Game week thread - Bills at Patriots*

[Magox]

13 hours ago, Buffalo Ballin said:

We can't run the ball against these Patriots. They'll sniff that out every time. They're number one in run defense.

 

However, once we get within goal line, Patriots defense becomes the worst in the NFL for some odd reason. When the pressure is on, they crumble.

 

Their pass defense is not that good. They're mid in that area (ranked 21st or so). Josh Allen's arm has to get the job done.

I wouldn’t be so sure

 

 

[BigAl2526]

McDermott will take risks, but if he thinks he can be successful by playing safe and close to the vest, that's what he would prefer.  That's what he was doing defensively at the start of the Cincinnati.  It didn't work against Cincinnati and it won't work against New England.  I believe the Bills are capable of winning, but they will need to be more aggressing on defense like they were in the second half of the Cincinnati game.   

 

[finn]

1 hour ago, stlbills13 said:

I still am not convinced the Patriots are for real but playing them at their place when they've had a bye week to prepare, it's definitely going to be tough. 

Their luck continues. Reminds me of KC last year with all the breaks they got. 

[Buffalo Ballin]

Just now, Magox said:

I wouldn’t be so sure

 

 

Thanks.

 

Just trying to bait in Patriot fans (in disguise). We got one! Now, the poster "Instincts" is writing fan fiction.

[finn]

29 minutes ago, BigAl2526 said:

McDermott will take risks, but if he thinks he can be successful by playing safe and close to the vest, that's what he would prefer.  That's what he was doing defensively at the start of the Cincinnati.  It didn't work against Cincinnati and it won't work against New England.  I believe the Bills are capable of winning, but they will need to be more aggressing on defense like they were in the second half of the Cincinnati game.   

 

Has Maye been challenged by a tough defense yet, like Allen was by Houston and Atlanta? I don't watch their games on principle, but I do wonder how Maye would hold up against a ferocious rush. Not that we have that. I think you're right that McDermott likely to play more soft zones and hope for the best. 

Edited 1 hour ago by finn

[Cray51]

Not much to say this week - Bills know this is an important game.  Win and you rattle the Pats as we get into the home stretch.  Lose, and you are again fighting for a playoff spot with the rest of the group.

 

No talking needed - go get the win.

[mbs]

Just re-watched the condensed game and saw Josh, Kincaid, and a healthy Shakir play really well. Also spotted a guy named Coleman who had some really nice catches. WRs including Palmer got open occasionally. That day's offense made Brady's passing game look at least average.

 

Coleman, though. What happened there? I want that guy back (except the ridiculous fumble.)

 

 

[PatsFanNH]

9 minutes ago, finn said:

Has Maye been challenged by a tough defense yet, like Allen was by Houston and Atlanta? I don't watch their games on principle, but I do wonder how Maye would hold up against a ferocious rush. Not that we have that. I think you're right that he's likely to play more soft zones and hope for the best. 

Yes he faced Atlanta and won, he also faced the Cleveland D  and got sacked 5 times by Garrett and won.  He has played well against those D’s.. the only D that really scares me is the Texans D that group just looks scary good if they had a competent O they would be unstoppable. 

[finn]

The Pats* have a lot of injuries. Not as many as the Bills, but they'll be missing Stevenson, Ellis, Boutte, Milton Williams, Campbell, and possibly Gonzalez, according to Google. Anyone have a more reliable source? 

 

The sad thing is that it doesn't matter that they're missing their left tackle and best cornerback since we're missing Bosa and have no wide receivers worthy of the name. I'm glad not to face Milton Williams, though. 

 

[PatsFanNH]

6 minutes ago, finn said:

The Pats* have a lot of injuries. Not as many as the Bills, but they'll be missing Stevenson, Ellis, Boutte, Milton Williams, Campbell, and possibly Gonzalez, according to Google. Anyone have a more reliable source? 

 

The sad thing is that it doesn't matter that they're missing their left tackle and best cornerback since we're missing Bosa and have no wide receivers worthy of the name. I'm glad not to face Milton Williams, though. 

 

Google gave you old information. Boutte, Stevenson, Ellis, and Gonzalez played the last game. The starting RG practiced today.  Williams is on IR as is Campbell the starting LT. I think Williams can return against the Ravens, but I may be a week early and hopefully Campbell can be back for the playoffs. 

[Boo Radley Boston]

40 minutes ago, finn said:

Their luck continues. Reminds me of KC last year with all the breaks they got. 

You mean like playing Pittsburgh with a QB who had 1 good arm?

[quincy]

Last year after week 14 we were 10 and 3, this year we are 9 and 4. For all the angst we are only one game worse than last year at the same point in the season. 

 

This will be another close game, coming down to penalties, turnovers and sound decision making.  

 

My concern will be the special teams in general. Marcus Jones is really good and we seem to always get a flag or two for kickoff returns. 

 

I think it will be another high scoring game, one ascending QB against an elite QB, both wanting to show what they've got with 2 defensive HC's going nuts at times.  

[BuffaloBillyG]

35 minutes ago, BigAl2526 said:

McDermott will take risks, but if he thinks he can be successful by playing safe and close to the vest, that's what he would prefer.  That's what he was doing defensively at the start of the Cincinnati.  It didn't work against Cincinnati and it won't work against New England.  I believe the Bills are capable of winning, but they will need to be more aggressing on defense like they were in the second half of the Cincinnati game.   

 

It didn't seem like he was calling the plays early in the game. He didn't have the play call sheet the first few drives from what I saw. The first time I noticed him with it was the series before Benford's sack. I'm pretty sure at the start of the games, McDermott has Babich call the first few series and then takes over if need be. Wouldn't shock me if one of Babich's remaining duties is the opening defensive script. 

 

McDermott loves to get pressure with 4 pass rushers. The same can be said for just about any DC. Max pressure with minimal bodies committed is the goal. However, as we saw two years ago, McDermott is not above sending a healthy amount of blitzes when they can't get pressure with 4. He's actually pretty aggressive and boarders closer to wreckless with calling blitzes. 

 

In any event, playing safe and close to the vest isn't necessary what McDermott does, either as a DC or a HC. The first couple of years he absolutely did and that's what earned him the "conservative" reputation with fans. But those teams lacked talent and he coached to the level of his team. Those first couple seasons, he was more ball control and field position. He's just not that way now. 

[bills742]

 

Edited 46 minutes ago by bills742

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

I think NE has all the "pressure" on them this week and we can play loose. This is the first big game against a tough opponent this new crew in NE will play. Bills have nothing to lose, we're in the playoffs and are unlikely to win the division. We also have a chance to exact some payback for the first loss. We won't be surprised this time! Go Bills!!!!!

Edited 59 minutes ago by D. L. Hot-Flamethrower

[PatsFanNH]

1 minute ago, D. L. Hot-Flamethrower said:

I think NE has all the "pressure" on them this week and we can play loose. This is the first big game against a tough opponent this new crew in NE will play. Bills have nothing to lose, we're in the playoffs and are unlikely to win the division. We also have a chance to exact some payback for the first loss. We won't be surprised this time! Go Bills!!!!!

I disagree.. the sentiment up here is the Pats are playing with house money and have already over achieved what most if not all reasonable people expected as far as win totals go.. Meanwhile the Bills are suppose to be the dominant team who should still be running the division with the Pats at least a good year or two away from challenging them. The pressure is squarely on the Bills to show the first game was a fluke and that the Bills are still one of the top 3 dominant team in the AFC. 
 

I think it will be a close game again, I suspect Boutte will be the Pat WR with the big game as your team game plans to stop Diggs.  Question is will the Pats front 7 stop Cooks? Been rather porous since our star player went on IR. 

[BeastMaster]

Let's see if McDermott can come up with a plan for Drake May getting out of the pocket to the right because that is primarily how he put the game away and how he's made crucial plays to pull out victories this season

 

If they can't stop that from him, then they won't beat them

[BillsFan130]

11 minutes ago, PatsFanNH said:

I disagree.. the sentiment up here is the Pats are playing with house money and have already over achieved what most if not all reasonable people expected as far as win totals go.. Meanwhile the Bills are suppose to be the dominant team who should still be running the division with the Pats at least a good year or two away from challenging them. The pressure is squarely on the Bills to show the first game was a fluke and that the Bills are still one of the top 3 dominant team in the AFC. 
 

I think it will be a close game again, I suspect Boutte will be the Pat WR with the big game as your team game plans to stop Diggs.  Question is will the Pats front 7 stop Cooks? Been rather porous since our star player went on IR. 

I do think it's a bigger game for the patriots though.

 

Bills don't really have a lot of pressure as they are pretty firmly going to be a wild card team barring anything crazy happening.

Pats are playing for the 1 seed, and it's still a measuring stick game for them to see how really good they are.

 

 I think it will be gut punching for the Pats if the reigning 5X afc east champs came into their building in a December game, and made a statement

[Kelly to Allen]

13 hours ago, Instincts said:

What is a different level? Patriots have been the most consistent team in the AFC the entire season and sitting at 11-2, second in the conference? Buffalo's recent success (last few years) has no relevant bearing on the upcoming Sunday.  Its an exciting matchup for both teams who are both contenders.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PatsFanNH]

1 minute ago, BeastMaster said:

Let's see if McDermott can come up with a plan for Drake May getting out of the pocket to the right because that is primarily how he put the game away and how he's made crucial plays to pull out victories this season

 

If they can't stop that from him, then they won't beat them

Honest question, do you mean when they get pressure to make him go to his left instead? Because he has completed most of his passes inside the pocket as is and like you said rolling to his right he is really good too, not so much to the left so far..