Game week thread - Buccaneers at Bills

[WotAGuy]

5 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

This is the same team that gave up 2 55+ yard TD runs to Traveon Henderson last week.

He’s pretty good.  The Bills will be lucky to not do the same when they play him again. 

[Big Turk]

Just now, WotAGuy said:

He’s pretty good.  The Bills will be lucky to not do the same when they play him again. 

 

Not better than Cook.

[Scott7975]

4 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

This is the same team that gave up 2 55+ yard TD runs to Traveon Henderson last week.

Miami was able to stop our run because they put a line full of 320 lbs guys. Not even sure Tampa is capable of that. 
 

on that note, Tampa is a big play offense. We will need to have a passing attack. Running the football is great when you have the lead but as I have been saying for weeks… you need to be able to pass the football. When your team is behind, running 10+ play drives that take 7+ minutes is only hurting your own team. 

[Big Turk]

1 minute ago, Scott7975 said:

Miami was able to stop our run because they put a line full of 320 lbs guys. Not even sure Tampa is capable of that. 
 

on that note, Tampa is a big play offense. We will need to have a passing attack. Running the football is great when you have the lead but as I have been saying for weeks… you need to be able to pass the football. When your team is behind, running 10+ play drives that take 7+ minutes is only hurting your own team. 

 

Which could be greatly hampered by wind conditions leading to a lot of off target throws and balls that sail high. We have seen this countless times with QBs unfamiliar with the conditions here.

1 minute ago, Scott7975 said:

Miami was able to stop our run because they put a line full of 320 lbs guys. Not even sure Tampa is capable of that. 
 

on that note, Tampa is a big play offense. We will need to have a passing attack. Running the football is great when you have the lead but as I have been saying for weeks… you need to be able to pass the football. When your team is behind, running 10+ play drives that take 7+ minutes is only hurting your own team. 

 

And the OLine was just terrible in executing. That was the biggest problem. Honestly don't care what the other team does, if they execute at a high level like they usually do they are going to get their yards.

Edited 3 hours ago by Big Turk

[Sierra Foothills]

On 11/14/2025 at 8:20 AM, Kelly to Allen said:

The Patriots are going to fall back in December 

 

Buffalo and KC will ascend in December 

 

You're right. The Patriots trajectory is looking good but they haven't actually accomplished much yet. "December football" and the playoffs are the only real test.

 

On 11/14/2025 at 8:33 AM, Jrb1979 said:

Many keep looking at how this team did in past years and assuming the same is going to happen this season.   

 

Unless the defense starts getting more timely turnovers and  their average starting field position improves from the worst in the league, I think this team will struggle to win games. 

 

On 11/14/2025 at 8:50 AM, dcinmuncie said:

with all the 'sky is falling' narrative, admittedly much of it from myself

 

i can't help but having the feeling that with the fans writing them off, the media writing them off that they are about to go on a huge run and win it all. One thing i've learned in watching football since 1990 is nothing is ever as it seems

 

Well the above two posts are it in a nutshell. Is this team in this current situation able to bounce back as they have in the past or are things more dire than they've been since the beginning of the McBeane administration?

 

On 11/14/2025 at 9:43 AM, Donuts and Doritos said:

 

Footage of Shakir at practice:

 

 

What in the actual f is that?  🤣

 

22 hours ago, Success said:

I'm irrationally excited about seeing a different grouping w/ the WR corps on Sunday.  Getting Palmer back - maybe seeing Davis or Hardman or both.  It's one of those things where it literally can't be worse than what we've seen, and is likely to be better.  Maybe significantly better.

 

And that could change our fortunes this season.  Getting some semblance of a passing game back, and staying healthier the rest of the way - both could go a long way toward giving us a shot to still win the division, get the 1 seed and make a strong run in the playoffs.

 

We're all irrational, excitement or not. We're Bills fans.

 

21 hours ago, Big Turk said:

How the hell is Thompson listed as Full but questionable?  Never have seen this before that I can remember.

 

He's guaranteed to play, 50% of the time.

 

20 hours ago, Kelly to Allen said:

If buffalo wins this game comfortably, what will you guys think?

 

Back on track? AFC championship 🏆 appearance at min

 

Still skeptical? Iffy?

 

Still anticipating missing the playoffs or early wildcard exit? Fire everyone?

 

It depends on if the passing game shows signs of meaningful and permanent improvement. In many respects the victory over KC was a liar.

 

17 hours ago, Success said:

I have to admit - I don't know anything.

 

But I can't escape the feeling that this regime would much rather go w/ the mediocrity that they know & trust rather than take even the smallest leap to try to improve things.

 

So you admit it then! Seriously, I disagree with the regime "settling for mediocrity." I'm not even in WNY anymore but I feel like they're feeling more heat right now than ever before... am I wrong? If that's the case they're looking for answers.

 

The question is whether they'll find them but I'm certain they're trying. McBeane's work ethic and diligence have never been questioned.

 

14 hours ago, Kelly to Allen said:

In 1989 it definitely felt like the end. It was bad. 

 

Do you not remember Jim Kelly screaming at burkett on the sideline on Monday night football? A massive fight in the locker room with the coaches, Thurman Thomas and Jim Kelly getting into it because Howard Ballard was ass lol

 

It was honestly way worse than it is now. Star players almost got traded away

 

It's weird how history repeats itself in 1989 they also had that dramatic comeback opening day versus the dolphins just like this year versus the Ravens

 

Can you imagine social media with the 89 bickering bills lmfao 😅 OMG 😰 

 

And Marv had the credibility and respect of the entire organization to right the ship and command the crew.

 

With all of those alphas, you need strong leadership. Regarding this edition of the Bills, I don't know how many alphas they have which to me requires that the Head Coach is the alpha. Unfortunately the manifestation of him on the playing field is Terrel Bernard.

 

4 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

In the NFL nothing is guaranteed. 

 

However, I will guarantee Daboll is not brought in in the middle of a season to run the offense.  And I would offer roughly the same odds he's not brought back in the off-season either. 

 

Unless the Head Coach who appears threatened by coordinators who don't have a subordinate mindset is secure enough to give him another chance... for the good of both men's careers.

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Sierra Foothills

[Kelly to Allen]

13 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

I'm not simply comparing rosters.  

 

But that '89 team, by a wide margin, had the best roster in the AFC.   On paper, they had no real weaknesses and a great deal of excellent young depth.

 

 The 1994 roster had fallen back toward the pack.  This 2025 Bills team has some gaping holes like that 1994 unit.   

 

I'm really talking about how they are performing after a 6 year run as a contender from 1988-1993 versus the 2019-2024 6 year playoff run of this group.  

 

The 1995 Bills needed and got a pretty big overhaul on defense plus the addition of Ruben Brown(who played great as a rookie). 

 

 

The Tampa game will tell us a lot. 

[Boatdrinks]

1 minute ago, Kelly to Allen said:

 

 

The Tampa game will tell us a lot. 

Maybe. If it’s a weather game and the ground attack is predominantly used, it may be something of a mirage. I’m looking to Houston on the road in prime time to indicate if this team has what it takes or is a playoff pretender. 

[Kelly to Allen]

7 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said:

Maybe. If it’s a weather game and the ground attack is predominantly used, it may be something of a mirage. I’m looking to Houston on the road in prime time to indicate if this team has what it takes or is a playoff pretender. 

 

If they beat Houston in a tough 16-13 type game,bon a short week ....that will actually say a lot of positive about the team. 

 

I agree 

Edited 2 hours ago by Kelly to Allen

[WotAGuy]

28 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

This is the same team that gave up 2 55+ yard TD runs to Traveon Henderson last week.

 

I doubt we see another poor performance like last week in the pass game.

 

Plays were there to be made, once again Allen and the offense in general looked completely unprepared to be able to take advantage of them.

 

There was one play in particular that showed exactly how bad it was when Allen bought a bunch of time, drifted to his right, got near the sideline and then threw it away.

 

On that play he had 3 receivers that were open, almost immediately and before he bailed from the pocket, that he could have thrown to, decided not to throw to 2 of them and then didn't see the 3rd.

 

It was one of the worst games from a "mentally there" aspect that I have ever seen from Allen in terms of the difference between what was available versus what he actually did.

 

Same can be said for the OLine which was just downright bad all game long as well.

 

This coming on the heels of one of their best games against a far superior team and defense.

 

This was nothing other than a completely unprepared and unfocused team last week on offense that thought they could just show up and dominate like they always have against that team.

 

Didn't work out for them. I truly hope they learned that lesson for the last time this year.

 

As the song Legendary asks:

 

"How many times must you learn the same lesson?"

Well, the Bills definitely will have the advantage against the wind in the pass game, with their 0.5 average air yards per pass. 😝

[Nihilarian]

3 hours ago, Jrb1979 said:

IMO that's easier said then done. The WRs one this team just aren't that good. 

I disagree as both Palmer and Moore are new this year and it takes a bit of time for Josh to trust a receiver. We know Knox is good as he has been the 3rd or 4th receiver under Daboll, Dorsey. It's just Brady doesn't use him as much and that's the problem is the the Buffalo Bills offense went from a pass first under Daboll/Dorsey to a run first offense under Brady and Shakir, Coleman and Kincaid are the primary's now.  

 

Moore and Curtis Samuel have the speed to go deep and run fly patterns while dragging the safeties and DBs deep with them to open things up in the middle and it just doesn't happen. The RB's have been used very sparingly in the passing game until this past week against Miami. 

 

It's not just the passing game as it's also the defense that is worrisome with four guys still questionable and the rest full practice. Still, Tampa Bay leads their division at 6-3 and Houston at 4-5 has the #1 defense in the NFL right now. 🤯

[Donuts and Doritos]

What I'm expecting tomorrow:

 

 

MAXIMUM EFFORT!!!!

[Big Turk]

14 minutes ago, WotAGuy said:

Well, the Bills definitely will have the advantage against the wind in the pass game, with their 0.5 average air yards per pass. 😝

 

I'm guessing you didn't watch the game the week before?

[Scott7975]

10 minutes ago, Nihilarian said:

Moore and Curtis Samuel have the speed to go deep and run fly patterns while dragging the safeties and DBs deep with them to open things up in the middle and it just doesn't happen. The RB's have been used very sparingly in the passing game until this past week against Miami. 

It doesn’t happen because their routes are primitive and the other team trusts their corners to cover outside. Flood the middle with everyone else. 

[SCBills]

2 hours ago, Jrb1979 said:

I get that it's all you got. I will ask this though. What if this what they are?  A 10-7 team at best? 

Everyone keeps comparing this team to past Bills teams in the Allen era. "They always have a mid season funk, then rifle off multiple wins to an AFC East championship". 

 

IMO this team is nothing like those teams. 

This team isn’t much different from last years team.  
 

That being said, last years team - on paper - had no business beating Baltimore in the Divisional Round and we had nobody capable of stealing the division from us. 
 

Still.. they were, perhaps, a dropped Kincaid catch from the Super Bowl.  

[Jrb1979]

8 minutes ago, SCBills said:

This team isn’t much different from last years team.  
 

That being said, last years team - on paper - had no business beating Baltimore in the Divisional Round and we had nobody capable of stealing the division from us. 
 

Still.. they were, perhaps, a dropped Kincaid catch from the Super Bowl.  

There is a big difference in that last season they had a high turnover differential. 

[jcamm1966]

Should not have to hope beyond hope these guys decide to "SHOW UP".

[nosejob]

I'd love to see Dabol come right in as the pass coordinator. Then we can see him and Brady fightin in the booth.🤪

[Sierra Foothills]

6 minutes ago, nosejob said:

I'd love to see Dabol come right in as the pass coordinator. Then we can see him and Brady fightin in the booth.🤪

 

We can get Dorsey back here to smash some clipboards!

 

Seriously though, that's maybe what this team needs is some creative tension and not just disciples following orders.

 

Does this coaching staff argue and debate or is it just top down directives?

 

I wish I knew.

 

[WotAGuy]

1 hour ago, Big Turk said:

 

I'm guessing you didn't watch the game the week before?

You like to pull out one or two examples and make a case. So, I’m guessing those two times you pissed off your wife means you’re a lousy husband?

 

The season-long trend is the Bills’ passing game begins behind the line of 

scrimmage. 

[Nitro]

Listening to Greg Cossell’s analysis of the Bills passing game is spot on.  He points the finger not at the receivers it Brady.  Many routes other teams use are not in the Bills playbook.  He cited that this has been a problem for over a year.  I concur and have seen this problem and feel no confidence that Brady will have an epiphany and correct his play designs.