VW82

I believe that was the first 4th down we didn't convert all year.

Have to give Flacco some credit on that TD pass. I didn't know he could still move like that.

I feel like part of the problem in run D is our second level often isn't patient enough. We see it's a run, crash LOS, get caught up on blocks, and then RB picks the hole and now we're left waiting for Hamlin or Rapp to save the day.

It's really weird how Josh has had so many subpar 1st Qs / 1st halfs. Then he's Josh again later in the game. I can't remember seeing anything like this before. Edit: it's like if Steph Curry all of a sudden couldn't hit threes in the first half anymore but would always recover.

Dorian was on the other side of the line. He had to come all the way across the field and then tracked the runner down from behind. It was absolutely on Hamlin who tried to come to the line early and chose the wrong gap. When Taylor bounced outsidethere was no one. I also felt like we weren't lined up properly to begin with. Is that on Bernard?

Think of the Expected Points Added!

Bernard almost had #3

Missed on a DB prospect? Yeah, I think it’s only once. Basically, everyone we’ve brought in with any kind of baseline NFL talent has worked out to some degree, and even guys with what I would’ve described as not NFL level have performed reasonably well. McD should’ve earned your trust with DBs by now, notwithstanding they obviously missed with Elam. Edit: and even with Elam, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least to see him blossom elsewhere in a system that allows him to play more man coverage at LOS. McD might not make the switch at the bye, but even if he doesn’t, I still don’t think it’s a reason to doubt Bishop’s future on the team as a high end contributor. Missing camp as a rookie was a killer. He’s behind at a position where the mental part of the game is more onerous. It may take a healthy camp next summer to get him ready, but folks throwing up red flags because he didn’t look ready off the bench vs Houston are way premature imo. This regime has earned benefit of the doubt with DBs.

No, no, no...Job B just doesn't understand that when we're giving up 150+ on the ground and losing TOP keeping Josh off the field, it's really playing right into our EPA stronghold. No run defense problem to see here.

I mean, good job pointing out the one time they missed Also, I'd argue reaching on a raw talent that ultimately struggled with zone concepts is different from bringing a surefire safety prospect along slowly in McD's defense which asks more of its safeties. Missing camp definitely set him back. So far, there isn't much to go on other than seeing Hamlin get attacked and wondering why McD won't pull the trigger. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see the switch made during the bye, and until we see otherwise, I stand by my prediction that Bishop will be really good once he finds his sea legs in the defense.

Maybe, but 1T is the bigger hole currently. At least we have some youth and capable bodies at edge in Soloman and Epenesa, and Rousseau is near elite as a LE. Daquan looks washed and it's compromising everything down the line. Oliver has to take on double teams. You can't rush when you're being rushed on, etc. I'm not opposed to going Edge early in the draft if someone we like falls to us, but we shouldn't be mortgaging our future on it imo. Edit: one thing I will say in AJ's defense is he's a decent run defender. Given our issues stopping the run this year, he's actually one of the few guys who's helping.

I'd argue we need to prioritize 1T > Edge.

maybe in one game yeah. Are we good enough to win four straight playoff games? I would say no, and further to the point I tried to make, there is no one player that will put us over that jump this year (unless we see contending QBs go down).

On offense, it could have been argued we were one player (a receiver) away. I don’t think we can make the same argument on defense. Further, trading for players mid season seldom works, especially when you have basically zero cap flexibility to make the trades work. We’d wind up paying out the nose for anyone good enough to justify a trade in order to have the relinquishing team eat their salary. This season has exposed bigger picture issues with our defense imo. We’re built to defend the pass. This worked well with offenses trending more to 11 personnel, throwing more from spread, etc. Offenses are now countering this type of defense with more run based schemes. What does that mean for the future of our cover 2 zone? Can it be fixed with more bulk interior DL? Do we need bigger LBers and/or safeties that have more freedom to patrol LOS? Do we need DBs with better man skills? Is McD playing dead and saving actual scheme adjustments for playoffs? I just don’t think we know enough yet to justify spending what it would take to bring in a difference making along the line, and if I had to guess, even someone like Myles Garrett (who would definitely help) wouldn’t be enough to lift this ill-matched defensive unit to a point of real contention. This was always going to be a transition year. Unless, Mahomes, Lamar, and Goff all go down, it’s very likely going to still be a transition year regardless of what we do.

Brady said the other night that Bills run more dime than anyone in the L. He might be right, but we also have LBers that look like DBs, and our best DB basically is a LBer (in the body of a soccer player). Offenses came out running vs. small teams in cover 2 to start the season. Some defenses adjusted. Ours hasn't because we're small and built to play the pass, except now we can't seem to do that either.

Carter will help a lot once he comes back from IR. I don't believe this is going to be resolved in 2024. Bills need to find a new 1T in the off season, hopefully the draft.

I have no idea how we won that one. Go Bills!!

As long as it's not a 40 yarder or PAT he's automatic!

OMG Kincaid was so open. *****

And just like the Houston game, Josh throws it up for grabs into double coverage. Got bailed out this time.

Good thing we just wasted 30 seconds. Houston game, anyone?

Who needs extra timeouts with 1:30 left when you can challenge random QB runs in the 3rd

At least there's lots of time left

It didn't look like his right foot was planted so you never know. He might come back from that. Possible it's just a bad contusion.

Bernard!! Finally someone made a play.