would be putting up the same stats as Diggs if you switched places. 

 

Either way, theyre definitley in the bottom  of the league. 

[dorquemada]

Just now, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

Seriously, for HIS mental health, they should trade him to a team that'll use him, and bring in a game manager to play complementary football.

 

I hate that I agree with this.  McD's philosophy doesnt require or value downfield passing.  Honestly daniel jones would have been better for him, though Im sure we would have paid him same as allen

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

1 minute ago, Dick_Cheney said:

What do you expect?

 

Allen knows better than anyone the reality of the situation. I'm sure early in the season he had hope that things would somehow gel and it would work out, or god forbid we'd bring in actual talent. That clearly hasn't been the case, and the crazy thing is, there are numerous free agent WRs who are markedly better than what we are working with, and it's a crime we haven't brought anyone in, and if we still don't after this week, then I really don't understand football.

 

The problem is two fold. Allen's weapons are limited so the passing attack or downfield whatever you want to call it is essentially non existent. Not only does this suck on its own, but it pretty much allows the defense to limit everything else you try to do to compensate. I'm tired of people showing the occasional downfield catch as proof that we do indeed have a legit passing game. We don't. Statistically speaking, any QB will make a downfield throw to somebody here and there. That's not enough. There's no consistency. 

 

The second problem, which is becoming just as much of a problem if not a larger problem then that, is again, JOSH KNOWS THIS. It's in his head. He's thinking about it all week at practice. He's looking at the gameplan and just thinking oh jesus christ here we go again. And then when he hits the field and is once again hit by the train of reality that is the fact he has nobody to throw the ball to, it's over. It's in his brain and it's under his skin. It then impacts every other aspect of his game. He knows it's on him to make something happen. It's hero ball. It's reckless decisions praying that it works because doing things by the numbers just isn't an option anymore. That turns into interceptions. That turns into fumbles. That turns into the game we saw today. 

 

There are 2 possible solutions. Get rid of Brady and come up with some brilliant offensive scheme, or bring in new players. That's it. That's all there is. 

 

If nothing changes, expect Josh to continue to regress toward the mean, and kiss our season and the playoffs goodbye. 

Then the excuse machine will gin up, "muh injuries"

[CincyBillsFan]

1 minute ago, Billz4ever said:

 

It's hard to convert on an onside kick as it is.  Expecting to do it with a guy who's not a kicker and never done it in a game is just not a serious attempt.

Then why do it? Seriously.  Why not kick off and see what happens. Maybe the Dolphins get careless, fumbles happen or they get cute and throw an incomplete pass. Maybe we pull within 3 with 2 TO's remaining?  There was 3 minutes left in the game and the Bills had 3 TO's and the 2 minute warning.