Nihilarian

I don't see it that way simply because the Bills didn't draft a Patrick Mahomes and they don't have anyone anywhere near as good Andy Reid setting up the offense, calling plays. The man is an offensive genius AND he has previously built a superbowl team. The Bills don't have a WR like Tyreek Hill or a TE like Travis Kelce. John Harbaugh, been there, done that. This will be Bill O'Brian's seventh season as an NFL HC of the Texans. Josh Allen was a known project that was supposed to sit for a season or partial season and instead was thrown into the fire because the guy they thought was good enough to start the season at QB wasn't even good enough to be a an NFL backup QB. I love Josh Allen, but he is not nearly as developed as he should be going into his third season. The main reason in my view is that the Bills OC thought Nathan Peterman was good enough...that guy didn't see that Frank Gore was failing after the half way point in 2018. He also underutilized a very good RB for most of the 2019 for some unknown reason. Meanwhile putting that young, inexperienced QB under the gun far, far too many times. That 2017 Bills O line lost a pro bowl LG and a pro bowl center and because of cap issues replaced them with bums for 2018. Allen running for his life a lot that year. So, the OC starts calling run plays to take advantage of the QB's running ability. That same season, fading RB's, no real receiving corps, bad line. 2019, mostly new O line save for the LT who is average, upgrade at C, rookie at RT and two journeymen at guards. Upgrades at receivers and RB's. That offense was ranked 23rd in points, 24th in yards. So, what was the problem and why wasn't this offense blowing up those bad teams instead of squeaking by them? Considering the quality of talent the 2019 offense faced they should have been much, much better. The offensive line was simply not good enough, 43 QB scrambles which puts Allen at 4th in the NFL. 12th in QB hits and if Allen wasn't so elusive it would have been far more for a non running QB. 5th in the NFL with being blitzed 201 times. Combine this with the number of drops by the receivers. The Bills line not good enough in the red zone to move the ball on the ground. There should have been more Buffalo Bills games like the Cowboys, Broncos, Dolphins. You go back and look at the stats and nearly every time the Bills offense ran the ball well all season. Along with running more than throwing, they usually won and that young, inexperienced QB had a good productive game. Bottom line: I see holes in this 2020 roster. Dire need of a superstar pass rusher and that 90's Bills SB team had two with Smith and Bennett. I'm not sold on the current left side of the Bills O line even being close to what those 90 Bills had in three pro bowlers and an all pro. Not to mention that the right side at G, T are even questionable to be starters. Lastly, i'm not convinced that Brian Daboll is the coordinator that can take this offense to a top 15 unit. I think he has more to prove than Allen. This FO and HC are learning as they go and are doing great job so far.

The years don't mean much if you don't have the initial cap space to sign anyone decent at the start. The Bills needed to draft their QB, build the line, retool the defense. The 90's Bills started to be build in 1986 and gradually got better as they added better players. Even though they already had Bruce Smith, Jim Kelly and Andre Reed. Along with trading the Colts, Rams for Biscuit. 4-12 in 86, to 7-8 in 87. The Bills really took off when they added RB Thurman Thomas in the draft in 1988, went 12-4. Still, only went 9-7 in 1989 and that roster was loaded with 4 HoFers. It wasn't until their 5th season that the Bills went to the SB with all those stars. Currently the Bills don't have a Bruce Smith, Cornelius Bennett, and their 2019 defense was a top five unit because of a great secondary. They need a better pass rush. The Bills don't have any pro bowlers on the line, at RB, at WR, at QB just yet. They don't have a Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed. Nor a Kent Hill, Jim Ritcher, Will Wolford. After this season I would expect to see changes for the offensive line, pass rush and probably a new offensive coordinator.

I look at this upcoming season and think about it like the 1989 Buffalo Bills season. That year the Bills still won the division because the rest of the division was so bad that 9-7 was good enough. They went to the playoffs against the Cleveland Browns in game* at Cleveland and lost 34-30. That season the bills were still finding themselves after a 12-4 season in 1988 and an AFC Championship game in Cincy that they lost 21-10. There are still a few holes on this roster that the coaching staff, FO need to see and figure out. There are still questions about stopping the run and the pass rush. On the offensive side there is still questions about the offensive coordinator and the offensive line. I have an opinion that neither are good enough to win 12 games this season as the schedule is so much more difficult. I expect some changes after the 2020 season. I won't be shocked if the Bills don't win the division and the Patriots still take it, disappointed but not shocked. I'd be shocked if the Dolphins win it though.

What most fans and even some coaches don't get is that there is a world of difference between attending a big time college program like USC, UCLA, Alabama, LSU, etc. Over a junior college and then a college like U of Wyoming where the last great QB to attend was...nobody, ever! These other QB's got four years in a high level program where they play against the elite at college level. Josh Allen only played two full seasons at Wyoming and both years was good enough to take his team to a bowl game. Read the article to see the difference between Sam Darnold and Josh Allen in college. "Allen has less games under his belt in the NFL than Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson had in college alone. He’s not terrible. Nor is he a sure thing. It is completely fair to applaud Allen, or to criticize and question him and how good of a passer he is and will be. But there needs to be perspective either way." I'm also not sold on the guy who is developing him as Buffalo Bills OC, calling plays and setting up game plans. He might have a name by association but his NFL record as an NFL OC speaks for itself. Six years as and NFL OC and never a passing offense better than 22nd. This is also the guy who thought Nathan Peterman should start the 2018 season and would be a reliable backup QB.

I outlined the lack of facing quality QB's in 2019 in another thread. I also think most Bills fans are underestimating this seasons schedule and perhaps this FO is also... With the Bills 2019 offensive line grading 21st and no significant upgrades, I question if continuity along with more experience for RT Cody Ford will make that much difference. There are real flaws in the current line and with no OTA's and who knows what kind of training camp with will see with everything that is currently going on. Darnold, Tua or Fitz, Goff*, Tannehill, Mahomes*, Darnold, Stidham or Hoyer, Russell Wilson*, Kyler Murry, Justin Herbert or Tyrod Taylor, Garoppolo, Big Ben*, Drew Lock, Stidham, Tua. Currently the Buffalo Bills have the 5th ranked toughest schedule in the NFL for 2020. The only good thing about that is NE has #1, Jets #2, Dolphins #3. I would have a different view on things if the Bills signed 3x pro bowl ex Saints OG Larry Warford, and or DE Jadeveon Clowny. The Bills need more pass rush to get to some of those QB's they will face in 2020. A better line to take pressure off that young QB. Then again, I could be all wrong and the line and pass rush improves with the players added this off season. We will see.

I have learned over time that teams rebuild season by season to find holes, flaws in their roster. Right now the Bills still have a few, pass rush and O line. The O line, while good, was ranked 20th or so in 2019 and they were stopped in the red zone running and the Ravens blitz tore them a new one. Not to mention how the Eagles D line pushed them around. With no major upgrades this season and a much tougher schedule my take is the Bills will make the playoffs and perhaps win one playoff game...maybe.

Probably only watched college highlights to make his decision with no in depth involvement. Two firsts and a fourth for the #4 overall...

What the Bills need to do is go back in time to see what the 1990 Buffalo Bills did to make that team so offensively powerful that they led the league that year in points scored. Believe it or not the 1990 Buffalo Bills ran more than they threw it, 479 attempts rushing vs 425 attempts passing. Leading off with a run game that very few teams were able to stop also opened up the pass game and both Thurman and Kelly would tear teams up. A very balanced attack that left opposing defenses reeling all season. The Bills not only beat the good teams as they blew out the bad teams. It was Thurman Thomas 1297 rushing yards, 11 TD's in a run first offense that would cause teams to move up to stop the run and Kelly would then throw over the LBers to Reed, Lofton, Thomas, Beebe, McKeller. It was that "counter trey", old Redskins run scheme in which the line would start one way and go the other which froze the Lbers just enough to get Thurman threw a hole. Once the Bills had the lead in the game they could unleash Bruce Smith on the opposing QB and things went down hill for them after that. Anyone who thinks the run game is old fashioned needs to take a long, hard look at last years 49ers, Vikings, Titans teams. That Titans playoff win at New England 20-13 is what I always envisioned the Bills doing to the Patriots in crushing their playoff hopes by pounding the ball on them. The ONE thing I'm hoping for this season is for the Bills OC to get his head outta his posterior and run the ball more, along with to stop putting the onus on the QB's shoulders to carry the team...yea, its a TEAM game! If the run game starts to falter...find a plan B or C to get that run game working and don't give up on it while asking Allen to throw 35-45 times a game. I don't care about 300 yards passing or overall QB rating, Completion % as I think those will come in time as this QB gets more playing experience and confidence. Winning the division and getting a home playoff game would be great...winning that playoff game even better.

It was somewhat windy and also mild rain which would seem to be conducive to running the ball... kinda what the Eagles did all game. What I don't get is when the offense isn't effectively working with the current game plan, why isn't there a plan B, or C and anything other than putting the game on young, inexperienced QB's shoulders to make things work. It occurs to me that this is the same plan by all the trash OC's in the league. This was only week 8 and Gore was kinda limited in this game, 9 rushes for 34 yards, a 3.8 YPC avg. Singletary had 3 rushes for 19 yards with a 16 yard run, with a 6.3 ypc avg so... Singletary also caught a 28 yard TD. And again, I go back to why was this kid so underutilized all season? The results of this particular game should have raised quite a lot of questions about the Bills O line, play caller and most seem happy just to point at the QB. Must be including the HC, FO.

I knew the future looked bright for the Buffalo Bills in 1987 after that second Miami game. The Bills won that second game 27-0 and Miami didn't even cross the 50 yard line until late in the 4th quarter. The Dolphins benched Dan Marino and put in Don Strock. Marino had a passing rate of 25.7, and Strock wasn't much better at 58.3. They couldn't run, they couldn't throw. Bills RB's Ronnie Harmon and Rickey Porter were tearing it up. I bought season tickets for the 88 season after being at this game.

Same! The Broncos finally had a RB to complement their pass game and he was tearing Buffalo a new one. Bobby Humphrey, 34 rushes for 177 yards, 1 TD. Jim Kelly was putting up Josh Allen type numbers that day 18 of 34 for 167, 1 INT. Sacked 4 times. 5 rushes for 6 yards. ToP 34:49 vs Bills 25:11. Thurman was held in check with 13 rushes for 36 yards... Things looked very grim till that 77 seconds happened in the 4th. Buffalo won the game by a point 29-28. Don't forget, Elway was the "comeback kid" At the end of the game the look on John Elway's face was priceless... in disbelief.

I could only watch without sound on. Yeah, it was that bad.

The Bills D line might have improved somewhat this off season but the O line still gives me pause. Looks like this FO along with Bills fans keep thinking they will face the same bums and bum Qb's they faced in 2019 while overlooking the better teams that beat up on them. Their win over Tennessee was against Mariota, Fitz 2x, The Redskins Rookie Haskins, Denver Brandon Allen, Steelers Duck Hodges. That's five QB's that have already been upgraded by their teams. Haskins may or may not start over Kyle Allen this season. The Bills faced nine teams with losing records in 2019 and the Jets, Dolphins 2x. The Eagles just dominated both lines and beat up on the Bills soundly. That 31-13 score really didn't show the Eagles dominance. 41 rushes for 2018 3 TDs with a ToP 35:57 to 24:03. That loss should have been an eye opener to this FO and yet no big upgrades. That Ravens Blitz the Buffalo O line had no answer for. This season will be very telling in so many areas. No more weak, craps teams on this seasons schedule.

The thing is that everyone is counting on their starters at QB to stink and even if that happens after a few games. The Patriots can make a trade for Andy Dalton or pickup Cam Newton. The Patriots have a HC who wasn't afraid to trade away their #1 overall pick at QB to a division rival in Drew Bledsoe (a 3 time pro bowler, a QB who had taken them to a SB) Tom Brady was a 6th round pick in Bill Belichick's first year with New England. The very next season they went 11-5 and beat the Rams in the SB. While it's also very true Buffalo was a 3-13 doormat after HC Wade Phillips...Doug Williams as HC, Mike Shepard as OC, Jerry Grey as DC... I wouldn't underestimate what that crafty ole bastage can do with a team no matter who his QB is... ** On a side note in 2000, Bills OC Brian Daboll was a defensive assistant with New England. Rob Ryan was LBers assistant coach

All I can add is that this HC went with a QB in 2008 that had never started a college game his entire four year career in college... That Patriots team went 11-5 with Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, and LeMont Jordan at RB. Matt Cassel at QB and that years defense was only top 10. They did have Wes Welker and Randy Moss at WR though. The Dolphins won the Division that year at 11-5 and the Jets 9-7 so the division wasn't that bad. Buffalo under Jauron 7-9. This season I can see the Patriots having atop 10 defense as their first three draft choices were for defense. As for their offense the only decent receiver is Edelman and perhaps last years rookie WR steps up in N'Kael Harry? Bill Belichick is the goat of NFL head coaches and I just can't see his team worse than 9-7. The man has only had one losing season since 2000, his first year as HC of the Patriots. Buffalo will still have their work cut out for them to beat New England, NY Jets, Miami. JMO

I agree. While Allen is still learning and developing as a pocket QB he needs the OC to stop putting the game solely on the QB's shoulders in some games. Work a balanced offense. What I'd like to see is more running the ball with the running backs and less with the QB. More rushing TD's with the RB's too. They need to get that power run offense working in the red zone. Also, hoping that they get that deep passing scheme working this season. This years passing offense should be in the top 15 with Diggs, Brown, Beasley, Knox. In his six seasons as an NFL OC Daboll has never fielded an offense better than 23rd... Here's hoping that changes for the better!

Okay, what we both agree on is that the Ravens were blitzing nearly every Buffalo offensive play. What they did after they saw that Allen couldn't hit the deeper throws was that they stepped up their blitzing from around their normal 50% to 65% or more against the Bills. And I'd argue that when the Bills handed off to Singletary over and over, again and again he was very successful in the second quarter drive. The Bills ran Singletary 6 straight times successfully, 6, 3, 8, 3, 14, 9 yards. Those for two first downs and in the final 2 yard run play by Allen another first down. The next three plays were two throws and a run, all for either negative yards or incomplete and the result of that drive was a FG. Bad play calls at the end of that drive by Buffalo or was it something that the Ravens Defense saw / heard and was keying on after listening to the previous Bills cadence and realizing what play was being called. In any event the next series the Bills went with five pass attempts and two runs by Gore. After that it was close to the end of the half and perhaps the Bills went into a 2 min drill with no runs and six straight passes which did result in another FG. That series did start on the Ravens 49 yard line after the Bills defense held the Ravens offense to only 4 yards starting from their own six yard line. Still, nine passes, two runs and those by Gore. In the second half it was mostly passes with an occasional run once per series by Singletary for usually not many yards, 2, 1 ,5, no gain, -3 yards, 2 yards. I do agree that the by the second half, for whatever reason, the Ravens had stopped the Bills run game and were in Allen's face every pass attempt. Plus, he couldn't run because due to all the Ravens blitzing there were no holes anywhere. Even Allen, who was a prolific runner all season was held to only two rushing attempts for nine yards. Still, 27 pass attempts vs six runs in the second half fed right into that Ravens pass blitz. We don't know if the Bills run game could have overcome those sporadic fails in the second half because its like the didn't even try more than once a series. Would it shock you to learn that the Ravens "players" blitzed 96 times, got 6 sacks, 15 QB pressures on Allen. Not to mention that the Bills receivers Beasley and Brown were mostly covered like blankets in the game, leaving the QB with mostly nowhere to go with the ball. Myself, I don't put this offensive failure on the 2nd year QB going against the Blitz crazy Ravens #3 defense. Against a Ravens team that had been destroying very team in their path, that beat Seattle in Seattle 30-16. That beat the Patriots 37-20. That Beat the LA Rams in LA 45-6 and had just beaten the then best team in the NFL besides themselves in the 49ers 20-17. Coming off that Thanksgiving game on Thursday the Bills offense had extra time to prepare for this Ravens game and yet they fell on their face... The Bills defense was more than good enough to win this game as it was the offense that let them down. This is what to expect of teams the Buffalo Bills will face every season in the playoffs and they need the offensive game plan to be better than 23 rushes, 17 of 39 passes. They need the play calls to be better, the offensive line to be better, the run game to be better, the QB to be better... and to give the QB the time needed to make the throws. Is that current Buffalo Bills offensive line good enough?

When you look at the drive charts you see the Bills started the game by running. Attempting some deep passes to counter that known Ravens 50% of defensive snaps blitzing. First series, Singletary one yard, Singletary 5 yards so 3rd and 4. Incomplete deep pass. PUNT Second series, Singletary -2 yards, sack, 3rd and 12 incomplete deep pass, PUNT Third series, pass complete 10 yards, short pass incomplete, deep pass incomplete, 3rd and 10 deep pass incomplete, PUNT Fourth series, Gore 2 yards, short pass incomplete, 3rd and 8 sacked, fumble recovered by Baltimore. Six series, 2nd quarter. short pass incomplete, penalty roughing the passer. 1st and 10. Singletary 6 yards, Singletary 3 yards, 3rd down and 1, Singletary 8 yards... First down! Singletary 3 yards, Singletary 14 yards... First down! Singletary 9 yards, Allen run 2 yards... First down! First and 10 at the Ravens 13 yard line. Short pass -4 yards, Singletary -1 yard. 3rd down and 15, Pass incomplete deep, FG. Alright, in my view this series proved that the run game will work if you commit to it, 7 straight runs all leading to first downs and score with a FG. The next series, pass incomplete deep, Gore gains 6, pass complete 6 yards, pass complete no gain, Gore no gain, Allen sacked -7 yards.PUNT With the run game showing that it can work with Singletary, the Bills started utilizing Gore for some reason in this series and in the next in the 2 min drill they started passing more again. FG. We know Singletary wasn't injured because he had that 38 yard run in the 4th. It seemed to me that the Bills OC was determined to make that passing game work against that Ravens defense, regardless. What happened after the half was that the Bills went pass happy with 26 pass drop backs vs 8 only runs the entire second half. At this point in the game that Ravens defense had really taken over the game and had the Bills linemen on their heels. Hence, Singletary in the second half, 2 yards, 1 yard, 5 yards, 2 yards, 38 yards, no gain, -3 yards, 2 yards. As we all know, that usually, the more a team runs the ball the better the RB does over the course of the game. Also, the weaker the opposing defense is against the run later in the game as it wears them down. Most NFL running backs want to see 20 plus runs. It's my contention that Devin Singletary was underutilized in the run game all season in comparison to other teams starting RB's like Minnesota's Dalvin Cook, Tennessee's Derrick Henry. Singletary with an yard per carry average as good as Henry's at 5.1 per. The way the Ravens had stepped up their blitzing to 65% of every offensive play after the first few series it made no sense to me to keep asking Allen to keep throwing the ball. Josh Allen is not at the level of an elite pocket passer and shouldn't be asked to carry the team with his arm. When a defense is blitzing this much I just can't wrap my head around why an OC would not pound the ball more to counter that blitzing. I don't see this game as a QB fail given his limited playing experience. A lot of veteran players on that O line and an experienced OC. You tell me! This has me somewhat perplexed as the Bills did have that one very productive series by running the ball with Singletary, then went to Gore for some reason who had 4 carries for 6 yards. Then back to Singletary sporadically over the course of the second half. If looking at this game doesn't have you very concerned about the Buffalo Bills offensive line play with the current starters, I don't know what would. Spain, Dawkins, Feliciano, Ford, Morse all 100% snap count. Allen 6 sacks, 12 QB hits. The QB under constant pressure all game. The Bills got the run game working for one series and then went away from it. Can't sack the QB if you are running the ball.

Now taking all that into consideration, Football outsiders has Allen as the 2nd most pressured QB in the NFL last season @ a 39.3 pressure rate. https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2019/quarterbacks-and-pressure-2018 The 2020 Bills opponents look to be much more difficult and since the Bills made the playoffs 2 of 3 of the last 3 years, teams will be gunning for them. No more flying under the radar. The line play will be exposed over the course of the season and we will see who is quality and who isn't. I expect major changes coming to the line again after this season. I really don't have much faith in these starters considering the level of competition they faced vs how that line fared against the Patriots, Ravens and how they were all literally manhandled by the Eagles was eye opening to me. Allen plays so much better when he isn't under constant pressure and the Bills OC is working that run game. Rex did luck into Incognito as no other team wanted to take a chance on him and it paid off with all pro seasons at LG in Buffalo. He made the Bills run game, pass game better. Ryan did attempt to obtain un drafted 6'4'' 320lb OT/OG from LSU, La"el Collins who Ryan wined and dined to lure him to Buffalo. Ultimately though, he chose Dallas. He has been their starting RT the last few seasons. Cam Newton represents one of running QB's that have suffered serious injuries from running the ball as big, tough as that player is...Kinda like someone else we all know. Another would be RG3, Mike Vick who suffered a broken leg on a scramble. However, you are right with Russell Wilson, a 9 year vet hasn't seen anything serious from all his scrambles. This is somewhat an anomaly from what I see as most NFL teams prefer their QB's in the pocket as the percentages from serious injuries favor those pocket passers. Then again, look at Alex Smith...

This gets my vote as well. Tough to believe that this regime can't see the difference between an all pro OG and a journeyman as the former elevates the play of the players next to him. The one singular thing that was good about Rex Ryan was that he understood how important it is to build a top offensive line, hence Richie Incognito. I dunno, perhaps they expect development, growth, continuity out of the starters from last season. However, I just don't see it. One of the biggest flaws on last seasons offense was the ability to score in the red zone with the run game...besides the QB running it in. Last season Singletary had 2 rushing TD's as did Gore. Allen had 9 himself and 510 yards rushing. This can't stand. Derrick Henry had 16 rushing TD's. Dalvin Cook had 13 rushing TD's. Cam Newton has proved that running QB's don't last in this league. The one thing to take note of is when Josh Allen doesn't have all that much pressure on him he performs so much better. This helps him gain confidence and will help with his accuracy.

Russ Brandon told the Pegula's to not let Ryan out of the building. Which in my view, was a very strong endorsement for Rex, by him. The Pegula's were intrigued by Ryan and his boasting. Whaley could have said no and I'm sure they would have listened. This was Brandon who didn't want DC Jim Schwartz as HC, although he had earned a shot for HC with that #4 overall defense and #1 pass rush, #1 sacking team in the NFL. Rex Ryan was a mistake on so many levels and as first time NFL owners i'm pretty sure the Pegula's relied on the opinions of those people still at the helm of the team. The EJ pick was all on Doug Whaley as he went and personally scouted him. "I was an integral part in the drafting process of EJ Manuel," Whaley said on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access" on Thursday. "I was the person that handled the draft process and setting up the board." The Bills finally seem pointed in the right direction. It now falls on Whaley's hand-picked franchise quarterback to end the longest active playoff drought in the NFL. https://www.buffalobills.com/audio/whaley-on-manuel-and-scouting-at-senior-bowl-12494888

a) It wasn't just the Bills starting 5-1 that season. thinking the Bills have an honest shot to win the division and get into the playoffs! It was also going 2-8 after those first five games. b) It was also watching Trent Edwards getting hammered to the ground and concussed in Arizona. Basically that one play ended his career as he came back from that severe concussion far too early. While the Bills won the very next against SD, Edwards was just never the same after this. c) That game also showed the NFL world how inept the Bills OC (Turk Schonert) and offensive lines were! The Bills also learned backup QB JP Losman was worthless. d) The biggest thing in my view, was that Patriots QB Tom Brady was knocked out for the season in the first regular season game. The only backup QB the Pats had was a guy who had never started a game while in college. That's right, he was a backup QB at USC and completed 20 of 33 attempts for 192 yards his entire college career. So, here i'm thinking the Bills have a solid shot to take the division and get into the playoffs as the Patriots are DONE! ...yea right! The Patriots didn't win the division that season as they finished the same as the Miami Dolphins 11-5 and the Phins won the tiebreaker. The Bills had very potent run game with Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson along with receivers Lee Evans, Josh Reed. The thing was that Lynch was usually making his yards with three defenders on his back and Jackson almost always made the first guys miss. That passing offense with OC Schonert was a complete mess. Anyone else recall that week 15 Jets game in which the Bills were losing until Lynch turned into a power machine that the Jets D simply couldn't stop. The Bills rushing 32 rushes for 187 yards, 2 TD's. Lynch was just tearing it up...the Bills with the 2nd half lead all the way until 4:20 in the fourth quarter, Lynch 4 yards, Lynch 5 yards, Lynch 3 yards FIRST DOWN, Lynch 5 yards TIMEOUT by the NY Jets who's linemen were panting like dogs with their hands on their hips... Suddenly, Bills OC Turk Schonert has a brainfart and has Losman drop back for a pass... sacked for -11 yard loss, FUMBLED, returned for a TD by the Jets who went on to win 31-27. Talk about a frustrating loss... WAIT, there's more. Week 17, in Buffalo, in a freaking windstorm at the Ralph. 50-60 mile an hour winds so the team with the best run game should win this. +Should have been Buffalo right? Lynch and Jackson better than Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan right? Ehhhhnt, The Patriots ran the ball 47 times to Buffalo 35. Jauron's "Tampa two" supposedly really good defense was never very good as he never did find the linebackers needed to run it properly. Jauron's choices for offensive coaches were clearly his downfall as his defenses were merely mediocre, his offenses with some decent talent at RB, WR his choices for offensive coaches were bad, bad, bad. A very frustrating season indeed!

This isn't about QB's for the 2020 season. The Patriots had the #1 defense last season and their first three draft picks were for the defense! The Patriots will run the ball and play great defense this season while asking their starting QB to simply move the chains when he gets a chance. That 2019 WC game with NE vs Tennessee Titans @ NE showed Buffalo how to beat New England and it wasn't with throwing it 30-40 times. Titans RB Derrick Henry had 34 rushes for 182 yards and pounded that #1 defense into dust. Also, Brady didn't have a very good game against that not so great Titans D.

Thank you for the realistic response / view! I don't get the love for the guy either. But then so many Bills fans still love Chan Gailey along with his "smoke and mirror" offense. Now consider, if you have the wrong guy teaching, developing that young QB wouldn't you want to get him an upgrade at OC before making a determination on Allen? The biggest problem I see with Daboll is that he is destroying Allen's confidence at times by ignoring the run game when its clearing working! Meanwhile, putting the onus to win the game on the QBs shoulders when the pass game isn't working all that well. All the while the QB is under tremendous pressure. Why the confidence thing is so bothersome to me is because the more confidence he has in himself, that will help this young QB with his decision making, accuracy. What bothers me is why can't Beane, McD see that Daboll isn't all that good? You take a young QB with arguably the strongest arm in the league and suddenly he can't hit the deep pass in 2019. What happened? In 2018 the Bills lead the NFL in deep passes attempted and Allen was hitting Jones, Foster on some of those deep passes. 2019...pfft! Like you mention with Hurts, I think Daboll is hindering, holding Allen back. What some Bills fans need to understand is that Allen has only had 27 game starts out of 32. Less than two seasons of playing experience and is still very raw and developing as a pocket passer. Bills fans want him to be Patrick Mahomes and he simply isn't...Allen didn't play at Texas Tech in an "air raid" scheme, he also doesn't have Andy Reid setting up the game plan and calling plays. Plus, Allen didn't sit for a season learning behind Alex Smith.

Like what the Packers did in Green Bay to Rodgers... Ole Bill did the same to Brady by not bringing in enough weapons for the offense. Brady had enough of Bill thinking it was all him. The Bills getting Diggs had to have impact on Brady... The Patriots had the #1 defense last season and what did Belichick draft for #2 S, #2 LB, #3 LB, #3 TE, #3 TE, #5 K, #6, G #6 OT, #6 LB #7 C. First three picks were for the defense. So, we can expect the Patriots to be a run first team in 2020 while they break in Stidham. JMO