thewildrabbit

and that wasn't the case not that long ago. The Cowboys invested a first round pick on an OG, and it greatly helped them improve in both run blocking, and pass blocking. Kraig Urbik won't ever be confused with an all pro player, and that Bills line still remains on of the worst in the NFL this year. That line is a big reason as to why the Bills offense is so bad. (24th)

Really? This is your argument to keep Marrone because there are not many coaches out there that can beat Belichick? Joe Philbin is on the coaching hot seat in Miami, and in his three years as HC there he has beaten Belichick 3 out of 6. Past Bills coaches against the Patriots, Gailey 1- 5, Jauron 0-7 Marrone, 0- 3 so far. This is a huge reason as to why I think Marrone / Hackett suck so badly on offense. The Patriots are fielding one of the best offenses in the league, and the Bills are fielding one of the worst. Buffalo is still 31st in scoring red zone TD's vs #8 for NE. I don't expect Schwartz to carry this win with mostly just with the defense, as he done almost all season. Then I don't expect the Patriots receivers to have 8 dropped passes like the Packers uncharacteristically had in the last game. The Bills offense is going to need to score TD's to keep up with Brady. If Marrone can't field a team that can compete with the Patriots... well then, he is utterly useless.

If the Bills can start running Spiller, Jackson, and Boobie a whole lot more things could get even better. Play keep away from Brady, and run it down the Patriots throats, make Belichick eat the football

I think this years defense is much better, and here is why. Look back at the stats for those seasons and they ran the ball both years more then they passed it. Something that immensely helps the defense stay fresh, and on the sidelines. Wears out the opposing defense so its tougher to stop the run at the end of the game. Most importantly takes pressure off the QB, and keeps the opposing defense honest. 1999 513 vs 519 2004 461 vs 483 Now look at 2014, and pass happy Hackett, and his hurry up and punt offense. 507 vs 356. Its like the Bills don't even try and run. This keeps the defense on the field all game long. Schwartz is by far the best DC the Bills have ever had IMHO.

Your 6th grader also knows more then any Bills HC since Levy. Its one thing to draft players, and its quite another to find a real franchise QB. Actually Belichick's team wasn't on the way because he went 5-11 the year after he went 11-5, and that is the reason he was fired. A lot of teams fail every year, and he was in a very tough division. His QB along with very many players were injured quite a bit all those years. Exactly two players on that 2012 team played a full 16 games, and five played a full 16 in 2013. So, you could easily say his two years of losing after making the playoffs were from being decimated by injuries. I don't know if Schwartz will become a great NFL HC in his next stint. What I do know is this man is about the very best defensive coordinator this franchise has ever had. If Mike Pettine can get a shot, then no question Schwartz will get one too.

This is very disconcerting considering how bad the offense has been all season, and most particular in the red zone. I'll be very disappointed should the team retain the same OC & O line coach.

Good stuff! I don't dislike Russ Brandon, although I do want him as far away from the football operations side of things, as he can get. Of course he is going to endorse his alum, and preach continuity, as he has his fingerprints all over the current team. What a lot of Bills fans are overlooking is the fact that this Bills HC has yet to field a team that can actually compete with the New England Patriots, and if he can't beat NE, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady then WTF good is he? This upcoming game at NE is looming larger, and larger to me!

You do realize that taking over an 0-16 team is a supremely monumental task, as no area of the team has any talent. The lone single high quality player on the team was WR Calvin Johnson with QB Dan Orlovsky throwing to him The entire rest of the team needed to be revamped. Offense, defense, special teams. Schwartz drafted Matthew Stafford in 2009 in his first season, so the man did realize he needed that franchise QB to succeed. He then went on to build a playoff team in three years. Those years the Packers, Bears were always in the playoffs. Like I've said before, so many head coaches do better in their second chance, It took Pete Carroll 3x, Bill Bilchick 2x, Marv levy 2x

Well, look to the 2008 Patriots who lost Tom Brady in the first game of the season for the rest of the year, and that team went 11-5 with a QB who hadn't started a single game since high school. By that same token in 2010 Jim Schwartz in his second years as HC lost Stafford for the season after three games, and still managed 6-10. A 2-14 season means you don't have a good team in just about every aspect. The last time the Bills were 2-14 was in 84-85.

After the Bears GM saw what Schwartz did to Aaron Rodgers, I gotta wonder if the Chicago FO is looking this way. That Bear defense is near last in the NFL the last two years, and was a top 5 unit under Lovie Smith. Just think they fired Lovie after a 10-6 season. EDIT: Oh, and i don't want pass happy Trestman as the next Bills OC, as we see enough of that crap from Hackett. Its like Trestman doesn't care if he has Matt Forte on his team, what a jackass. 534 passes vs 312 rushes.

My biggest fear in all this is the Bills keep the entire offensive staff then lose Schwartz to a new HCing gig. Then replacing Schwartz with someone not as good, and it could get really ugly, really fast in 2015. While I now think that Marrone should be retained even if the team finishes 8-8. I just to hope to god that the Pegula's hire that senior adviser, as in someone like Bill Polian. He might be able to convince whomever that Nathaniel Hackett needs to go, and the line needs better players then Pears, Urbik. Then the new OC would need to not go pass happy every game which just puts more pressure on the not so great QB's.

The Bears fired Lovie Smith after a 10-6 season, and the Chargers fired Marty Schottenheimer after a 14-2 season. Stranger stuff has happened. Like I said, we still need to hear from the Pegula's on how badly they want a winner in Buffalo.

While I agree the offense has been unbelievably bad all season. I've also recently read that Marrone wanted changes to the players on the O line and was told that Urbik, Pears were quality players by the FO. I have a difficult time believing that Whaley could be this lame, as he hasn't been with any other area of the team. I'm wondering if this isn't Brandon, and his "moneyball" philosophy that is no longer needed now that the Bills have new owners. There is no question in my mind that Hackett needs to go, and yet nothing is written in stone until we find out exactly how new ownership feels about everything. Like I said, should the Bills beat the Patriots I can see no new "adviser" being hired at all, and the status quo remaining exactly the same with Brandon still wielding power. We need to see what the Pegula's will do, and how badly they want to win.

I wouldn't call 7-9 a run into the ground team, and I think Caldwell inherited an excellent defense built by Schwartz. That defense is and has been #1 all season long. Lions DC Teryl Austin is a hot candidate for an NFL HC job next season. Caldwell is an ex OC, ex QB coach and his offense is currently around 20th, which is worse then it was under Schwartz. http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2014/12/16/who-is-teryl-austin/20497299/ The Bills are currently fielding the most feared defense in the NFL, no team wants to play Buffalo now. Although Pettine lead the NFL in sacks, he defense wasn't even close to this one and he had Kiko! I think Schwartz gets many offers.

Yea, i think the Pegula's are waiting to see how the season plays out, and should the Bills win the next two games its a no brainer that everyone stays. I think the Bills beating Brady, Belichick in New England would unsure the entire coaching staff stays intact. Russ Brandon still wields an extraordinary amount of power in the org considering his current job, JMHO. A 9-7 season and things might not be so rosy, as at that point the Pegula's may or may not choose to bring in a consultant. This question is perhaps the make or break from Brandon

Man 0 Man do I agree this this The Bills offense has been a tire fire all season except against the Jets 2x and Cleveland.

There is little doubt in my mind that after the world saw what Schwartz did to Aaron Rodgers that he doesn't get a shot next year. Rodgers, who was the leading MVP candidate, and had only thrown three INT's all year, and those three were all tipped. Bills fans hate thinking about this, but imagine Marrone with another Dave Wannstedt type next year. To the fans thinking he sucked big time in Detroit, lets not forget he inherited a 0-16 team that was a tire fire, train wreck, dumpster fire all in one. Schwartz did get them to 10-6 in three years which was no easy task. Then went 4-12, and 7-9 to be fired. His replacement in Jim Caldwell did worse IMO, as he took a 14-2 team, and turned them into a 2-14 team. Yet there he is as the HC of the Lions at 10-4. I don't see Schwartz in Buffalo next year.

Mike Smith- Atlanta at 5-9 they are only one game out of first place with two games to go, with wins over NO & Carolina they are the division winners! Maybe! Joe Philbin- Miami currently 7-7 with upcoming games against Minn & NY Jets, and could finish 9-7, ownership wants a playoff team to fill the stadium-GONE! Marc Trestman- Chicago currently 5-9, and I don't see 7-9 saving him when they fired Lovie Smith at 10-6-GONE! Rex Ryan- NY Jets- currently 3-11, and a 5-11 won't save him. The strange thing is the owner loves him, and may fire just the GM instead! Maybe! Gus Bradly - Jacksonville currently 2-12, and 4-12 might not save him with a 6-24 record. He did inherit a mess, and started a rookie QB. The team is desperate to sell season tickets-GONE! Tom Coughlin - NY Giants currently 5-9, and 7-9 who knows. The owners here might let him decide what he wants to do. Maybe! Jim Harbough - San Francisco currently 7-7, and 9-7 won't save him as he is at great odds with the current GM Trent Baalke. GONE! Ron Rivera - Carolina currently 5-9, and one game out of first place. two wins against Cleveland and Atlanta might give him the nod. still 3 of 4 years of losing seasons-Maybe! Ken Whisenhunt - Tennessee current 2-12 and in his first year as HC-Maybe! Jay Gruden - Washington currently 3-11, and is the most volatile situation as HC. He wants the QB gone, and the owner & GM want him gone- GONE! Tony Sparano- Oakland the Raiders want Harbaugh and should he want to accommodate them then Tony is history, remains to be seen tho- Maybe! ​There could possibly be more HCs on the hot seat after the next two games, who knows. Cleveland might not see 7-9 as a good thing, or even 9-7. The volatile owner has changed GM & HC every year the last two years.

I agree. The thing I don't get the reason for shoving Richardson into the lineup so quickly when clearly Urbik was the better player. Usually teams develop young linemen by letting them cut their teeth on special teams where a misstep isn't nearly as critical. Then, it seems everyone is playing poorly, and getting penalties when they shouldn't be at this point in the season. The Rookie at RT looks to be playing somewhat well.

Finding a quality offensive center is a lot tougher then finding a quality OG in my view, and do you recall what happened every year when Woods went on IR? The team struggled at the center position for the rest of the year. You and me both brother! I was hoping to eventually see the Bills O line become a solid unit under Marrone, and now I find out he wanted changes and the FO said no!

Jeez guys, why all the verbosity over someone we all know isn't that good. The Bills OC just exacerbates the whole thing by forcing the man to throw 40+ times a game behind a bad line, and not running much.

Great stuff, and always good to hear a fan of a different team had a great time in Buffalo.

While I've changed my stance on Marrone somewhat when I found that he wanted to change certain O line players and was overruled by the FO. I still feel the offense should hold more importance then special teams, and the HC's focus should be on the Buffalo Bills tire fire of an offense. Hackett did much better this game with the run game, and some misdirection plays that took some pressure off of Orton. Dunno where that has been all year. I feel these last two games will mean so much to the offensive side of the coaching staff, and even Marrone. The Dolphins HC Joe Philbin is on the hot seat, and he has been able to beat the Patriots at least once every year for three years now. Marrone 0, Belichick 3. JMO

Anyone else notice the Bills came out in the second half of the GB game, and ran the ball 10 of 11 plays for 40 yards to get a FG. This seemed to settle down Orton who had a really bad first half. Punt- Punt- Punt- FG- Punt -INT. The stats below are accumulative. Buffalo Offense 1st QTR stats, one first down, 12 rushing yards-0 passing yards, total yards 12. ToP 5:45 Buffalo Offense 2nd QTR stats, five first downs, 34 rushing yards, 77 passing yards, 111 total yards, one turnover. ToP 15:10 Buffalo Offense 3rd QTR stats, 10 first downs, 97 rushing yards, 110 passing yards, 207 total yards. ToP 26:33 Buffalo Offense 4th QTR stats, 13 first downs, 113 rushing yards, 140 passing yards, 253 total yards. ToP 32:58 My point? In this game the Bills took the ball out of Orton's hands in that first drive of the 2nd half, and ran the ball down Green Bay's throat. Now granted, it might not seem like much. But that nearly 6 min drive with almost all runs managed to do several things. It gave them a 13-10 lead with that 51 yard FG. Helped play keep the ball away from Aaron Rodgers. Give the Bills D some time away from the field to rest. It gave the Bills QB, line, RB's & team much needed confidence that they could move the ball down the field by running. The next series the Packers weren't blitzing as much, and the Bills OC was utilizing some interesting misdirection formations that actually had the Packers not knowing where the ball was going. All this seemed to open up the passing game as Orton hit a wide open Bryce Brown for 40 yards, and although the drive only resulted in another FG. It was points on the board in a close game. Bottom line the Bills finished with 14 of 27 for 140 yards passing, 33 attempts rushing for 113 yards. A 3.6 YPC avg. Nathaniel Hackett may have turned the corner a bit. BTW, cheers to super Mario as every Packer fan in the stadium was 100% convinced that Rodgers would drive down the field and get a TD with 2 min to go. 2014 Buffalo offense

To the OP. Hey man, stop peeing in the eternally optimistic fans cheerios. In all reality I don't see the Bills beating the Patriots in New England the last game either. Even 8-8 is good progress, and 9-7 even better.