billsfan1959

I didn't say he did. But that incompletion was on Diggs. He is one of the better receivers in the NFL and wearing gloves. He should catch that pass every time.

Only in Buffalo do we not root for home playoff games....

Nope. Diggs should have caught that one though.

Please. This is the NFL and Diggs is an upper echelon receiver. The ball should have been caught.

You are right on both counts: (1) sometimes bad things happen when he plays the same way as he does on most of his spectacular plays, and (2) it is a tougher balance than people think, particularly with a QB like Allen. He didn't have a good passing game today. But, honestly, the guy was still the best player on the field and is in almost every game he plays. He is a special QB because of a combination of his physical gifts, his intelligence, his competetiveness, and the way that he plays the game. It is that last part I find most amusing with some fans. The way Allen plays results in spectacular plays, performances, and wins most of the time. That same style of play will also, on occasion, result in plays and performances that don't turn out well. Then the same people that applaud when he throws back , against his body, on the run, with two defenders in his face, and completes a 25 yard pass in a tight window between 3 defenders - will complain about Allen playing "hero ball" when that same pass is incomplete when he could have dumped it off to a receiver 5 yards downfield or, heaven forbid, it gets intercepted. When you look at games this year in which Allen has not done well, there has been plenty of blame to go around, including Allen himself. It truly has been a strange year for the team. It has been a s*** show of musical chairs along the offensive line for most of the year; a nearly non-existent running game (for most of the games) outside of Allen; critical moments of penalties, turnovers, or dropped passes; and bad weather games. Through it all, the one consistent is that Allen has been asked, arguably more than any QB in this league to carry his team on his back. And, because of his talent and fearless style of play, he manages to do it most of the time. Sometimes he doesn't. Fans can't have it both ways. They can't applaud him for carrying the team when he is successful and then criticize him for trying to do to much and playing "hero ball" when he is not successful - for the same style of play in both. I am not saying his play at times doesn't deserve some criticism or that he doesn't sometimes have a bad game. He is still young, still learning, and still growing as an NFL QB. He makes mistakes and sometimes doesn't perform as well as he should. However, the way he plays that sometimes leads to those mistakes and bad performances, is also why, over the last two years, he has over 9800 total yards, 85 total TDs, 23 wins, a trip to the AFC Championship game, and his team in the playoffs again.

How are those wins stacking up under his tenure?

I just rewatched the game from yesterday. What the passing stats might suggest isn't close to how Allen actually played in that game. He was still the best player on the field and an integral reason why they won. As the Bills head into the playoffs, my concerns are not about Allen.

First five seasons as head coach (Regular season records and years they made the playoffs) Wins Losses % Playoffs Harbaugh 55 25 .680 5 of 5 yrs Tomlin 55 25 .680 4 of 5 yrs Reid 51 29 .620 4 of 5 yrs Payton 49 31 .610 3 of 5 yrs McCarthy 48 32 .600 3 of 5 yrs McDermott 48 32 .600 4 of 5 yrs If Mc Dermott wins next week his 49-32 .604. Pretty much in line with the others

I nominate @Big Turk or @Billsfan1972 Based on their threads, they seem to have their fingers on the pulse of this team....

In Allen's first year, the team was not in any position to surround him with more talent after purging the roster of unwanted contratcs. As a result, he literally had the worst offensive line and receiving corps in the NFL, and maybe on any NFL team in recent memory. The truth is, Allen should have never seen the field that first year. If you want to blame the front office and coaching staff for anything, it was not having an experienced veteran QB that Allen could learn under. When he did play, he literally didn't have the talent around him to "open things up." QBs that experienced some level of real success their first years, like Mahomes, Murray, Mayfield, etc., went into situations with much more offensive talent around them. Those are not excuses, they are simply facts. Of course you know this. You said in another post above, "I always looked at it with rose coloured glasses." I don't think anyone here would accuse you of that. Kinda the opposite... ...You just can't stop complaining.

Yeah, I won't cancel because. like you, I go through every game at least 1-2 times and then keep going back to look at and breakdown certain plays. But, you would think with all of the advancements in technology we see every day, they would find a way to make changes that create an easier and more enjoyable experience for the user, rather than the opposite...

By your response, I'm pretty sure you knew what I meant. However, it is always nice to have the grammar and spelling police patrolling the boards to catch those little unintentional mistakes. Keep up the good work!

Then why do you continually bring it up...ad nauseam?

Yeah, I thought Epenesa came out strong in preseason and the first few games of the regular season, and then has been a bit disappointing since. I'm not ready to give up on him yet as a guy who could be a solid productive part of the D, but I had hoped for more from him at this point. I am still fairly high on Rousseau and think he and Basham will take big steps forward next season. I would love that finisher as well. But the truth is, a great pass rushing defensive end, in terms of ability to generate sacks and dominate a game, is rare. I would settle for that 2nd tier DE that can generate consistent pressure and 8-10 sacks.

I have paid for game pass since it came out. I love being able to sit somewhere, all by myself, and enjoy spending my time going through each game, play by play - and being able to focus on whatever I would like at the moment. It is something I truly find enjoyable. However, their changes in formatting and continual problems I experience have really made me question whether it is worth the price and to consider letting my subscription lapse.

Absolutely right. They play a disciplined defense that is designed to work as a cohesive unit. Again, and FWIW, ESPN analytics rank the Bills defense at # 5 in pass rush win rate. Football outsiders has them # 2 in pass def DVOA, #14 in rush def DVOA, and #2 in overall in tot def DVOA. They are #1 in opp completion %, #3 in INTs, #1 in YP/Att, #1 in Passing TDs given up, 1st in opponent QB rating, #1 in passing 1st downs allowed, etc., etc, etc... ...and #27 in sacks Would I love more sacks? Sure. But I will take the results they are getting in overall pass defense every time over a high number of sacks

FWIW, according to ESPN Analytics: Top 10 DE/OLB Pass Rush Win Rate 10. Jerry Hughes Top 10 DE/OLB Run Stop Win Rate 4. Greg Rousseau https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32176833/2021-nfl-pass-rushing-run-stopping-blocking-leaderboard-win-rate-rankings

Pretty much sums up every thread he has ever started...

IMO, any game against Mahomes in the playoffs will be the more worrisome. I love Burrow and think he is going to be a great QB in this league for a long time; however, he is not yet in the same tier as Mahomes and hasn't played in playoff environments yet. To me, Mahomes and Brady are just at a different level come playoff time than anyone else, at this point.

Rodgers may very well win the MVP again I wouldn't have a problem with it, just as I didn't last year. Not everyone on this board is a homer or complains when anything goes against the Bills. As a matter of fact, most posters here are not that way, so why don't you quit generalizing. BTW everything you say isn't fact or true - no matter how aggressively or condescendingly you present it. Most of it is nothing more than your opinion. Just like the rest of us.

This statement is not really substantiated by your posts in this thread. I am sure you feel that way; however, based soley on what you have written, I'd have to say, "No, you don't."

Just a look at Allen's numbers compared to other top QBs in some ares that, IMO, should be considered in an MVP conversation (Numbers are only for games in which the QBs played this year). Allen is the only QB in the top 5 in every category. He is top 3 in 6 of the 7 categories (no other QB is top 3 in more than 3 categories). % of Team % of Team % of Team % of Team Total TDs Total Turnovers Total team pts scored Per gm passing yds rushing yards total yards Total TDs per game per game (Only offensive scores) Herbert (100%) Jackson (46.27%) Jackson (78.99%) Stafford (78.26%) Brady (2.6) Rodgers (0.29) Allen 28 Stafford (100%) Allen (34.27%) Allen (78.75%) Rodgers (77.78%) Allen (2.53) Murray (0.83) Brady 27.54 Allen (99.28%) Murray (22.81%) Herbert (77%) Allen (76%) Rodgers (2.5) Brady (0.93) Stafford 27.26 Jackson (98.93%) Herbert (18.18%) Mahomes (75.41%) Herbert (72%) Herbert (2.4) Stafford (0.93) Murray 26.92 Brady (98.73%) Mahomes (18.12%) Brady (75.09%) Brady (70.91%) Stafford (2.4) Allen (1) Burrow 26.86 Burrow (98.48%) Burrow (6.75%) Murray (73.64%) Mahomes (70%) Mahomes (2.33) Herbert (1) Rodgers 26.85 Rodgers (98.21%) Rodgers (5.8%) Stafford (73.61%) Burrow (66.67%) Murray (2.16) Burrow (1.07) Herbert 26.73 Murray (98.21%) Brady (5.31%) Burrow (71.68%) Murray (66.67%) Burrow (2.13) Mahomes (1.13) Mahomes 26.67 Mahomes (97.71%) Stafford (2.8%) Rodgers (71.12%) Jackson (62.07%) Jackson (1.63) Jackson (1.45) Jackson 23.54

Yeah, not getting it for the NE game either. I'm able to get it for previous games. I really hate the change in formatting of game pass. It used to be so much more user friendly and seemed to work so much better. I constantly have problems with it.

Allen is literally inches away from being the front runner for the MVP. If he converts that 4th down against the Titans and if his foot doesn't touch the sideline when he dove to pylon the play before the non-call you referenced in the TB game, The Bills are 11-4, the #1 seed in the AFC, and Allen is, hands down, the odds on favorite for the MVP. But, it is what it is. In the end, I really could not care less about Allen winning the MVP. I only care about the Bills getting into the playoffs and having a legitimate chance of getting to the SB. If Allen keeps playing like he's been playing, I like their chances to win any game they are in - no matter who it is or where it is played.

I think, given the infection rate of the Omicron variant and the sheer numbers of players teams are starting to lose to the Covid list, this may become the single most important variable in wins and losses heading into the playoffs. The SB winner may very well be the team that is fortunate enough to keep more of their most valuable players off the list than other teams. I hope that isn't true, but given the surge we are seeing (see the 21 players lost over by the Saints), it very well may be the case.