Is it McDermott or Brady?

[DCOrange]

7 hours ago, Trogdor said:

2020 was our best offense when you consider PPG. Since then there has been a very clear shift to a running offense. It's real cool that it works in the regular season, but it's been sputtering in the postseason. Even the Ravens game last playoffs was a fluke thanks to the great field position. 

We've been top 10 in passing yards every season since 2020 including this year. 

[Jrb1979]

5 hours ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

Based on post game comments by McD, it's mostly all on Brady.

 

Here's what I don't understand.  The Bills WR were not great last year, but we still had one of the top offenses in leage, Allen won MVP, it wasn't just because of his running ability.  While many wanted more improvements for 2025, seemed most felt the WR group was better this year than last with the addition of Palmer and Coleman having a year more experience.  The Coleman part hasn't worked out, but even there, statistically not any worse than last year.  Hollins was good last year , but he is far from a #1 WR.  Kincaid also has been improved.

 

So what happened?

Turnovers has happened on both sides of the ball. The offense has turned the ball over more than they did last season and the defense has gotten fewer turnovers this season. 

They have regressed to the mean and it's making a big difference in how this team plays. 

[DCOrange]

5 hours ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

Based on post game comments by McD, it's mostly all on Brady.

 

Here's what I don't understand.  The Bills WR were not great last year, but we still had one of the top offenses in leage, Allen won MVP, it wasn't just because of his running ability.  While many wanted more improvements for 2025, seemed most felt the WR group was better this year than last with the addition of Palmer and Coleman having a year more experience.  The Coleman part hasn't worked out, but even there, statistically not any worse than last year.  Hollins was good last year , but he is far from a #1 WR.  Kincaid also has been improved.

 

So what happened?

This hasn't changed. We're still #2 in the league in offensive yards and #5 in points this season. #2 and #3 in terms of points and yards on a per drive basis.

[BobbyC81]

It’s all of them.  McD dictates the conservative offense and disappointing defense.  
 

Beane does what he can to add talent within the salary cap constraints but instead of signing one good guy at WR (or any position), he brings in 3 or 4 mediocre ones for probably the same money.  His draft track record is horrible in the earlier rounds.  You can’t pin it all on him though as it’s not like he’s picking 4th round graded players in the first.  (Ex: like the TJ Grahams and Eric Flowers of the past).  Many early round draft picks don’t pan out.  
 

Brady was effective initially but may be dealing with McD’s direction to be conservative offensively and not have many called QB runs.   However, his play calling is often suspect and he doesn’t put the players in great positions to succeed.

 

I know I’m sick of seeing just about every possession start with Cook off tackle. It’s great when he gets 5+ yards but when he’s stuffed, then it’s obvious passing on 2nd & 3rd downs.  Don’t they have a quality control coach on this team?  “ Hey, Joe, we run the same play at the start of every possession. Maybe we should mix it up a little.”   Then there’s running similar plays 3 straight times without getting a first down.  Does Brady think he’ll fool the defense because they’d never expect running the same play 3 times in a row?   That running the QB sneak unsuccessfully to the left each time in last season’s KC playoff game was so dumb.   They’ll never expect us to run it a 5th time.