We do not do well against teams we are supposed to beat.

[BobbyC81]

How are the Texans a “team we’re supposed to beat”??
 

They were 5-5, they have arguably the best defense in the league, the Bills have been struggling and it was a TNF road game.  I don’t care what the spread was or that Stroud wasn’t playing.  It was a disappointing loss but not surprising.

[WhiskyBreath]

12 hours ago, mjt328 said:

Inconsistency is often a sign of bad game planning.  When you aren’t adjusting for a specific opponent’s tendencies, it’s like running into a brick wall.

 

The Bills coaching staff likes to do their thing and hope they can just execute better.

 

Did it look like Joe Brady had prepared in the slightest for a team with a strong pass rush?

 

Bingo!

 

I was surprised by the complete lack of adjustments to Houston's defense, as amazing as that defense is.  I kept thinkiing they will adjust with quick throws, as opposed to the long ball when you have no time in the pocket, perhaps, a few well-executed screens. etc.  But, we got zilch in terms of adjustments even after half-time.  The coaches messed up big time first in terms of: (a) complacency; (b) preparing for a super, but somewhat predictable defense; and (c) making appropriate adjustments based on what they were seeing on the field.

[Yobogoya!]

12 hours ago, mjt328 said:

Inconsistency is often a sign of bad game planning.  When you aren’t adjusting for a specific opponent’s tendencies, it’s like running into a brick wall.

 

The Bills coaching staff likes to do their thing and hope they can just execute better.

 

Did it look like Joe Brady had prepared in the slightest for a team with a strong pass rush?

 

Yep rare has been the occasion where we come out and it looks like we planned to do something specific vs an opponent -- ie, either mitigate their strength or exploit their weakness. 

 

We just go out and either match up or we don't and that's that. 

[SC STATE NUPE]

I’ve been saying this for ages!!!!! That is a direct reflection of coaching!!!! We struggle against “no name/backup” QBs immensely! It goes back to that playoff game where we almost lost to the Dolphins backup QB. And if Rodgers doesn’t play next week for the Steelers, we will struggle and more than likely lose that game as well…. McD only adjusts his gameplan after halftime. Thats crazy work!!! The Texans should’ve never sniffed 20 points at halftime. 

[RiotAct]

During the 4th quarter of Thursday’s game, I remember wondering to my dad “how the hell are the Texans 5-5???”

[oldmanfan]

The league is as balanced as it’s ever been this year.  Houston just flat out kicked out butts up front and we still had a chance to win until our veteran LT did his weekly false start crap.  The Miami and Falcons games we simply stunk across the board.

[mjt328]

6 hours ago, Yobogoya! said:

Yep rare has been the occasion where we come out and it looks like we planned to do something specific vs an opponent -- ie, either mitigate their strength or exploit their weakness. 

 

We just go out and either match up or we don't and that's that. 

And as our talent level has decreased, we match-up well with less and less teams.

 

We have always struggled on defense against physical run games and elite QBs.  Now our offense can’t handle a strong pass rush or a good pair of corners either.

[harmonkillebrew]

We don't do well against top Ds with good pass rush.  If you can get pressure rushing 4, or with well-schemed blitzes, it exposes our lack of WR talent and overall back offensive scheme.

Josh also struggles as he holds the ball too long and thinks he can make a play, but its harder to get away from the elite athletic pass rushers

[Scott7975]

On 11/21/2025 at 9:49 AM, Yobogoya! said:

There's a good reason for this: we aren't as "good" of a roster as the media and fans think we are. 

 

We are only "supposed to beat" these teams because our MVP QB has made us look dominant, when we clearly are not a dominant-built roster by any stretch. 

 

Josh Allen has been masking the talent and coaching deficiencies on this team for years now. We are only even in the wild card conversation because of him, otherwise we'd be a doormat this year. 

 

This. Our roster is mid to bottom barrel with the exception of Josh, Cook, Bishop, Kincaid. We have a good oline but frankly I think its overrated. We have 2 stars on the team in total. Josh and Cook.

[Guns N' Rosen]

On 11/21/2025 at 9:49 AM, Yobogoya! said:

There's a good reason for this: we aren't as "good" of a roster as the media and fans think we are. 

 

We are only "supposed to beat" these teams because our MVP QB has made us look dominant, when we clearly are not a dominant-built roster by any stretch. 

 

Josh Allen has been masking the talent and coaching deficiencies on this team for years now. We are only even in the wild card conversation because of him, otherwise we'd be a doormat this year. 

Yet, there are members on this board who insist it's Allen who's the problem 🤣🤣🤣

 

Their counter being the same old snark about, "can't say anything bad about Josh..." 

 

If EVER there was a player who's better than 17 at making a dollar out of $0.15, I have yet to see him

 

 

 

 

[Michael1962]

I had a bad feeling right before the season started and it was announced that the Bills were favored in every game.

[WhiskyBreath]

On 11/21/2025 at 9:43 AM, nedboy7 said:

That was the best defense in the NFL.  More so it exposed our inadequacy in offensive scheme.  

 

Correct.  However, we did manage to beat teams with good defenses by game-planning around a fierce pass rush with extra folks on the OL, throwing the ball early with short passes, screens, well-executed running plays with more folks blocking, etc.  Waiting for an open receiever for the long ball results in 8 sacks against a good defense like Houston.

 

Bottom-line, we got complacent and simply were not prepared for this game.  Then, we failed to make adjustments as the sacks kept climbing.  If we had made those adjustments, we may still have overcome the INT's, sloppy play, missed extra point, penalties, etc.  The fact that we were even close is a testament to Allen and that incredible 4th and 27 play at the end.

[Big Turk]

This seems to be a recent development...we usually crush them.  Also recent is that Allen is 0-3 in his last 3 prime time games, where he used to thrive.

[WNYFAN1]

On 11/21/2025 at 9:38 AM, JMM said:

That's coaching,  plain and simple. May be unfair, but that comes with the territory. 

Not unfair at all.

 

I'm actually tired of some of the "kid gloves" about these guys, coaches and players (and I don't mean you). These guys are absolutely RAKING in the cash. I mean it's actually disgusting what these people make compared to the average fan. Perform or get out, that simple.

[zow2]

To the original post, the Bills were favorites in all 17 games this season, entering game 1.   So most any loss is against a team they're supposed to beat.  The lines are getting adjusted downwards as the weeks go on, but Vegas still thinks the Bills are decent favorites in most games.

[TheFunPolice]

Luckily, the Steelers don't beat good teams unless those teams throw up all over themselves. 

 

When we lose to Pittsburgh it's always a blocked punt then we get a full screen shot of their special teams coach chomping his chewing gum like a maniac.

 

If we don't turn it over and don't give them freebies on special teams they cannot win. 

 

 

[juno999]

I believe they have become complacent to a degree. Too much sloppy football.  Even in the games they win they’re sloppy at times. This roster is too old, slow and pricey in certain positions. Belichick was good at knowing when to move on from certain players. Beane seems to do the opposite.