I was at the game and let me tell you what was happening downfield

[hondo in seattle]

On 11/20/2025 at 9:24 PM, Einstein said:

The one stinky part of watching from a comfy couch (which I prefer) is that you don’t get to see the whole field.

 

You don’t get to see what the QB is looking at.

 

Being at the game, you can. I was there. Where is what I saw: 

 

1) It is tough to describe in words (because people think you’re exaggerating when you’re not) how covered our receiving options were. Texans players were step for step locked in on our receiving options. There were entire series where I don’t think our receivers had an INCH of separation.

 

2) Allen was watching this unfold and has NO WHERE to throw to 99% of the game, and to make matters worse, he was being pressured non-stop. 28 total pressures, I believe was the final number.

 

3) What does superman do when he is being pressured and his receivers can’t get open in a normal (or expedited) amount of time? He scrambles to buy them more time to get open.  But by doing so, he gets sacked - deep. Fans who don’t understand what is happening yell “just throw the ball away!” not realizing that this option simply makes it a punt on 4th and 7 instead of a punt on 4th and 20. It also means you don’t have any super hero plays, like his 3rd and 12 scramble. At one point in the game the Texans fans next to us said “there is nothing he can do” … they were right.

 

4) Brady, for most of the game, kept calling deep crossers, option routes, and traffic beaters. I was pulling my hair out because Allen didn’t have enough time as it was, and Brady had receivers running routes that take 3-5 seconds. On the last 2 drives he finally connected a few neurons and reverted to a shorter route tree and exploited what Houston wasn’t covering (the flats and quick hitters). Magically the offense starting moving the ball.

 

5) Last thing: I think defenses have figured out Brady’s progression scheme. They seem to be leaving coverage after Allen checks off an option in his progression. This sometimes makes an option look open but Allen is no longer looking at them so it doesn’t matter.

 

You will see this when the ALL-22 comes out. It was very frustrating. 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for posting this, Einstein.  It only amplified my concerns about Brady.  

 

Our downfield passing game is probably the weakest part of our offense.  Our receivers don't separate and Brady hasn't demonstrated any genius at scheming guys open.

Downfield passing is probably the strength of the Texan defense.  Their secondary is very good and their DL can generate pressure without tons of blitzing.  

 

So why were we watching Josh drop back, scan the field, and get clobbered?  What was Brady thinking?

 

We all knock Brady for being too conservative, but this was a game when he should have dialed up lots of runs (instead of 19 rushes by RBs versus 34 passes) and short, quick passes where the ball is out of Josh's hand in 2.0 seconds.  

 

Unless I'm missing something, it was one of the dumbest game plans I've ever seen.  

[Scott7975]

Stevie Johnson and a couple other guys take. Its about 40 mins long though.

[BigAl2526]

Brady also calls a lot of behind-the - line pass plays.   Shakir was targeted there several times during the game.  Houston stopped it every time.  Not having ever played or studied football, there is much that I miss when I watch a game, but when it's blatant and obvious I can see as well as anyone else.

[BillsDad51]

35 minutes ago, BigAl2526 said:

Brady also calls a lot of behind-the - line pass plays.   Shakir was targeted there several times during the game.  Houston stopped it every time.  Not having ever played or studied football, there is much that I miss when I watch a game, but when it's blatant and obvious I can see as well as anyone else.

I think Brady is trying to get Shakir killed. In the last two games, Shakir caught the screen a fraction of a second before the tackler leveled him. Didn't even have time to duck or fall down to avoid the big hit.

[Psautcsk]

14 minutes ago, BillsDad51 said:

I think Brady is trying to get Shakir killed. In the last two games, Shakir caught the screen a fraction of a second before the tackler leveled him. Didn't even have time to duck or fall down to avoid the big hit.

They never do that play to Coleman.

[rajinka]

1 hour ago, BillsDad51 said:

I think Brady is trying to get Shakir killed. In the last two games, Shakir caught the screen a fraction of a second before the tackler leveled him. Didn't even have time to duck or fall down to avoid the big hit.

All i can guess is we run it in practice and with our D's inability to tackle Shakir takes it to the house everytime.  

[Scott7975]

1 hour ago, BillsDad51 said:

I think Brady is trying to get Shakir killed. In the last two games, Shakir caught the screen a fraction of a second before the tackler leveled him. Didn't even have time to duck or fall down to avoid the big hit.

 

and its not even really because the play itself is a bad play. Other teams like KC run similar stuff all the time. Its that the other team always sees it coming and we dont get the blocking right sometimes too. Also there have been some games where they try and run it way too much. Its almost like the Bills have like 4 play concepts in their book.

Edited Sunday at 02:55 AM by Scott7975

[Old Coot]

On 11/21/2025 at 12:24 AM, Einstein said:

The one stinky part of watching from a comfy couch (which I prefer) is that you don’t get to see the whole field.

 

You don’t get to see what the QB is looking at.

 

Being at the game, you can. I was there. Where is what I saw: 

 

1) It is tough to describe in words (because people think you’re exaggerating when you’re not) how covered our receiving options were. Texans players were step for step locked in on our receiving options. There were entire series where I don’t think our receivers had an INCH of separation.

 

2) Allen was watching this unfold and has NO WHERE to throw to 99% of the game, and to make matters worse, he was being pressured non-stop. 28 total pressures, I believe was the final number.

 

3) What does superman do when he is being pressured and his receivers can’t get open in a normal (or expedited) amount of time? He scrambles to buy them more time to get open.  But by doing so, he gets sacked - deep. Fans who don’t understand what is happening yell “just throw the ball away!” not realizing that this option simply makes it a punt on 4th and 7 instead of a punt on 4th and 20. It also means you don’t have any super hero plays, like his 3rd and 12 scramble. At one point in the game the Texans fans next to us said “there is nothing he can do” … they were right.

 

4) Brady, for most of the game, kept calling deep crossers, option routes, and traffic beaters. I was pulling my hair out because Allen didn’t have enough time as it was, and Brady had receivers running routes that take 3-5 seconds. On the last 2 drives he finally connected a few neurons and reverted to a shorter route tree and exploited what Houston wasn’t covering (the flats and quick hitters). Magically the offense starting moving the ball.

 

5) Last thing: I think defenses have figured out Brady’s progression scheme. They seem to be leaving coverage after Allen checks off an option in his progression. This sometimes makes an option look open but Allen is no longer looking at them so it doesn’t matter.

 

You will see this when the ALL-22 comes out. It was very frustrating. 

 

 

 

Is it fair to say that most of Josh's 2d half sacks were coverage sacks or was it poor performance by the O line?

[Jay_Fixit]

Seriously just let Allen call the plays.

[Einstein]

30 minutes ago, Old Coot said:

Is it fair to say that most of Josh's 2d half sacks were coverage sacks or was it poor performance by the O line?

 

Both. Just an awful mix. 

 

Look at Brown and Dawkins just doing nothing. 

 

 

 

[MPT]

On 11/21/2025 at 6:07 PM, Einstein said:

 

No.

 

You don’t do this when the receiver is blanketed.

 

Well if they're already open there's no need for it. Are you seriously trying to argue that this isn't a thing?

[NoSaint]

On 11/22/2025 at 8:54 PM, Scott7975 said:

 

and its not even really because the play itself is a bad play. Other teams like KC run similar stuff all the time. Its that the other team always sees it coming and we dont get the blocking right sometimes too. Also there have been some games where they try and run it way too much. Its almost like the Bills have like 4 play concepts in their book.

to be fair, I think most fans would be shocked by how much of a playbook is often variations of like 4 runs and 6 pass concepts out of a bunch of different personal groups and formations 

you have a couple core man beater concepts, a few zone beater concepts and any given week are installing some wrinkles off of the usual suspects 

we obviously use mesh a good bit as a man beater. Josh’s legs are usually reliable to force a team out of man - but you’ll notice that athletic ends and linebackers are commonly our kryptonite and where everything breaks down.

 

a lot of man beaters are going to be formation or motion to create winnable matchups…  but their nickel is as good or better than any WR we have and Knox isn’t doing anything 

 

we built to beat the chiefs and a lot of teams have built to beat us… we need to evolve and that evolution is perimiter talent 

 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by NoSaint

[GoBills808]

7 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

to be fair, I think most fans would be shocked by how much of a playbook is often variations of like 4 runs and 6 pass concepts out of a bunch of different personal groups and formations 

you have a couple core man beater concepts, a few zone beater concepts and any given week are installing some wrinkles off of the usual suspects 

we obviously use mesh a good bit as a man beater. Josh’s legs are usually reliable to force a team out of man - but you’ll notice that athletic ends and linebackers are commonly our kryptonite

 

a lot of man beaters are going to be formation or motion to create winnable matchups…  but their nickel is as good or better than any WR we have and Knox isn’t doing anything 

 

we built to beat the chiefs and a lot of teams have built to beat us… we need to evolve and that evolution is perimiter talent 

 

 

Knox is doing worse than nothing😂😂between the drops and not knowing his blocking assignment he singlehandedly killed multiple drives vs Texans

 

He is not a good football player