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

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

11 hours ago, Since1981 said:

This is deceptively bad when your offense was misfiring. Burrow offense will help these numbers 

Flacco low key went off though sometimes and their defense was still terrible to be fair

 

they scored 30+ a handful of times with flacco to the point where people started to murmur burrow maybe was overrated 😂

Edited 2 hours ago by Generic_Bills_Fan

[dorquemada]

17 hours ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

Steelers/ravens is always a good game. Both teams are going to be up for that one.

 

I hope lamar kicks hayward right in his big sloppy beergut so we can watch Cam cry again in a press conference

[finn]

55 minutes ago, Ray Stonada said:

Burrow with our offense and coached by McDermott and Brady… how would that go?

There's the rub. Brady did wonders at LSU with Burrow, Chase, and Justin Jefferson, which a dead rabbit could do wonders with. Give him merely an MVP quarterback, a solid set of tight ends, and one of the best lines and running backs in the league, he doesn't do so well. Poor guy! How can anyone expect him to thrive without two All-Pro receivers also? 

[Ray Stonada]

9 minutes ago, finn said:

There's the rub. Brady did wonders at LSU with Burrow, Chase, and Justin Jefferson, which a dead rabbit could do wonders with. Give him merely an MVP quarterback, a solid set of tight ends, and one of the best lines and running backs in the league, he doesn't do so well. Poor guy! How can anyone expect him to thrive without two All-Pro receivers also? 

Also, I think Brady was passing game coordinator at LSU, not OC, and called plays only in certain situations. 

[finn]

5 minutes ago, Ray Stonada said:

Also, I think Brady was passing game coordinator at LSU, not OC, and called plays only in certain situations. 

Yikes. He really has cashed in on that thin resume, hasn't he? I'm beginning to think he may be the only impediment to this team going all the way. If he rises just to the level of "adequate," they could to the Super Bowl. I don't think I'm being unfair. The wide receiver corps is bad, but he's not doing anything  at all with it, and I suspect a better coordinator could do much more. 

[Ray Stonada]

2 minutes ago, finn said:

Yikes. He really has cashed in on that thin resume, hasn't he? I'm beginning to think he may be the only impediment to this team going all the way. If he rises just to the level of "adequate," they could to the Super Bowl. I don't think I'm being unfair. The wide receiver corps is bad, but he's not doing anything  at all with it, and I suspect a better coordinator could do much more. 

I just want him run something else if a team stops his bread and butter. Can he adjust in the moment?

 

Otherwise, let’s try Josh, Chase, Jefferson and a dead rabbit at OC. Lombardi incoming!

[The Frankish Reich]

On 12/1/2025 at 5:31 AM, billsfan_34 said:

Problem is Burrow and company can stay on the field, Pitt could not. Rodgers is absolutely shot. This Cinci game will be a tough one. Glad we are at home.

Rodgers: started reasonably well, is finishing like he's finished. I got to the point where I was hoping Tomlin wouldn't put Rudolph in.

[boyst]

20 hours 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.

our offense is by design because of our limiting tools. kincaid is bust because of availability. if he's not able to play this weekend i will be entirely disappointed.

[DapperCam]

56 minutes ago, finn said:

Yikes. He really has cashed in on that thin resume, hasn't he? I'm beginning to think he may be the only impediment to this team going all the way. If he rises just to the level of "adequate," they could to the Super Bowl. I don't think I'm being unfair. The wide receiver corps is bad, but he's not doing anything  at all with it, and I suspect a better coordinator could do much more. 

Hopefully he’s the head coach of some college team this time next year.

[boyst]

6 minutes ago, DapperCam said:

Hopefully he’s the head coach of some college team this time next year.

Brady isn't the problem. He was given little to work with and leaned on the run game because why wouldn't he? Allen is not playing his best ball to low expectation Wr's, a TE who can't play, Knox who is underappreciated because he's not George Kittle or Gronk, and his best and favorite target is a 3rd down running back who plays 20% of the snaps at best. Shakir is not what we thought and was overpaid, too.

 

The problem is the sum of the parts are greater than the total of each individually because our OL is superior, our RB is excelling beyond expectations, and our QB is talented.

 

The reality is that Mahomes did as much and more with a similarly talented offense in KC the last few years to make the excuse that there truly is a problem here.

 

It's hard to say Brady is the problem unless you compare him to someone like McVay or Reid. 

[DapperCam]

Just now, boyst said:

Brady isn't the problem. He was given little to work with and leaned on the run game because why wouldn't he? Allen is not playing his best ball to low expectation Wr's, a TE who can't play, Knox who is underappreciated because he's not George Kittle or Gronk, and his best and favorite target is a 3rd down running back who plays 20% of the snaps at best. Shakir is not what we thought and was overpaid, too.

 

The problem is the sum of the parts are greater than the total of each individually because our OL is superior, our RB is excelling beyond expectations, and our QB is talented.

 

The reality is that Mahomes did as much and more with a similarly talented offense in KC the last few years to make the excuse that there truly is a problem here.

 

It's hard to say Brady is the problem unless you compare him to someone like McVay or Reid. 

I think Brady is the problem, and the offense is operating well under its potential. We can’t even pass the ball with the best QB in the league. There are talent issues at WR, but a good OC can do things to work around that. The Texans game tape was absolutely brutal. Spamming mesh and leaving our tackles on an island while Allen got beat up.

 

To bring this back on topic…the offense should put up 30+ on this Bengals defense.

[BADOLBILZ]

1 hour ago, finn said:

There's the rub. Brady did wonders at LSU with Burrow, Chase, and Justin Jefferson, which a dead rabbit could do wonders with. Give him merely an MVP quarterback, a solid set of tight ends, and one of the best lines and running backs in the league, he doesn't do so well. Poor guy! How can anyone expect him to thrive without two All-Pro receivers also? 

 

You just described the personnel of a team that could lead the NFL in rushing.   Which they do.  

 

What you failed to note was that it's not about not having two All-Pro WR's.......they literally have the worst WR corps in the NFL and the solid TE's that are available most weeks are primarily just blockers.   The one TE who is a matchup problem for a defense in the passing game is Kincaid and Brady has made great use of him in the rare instances that he is available this year.   

 

The Brady hate is about the receivers sucking.   There is no margin for error.  In the past Allen could heave a prayer downfield or......more often.......buy time and make otherwise ineffective play calls look good.  He did it all the time for Daboll and Dorsey.

 

Now a bad play call is dead in the water for lack of playmakers.   So it seems like there are more of them.   There are probably LESS because they have to lean into what works at the expense of balance.

 

Add into that Allen is having a poor season as a decision maker and in terms of consistency with ball placement/accuracy.   Now some of that can be a factor of the disjointed passing game keeping him out of rhythm but it still comes down to the talent at receiver.

 

I mean if you would have told me in August that they would have to elevate wrong-way Gabe Davis AND have to throw slants to him.......when they were deathly afraid to do so the first time he was here because his hands are so bad.......I could have told you the WR position was in shambles.   Getting rid of the interception-factory that was Gabe in 2022-2023 was a key reason that they were able to reduce turnovers in 2024.  

 

The Bills inconsistency offensively is all about these bummy WR's and the inability of Kincaid to stay on the field.

[PaattMaann]

1 minute ago, DapperCam said:

I think Brady is the problem, and the offense is operating well under its potential. We can’t even pass the ball with the best QB in the league. There are talent issues at WR, but a good OC can do things to work around that. The Texans game tape was absolutely brutal. Spamming mesh and leaving our tackles on an island while Allen got beat up.

 

To bring this back on topic…the offense should put up 30+ on this Bengals defense.

 

I agree completely. To hear actual respected NFL film watchers (Olrovsky and Cosell) say they have no clue what the passing offense is doing scheme wise is VERY Telling and has more to do with "no weapons"

[RochesterLifer]

4 minutes ago, boyst said:

Brady isn't the problem. He was given little to work with and leaned on the run game because why wouldn't he? Allen is not playing his best ball to low expectation Wr's, a TE who can't play, Knox who is underappreciated because he's not George Kittle or Gronk, and his best and favorite target is a 3rd down running back who plays 20% of the snaps at best. Shakir is not what we thought and was overpaid, too.

I strongly agree with the bolded. I remember, when we were in (drought years) tight end purgatory, a coach saying that a truly valuable tight end is one who can be on the field in running AND passing situations, not allowing the defense to know what is coming. Dawson Know is that tight end. Elite? No. A very valuable contributor? Absolutely.

[Ralonzo]

13 hours ago, RiotAct said:

if the Bills lose, you should have to do a frosted tips hairstyle in addition to the Burrow jersey

Good thing you're not making QB fashion prop bets in a Giants game

 

[BADOLBILZ]

3 minutes ago, DapperCam said:

I think Brady is the problem, and the offense is operating well under its potential. We can’t even pass the ball with the best QB in the league. There are talent issues at WR, but a good OC can do things to work around that. The Texans game tape was absolutely brutal. Spamming mesh and leaving our tackles on an island while Allen got beat up.

 

To bring this back on topic…the offense should put up 30+ on this Bengals defense.

 

 

You guys are so caught up with diminishing the issue at WR.   This WR corps is a disaster.

 

Their best outside option is a WR3 type in Palmer and he's been out or hobbled for half the season.  Their starting slot is Shakir and he started the season with a high ankle sprain and has had other injury issues additionally.   With those guys healthy it's already the most punchless WR unit in the league........but in practice it's been even less effective due to injury.   

 

And one of the things these shell defense's have exposed is a new axiom that people who don't value WR talent are going to hate..........that the downfield passing success is a WR stat.  

 

In a league where you don't see a lot of downfield separation and officials allow a lot of contact at the catch point.......the success is largely coming down to the quality of the WR.   Much like we've come to understand that sacks are more of a QB stat than an OL stat......we will come to understand that the quality of the WR matters most in downfield success.   

[bills742]

 

Edited 25 minutes ago by bills742

[Big Blitz]

 

[TFBillsfan]

Was hoping Kincaid was a go and not limited! Palmer is trending towards a Samuel status with minimal impact and injury. Surprised Dawkins is still in concussion status. 
 

How many games has Kincaid missed this year? Concerning with his reduced snap count that he can’t stay healthy.

[finn]

4 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

You just described the personnel of a team that could lead the NFL in rushing.   Which they do.  

 

What you failed to note was that it's not about not having two All-Pro WR's.......they literally have the worst WR corps in the NFL and the solid TE's that are available most weeks are primarily just blockers.   The one TE who is a matchup problem for a defense in the passing game is Kincaid and Brady has made great use of him in the rare instances that he is available this year.   

 

The Brady hate is about the receivers sucking.   There is no margin for error.  In the past Allen could heave a prayer downfield or......more often.......buy time and make otherwise ineffective play calls look good.  He did it all the time for Daboll and Dorsey.

 

Now a bad play call is dead in the water for lack of playmakers.   So it seems like there are more of them.   There are probably LESS because they have to lean into what works at the expense of balance.

 

Add into that Allen is having a poor season as a decision maker and in terms of consistency with ball placement/accuracy.   Now some of that can be a factor of the disjointed passing game keeping him out of rhythm but it still comes down to the talent at receiver.

 

I mean if you would have told me in August that they would have to elevate wrong-way Gabe Davis AND have to throw slants to him.......when they were deathly afraid to do so the first time he was here because his hands are so bad.......I could have told you the WR position was in shambles.   Getting rid of the interception-factory that was Gabe in 2022-2023 was a key reason that they were able to reduce turnovers in 2024.  

 

The Bills inconsistency offensively is all about these bummy WR's and the inability of Kincaid to stay on the field.

"All about" is pretty strong. Look at the Patriots game, when Brady benched his best skill player in crunch time, or the Houston game, when he did nothing to protect Allen against a fierce pass rush, or his failure to do anything with Moore or Samuel, who both put up much better numbers with their former teams. 

 

You could say Coleman is a bust--or you could say Brady has failed to tap his potential. You could say Samuel sucks, Shakir is limited, Shavers does nothing, and Moore was a wasted signing--or you could say all of them would thrive with a coordinator who figured out how to use them, not utterly give up on him, as Brady appears to have done. How many screens to Shakir behind the line of scrimmage will it take for you to agree that another coordinator could do better? How many back-shoulder throws to Coleman, endless mesh routes, stupid gimmick plays, and utter lack of deep shots, except for that one to Palmer--one!--in the Atlanta game?

 

No argument that this WR corps is awful, but what would a good coordinator like McDaniels do with it, given that he didn't have much more than that to work with when he was coaching Tom Brady? Heck, look at what he's doing now with a group of receivers that, on paper, aren't much better than the Bills have: a fading Diggs, a journeyman in Mack Hollins, and a promising but often-struggling rookie in Kyle Williams? Yet they're 10-2, with a quarterback, line, and set of running backs that are not as good as what the Bills have.

 

No, Brady is the problem. Swap receivers with New England, and I guarantee you McDaniels would do as well or better with ours and Brady would do as badly or worse with theirs.