Dan

What pissed me off about today.... We finally ran an end around reverse to Watkins. and We finally motioned Freddie out of the backfield, spread the defense out and then ran Boobie up the middle for a TD on 3rd and short. 2 plays on our 2nd scoring drive. 2 plays I'be waited all season to see! So why did it take all season to bring out these two, well-designed plays?

We're staring 8-8 right in the face, and can only hope for 9 wins if the Pats rest 3/4 of their team. Forgive me for not being all giddy over finally getting 1 more win than the Jauron years. We're not the best D in the league. Currently, we're #4 overall; 5th against the pass, 13th against the run. Yeah, we're good but still not good enough to stop a bad team on 3rd and 22 when the game if not entire season was on the line. I really appreciate your infinite optimism, Promo. I do. But, I just can't look at our offense over the last 2 years and realistically expect them to get it fixed. Sure, I guess we could sign Rodgers and an all star cast for the line. But, until that happens, please don't hold it against me for being skeptical with our current coaches' ability to coach on the same level as the best in the league.

Week 17: Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots Sunday, December 28, 2014 at 1:00pm TV Network: CBS (TV Map) Announcers: Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots DirecTV: 713 Bills Radio: On the call: John Murphy (play by play), Mark Kelso (analyst), Sal Capaccio (sideline) Flagship: Buffalo – WGR550 (550AM); Toronto - 590 The Fan; Rochester - WCMF (96.5) and WROC (950AM); Syracuse - WKRL (100.9/WKLL 94.9) Sirius/XM: 108 (Internet 803) ================================================================= Game Preview: The New England Patriots have Super Bowl aspirations every season, and clinching the top seed in the AFC playoffs is simply an expectation fulfilled as they pursue their ultimate goal. New England (12-3) did its part by surviving with a 17-16 victory at the New York Jets last week, and it wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs when Cincinnati beat Denver on Monday night. Buffalo (8-7) was eliminated from playoff contention for the 15th straight season with last week's 26-24 loss at Oakland, extending the longest active playoff drought in the NFL. Read more at ESPN game preview... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Harbaugh leads top 10 head-coaching candidates QB Index: Which QBs will be available in 2015? NFL.com Preview: Bills at Patriots NFL.com Game Center Team Stats: Bills Patriots Total Yds/Game.... 321.9 372.5 Total Rush............. 91.9 107.4 Total Pass............. 230.0 265.1 Points/Game.......... 21.7 30.6 Time of Poss.......... 29.8 29.5 ---------------------------------------------- Yds/Gm Allowed... 315.7 349.2 Rush Yards........... 105.8 104.3 Pass Yards........... 209.9 244.9 Points Allowed........ 18.7 19.7 Source: NFL.com Overall Offense: Bills - 24th; Patriots - 10th Overall Defense: Bills - 4th; Patriots - 13th MatchUp Comparison via SportingCharts.com Injury Report: Buffalo Bills NAME POSITION INJURY WED. THU. FRI. GAME STATUS Carpenter, Dan K Right Groin LP LP LP Probable Dareus, Marcell DT Knee DNP DNP DNP Doubtful Gilmore, Stephon CB Concussion DNP DNP DNP Doubtful Williams, Aaron S Hip LP LP LP Probable Source: BuffaloBills.com New England Patriots NAME POSITION INJURY WED. THU. FRI. GAME STATUS Sebastian Vollmer T Back Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Tom Brady QB Ankle Full Participation in Practice Probable Jonas Gray RB Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice Out Chandler Jones DE Hip Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Danny Aiken LS Finger Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Shane Vereen RB Ankle Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Brandon Browner CB Groin Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Dont'a Hightower LB Shoulder Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Rob Ninkovich DE Heel Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Alfonzo Dennard CB Hamstring Limited Participation in Practice Out Brandon LaFell WR Shoulder Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Kyle Arrington CB Hamstring Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Julian Edelman WR Thigh Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Jamie Collins LB Hip Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Dan Connolly G Knee Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Chris White LB Ankle Limited Participation in Practice Questionable LeGarrette Blount RB Shoulder Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Cameron Fleming T Ankle Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Source: NFL.com Practice Status Game Status DNP = Did Not Participate in Practice Out = Player will not play LP = Limited Participation - Less than 100% of normal reps Doubtful = 25% chance a player will play FP = Full Participation - 100% of a player's normal repetitions Questionable = 50% chance a player will play Out = Player will not play Probable = 75% chance a player will play (-) = Not Listed = No practice status available (-) = Not Listed - No game status available The Odds: Line: Patriots -3.5 Over/Under: 44 Source: The LineMakers Up to date lines... if you're in Vegas. My Thoughts on the Game: Well here we sit at the the precipice of another off season. Once again, we're not in the playoffs. Once again, we leave the season with nearly as many question marks as we had when we entered. Once again, we have a bitter taste in our mouth as the Patriots move on to be the darlings of the NFL. Once again, we hope... for next year. So, who really cares about this game? The Players say they do. The Coaches say they do. But, will any of them actually show up and play like they care? Will they play like they should have last week. Did the coaching staff put in overtime, sleeping in their offices figuring our how to beat the Patriots? Do they really care? I guess we'll see soon enough. I'll be watching because: 1. It's the last time I get to see the Bills play till next August. I hate this time of year for that. 2. Just to see if anyone on this team looks like they give two cents about their jobs. My guess is we'll see the same boring game plan and apathetic offensive effort we've seen all season. Then afterwards, we'll get boring coach speak about executing and watching some tape, just before they all go home and relax knowing they don't have to pretend to work anymore for a while. 3. I want to see if Hackett gets fired.. like right as the team is lining up to punt from the 40 in the 4th quarter as they're down by 3 scores ..fired. 4. It's what I do. I watch the Buffalo Bills. I love my team. I can't help it. Go Bills.

If there are no changes to the coaching staff... It's time to tune out, because there is absolutely no reason to believe that the status quo will suddenly figure out how to put together an NFL caliber offense.

That's what it seems some people expect as unrealistic as it is.

At that time, I was out of Graduate School and in my first job in New Jersey. My wife and I had traveled home for the holidays, like always. I saw the game at my parent's house in Tennessee with my family. I made the bold prediction, prior to the game, that the winner would be in the Super Bowl. We went from the highest of elation to the lowest of despair in those few moments. The closest to that feeling was our first Super Bowl, as we all stood in my parents house holding hands in hope and prayer. Since then I've moved 3 times, changed jobs twice, gotten divorced, seen nieces and nephews grow up to get married and graduate college, my parents have retired, and our Bills' fandom is met with a mixture of joke and sympathy. It truly feels like a lifetime ago, so much has changed in my life and the world. And, yet I still get Bills' gear every Christmas and hope for a better next year. It's gotten to the point of absurdity what we endure as Bills fans... To be this bad for this long.

Had we won out and finished 10-6, missing the playoffs due to tie breakers, I could agree that we were a playoff caliber team that needs tweaks and a little luck next year. But, as it turns out, we're pretty much a rock solid 8-8 team that's missing the playoffs because they still got a ways to go.

Precisely my point. We played right to the Raiders' strength. And as bad as that is, its not the first time we did that in a game. And, I also agree, there's ways to create running lanes and design around poor guards. But knowing that guard is the weakest position on the line, we continually and repeatedly ran right behind the guard. That's what I don't get. Honestly, it made me think Marrone told Whaley he needed different players; Whaley said these are fine; so Marrone said fine... I'll show you how bad they are. It sounds stupid even as I type it, but it's baffling how bad we got and how little we adjusted to compensate for how bad we were. Why have all those sub standard TEs activated and playing? Why have a kick off specialist only to have him kick it to the goal line forcing a run back? Why bench a viable red zone threat when we can't score in the red zone? Why not try to score before the half? Why bench Urbik to start the season? There's so many questions over the course of the season that were never answered and probably never wil be.

This is one of the reasons I fault coaching and scheme. The FO addressed the line with draft picks and FA, and 4/5 of the line returned from 2013... a line that wasn't that bad. Yet, Marrone and company fiddled with it all off season right into the regualr season. They moved players around, switched positions, and basically screwed the whole thing up. So, although we had 4/5 of the line return, we only had 2 players playing the same position. Marrone said you don't need continuity, you need your 5 best guys. The results say he was wrong. Add to all that, Hackett's predictable game calling and planning that gives defenses a leg up on what we're doing and you have a recipe for failure. I don't think anyone has ever said that our line is full of probowlers or that we're all good at the QB spot. But, Marrone and the entire offensive staff seemed to do everything possible to highlight every weakness, every week. There were times, I actually wondered... are they screwing this up on purpose to prove a point to someone? Because, I honestly can't see doing some of the things they did... over and over again.

What did we have... 5 games in London? Stupid. Thursday Night Football. All season long? Why? Crappy Refs that enforce the increasingly subjective rules inconsitently that completely alters the outcome of games, usually in favor of large market teams? The same half dozen teams as the Nationally televised games every week. Stop playing favorites. Fantasy football.

Yeah it would totally suck to have all the players hate the coach while they're playing in their 3rd consecutive conference championship game. I'd much rather everyone like our coach! I'm not saying Harbaugh should come here or that he would even have success here, but we clearly need to upgrade the coaching staff and someone with his track record could be nothing but positive for our team of under achievers.

Hogan hasn't necessarily improved; he's just gotten more playing time. Prior to this season, he's hardly seen the field Has the offense improved with him in there? Henderson is a rookie. So its hard to say he's improved. Is he better than he was in week 1? Maybe but he's been somewhat inconsistent as well. Dixon wasn't on the team last year. Nor was he a starter prior to Spiller getting hurt. So, it's hard to say how much he improved, but again, has the offense or running game really improved with him in there? Woods is the only player you mentioned that has 2 years on this team. CAREER STATS Season Team Receiving Rushing Fumbles G GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD FUM Lost 2014 Buffalo Bills 15 15 61 660 10.8 37 4 -- -- -- -- -- 1 1 2013 Buffalo Bills 14 14 40 587 14.7 57 3 2 16 8.0 13 0 -- -- TOTAL 101 1,247 12.3 57 7 2 16 8.0 13 0 1 1 So, he has more yards this year, but his average is down 4yds per catch. So, I'd say its largely a wash as to whether he's improved. He's about the same in my opinion.

To my eyes, Peyton looks like he's loosing his arm strength as the season wears on. He's by no means washed up, but he's in serious decline mode. Just for fun, I was wondering how many passes a QB has in his arm... if that could be some predictor of how long the great ones can play? Manning is currently just over 9,000 pass attempts for his career. When Favre retired, he was just over 10,100 (although as I recall his last few years were tough to watch as he was loosing his ability to throw the deep ball). Brady, you ask, is currently just over 7,100 attempts. Considering he's 2years behind Manning in playing time, I'd say he's right about where he should be. If my stupid analysis has any merit at all, he's got about 3 good years left before we see his arm start failing him. Also, if there is any validity to this notion at all... I'd say the last thing Peyton needs to do is work hard all off season and prepare even more. Just the opposite, I say he needs to rest that arm and use it as little as possible in the off season.

Manning's arm is definitely showing his age. He's lost most all zip on his passes, especially the outs. It'll be interesting to see if he tries to make it one more year.

It really is that simple. Thank you.

I said it when they let him walk, and I think it every time I see him play in Seattle... he's a great player and we were stupid for letting him go.

And if this were the first time we saw this failed game plan, it might be excusable. But it isn't the first time they beat themselves, and there really is no excuse at this point. I truly hope the Pegulas act fast. The problems on this team really are quite glaring. So much of this current team reminds me of Jauron's days. I didn't want to believe it all season. I wanted to see progress. I tried really hard to beleive. But yesterday's performance, against one of the worst teams in the league in a must win game, just made it completely apparent. We're not making progress at the most important aspects of the team or game.

Marrone and Hackett do not adjust their game plan. They have the winning game plan, they drew it up 2years ago. They just can't the right players to execute it! Seriously, I can't think of any in-game adjustments we've made. And at east 90% of our pays looks the exact same as they were in week one.

I was thinking the same thing yesterday, after we beat the Raiders and even if we played tough against the Pats, it would be hard to fire Marrone or Hackett. I was all ready to make that case that things were improving and that another year of tweaking the roster would be best. But then the abyssmal Raider game happened. There is absolutely no parallel world in existence in which its acceptable to allow 13 yards rushing to a 2 win team. It should be blatantly obvious that the offense has steadily regressed under this coaching staff. This was not a single bad game; this was the exclamation point on a downward spiral of offensive futility. There is not a single offensive metric that we've improved in 2years... not one. The only solace from this loss is that hopefully it has pulled back the veil of imaginary progress and revealed what so many die hard fans of this team know to be true. Hopefully, the new ownership doesn't have to waste a year with a football consultant to figure out what needs to change. This team is close, I still beleve that. Unfortunately, its missing the most important ingredient... a winning coaching staff. Yes, we need a true franchise QB as well. But, if anyone actually thinks the current coaching staff can properly develop a franchise QB, then they're either delusional or just not watching this current team's performance.

So let me get this straight.... your plan to build a winning team is to sit back and suck for another season, hope that Rivers doesn't sign an extension, and then in 2016 offer him the highest salary ever in hopes of luring him to Buffalo?

I clicked thinking it was a "guess our rushing total" thread for the Pats game.

That's exactly how I feel. I said it last year at this time, and I'll say it again... draft a QB with every pick until they find one worth a damn. That's what they need to do. You can't win in this league without a QB, period. However, with Marrone/Hackett designing the offense, I truly can't see any QB being successful. So, I'll add... fire them in Foxboro next week. Then, do whatever it takes to hire a coaching staff that has a friggin clue.

Chan had 3 of these same linemen and pulled guards and ran traps all the time. Seemed they were capable of it 3 years ago, what has changed?

good point. Orton came in and the read option went bye bye, rightfully so. But, our run game disappeared with it and our coaches have had zero answer for it.

We have a new owner that just paid $1.4 Billion for this team. At this point, with this kind of ineptitude on the field, I find it near impossible to believe they're not going to to want to put their stamp on the team in some big way this off season. Hiring a consultant and keeping the status quo just doesn't seem like enough to me.