thewildrabbit

We can only hope. Marrone seems to be so intent in making sure his best bud ST coach Danny Crossman's unit is fully stocked, and competitive. That he is overlooking the far more important issue of his failing offense. Don't get me wrong as I would have loved to see the Bills crush the Chiefs, and would love to see this team 7-2. I really don't care who the Bill HC coach, or OC is as long as the Bills win. I have no personal vendetta here, I just want to to see wins. The stupidity simply can't be ignored tho. A lot of fans saw the ineptitude of the offense against the Jets in the previous game. 13 drives starts, and only 3 actually managed extended drives that ended in scores. Then two of those were big passing plays. Four full series out of those 13 lost yardage, and the other 7 resulted in 3 downs, and out with a punt. If not for the defense playing great, and getting 6 turnovers the resulting score could have easily been a 20-23 loss. Marrone needs to put more time, and resources into the offense. Unless he already is..and that's a scary prospect. Well said, and clearly Schwartz doesn't need any assistance. So, its just offense and special teams.

FireChan the defender of the weak minded, and hapless. Your moniker befits you. Mike Williams would have been a detriment in the red zone, as he doesn't have the experience in catching TD's like Hogan has. Doug Marrone the ex NFL O lineman, ex NFL O line coach, ex NFL OC, and supposed O line guru fielding the very worst O line in the league. Don't address the downright horrid offensive stats tho! What sheer brilliance that the Bills OC goes right for the opponents strengths every game, and avoids their weakness. What masterful trickeration.

Bills fans defending the idiocy of this coaching staff, always amusing. Sitting a possible top 15 WR all year in order to help out his best bud the ST coach. Two kickers on the roster when the O line grades as the worst in the league. Its a darn shame Marrone isn't best buds with Hackett too, or maybe the offense would be better then 23rd. Better then 27th in in the league in three downs, and out percentage. 30th in first downs. 19th in 3rd down conversion, 26th in 4th down conversions. The Bills QB's with 24 sacks and 55 hits. Last in the league in red zone production. Last night I watched Chip Kelly & his coaching staff make Mr Butt Fumble look brilliant with 300 yards passing, 2 TD's. If only....

Why are so many forgetting how bad that O line really is, and how Orton managed to get rid of the ball quickly many, many times rather then take a sack. That was the #1 pass defense in the NFL that the Bills OC had him throw 48 times against. The guy realizes what he has for surrounding players, and is trying to do the best he can regardless. Perhaps the Chiefs didn't exploit the Bills O line interior, But I'd think the Dolphins will surely try. This is the exact same Orton who played against the Jets last week only the team didn't get 6 turnovers this week. The team had trouble moving the ball, and scoring against the Jets defense too. Only 3 out of 13 drives were successful, and 44 series went for negative yardage. The red zone offense stunk long before Orton became the starter. A journeyman QB can only overcome so much ineptitude by the coaches.

Why...throw...48...times...against...the....#1...pass...defense? then run only 22 times when the Bills are tearing it up to the tune of 5.0 YPC avg? C'mon guys, last week they tried to run more into the teeth of a strong run defense, and weak pass defense against the Jets. The Chiefs have a much weaker run defense, so the brainiac OC call for more passes Then maroon has one of the better red zone threats inactive to have more coverage players active when he has an extra kicker that kicks it out of the back of the endzone! Sofa king we Todd Ed !!

Precisely! Isn't WR Mike Williams noted to be a good red zone threat, and yet he was inactive. Its almost like the Bills offensive coordinator / Head coach are taking bribes from opposing teams to purposely screw themselves. Or, other teams needn't worry about beating this team, as they appear to want to beat themselves with their own stupidity. All year its been like this. Have the 2nd year QB throw so many passes and play right into the teeth of the Texans pass rush. I really wanted Buffalo to beat the Chiefs, and if they lose again on Thursday night. I'll really want this entire coaching staff to go back to college where they can come in 4th in the division, and I won't care.

IMO this goes back to coaching, and how they utilize their players. The coaches couldn't seem to get the most of of Spiller either. With Jim Kelly in his later years the coaches tried to limit his passes so he wouldn't wear down towards the end of the season, same with any older QB. The bigger questions might be...when the O line is doing well, and the run game is working so well to the tune of averaging 5.0 yards per carry why run only 22 times, and pass 48 times? Then why throw 48 times against the #1 pass defense in the NFL?

This conversation is going to arise more the better some of the other WR's in the draft do, and the more games the Bills lose. #19, Sammy Watkins, #21 Kelvin Benjamin Carolina (who plays tonight). #22 Mike Evans Tampa Bay #36 Brandin Cooks New Orleans Odell Beckham Jr is currently ranked #77. I've always maintained you never, ever trade away a future #1 pick unless its for a franchise QB or if you already have that QB and just need a single player who will dominate. That franchise QB is now riding the bench. This last game when the Bills really needed him to step up. 10 targets, 4 catches for 27 yards. Its not going to get better for this FO unless the team makes the playoffs this year.

and yet if Bryce Brown isn't stripped before he can get to the end zone the Bills have that first rushing TD. The Bills were averaging 5.0 yards per carry, and then stopped even trying to run in the 4th quarter.

Its not just that... You have to think this team sucked in the red zone with EJ, Tuel, Lewis, and now Orton. It is the QB's or the scheme, playcalling? The Bills are 27th in three downs and out this season, and that's worse then 2013 when they ended at 25th. Why have Orton throw 48 times against the leagues #1 pass defense. Yet the Bills were averaging 5.0 yards per carry running the ball. Gotta score more then 13 points against good teams.

Lots seem to want to lay all the blame on the QB for one singular bad pass against the #1 pass defense. The Bills have been bad in the red zone long before Orton became a starter. The guy had no turnovers, and just wasn't perfect. It stinks that this coaching staff seems to think that the QB needs to make those magical 4th down throws to win games every week. Sammy had 10 targets for 4 catches, 27 yards. What a off game for a guy who had 3 catches for 157 yards and a TD against the Jets. Its funny how nobody remembers how this same team destroyed Tom Brady in week four of this year, and yet 48 called passes vs 22 rushes again. The Bills had a 5.0 YPC avg running it. But yea, its the QB's fault. He should learn he must make every 4th down throw in the red zone.

Yep, the Bills played great against the Chiefs last year too...all the way up to the two turnovers that gave the Chiefs the win. eerily deja vu Having his QB throw 4 times in the red zone against the #1 pass defense in the league was brilliant, keep it up.

The only OC I know that would have his QB throw 4 times in the red zone against the #1 pass defense in the league. Anyone else remember what that KC defense was able to do against Tom Brady in week 4 of this year?

They played great against the Chiefs last year too, all the way up to the Tuel pick six, and the TJ Graham fumble for a KC TD. Last year the Bills ran the ball at will with 38 rushes for 241 yards, and were killing the Chiefs all the way up until that Tuel pick six... Last year the Bills D only gave up 3 FG's, and the Chiefs won with 2 turnovers for TD's. Whats crazy is the Bills only scored 13 points on offense against the Chiefs last year too.

Terrible as in Geno Smith was against Buffalo , as was Brady against the Chiefs , as EJ was against the Texans , as Phillip Rivers was against Miami Leave Orton out of this until he has 3+ turnovers. This team has had red zone problems long before Orton got the start.

This has to be the most intelligent, and level headed thread / post so far about the game. Its not like Carpenter didn't already make a 58 yarder this year, and the defense had been brilliant all game holding the Chiefs, and their vaunted run game to only 250 yards, Alex Smith 17/29 177 yards, NO TD's, and SIX sacks. Not only that the Bills offenses biggest weakness has been in the red zone all season, and just because the QB had a magical last second 4th down TD against the vikings. Doesn't mean he can magically do that every game. This team needs to fix their god awful red zone offense, and fix the stupid penalties.

The team did play well this game in almost every facet. The O line played well with 48 passes by Orton and only one sack. The playcalling for most of the game was much improved and the Bills did move the ball very well between the twenties. The one area they still stink in is the red zone, and just because Orton was able to pull off a 4th down, last second TD against the Vikings doesn't mean he can do it every game. A lot of fans are laying this loss on Orton because he didn't make that magical 4th, and ten first down at the KC 15 yard line after 4 straight throws. 13 points isn't going to win many games in the NFL and this team needs to fix that red zone offense asap or its another lost season. EDIT: oh, and they also need to fix all the stupid penalties at the most inopportune times!

For me it was on 4th down and 10 from the KC 15 yard line with 2:31 left in the game. Marrone goes for it on 4th down when the team hasn't been able to score much in the redzone almost all year. The FG would have made it a one point game, and a FG from the 40 yard line could have won it. Carpenter has kicked a 58 yarder this year. I mean the defense played so brilliantly all game in sacking Smith 6x, and holding that vaunted Chief run game / offense in check to the tune of only 250 yards all game. Trust in the defense, and kicking game, or even an onside kick if you don't. The Bills did get the ball again.

Just compare the winning QB in Alex Smith 17/29 177 yards NO TD's-NO INT's- He did have a rushing TD, as his OC allows him the read option which opened up the offense to help score points. Smith sacked 6 times!! Then look at Buffalo QB Kyle Orton 29/48 259 yards ONE TD-NO INT's- The Bills ran one 5 WR set, and it went for a completed pass for a first down, and wasn't used again that I saw. Orton sacked only once! Sammy Watkins 10 targets, 4 catches for 27 yards- an off day. -The Bills 22 rushes for 111 yards @ 5.0 yards per carry vs 48 pass attempts. The offense scored only 13 points, and 7 were ripped away from them with the Bryce Brown fumble thru the endzone. Still, 13 points is not enough to win against good teams. This was all addressed in the fire Hackett thread, when the offense laid a big turd against the Jets, and it was the defense along with the 6 turnovers that won that game. The playcalling, run game, and O line looked much improved for the most part. Then the Bills moved the ball very well between the twenties, and then looked like a deer in headlights once in the redzone. This team still can't get a first down by running when they really need to, and mostly they didn't even try.

Yea, I'm in favor of it! Nate Hackett, and some of those O line players should be executed.

Only 13 points on offense did the trick. The run game was averaging 5.0 YPC, and only 22 rushes vs 48 passes, and on a good note the line only allowed one sack. But you still need to score points to win games. The guy the Bills gave up two first rounders for had an off day, 10 targets for 3 catches 27 yards. The offense looked effective between the twenties all game, and a deer in headlights in the red zone other then that first drive. Orton played with no turnovers, and so did Alex Smith who was sacked 6 times. Stupid penalties at the most inopportune times. Plus the turnovers On 4th and goal from the KC 14 with 2:31 min left in the game ya gotta kick a FG, and its a one point game. Carpenter has hit 58 yarders this season. The Bills did get the ball back.

The way I look at it is, this "team" is not going to win many games scoring only 13 points against a good team. No matter how anyone paints this game the offense is simply not good enough to keep up with any of the decent teams,and for various reasons. Lets rehash a few things, Run game gaining 5.0 YPC average and only 22 rushes for 111 yards. Meanwhile 48 passes for 253 yards which was great considering the Bills O line only gave up one lone sack. The Bills Defense played great, and had 6 sacks on Alex Smith who only had 151 yards passing, and yet he didn't have a turnover. Kyle Orton also didn't turn the ball over. There were still numerous stupid penalties on different Bills players at the most inopportune times 6-44 yards. The bad luck with the turnovers happens at times. The guy the team gave up two first rounders for had an off day with 10 targets for 4 catches, 27 yards. Still, 13 points isn't ever going to win many games.

The Dolphins loss is about the only good news today The Phins won't be as strong on offense with the loss of starting LT Brandon Albert.

Its all good. and aren't we all a bit stressed after losing such a meaningful game. That was our playoff game, and our team still found a way to lose despite the defense playing so great.

That was with an owner who was more concerned with making a profit over winning, and used to micro manage his team / coaches. Plus the job insecurity of playing for a 90+ year old owner. Its why no top NFL head coach wanted to come to Buffalo. New ownership changes everything!! the best part is when Terry Pegula was asked if he bought the team to make a profit. His response was if I need to make money, I'll drill another well. I want to win above all else! No need to worry about coaching changes, as sometimes they are needed, and necessary. Marrone may or may not improve over the next 5 years. I for one am tired of his staff needing to learn as they go.