Livinginthepast

They were better against the run and actually stopped on 3rd down several times That is positive. But 1. the soft zone where a guy is 5 yards open and the dbs are rooted to the spot and not moving to where the ball is going was idiotic. When Hyde, Poyer, Tre and Milano were in their prime this is how we got turnovers or separated the receiver from the ball. The zone defense is terrible with this personnel and simply does not work. Mostly on the coaches but partly on the players. 2. The inability of Bills Blitzers to keep Maye hemmed in and when they were rushing him not close quick enough to make the sack, hit him and affect the throw and not jumping with hands up to either knock the ball down or unsight the receiver. Its been at least 2 solid years of inconsistent play in this area and last night was one of the worst examples 3. The missed tackles. There was a bunch last night but the Shaq miss on Diggs was a game loser that allowed the Pats a first down. I'm not sure how pro players cant tackle. I have no idea how they fix that? fundamentals somehow missing. It seemed like a couple of positives for the Bills last night then a lot of regression

saw the burst last year for that TD but also thats the WGR hype too.

Shavers is supposed to be super fast. Why are we not using that with a deep route?

I thought about the Poyer point last night. I want to see him in as well. My son said to me that he would be as washed as Tre. Very true he might be, but at least we could count on him to take the head off an opposing WR with his late and dirty hits!! I very much doubt that Diggs would have felt so comfortable with all those catches after a trademark human torpedo late hit from Poyer to upper body.

Babich is useless. He is obviously running McD's mediocre defensive game plan but he runs it worse than McD! I honestly dont see the point in going forward with him. Brady needs to stop being so afraid of unleashing Josh and stretch the field.

He made some great plays no doubt but was aided and abetted by the Bills horrendous secondary who didnt seem to break their zone despite the fact that Maye was scrambling. Shaq Thompson on Diggs for that 4th Q miracle catch allowed Diggs to get open, catch the ball then break free after he whiffed on the tackle for a huge first down. if that wasnt bad enough 3 Bills (including Benford) just stood there and allowed Diggs to come to them instead of moving forward to meet him before the first down line. Had any of the 3 moved even 2 or 3 yards up they might have stopped him but they were clueless. The play that followed where there was no pressure and soft coverage allowed Boutte to make an easy catch and gain 25 yards for an easy FG. 25 Yards pitch and catch with the game on the line and the Bills made it so easy.

Hochuli is all about Hochuli (just like Dad) but him and his crew are the most ticky tack of the various crews. They dont seem to have the wisdom to get out of the way and let them play. A good NFL official (rare breed) has the ability to not throw a flag when the foul doesnt impact the play. But not Hercules Hochuli, every infringement must be punished!

While the D was somewhat better, they were also just as bad or worse in these areas: 1. Holding Maye in the pocket or sacking him when they had the chance. Maye slipped out of heavy pressure at least 7 or 8 times. 2 of these times it looked like intentional grounding but the other few it was either a decent run or a miracle completion. 2. Coverage on the Pats recievers (esp Diggs DUH). Diggs was open over and over again and when the Bills dbs did arrive they didnt separate him from the ball. 3. The last drive was horrendous. Diggs play was a fluke but his YAC was significant and then they gave up that huge pass play down the sideline to get them into FG range. Just not good enough, even with the backups playing for the injured.

How did it take until the 4th Q for Babich to employ this strategy? Is he too scared to make a defensive adjustment without McD? or too dumb? Maye was breaking the pocket and rolling right with success all night. He also ran right up the middle at least 3 times. Why was there no Spy or another man on the Bills left side to cover and keep him in the pocket so maybe, just maybe one of our slow as molasses Dline could actually get to him before he released the ball. Just amateur hour coaching!

What pisses me off is that the Bills let Diggs do that to them. How many times when Diggs played for us did you see him get hammered by opposing DBs and Lbs who hated his attitude and disrespect. Tonight the Bills barely caressed him.

For the past 4 weeks, there have been several posts on here where people have been shouted down for expressing concerns or criticisms for what this team quite obviously lacks. All we have heard is but they are 4-0, just relax . Well sorry the defense is terrible, it lacks play makers and ball hawks, it pressures with no or few sacks, the dbs cannot cover receivers to save their lives and the zone schemes are so soft that a high school QB could hit the receivers. Once again we made a young QB look poised and veteran with his passes and ad libbing. It appears that Babich running McD's vanilla defense does absolutely nothing to confuse opposing Qbs with defensive schemes or formations. On offense we cant throw a deep ball to save ourselves and just when we are getting some momentum running, Brady decides a low percentage play would be just the ticket . Once again tonight we were blitzed silly by an opposing defense. We should have been drawing them in with repeated bubble screens like we did with Hawes the last game and burning them repeatedly but Brady makes no adjustment for that. Josh got beat up tonight because of all the pressure and hits that he took and that is completely on Brady not countering the blitzing. In addition to both units performing poorly the amount of penalties from a supposedly disciplined team was completely unacceptable. I get that many were ticky tack from Mr Universe Shawn Hochuli and Co but the sloppiness was ridiculous. 2 illegal formation penalties? How does that happen even once? Just bad coaching and preparation.

Of course you can if you hope for PI. Not passing to the endzone but at least to their 30. At least attempt it. Better than that play to nowhere. Might has well have kneeled down.

I agree. It was a nice idea but he is not only slow but has lost all his coverage instincts. But what is the most ironic thing? He was made to look silly by another guy who tore up his leg in Diggs.

Brady ends the game with a superb playcall. No better not Hail Mary it and hope for PI.

No

Put up your hand if this is the high stress ending (The pats getting the ball back) that you really really didnt want!

Finally somewhat smart defense on that 3rd down (with a little help on the false start call which was questionable).

The Defense needs to finally step up here and get a turnover. Please no more of the Bills Dline grasping at air as Maye throws another lucky pass to Diggs.

Ah the familiar DBAG Vrabel face!!

Vrabel made the Bills his b*tch as a player and has done us in a few times as a coach. It doesnt help that we have played the dumbest game of the season on Offense and defense.

The Bills arent just getting outplayed. They are getting embarrassed. Nobody even touched that Pats player on the TD.

Can someone please explain the concept of zone defense with guys 5-10 yards yards open?

White is slow I get that after his injuries and age but he seems to have really lost his technique at pass defending. Its mystifying how ordinary he is on coverage most of the time.

I was hoping for the Jeff Tuel pick six on Maye on that last play. but not to be.

Forget Josh Allen, Drake Maye or the Diggs drama. Forget the White out or Sunday night football hype. This is the Shawn Hochuli show.