Game week thread - Bengals at Bills (flexed to 1pm ET)

[boyst]

1 minute ago, PaattMaann said:

 

...

appreciate the perspective. half full or half empty.  6 of one. half dozen of the other. lets hope we can get a full glass.

[zow2]

I wonder if the league regrets flexing the game to 1pm?  With Cinci winning last weekend and Burrow back, this is a really interesting AFC matchup.   

[newcam2012]

1 hour ago, T.E. said:

Our offensive philosophy is absolutely terrible. There are only a handful of coaches, at most, over the last 40 years who would take our approach with a QB like Josh Allen. I know it's beating a dead horse, but it needs to be discussed ad nauseum.

 

We had a 16-play drive last week that covered only 60 yards and didn’t end in a TD. That nonsense isn't sustainable, and everyone gets it but the HC and OC.

Very well stated. 

[Johnnycage46]

1 hour ago, T.E. said:

Our offensive philosophy is absolutely terrible. There are only a handful of coaches, at most, over the last 40 years who would take our approach with a QB like Josh Allen. I know it's beating a dead horse, but it needs to be discussed ad nauseum.

 

We had a 16-play drive last week that covered only 60 yards and didn’t end in a TD. That nonsense isn't sustainable, and everyone gets it but the HC and OC.

 

I'm not saying you are wrong...but I think a large part of this is on Beane and the roster construction. I think if we had a legit #1 outside WR and Kincaid back, while we would still be run heavy, we would likely be throwing more and getting some bigger chunk plays in the air. I almost think, this is who our O HAS to be at this point, good, bad, or otherwise, due to the roster.

[newcam2012]

1 hour ago, The Firebaugh Kid said:

If we run the ball and control the clock we will be fine. 

If they can't run effectively then what likely happens? More screen passes? 

[Boatdrinks]

16 minutes ago, zow2 said:

I wonder if the league regrets flexing the game to 1pm?  With Cinci winning last weekend and Burrow back, this is a really interesting AFC matchup.   

There are some division matchups in the AFC that will have a bigger impact on the playoff picture. The Bengals at 4-8 are still a long shot even with Burrow. Now had CIN won a couple games recently like say,  vs NE it would be a different story. 

[newcam2012]

1 hour ago, balln said:

Does it not feel like a lions bills matchup from last year ? 
 

really

poor LB and S , stud DE out 

 

im waiting for a complete offensive explosion where Allen scores 6 tds and we hear MVP chants again

 

1 hour ago, PaattMaann said:

 

I disagree we are struggling. Again, our offense ranks in the top 5 in points scored on 1st possessions...that seems to be the opposite of struggling. That seems to say we thrive with scripted plays. 

 

One could say RECENTLY we have not been as successful, to which I would say Josh threw a silly mental mistake INT last week (to which he admitted post game), that isn't the offense starting slow, its Josh being an idiot for a play. Marched down the field for a TD against the leagues best defense in our 1st drive two weeks ago. Against the Bucs, Allen yet again throws a dumb INT on the 2nd play of the game. That's not on the offense starting slow, that's Allen making a dumb decision. 

 

I cannot agree that a team that is top 5 in scoring on 1st drives can be labeled as starting slow. 

Trust your eyes not the stats. The Bills offense lacks creativity, explosive players, WR talent, a good offensive coordinator, and is too predictable. I don't care what the stats say. 

[416BillsFan]

36 minutes ago, zow2 said:

I wonder if the league regrets flexing the game to 1pm?  With Cinci winning last weekend and Burrow back, this is a really interesting AFC matchup.   

Probably not. It's very rare that Chicago is this good late in the season & Green Bay has a national following too. The only other FOX top 10 tv markets with teams playing at 1 are Atlanta & DC, so Bills/Bengals will likely be a good lead-in for most of the country.

 

The local Buffalo affiliates aren't happy though. CBS will have to air Broncos-Raiders at 4 (instead of likely Steelers/Ravens @ 1) & FOX will have a slightly smaller (but still massive) number at 1 instead of 425.

Edited 1 hour ago by 416BillsFan

[T.E.]

20 minutes ago, Johnnycage46 said:

 

I'm not saying you are wrong...but I think a large part of this is on Beane and the roster construction. I think if we had a legit #1 outside WR and Kincaid back, while we would still be run heavy, we would likely be throwing more and getting some bigger chunk plays in the air. I almost think, this is who our O HAS to be at this point, good, bad, or otherwise, due to the roster.

There's some truth to this, but the playcalling is still ridiculous. They had a 3rd and 10 early in the game last week where all four receivers ran routes that were 4-7 yards short of the first-down marker. No other team does stuff like this, particularly with a good QB.

[juno999]

28 minutes ago, newcam2012 said:

If they can't run effectively then what likely happens? More screen passes? 

Allen running around and playing street ball. 

[2003Contenders]

2 hours ago, T.E. said:

Our offensive philosophy is absolutely terrible. There are only a handful of coaches, at most, over the last 40 years who would take our approach with a QB like Josh Allen. I know it's beating a dead horse, but it needs to be discussed ad nauseum.

 

We had a 16-play drive last week that covered only 60 yards and didn’t end in a TD. That nonsense isn't sustainable, and everyone gets it but the HC and OC.

While I primarily agree with you, I will say (playing devil's advocate for just a moment), that drive you spoke of:

 

1.  Ate up more than 1/2 of the 2nd quarter. The Steelers' offense sat on the sideline for over 30 minutes (real time) and did not get back on the field until less than a minute to go (with no timeouts) in the first half, effectively denying their ability to score points at the end of the half. Losses against both the Patriots and Texans can be traced back to the defense giving up cheap points at the end of the first half in each of those games.

 

2. The physical beat-down on that drive played a role in wearing down the Steelers' defense and invigorating the Bills' confidence on offense. While the drive only netted 3 points, it was the start of a 26-0 run.

 

3. The drive may have ended with a TD, except that on 4th and goal from the 2, there was a false start penalty that led McD to reconsider his decision to go for it and settle for a FG. 

 

4. The Bills were playing without both of their starting OTs (and with interior linemen also banged up) -- so the coaches were mindful of not asking Josh to stand in the pocket and hold the ball for more than a couple of seconds. We saw what happened against Houston when the ball didn't come out of his hand quickly. In fact, the sort of smash-mouth scheme that they ran against Pittsburgh is probably what they should have done against Houston too. That said, I'm not sure that is the best course of action to take a against the Burrow-led Bengals whose offense is superior to that of Houston/Pittsburgh. 

 

I think the key (which we probably agree on) is that the Bills need to show that they can be versatile on offense. When the game-flow permits, it is perfectly OK to impose their will against an opposing defense and grind the ball on the ground, while judiciously mixing in passes here and there. However, there will come a time (possibly this week against Cinci), where they will need be able to compete in a shootout. With the lack of viable downfield threats, that is not really the way they are built, but they HAVE shown (this year against the Ravens and Bucs, for example) that with a stud QB like Josh that they CAN do it.

[iwishitwerecolder]

McDermott has to call the defense this week. The difference between Houston and last week against Pittsburgh is massive. Babich needs to take a back seat this week, let alone the rest of the year. If we want a shot at the Super Bowl it’s with McDermott calling the defense whether you like the guy or not.

Also a win this week likely punches a bills postseason ticket. The bills would have to go 2-2 over their next 4, which is extremely do-able. 11-6 gets us in 100%, without tiebreakers over tons of teams, and with a lot of the teams in the mix having to play each other down the stretch. I mean heck, I think 10-7 gets us in too

[Gregg]

The Bengals posted all whites for Sunday. Bills haven't posted anything yet but probably blue over white when they do. 

 

 

https://www.gridiron-uniforms.com/GUD/controller/controller.php?action=weekly&year=2025&week=14&league=NFL

[Goin Breakdown]

On 12/1/2025 at 10:35 AM, BearNorth said:

Bengals cut loose Lou Anarumo, who is now with the Colts.  he always seemed to have our number when we played the Bengals.

 

Cinci is 31st in Run Defense, 32nd in pass defense, so this could be a shootout, probably why over/under is 53.5.

 

Weather Channel is saying SUN AM snow 40% chance, high 28 degrees, but cold air mass dropping to 9 degrees at night.  West winds off the lake 10-16 mph.

This won't be a shootout. We've played against some poor, bottom of the league pass defenses and have put up beans. If they can be run on, then that's the plan, run the ball. 
 

sincerely 

Joe Brady

[zow2]

I think we should be able to road grade the Bengals defense.  Ideally the Bills can get a couple explosive pass chunk plays in the mix as well.  This is not some brick wall Bengals defense,,, and if they bottle up the Bills i will be convinced that the Joe Burrow Bengals have some serious mojo over us.  

[Royale with Cheese]

17 minutes ago, zow2 said:

I think we should be able to road grade the Bengals defense.  Ideally the Bills can get a couple explosive pass chunk plays in the mix as well.  This is not some brick wall Bengals defense,,, and if they bottle up the Bills i will be convinced that the Joe Burrow Bengals have some serious mojo over us.  

 

I don't see that as a high scoring a game on our side just because I think we control the clock and run it down their throats.

I can see us winning like 28-20.  Burrow and the Bengals offense will probably look good but they will be on the sidelines a lot is my prediction. 

Edited just now by Royale with Cheese

[eball]

28 minutes ago, Gregg said:

The Bengals posted all whites for Sunday. Bills haven't posted anything yet but probably blue over white when they do. 

 

 

https://www.gridiron-uniforms.com/GUD/controller/controller.php?action=weekly&year=2025&week=14&league=NFL

 

Either that or the Smurf suits.  Really hope they stay classic, not that it matters.

 

[Gregg]

1 minute ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

I don't see that as a high scoring a game on our side just because I think we control the clock and fun it down there throats.

I can see us winning like 28-20.  Burrow and the Bengals offense will probably look good but they will be on the sidelines a lot is my prediction. 

 

I see it the same way. I expect Cook to have another big day and rush for over 100 and with at least one TD.