Game week thread - Bills at Steelers

[The Jokeman]

3 hours ago, 2003Contenders said:

Except, Patrick, what if Hoecht and Oliver had remained healthy? Meanwhile, Bosa has played the last couple of games one-handed.  I won't even count Jackson since he hadn't shown much prior to his injury.

 

I have a lot of problems with personnel decisions that Bean has made, but I give him credit for TRYING to fortify the DL in the off-season.

He's been quiet lately but Deone Walker looks like an improvement on what we've had in recent past when comes down to depth DTs. Larry O while not always noticeable been a solid contributor. TJ Sanders meh but at least he's healthy now, will he be anything more than depth? Time will tell. So, yes Beane has made efforts and tired of the tribe that seems to think he rests on his laurels which he hasnt. He did it in adding veteran WRs Palmer and Moore this past offseason as well. So effort is there just not the results we/he'd hope. 

Edited 3 hours ago by The Jokeman

[milfandcookies]

Might as well shut it down if we lose this one. You gotta be kidding me

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Interesting reading the Steelers beat reporters. They are mocking Beane for assembling a “trash” roster around Allen. 

[Goin Breakdown]

3 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

Interesting reading the Steelers beat reporters. They are mocking Beane for assembling a “trash” roster around Allen. 

So basically they're smart. 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Just now, Goin Breakdown said:

So basically they're smart. 

those steeler beat guys complain that Calvin Austin is a terrible 2nd receiver. Or complain that there isn’t a great pass rusher opposite TJ Watt. Yet we don’t have any receivers or ends on our roster that would be good enough to be even their second best options! 

[transplantbillsfan]

2 hours ago, Walking Tall said:

Do you honestly believe there is a chance we win out? Come on now.

 

1 hour ago, WNYFAN1 said:

"If we win out" is absolutely the shakiest part of this argument...

 

Of course it's possible when you have Josh Allen at QB, sure.

 

The Bills were 7-6 with dire playoff hopes because we looked abysmal in multiple games in 2021 and won their last 4 games and we all know what happened.

 

The Bills were 6-6 with pretty dire playoff hopes because we looked abysmal in multiple games in 2024 and won their last 5 games and ended up in the divisional round where we were a Dion Dawkins block away from winning or a Tyler Bass field goal away from potentially winning a home game against the Chiefs.

 

We've looked terrible this year in multiple games, but it's head-scratching to me how short everyone's memory is.  This isn't new.

[KOKBILLS]

The Bills can still beat anyone on their schedule, and any team they run into in the Playoffs...heck even on a slightly off day... What they can't do is have bad, poorly coached and game-planned days because they are super thinned out due to injury and the margin for error is just not what it used to be. And lately, even though I really think they are built to win in multiple ways, especially on Offense, they just seem reluctant to game plan to the the opponents weaknesses. And I think that has led to the turnovers and mistakes that have put them in bad game scripts against teams they should beat. 

 

I'm not writing anything off, and the chances are never zero... but I just can't help but feel this season got off on the wrong foot right from the start with the two suspensions, then the Max injury, then the Oliver injuries, and has only come close to stabilizing right after the bye. Then Hoecht gets hurt and it's just worse. We'll never get close to seeing what this Defense was supposed to be in 2025. Heck even the seemingly minor injuries to Strong and Sanders were HUGE blows to depth... Kincaid can't stay healthy... It's just been a mess... The fact they they are 7-4 is proof positive they are a very dangerous team. Because man have they had issues...Talent issues, coaching issues, depth issues, game plan issues, scheme issues, penalty issues, and of course worst of all injury issues... 

[ColoradoBills]

The only thing that matters for the Bills in the 2025 season right now is going into Pittsburgh and winning the game.

With all the broken bodies it will be a challenge for the entire team.

 

I'm hopeful,

Go Bills.

[BuffaloBillyG]

18 minutes ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

 

Of course it's possible when you have Josh Allen at QB, sure.

 

The Bills were 7-6 with dire playoff hopes because we looked abysmal in multiple games in 2021 and won their last 4 games and we all know what happened.

 

The Bills were 6-6 with pretty dire playoff hopes because we looked abysmal in multiple games in 2024 and won their last 5 games and ended up in the divisional round where we were a Dion Dawkins block away from winning or a Tyler Bass field goal away from potentially winning a home game against the Chiefs.

 

We've looked terrible this year in multiple games, but it's head-scratching to me how short everyone's memory is.  This isn't new.

Reminds me of the old saying, "Past results do not equal future success"

 

Now, that said, it's football and wild things happen. And there are still enough weeks to mathematically win the division, #1 seed or whatever people want to see. 

 

This is a discussion board. And as such, both the people that feel the Bills can overcome and the people saying they may miss the playoffs at this point have very valid arguments. I think we ALL wish the Bills were closing in on the top seed, but here we are. 

 

No, we don't know what the rest of the season holds. At this point they could win out or lose out...and neither would particularly shock me at this point. It's just a disappointment that we couldn't put away teams like Atlanta and Miami. Or New England in our building. 

 

Seems like every time we get something rolling, we get hit with a fresh batch of key injuries. Right now, we need to wrap Cole Bishop up in bubble wrap. 

 

I will say it again because it merits repeating. Both the Gloomy Gus's and the Homers have valid points. The season can go in a million directions, from a Super Bowl win to eliminated from the playoffs by week 16 or 17. I know where I feel like it's heading, but it doesn't mean my opinion is the only valid one. 

[Comebackkid]

1 hour ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

Interesting reading the Steelers beat reporters. They are mocking Beane for assembling a “trash” roster around Allen. 

Shocking I say!

[finn]

35 minutes ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

 

Of course it's possible when you have Josh Allen at QB, sure.

 

The Bills were 7-6 with dire playoff hopes because we looked abysmal in multiple games in 2021 and won their last 4 games and we all know what happened.

 

The Bills were 6-6 with pretty dire playoff hopes because we looked abysmal in multiple games in 2024 and won their last 5 games and ended up in the divisional round where we were a Dion Dawkins block away from winning or a Tyler Bass field goal away from potentially winning a home game against the Chiefs.

 

We've looked terrible this year in multiple games, but it's head-scratching to me how short everyone's memory is.  This isn't new.

A good reminder. The 2021 season is an especially apt comparison. For the sake of perspective, Allen was throwing to Diggs, Davis, Beasley, McKittrick, and Kumerow, with Dawkins, Feliciano, Morse, Ford, and a struggling Brown up front, Singletary at running back, and Knox at tight end.

 

In 2025, he clearly has a better line, a much better back, better tight ends, and worse receivers, maybe much worse, since he has a Beasley in Shakir but no Diggs and arguably no Davis. I would say it's a wash overall, except for one factor: offensive coordinator. Sorry to the dwindling band of Brady apologists, but if the Bills sink this year, it won't be because of injuries, the lack of receivers, the porous run defense, or even the head coach. It will be because of a remarkably inept offensive coordinator who I predict will be a position coach on another team next year. 

 

Commentators will shake their heads at the wasted year. The truly incredible Allen can work with a below-average WR corps and compensate for a defense that doesn't always do its part, but even he can't do always do magic with the garbage coming into his ear on every down. 

[nosejob]

3 hours ago, The Jokeman said:

He's been quiet lately but Deone Walker looks like an improvement on what we've had in recent past when comes down to depth DTs. Larry O while not always noticeable been a solid contributor. TJ Sanders meh but at least he's healthy now, will he be anything more than depth? Time will tell. So, yes Beane has made efforts and tired of the tribe that seems to think he rests on his laurels which he hasnt. He did it in adding veteran WRs Palmer and Moore this past offseason as well. So effort is there just not the results we/he'd hope. 

E for effort, I get it, but D'wayne  who? 2nd yr.? Forgot all about him. DQloolootay shoulda been gone last yr.  but guess I'm ok that he isn't.

 

T.J. will be like Ed and take until a contract year to maybe show something.

 

Mathis is ok in my book, he is helping.

 

Larry is a play a game.

 

JP ditto, but should be next to Walker so we have 2 of our biggest out there at the same time. BTW they have 6'6" 315 Zion Logue who I thought had some good energy and would also look better next to Walker.

 

Deone Walker is the guy to build around during the next attempt for Beane on the Dline. Look what Philly and the Gmen did. They hammered on one area until they're set. Philly also did that in the back end.

 

They finally try something different for 7 qtrs. and should have had a collective Epiphany, but nope. Too stubborn. Embarrassed on TV in Houston....again. Speaking of which, I don't recall a single blitz into the 3rd qtr. basically when I quit paying attention.

 

This staff has no thirst for innovation or being ahead of the curve. Put Fox inside of Bosa....Put Greg inside and Solomon outside next to him. McD has me convinced he will never change. There's no reason we can't play a 5-2-4 against Pitt. It would be a great time to dial it in.

Edited 49 minutes ago by nosejob

[mjt328]

2 hours ago, transplantbillsfan said:

Of course it's possible when you have Josh Allen at QB, sure.

 

The Bills were 7-6 with dire playoff hopes because we looked abysmal in multiple games in 2021 and won their last 4 games and we all know what happened.

 

The Bills were 6-6 with pretty dire playoff hopes because we looked abysmal in multiple games in 2024 and won their last 5 games and ended up in the divisional round where we were a Dion Dawkins block away from winning or a Tyler Bass field goal away from potentially winning a home game against the Chiefs.

 

We've looked terrible this year in multiple games, but it's head-scratching to me how short everyone's memory is.  This isn't new.

 

Previous seasons, our biggest problems seemed to be sloppy/undisciplined play.  We went through long stretches with lots of turnovers, penalties, dropped passes, etc.  But at the end of the day, we were still a fairly talented roster.  And there were plenty of times throughout the season where our potential was shining through the rough patches.

 

This year seems different.  The issues seem much deeper.  Outside of the Chiefs game, the Bills have looked really rough all season long.  Even back when the team was 4-0, everything looked ugly.  Tackling hasn't improved in the slightest.  Even games we are scoring 30-40 points, it just isn't smooth or synced up.  My fear that it's not a good team in a slump... but rather a team that just isn't very good anymore.