Alphadawg7

See my other post to understand why I am emerging from this heartbreaking loss actually optimistic: What I saw, and why I am actually optimistic after this Bucs game I could be wrong on this, and that is fine if I am...but I honestly am quite confident that we will win out looking at our schedule and based on what I said in the thread linked above. Obviously, Pats game on paper is our toughest test over the final 4 games, but I think if the weather isn't as big of a factor as it was the first game that we will beat them decisively, especially if the offense we showed in the 2nd half of the Bucs game is here to stay. Panthers, Falcons, and Jets are all teams I expect to win by double digits. NOTE: All of this assumes Josh misses no time with the turf toe.

Almost every loss could be reversed on one single play, its crazy. Refs stole the game from us yesterday...HOWEVER...I hated the play call regardless. Fades are almost like flipping a coin. You take every other weapon completely out of the picture to just toss up a pass and hope your WR wins his route or get a PI flag. Stupid...and with a guy like Allen who can RUN it in, let him drop back and survey the field because if its not there, he can very likely run that in. Daboll is our achilles heal...he really is. Even the Titans game, he decides to get cute with the sneak, and because of that Josh walks up to the line from shotgun and has to snap it quickly. Normally, Josh lines up and gets his feet really set in for a big push...instead, the lack of footing caused a slip and assured we would not get it.

Its so true actually...like for real. Colts game was more like a few plays, but outside of that, all the other losses could be flipped over 1 play. Pitt...there are a number of plays you can point to as a single play that cost us the game be it a bad break, penalty, etc. But the most obvious choice...the blocked punt. Tenn - Josh I think had converted every QB sneak successfully, including two where the snap was fumbled, outside of one or two in his 3 year career. Daboll for the FIRST time decides to sneak Josh by starting him in shotgun and walking up to the line. Big mistake, he doesn't do his normal routine of setting his feet to get the push he needs and his back foot slips. But I can also point to multiple dumb penalties that either took points off our board or gave titans extended drives and points. Otherwise, it wouldn't have even come down to that play. Jax - Geezus, so many times we took points away from ourselves. Pick one and there is your one play. Colts - While this game got out of hand early...there are 3 self inflicted plays in the first half that caused it to spiral. 3rd and 2, Josh is on his way to a big gain on a run and poof, play blow dead, false start. Next play holding...suddenly we are out of FG range on a drive we were moving the ball at will to open the game for our offense and its 3rd and 18. Next drive, we hold them on 3rd down. to get off the field...poof penalties give them life and they score. On the ensuing KO, McKenzie gives them a free TD on his own without being touched. NE - See Jax game notes. Drops were a biggie too and Diggs not tracking the TD pass as well, albeit tough in those conditions. Bucs - The PI at end of regulation that wasn't called. The PI in overtime that wasn't called. Those 2 ref impacted plays took the comeback away from us.

Im still confident we will get into the playoffs and can make a SB push still THIS YEAR. The teams paced with us are not nearly as balanced as we are. There are a couple of things I am taking away from this stunning comeback and heartbreaking loss...and I think the team will be better for it. McD inserted himself into the defensive adjustments over Frazier. Late in the 2nd half, McD was in his face and giving him instructions, it was seen on camera and even Romo knew exactly what was going on and they even made it a point to go back and show it again after the defense was able to flip the switch to end the 1st half. Those changes carried over into the 2nd half where we really shut down the Bucs the whole half until a broken play in OT lost us the game. Moving forward, I think McD will take more control on the defense, especially after the successful adjustments he helped insert in this game. And he has done this before, and successfully. Even taken play calling away from Frazier before, again successfully. Too much is on the line now, every game is of critical importance here on out. The OL looked SUBSTANTIALLY better (not great still, but substantially better than the atrocious first half) during our second half once we got the run game going with Allen and our backs. I just cant see any chance Daboll doesn't get absolutely reamed by McD if he falls back into a pass only offense again at any point this season moving forward. McD wants to run the ball, but Daboll has an allergy to it until the game is getting out of hand. I think the second half offense we saw is going to be more what we see the whole game. Emmanuel Sanders: I am just going to say it...this offense is better without Sanders and it showed after he left the game. That is NOT meant to be a knock on Sanders, its NOT his fault nor is he a bad player by any means. However, our offense flows better when we had Cole as an additional focal point of the offense. (see next bullet point) Gabriel Davis needs to also be on the field more because he brings what Sanders does to the table, but also has more size and physicality too. Cole Beasley: We NEED Cole more involved and it showed in the 2nd half big time. What he brings in terms of short and quick strikes, opens up the rest of the field, but MOST IMPORTANTLY, gives Josh a quick place to get rid of the ball and move the chains consistently when the pass protection is not there. When Diggs and Sanders are out there together, they have been able to neutralize it by taking away the big play and using the 2 high safeties. We need to build LAYERS back into our passing game, and a combination of Diggs, Cole, Knox, and Davis gives us a lot more of that than Diggs and Sanders combo. Cole really helps neutralize the blitz as well, much harder to bring the house when you need to defend the quick strike to a guy who will almost certainly burn any one on one defender for an easy first down. So I know we have had sooooo many of these "wake up" call games already against Pitt, Tenn, Jax, Colts, and now Bucs. But, I don't really know that we had one like this yet...a true wake up game where what we were doing was NOT working...and we figured it out big time during the game and still narrowly lost. The Bucs game is more reminiscent of the Cardinals game last year. Where we found our confidence and groove on the field, not in practice or film study...but on the field where they rallied to do what seemed enough to win the game and a bad break left them just short (the BS non PI call at end of regulation). I think the way our team adjusted and rebounded against one of the top SB contenders during the game is something they can finally build on. Previous "wake up" losses, we did NOT find our groove really in those games. Even the Titans game...our defense was struggling the whole second half so much we went for 2 instead of OT. But against the Bucs, our D shut down the Bucs in the 2nd half and our offense moved the ball at will once we got the run game involved and guys like Cole, Davis and Knox all over the field. Call me a homer...but as heart breaking as the loss was, I am able to come out of that game with the optimism that this team can still make a run THIS year if they can build on and carry over the 2nd half Bills team that was on the field. And while people are all over here hating on McD, I think he is a substantially big part of the reason for our comeback and was a big reason for all the adjustments that were made to get us back in that game. He isn't perfect on gameday, and I think his waning confidence in Daboll and Frazier at times is impacting that...but I think he is still the right coach for this team and one of the best leaders in the league.

What I dont understand even more, is where was the safety help. How did an entire right side of the field have no defensive backs what so ever and just a MLB who isnt fast enough to keep up with a speed WR? How is there no safety help even in the middle of the field where they could have at least cut off the route to prevent the TD? Either an absolute terrible play call/design, or some of our guys completely screwed the pooch on that play. Because even if Dane was on Perriman, he isnt fast enough to keep up with him and I don't think the play results in anything different given Perriman has a free run to the end zone on the initial separation anyway.

RB is not our biggest issue. Could they be upgraded, sure, and have no problem with that. But Daboll, the OL, and our run blocking scheme is a way bigger reason as to why our run game is lacking.

They drafted two OL, so this notion we ignored the OL this offseason is just not accurate. Its not like we have endless cap space to pay the best OL in FA or have 6 picks in the first 2 rounds to get premium draft picks at every position of need. One of those 2 OL we drafted has been one of our best OL this year in Brown. Sorry, but nothing is more inaccurate than this false blanket statement we "ignored" it when we did not. Our pass rush was a major achilles heal ALSO. We had several things we needed to address, cant fix it all in one draft or offseason. I mean this was essentially the third year of an entire rebuild where it was completely torn down and built back up. Almost every starter is new, and every backup. We went from the bottom of the AFC to the AFCCG in essentially Beanes 2nd year of rebuilding (first year he just tore the old stuff down before building back up). Now this offseason, there is zero doubt OL will almost certainly be the main priority this off season. I expect they will look to address DT given Star has not been able to stay on the field consistently and he and his size are too important to our run defense and possibly a RB. But our run game issues are NOT our RB's as much as it is our OL and most importantly, run blocking scheme. Other changes I believe will happen...Bobby Johnson fired and if Daboll doesn't take another job, I think he could be fired too. Because quite honestly, I dont think talent wise our OL is as bad as its been playing. I think it has a LOT to do with Daboll and his system/scheme. Look at the 2nd half yesterday...soon as we start running the ball, the OL doesn't look nearly as bad as it did in the first half. This has been true several times this year. So my personal opinion, DABOLL is our biggest achilles heal overall right now. This reminds me when everyone was crying we didn't address WR while completely lacking the context of state of the team, cap, and all the other positions we had to address first. Then, once that was set, we went and over hauled the WR room too. Next up...the OL situation...be it player or coach over haul or both.

Don’t worry, 0% chance of happening

McD has been one of the most aggressive 4th down coaches in the NFL since Allens second season. Try again cuz you’re wrong on this.

Yup, Refs stole this game from us. Shocker it was against a Brady led team…said no one ever.

Let me tell you who clueless most of you are. THE ONLY REASON we came back was because McD inserted himself over Frazier on the defensive adjustments before the end of the half. Even Romo pointed it out. It amazes me how out of touch people are around here about what the real problems are.

Got it...so Josh Allen isnt good because he lost his footing on the sneak against Tenn. Diggs sucks too because he didn't haul in the TD against the Pats. Great analysis there chief *sarcasm*

Your poll is completely wrong. It doesn’t have the ONLY actual reason. None of your choices are correct. Player execution with self inflicted mistakes. That’s the answer. Untimely penalties, a slip, a drop, etc.

Forced 6 punts on 9 drives. 7 drives were 5 plays or less. Allowed less than 50 yards in the 2nd half. Gave up 1 TD. Allowed only 240 yards. So why are people still complaining about the defense? They did their job and put us in position to win that game. Our poor offensive execution lost us this game. Penalties, terrible play calling, and drops lost us this game, not our defense or anyone on defense.

Honestly, our RB's are not as big of a problem as our run blocking an scheme are. That being said, Ive lost enthusiasm with Moss, he missed big runs multiple times recently where instead of breaking one way where he has an obvious big gains, he cuts back into the wall of defenders. I don't think Moss has the vision that Devin has, who I have frequently turn what looks to be losses or short gains into nice positive plays or big gains. So, I would be fine kicking the tires on either AW or Wade as an active RB over Moss. See if they can spark anything. That being said, I would say its probably not likely and even if they did get a shot, expectations should be kept in check because agains, our OL has not been good at all in opening lanes and holes. Better move to me: Fire Bobby Johnson now. Get someone in there to change things up and get a spark. I am not a "Fire Em" guy during the season by any means unless absolutely necessary. I feel like Bobby has just dont a very poor job with our OL, and I know part of that is on Daboll too who I think is on a host seat over the rest of the season. I dont expect Daboll to get fired during the season, but if he doesn't get a HC job next year, then I think his job here could still be in jeopardy if the offense doesn't bounce back to close this season out.

I have no words for who ridiculous and dramatic this post is...yet I am gonna try anyway... You clearly forget what it was like before McD. And what you said here is not only in accurate, its just out of touch with reality to suggest his coaching ceiling has been reached. Shouldn't your anger be directed at Daboll? First off, Bills defense gave up 1 TD...forced a punt on 6 of the Pats 9 drives...and held the Pats to 7 drives that were 5 plays or less out of 9 drives. So where do you get this false notion "the Bills could do nothing about it" from? We held them to 240 of total offense and 1 TD. How is that a bad outing for the defense? Anyone blaming the defense for this loss has no idea what they were watching or talking about, they did their job well enough for us to win that game. You cite the offensive line issues, which are a real problem, but you somehow lump that on McD as if he is the one coaching the OL or designing the scheme. Our OL woes are a definite issue, and it falls on Daboll and Bobby Johnson. Most of our execution problems stem from the OL from bad run blocking, bad pass blocking, and bad penalties. Again, nothing you have said here has anything to do with McDermott. For sure, Bobby Johnson needs to be fired. And I would fire him now actually if I was McD, send a message ASAP. Daboll for me is on the hot seat big time...he either needs correct these issues his offense is having in the Redzone and with execution, or he needs to leave next year either for another job or just flat out replaced by McD. But as far as McD goes, he has done an excellent job since his arrival here, and losing a couple games we shouldn't have lost this year doesn't change that. He is a great leader. He has some game day things he could improve on like Challenge choices and such, no doubt, but overall, hes a great leader for this team IMO. They have also done a great job developing our own and managing personalities too.

IMHO...0% chance Johnson is back. If less than zero was a thing, I would say less than 0% chance he is back. Daboll I will put at 25% chance to return. I think he leaves via another job or is flat out replaced if he doesn't figure out how to bounce back from this the rest of the season. I have always had a love hate relationship with Daboll. There is a lot to love, but there is a lot to loathe too. He has no idea how to build a schematic for running the ball, he is overly gadgety, he gets too cute too often in critical moments, he often does the opposite of what he should do, and is terrible OC in the red zone. That being said, he has also had some bright moments and been key in Allens development. So I cant say he will for sure be gone like I can with Bobby, but he is without a doubt on a hot seat if we continue to struggle to close when in the red zone and struggle to run the ball.

No it does not what so ever. That is not even remotely true, I mean come one dude, this isn't fantasy football. 1 yard equals 1 yard. 1 point equals 1 point. If we gave up 222 yards while also giving up 200+ yards passing, then those 222 yards rushing would be a problem because thats over 400 yards of offense. But when you hold an offense to less than 240 yards of offense, guess what...thats pretty good outing for your defense that likely means they didnt give up a lot of points, which they didnt.

They why did 7 of their 9 drives end in 5 plays or less? Why did they punt 6 out of 9 drives? Its the NFL, you WONT stop a team on every play, every drive. The guys on the other side of the ball are paid to make plays too. So to see people in here claiming we cant stop the run when we stopped the run most the night outside a small handful of runs is what the issue is here. Defense gave up less than 240 yards...1 TD...forced 6 punts in 9 drives, etc etc....thats a good defensive effort that should be enough to win most games.

TOP difference was more because our lack of execution, those stats dont tell the story and are a misleading stat for last nights game. They run the ball every play, clocks keeps ticking TOP keeps climbing DESPITE actual production. They punted 6 times and 5 or fewer plays on 7 of their 9 drives. We were throwing a lot and clock stops on incompletions which makes the TOP looks worse than it was for our defense. End of the day, offensive gameplan and execution, penalties. drops were the culprit here.

So suddenly 222 yards of offense in a game is bad? What would you be saying if they passed for 222 yards? Probably not much. Defense gave up 2 drives over 5 plays all game and 1 TD. They had a strong outing.

Overly aggressive? I wasn't being aggressive at all. Just saying this notion we couldn't stop the run last night needs to stop. Our Defense didnt cost us this game. Self inflicted mistakes, poor Redzone play calling, and Dabolls inability to adjust again are our biggest issues.

But they did stop the run. They only had 2 drives over 5 plays long the whole game. To expect more than that is unreasonable. We gave up one TD on the day, and outside that one TD we held the run game in check almost the entire game. So OP is right, its inaccurate to say we couldn't stop the run when we stopped the run all game outside one big one. If they passed the ball 50 times and only gained 225 yards passing with one lone long TD play, literally no one would be saying we couldn't stop the pass. But they run nearly 50 times and gain 222 yards rushing with one fluke TD and now we cant stop the run? Makes no sense.

First off, everyone needs to stop about the 222 yards rushing...If a team rushes that many times and throws just 3 times, guess what, the rushing yard total is going to seem high. End of the day, we gave up less than 250 yards on the day, forced 6 punts and only allowed 2 drives over 5 plays. Thats a good defensive effort. To fault the D here and point at something like "total rush yards" in a game they threw 3 times is just bad analysis.

I have been saying it over and over...and will say it again here...Every loss we have this year was due to self inflicted mistakes. We have an uncanny way of shooting ourselves in the foot with untimely penalties killing drives or extending opponents drives, unforced turnovers, dropped passes, etc. Our defense was not why we lost last night, I mean outside the one TD run, they held up pretty good considering.