‘The Buffalo Bills are undisciplined. They keep getting pushed around. And they might be delusional.’
Archives for November 22, 2021
Observations: After blowout loss to Colts, it’s time to really worry about Bills’ outlook
‘The No. 1 seed in the conference, which was the goal not so long ago, feels like a pipedream. At this point, the Bills are in a fight for their playoff lives, currently in a crowded wild-card field after sliding a half-game behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East. That’s not what anyone had in mind 10 games into a season that started with such high expectations.’
Josh Allen on Bills’ big loss to Colts: ‘Execution is what it comes down to’
‘Still, the Bills’ problems were many and varied and in all phases. The defense allowed 264 rushing yards, 185 of those by Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. Buffalo was disastrous on special teams. The Bills had penalties at inopportune times, and four turnovers. A dominant performance by Allen would not have erased all of that, and coach Sean McDermott quickly pointed out contributing factors to the quarterback’s day.’
Bills Q&A: Is this a crisis? Have expectations gotten better of Bills?
‘The biggest concern is whether this team is physical enough on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball against good teams.’
Plays that shaped the game: Frank Reich recalls inspiration from Bills’ 1993 comeback after Colts’ win
‘“I don’t do this often, but I just want to start out by saying something personal,” Reich said, reading from notes on his phone. “In four years I think I’ve only done this one other time. Some people know that our team has been using the metaphor of climbing Mount Everest to parallel our quest to make it to the top. It doesn’t take long to figure out that this metaphor doesn’t merely apply to football. Rather, it can be a picture of the many challenges that we all face. We all face mountains that we’re trying to climb. So I just wanted to offer a word of encouragement to anyone out there who’s in the midst of a struggle. In particular, I’m thinking of a few friends who I know are going through some stuff. I want to give a personal account to where I found my strength for the journey.”‘
Quarter-by-quarter analysis: Bills vs. Colts
‘Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw his first interception of the day on the Bills’ first drive. He was looking for wide receiver Gabriel Davis, but safety George Odum sniffed it out, and returned the pick 21 yards. Ahead of the interception, back-to-back penalties on the offensive line put the Bills in third-and-18. The Colts took over at their 43-yard line.’
Report Card: Bills flunk every test in embarrassing home loss to Colts
‘Run defense: F-: Picture what you would consider be the worst result possible. Now double that, and that’s what the Bills got Sunday.’
Instant reactions: Bills blown out in disastrous home loss to Colts
‘This loss to the Colts felt worse because Indianapolis dominated the Bills in every phase and in doing so, made the Bills look like pretenders in the chase for the Super Bowl championship that has eluded this franchise for the entirely of its existence.’
Bills players aren’t worried about the blow-out loss to the Colts. Shouldn’t they be?
‘Good to know that Dion’s not too concerned about a game where the Bills offense had three turnovers and 15 points, the defense gave up 264 yards rushing and 41 points, and the special teams contributed a disastrous fumble and two missed field goals.’
Buffalo Bills report card: Let’s just say nobody gets a passing grade for debacle vs Colts
‘McDermott blamed himself. Fine, that’s what every coach does. But this was a total staff failure. The Bills needed this game with the Patriots breathing down their necks, and it was a soup to buts debacle, on the heels of that horrendous loss two weeks ago in Jacksonville.’
Bottom falls out for Bills in loss to Colts
‘This unit, which led the NFL in fewest points (15) and yards (274) given up per game, surrendered five touchdowns — all by Indy running back Jonathan Taylor — and a staggering 264 rushing yards.’
Now we wonder whether Bills are a playoff team
‘But of considerably more concern to the Bills faithful was the woeful performance of Allen. He finished 21-of-35 through the air for 209 yards with two picks, a sack and a 72.2 passer rating. But those numbers are deceptive. He was 5-for-7 for 64 yards and a touchdown during fourth-quarter garbage time.’
Taylor burns Bills for five TDs
‘Jonathan Taylor’s five touchdowns (4 rushing, 1 receiving) are the most in a single game against the Bills in the franchise’s 62-year history. The previous record was four by Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss (2007) and running backs Clarence Williams of the Chargers (1979), Chuck Foreman of the Vikings and Lydell Mitchell of the Colts (both 1975) and Calvin Hill of the Cowboys (1971).’
Bills defense trampled by Jonathan Taylor, Buffalo loses, 41-15, to Colts (5 observations)
‘There has been a narrative percolating on social media and among analysts when it comes to the Bills defense in recent weeks: Are they really as good as the stats show? Sean McDermott’s defense ranked no. 1 overall and against the pass, and was ranked no. 3 against the run going into the game. On Sunday it couldn’t get off the field.’
Buffalo Bills preach ‘next man up,’ but what now after nobody does it vs. Colts?
‘But nobody on the Bills’ no. 1-ranked defense was up to the challenge against a Colts team that hung 41 points on them – in their own stadium. The Bills preach “next men up mentality,” but against Colts running back Jonathan Taylor – who scored five touchdowns on the day – Buffalo had no answers. And nobody stepped up.’