Nihilarian

What all you eternal optimists need to realize is... The Bills couldn't move the ball on the Colts 20th or so defense. They scored a whole 15 points... They scored only 6 points against the Jags with the 28th or so defense. The Bills scored 26 against a bad Miami defense ranked 29th or so Oh yeah, they scored a bunch in the second half against the worst teams defense in the NY Jets with their 32nd defense. This Turkey day the Bills face the NO Saints who are 7th in points allowed, 10th in yards allowed. The following Monday on MNF they face the Patriots with currently the #2 defense and will in all probability be #1 by the time they play. Josh Allen keeps blaming himself for the poor offensive outings. Yet, the Bills have the talent at QB, WR and even RB. So, what's the issue?

Losing 6-9 to one of the worst teams in the NFL in Jacksonville with a rookie QB... as only Detroit is worse with no wins, the Jets with the same. Think about that Jacksonville loss for a minute to a team near last on both offense and defense. The Bills didn't just lose to the Colts...it was a blowout 45-15... kinda like Buffalo is on par with Jacksonville or worse as they both played each other last week and the score was 23-17. The NY Jets scored more against the Colts as their loss was 45-30. The Bills offense has serious issues. No run game from the RBs, bad O line, bad game plans, play calls. This has me thinking the Bills play the Saints on Turkey day and they have a have a top 10 defense!! Not a near 20th Colts defense or near last defense like The Jags or Miami...OH, and the team they just beat 45-17 in the NY Jets have the 32nd defense in the NFL. After that NO game they play the Patriots on MNF and NE has the #2 defense. Perhaps new #1 after this week of stats. 9-8 yea...maybe!

Bills fans need to rethink all the super bowl talk or even making the playoffs this year. That Bills O line is just not good enough, no run game and the Bills OC lost his mojo...since last seasons Colts game... the Bills just barely won against a sub par QB. We watched the Chargers do what Buffalo should have done to the Steelers on Sunday night in the opener. They should have beaten the Titans, the Jags and now the Colts. 6-4 and the Patriots lead the division. NO, NE, TB, Carolina, NE, Atlanta, NY Jets. 9-7...maybe?

Hey, I agree. Beane did say that this past draft was more about the future. Anyway, kinda tough to rush the passer when the QB goes 11 of 20 for 106 yards... Can't...stop...the...run!!! But then Taylor has been averaging 5.8 YPC against everyone. He also has been averaging 16 carries per game...till Buffalo. 32 rushes for 185 yards, 4 TDs rushing. So much for that #1 overall defense.

The Bills addressed their perceived biggest need for pass rushers with those first two picks. Some of the offensive line players from last season that were resigned simply aren't playing nearly as well this season. The Bills need some really good OGs.

The good news...the 8-2 Titans lost to the 1-8 Texans 😆Josh Allen managed to stay healthy and the offense looks to live or die with his performance. The Bad news is Buffalo isn't going to take the division and perhaps might not even make the playoffs in 2021. Can't run the ball...can't stop the run. The offensive line sucks moose arse and one player on that line shouldn't make or break a 5 player line...on either side! The Buffalo defense isn't as good as the #1 stat would suggest. The Patriots take the division with a rookie at QB and not because of that QB...but rather despite him. Mostly because the rest of the team is solid. They can run and stop the run! Their offensive line is decent. Their coaching is solid with actually making adjustments during games to counter what the other team is doing. I wonder if the Bills fans that still think it's a "passing league" will think twice about that after this Colts game...Taylor, 32 carries 185 yards 4 rushing TDs, 5 TDs for a lead running back with a good offensive line...probably not.

They did what was expected of them in destroying a bad team...what they should have done to the Jags. Even Boomer was saying wtf are you doing Daboll after that Jags game? The guy did call a better game in the second half though. Lets see if he keeps it going against the Colts. The thing is, the Jets didn't run that cover 2 shell that confounds the Bills offense.

This!

Perhaps... Then again, they lose to the Jets and the Patriots win over Cleveland...guess which team has the division lead...with a rookie at QB.

Over the last two decades Bills fans are just so used to the team falling apart at some point in the season. We all watched in horror as a 1-6 Jaguars team with the 28th ranked defense just throttled the #1 offense, and held that #1 offense to a lowly two field goals...even the #1 defense couldn't help the offense by scoring. That #1 defense might just be championship caliber this season and it all might be wasted because of a now pop-gun offense that can't score a TD against the worst team in the NFL. We have seen the 2-6 Jets beat both the now 7-2 Tennessee Titans and the now 5-4 Cincinnati Bengals. Yikes!! The Jets were home both wins and now Buffalo needs to go to Met Life and face that Mike White at QB. I think the rest of the NFL world just might join some Bills fans in thinking of putting a fork in the 2021 Buffalo Bills if they lose this game. BTW, the Jets have a better D line then the Jags and have the 32nd ranked defense. The only things worse than losing to the Jets this Sunday would be to lose to the Saints on Turkey day at NO 8:20 PM and the following Monday against New England. Was last weeks game the beginning of the end? Everybody gets knocked down at some point...it's what happens after that's what counts.

Funny thing though that you mention investing in a solid LT. Just recently the Cleveland Browns gave both their OGs extensions in the middle of the season. Realizing that their run game makes their offense work and even though they took the #1 overall QB in the 2018 draft...he is nothing without their run game. Cleveland #5 in rush attempts, #2 in rush yards, #1 in rush TDs...all with a non running QB.

First off, the decline in offensive performance started last season when the Colts came into Buffalo for that playoff game. The Bills were on a 6 game winning roll and the last three games. Denver 48-19, NE 38-9, Miami 56-26. WOWSER! That Buffalo offense looked unstoppable! The Colts playoff game 27-24 brought the Bills down to earth as they only won by 3 points and it was a close game. The next game against the Ravens the Buffalo offense only scored 10 points all game. The defense saved the Bills with a pick six from the end zone. -6 from them to +6 for us. These two games it looked like the defenses had started to figure out how to slow the Bills scoring offense. It really looked bad in the AFC Championship game 38-24 and was exasperated with all the holding the Chiefs were doing on both sides of the ball. Dial into to that first game against the Steelers week one of 2021, a 16-23 loss. They had all offseason to study film on what the Bills were doing on offense and the Bills offense just kept rolling with the same old, same old. Allow me to point out that even one of the greatest QBs of our time in Aaron Rodgers went 6-9-1 in 2018 with little or no running game, 32nd in rush attempts that season. Lafleur gets hired and the packers start running the ball, 13th in rush attempts in 2019. The Pack goes 13-3 with Rodgers at QB. Okay, what started this recent decline with the offensive line started with the back injury to RT Spencer Brown. The Bills replaced him by moving Williams from OG to RT along with a shuffle of other players moving around on the line. This last game the only real solid player was the center Morse. The two tackles and guards stunk it up. Most of last year the Bills line gave Josh Allen all the time he needed to make his reads, throws. The Chiefs games were exceptions. This year the QB hasn't had the luxury of being able to sit in the pocket and make his reads like last season and along with little or no run game from the RB's it lays the entire offense on the QB. (remember 2018 Aaron Rodgers?) My take is that the decline in the Bills offense since the end of last season is for a few reasons. Opponents have figured out how to defeat the Bills passing scheme. Recently with a "cover 2 shell" and a strong four man pass rush. It seems that the Bills block with five simply can't hold off four. Poor offensive line play. Lastly, where is the innovation in the offense? Allen doesn't have time in the pocket, quick slants not in the playbook? Quick outs not in the playbook? This has heavy pressure on the QB has happened to the offense since 2018, in 2019 against the Ravens who were in Allen's face all game as they sacked him 6x. The Bills had no run game and no pass game... and ...yet ...still kept calling pass plays. Just like against the Jags this past game. Just keep calling pass plays...something will work... Want the run game to work even with a weak, poor O line? OG's stink? Do what Cam Cameron did with the Ravens and bring in extra OT's to play TE. Five O linemen along with two extra tackles to block and they will move the ball on the ground. I've been advocating a stout Buffalo Bills run game for years and years. A strong run game to go along with the talent at receiver and this team would again be unstoppable on offense.

Last draft lots of Bills fans were disappointed in that #2 pick on Basham when Creed Humphries was sitting there. Funny how Cleveland just gave their best OG a contract extension in the middle of the season... They also gave an extension to OG Wyatt Teller...two extensions in two days...to their OGs. Hrmmm... You don't suppose that the Browns FO realizes that their offense is so dependent on their run game that is currently #5 in rush attempts, #2 in rush yards, #1 rushing TDs, #1 in YPC AVG and all this without a running QB. The Cleveland Browns #1 overall pick at QB sure is dependent on that run game. Browns #30th in pass attempts, 25th in passing yards, 25th in passing TDs. Be nice if someone in the Bills FO realized how important it is have pro bowl OGs on the team.

Go back and look at the 2018 Green Bay Packers, with 32 in rush attempts 22nd in rush yards. Aaron Rodgers was 6-9-1. He couldn't do it all by himself 2019, Packers 13th in rush attempts, 15th in yards, 7th in rush TDs. Rodgers, 13-3.

If this were an anomaly I wouldn't be saying it's a lot on the OC...not all. The O line has stunk it up big at times. This can't run, can't pass...so lets just keep calling pass plays...has happened many times with the Bills in the past under Daboll and it leaves the QB hanging out to dry all too often. It's the OC's job to make the offense work and this team has far, far too much talent to score only 6 points against the 28th ranked defense of a 1-6 team. Basically the worst team in the NFL over the last few years. In 2010 the Bills had one of the very worst offensive lines in Bills history and yet Chan Gailey, Fitz figured out a way to slow that pass rush with quick slants, outs and even went to a spread offense. The Bills were beaten 2x last season by the Chiefs in different ways. The Bills went into a defense that took away the deep passing and the Chiefs went to their run game. 1st game KC 46 rushes for 245 yards, 1 TD. The Bills need to be able to do this. They did it last season to the Jets, Patriots in their first games. If this team could work the run game on a decent consistent basis they would be unstoppable on offense. After listening to McD this week, I think there will be some changes ahead.

Tommy Sweeny only had 2 targets and he caught both for 10 yards. He get that (C) for his blocking? The TE is supposedly the cover 2 shell killer and he only saw two targets all game.

Funny... Its about setting up a run game that actually works!! Like misdirection plays, a counter trey run scheme. A running scheme is all about imposing your will on defenders as you know where the ball is going and slam that 300+lb body into someone. Trust me they don't like it and will wear down. You know, kinda like Buffalo did against the Titans and Derrick Henry 20 rushes for 143 yards, 3 TDs. The Bills don't even try and run much, 9 total runs by the RBs against Jacksonville. 15 runs against Miami. 13 runs against Tenn. With Josh Allen the QB usually the leading rusher... The Bills had better figure out how to beat that cover 2 shell or they might not even have a winning record this season. It's about figuring out an offensive scheme with the players available on the roster to defeat it. Its what good teams do! You won't think its funny should the Bills get swept by the Patriots this year or even the Jets... They just lost to a 1-6 team with the 28th ranked defense while scoring only 6 points.

Me? I think its time to hit that proverbial "panic button"!!!! Gee, I wonder what defensive scheme the rest of the Bills opponents will run? Cover 2 shell anyone? the Buffalo Bills kryptonite? the Titans, Jags, Steelers have strong D lines and who else does...yea, the NY Jets. The Titans beat them with a crappy secondary, then they go on a bye week and come out cold to have a tough time against the 32nd ranked defense of the 1-7 Miami Dolphins who they should have destroyed. The 1-6 Jaguars just beat the #1 offense, #1 defense Buffalo Bills with the 28th ranked defense and a notably poor secondary. If its not time to hit the panic button now...then when?...after they get beaten at the Jets? Who usually play them tough at Met Life stadium. This team should be destroying other teams. They have a top 5 QB, one of the very best receiver corps in the NFL. Good enough RBs to be a distraction. If Brian Daboll can't remove his head from his ass long enough to figure out how to beat a cover 2 shell...perhaps its time the Bills benched his ass and let Ken Dorsey give it a shot. This team has far, far too much talent on offense to keep losing to these scrub teams!!

Can they play OG?

C'mon guys, now we need to fix the receiving core because they are not imposing enough? Diggs led the NFL in receptions and yards last season! The 2020 Buffalo Bills offense was #2 in points, #2 in yards so the #2 overall offense. #3 in yards passing, #3 in passing TDs. So, what's changed for this year? The opposing defenses running a cover 2 shell that suddenly the Bills can't throw against? Also, the offensive line at almost every position stink now? Both tackles, both guards were abused against the jags...the 28th ranked defense!! It's clear to me, give Josh Allen the time in the pocket and he will rip opponents a new one! The Bills traded away their best OG since Richie Incognito in Wyatt Teller so someone doesn't know the difference between a solid OG and below average. The O line is the biggest concern, not the QB, not the WRs, not the RB's. So either fix the line or call plays that mask the deficiencies in the line. The Bills had one of their worst ever lines under Chan Gailey in 2010* and Chan/Fitz adjusted. Quick slants, outs to Stevie Johnson. Spiller running out of the spread-shotgun because once he got by someone it was a race. Jeez Daboll, figure it out!!

This tells me it's coaching. If the line can't hold their blocks for the mid to deep passes then change the calls. Work that short passing game to just move the chains. You know... like the Patriots do...since the Bills are running their offense or at least have their playbook. The thing is that Patriots scheme "Erhardt-Perkins" used a "smash mouth" running attack. Throw to score, run to win. Run play action to setup the deep pass. The Bills don't have any of this and just go with the deep passing part of that offense. Unless Daboll gets his head right... I just don't see this team sweeping the Patriots this year...or even the Jets. NFL Teams simply can't be one dimensional as opponents figure out how to stop that passing offense ... and then what? Keep passing like they did against the Jags, Steelers? Like I mentioned in another thread. The way to defeat that cover 2 shell is to work the TE. Tommy Sweeny saw only 2 targets for 2 catches all game against the Jags. Inability to adapt to what opponents are doing to stop you...COACHING!

If OBJ was that good at being open right off the line...then why wasn't Cleveland throwing to him more often? One game the guy had 7 targets and had only 2 receptions. His catch percentage in Cleveland is about 50%. Diggs is about 1000% better at this time. The problem with the offense is that Josh needs time in the pocket to throw the called plays... and he isn't getting it. Time to change the game plan, play calling to slants, quick outs to get the ball out in under 2 seconds. This is all on the OC.

Can he play OG or OT? It's shameful how bad that Bills O line looked against a 1-6 team. Have never seen a McD team look this lost on offense. Meanwhile, the Bills #1 defense did their job holding them to 3 FGs. What a waste of a championship defense.

This + 1000! Or tackle. Both OGs and OTs were abused against the Jags as the only guy who played somewhat decent was Morse the center. I look at things differently though. I see it as game planning, play calling problem. Can't run the ball with the RBs, don't have time to throw the ball...yet, keep asking the QB to throw it? The QB ends up blaming himself and its the OC that hung him out to dry in my view. Find play calls that gets the ball out of the QB's hands in under 2 seconds. Run some misdirection run plays to wear the defense out. Jeez, Innovate!! And yes, Stephon Diggs is a receiving "superstar" with a few others right behind him, Beas, Sanders are both pretty damn good at what they do too. Find ways to get Diggs the ball 10 plus times a game.

Whoa, good stuff. First, hope everything works itself out for ya Virgil as I enjoy reading your thoughts after a game...and it is a game. RL comes first. What perplexes me is that the Buffalo Bills have an offensive coordinator being paid millions to do his job. Twenty plus years as an NFL assistant and he can't figure out how to compensate / adjust his offense to defeat a ''cover 2 shell" defense? Just googled it to see that usually the TE is the "cover 2 killer" as the seem threat who will be defended by a LBer. Yet, Tommy Sweeny had only 2 targets, 2 receptions for 10 yards. The vulnerability of cover two is that you only have two deep defenders. Problem was that Allen didn't have time to wait for his receivers to get open on deep throws, 5 to 7 step drops. What really bothers me is the Jags were the 28th ranked defense and that's against the pass. Their corners, secondary stinks in comparison to Buffalo. I dunno how the guy can show his face after a game like that... 6 offensive points against the 28th ranked defense. That big hearted young QB got his arse handed to him all game because the OC failed to help him with a decent run game or a passing game plan to defeat a 1-6 team. BTW, Bills RB's. Singletary, 6 carries for 16 yards a 2.7 YPC AVG. Moss, 3 carries for 6 yards a 2.0 YPC AVG. Yes, the offensive line was struggling badly. So, call offensive plays that help get the ball out quickly like Miami did against Buffalo the week before. The 2021 Buffalo Bills fielding a championship defense with great talent on offense...along with an OC who...