DrDawkinstein

I'm not defending the flag, it was BS, however... IIRC the only other time I've seen a grounding flag thrown on a WR miscue was on Brady, playing against the Bills. We were home. I believe it was a night game. I think Brady was backed up close to his own end zone. And let one fly like that. And after some discussion, the refs dropped the flag on him. I've been combing through game logs since 2014, but cant find it. Maybe we declined the penalty? Anyone else remember this? Or was it a fever dream?

Sure. Need to take some deep shots to keep the Defense honest. But bad timing and bad planning. And I'm also convinced, as we saw in the playoff game as well, the Bengals/Anarumo know EXACTLY the type of looks they need to show the Bills in order to bait Josh into throwing the low percentage deep ball. Miami did it to us in the playoff game, and we happened to connect on a few and they died by it. We didnt get so lucky in the Bengals game. Not the right time for those plays. We were only down by 7. Our Defense just held the Bengals to a punt to even the drives. Just methodically move the ball down the field. I was mostly being facetious about Josh thinking the game was over. But WTF. No other reason to throw back-to-back low percentage throws because the D is baiting you. And if that Davis throw wasnt picked and just dropped, I'd bet good money we would have gone deep again on 3rd down, likely resulting in a sack. The old Dorsey Classic from most of last year. The problem here is that previously, Dabol would be the one to calm Josh down and get those warts frozen. But now, Dorsey is there and telling Josh to grow more warts.

The very next play was the deep shot ball to Gabe that was picked. So cant say that Josh doesnt want to throw to Davis specifically. I just think it's very clear that at this point of the game (down 14-7 in the 2nd qtr), Josh made up his mind that the game was almost over and the team needed a HUGE gain and some hero ball. Couldnt possibly stand moving the ball down the field, and moving the chains, in boring 6-8 yard chunks. BLECH! We got Hero Ball, and then Hero Ball-turned-INT on this possession. And that was that. IMO, that is 60% on Josh, and 40% on Dorsey for giving him those plays and schemes that push him to throw the deep ball.

You didnt say it, and I know you were just joking (as am I), but that statement DOES imply no new coaching hire ever. Since it will always be Terry making the decision. What else could it mean? Regardless... If McDermott was genuinely awful, then I wouldnt trust Terry and the Consulting Service to pick a new coach. But he hasnt been awful. He's been very good. But now he isnt good enough as we've hit his ceiling. So I trust that the same group can build on that and find someone better. It's not the Consultants who picked Rex I trust Pegula more with Bills decisions than Sabres decisions because Terry doesnt trust himself with the NFL. Terry is a hockey guy. Always has been. He got into all of this because he needed something to do in retirement and thought running a hockey team for $150M would be a fun little lark. He got pushed into the NFL ownership, and was aware from the very first moment that they were in over their heads. So he's more keen to listen to others, or bring in outside firms to help. Where as with the NHL, he thinks he knows enough to decide everything himself. And if the Consulting Service and Whaley got us McD, I'd love to see the the Service and Beane would get us.

Glad you mentioned this. Lost in all this talk is the funny observation: Diggs was right all along. He showed up to camp, heard the BS out of McD and Dorsey, and knew exactly how it was going to go. Sorry, Stef.

So we'll never make another coaching hire again. Got it. 🙄 No, I dont necessarily trust Pegula to nail it. But I think he has a better shot of making a decent hire by taking the advice of both the consulting firm he used to find McDermott, AND having Beane involved in the search, than McD has in guiding this team to a Super Bowl victory. Thems the breaks. Good news. You arent involved at all. And thank goodness since you just said you wanted the Bills to lose the Super Bowl.

We have a mediocre Brandon Staley clone as the HC, sorry DC, right now. Oof, this is a sign it's time to take a break.

Maybe scheme-wise, but not when that same WLB is the only All-Pro on the squad and playing lights out. Agreed the rest of the way that our playcalling is atrocious. Especially on 3rd and Longs. Seems like if it is 3rd and 15 or more, they get it every time.

I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that, after a 20 year drought and righting that ship and finding a top-3 franchise QB, the only thing we'll have to show for it is "13 seconds". Another "wide right" Another "no goal" Another subject for a 30 for 30 about a team of destiny who fell short in some weird happenstance of bad luck. My grandfather passed without a Super Bowl. My dad probably has a decade left, at best. I'm trying to decide whether to pass this curse to the kids or not.

The best comment I've seen this season has been: "Sean McDermott is the type of coach who can take a bottom-5 team to the Wildcard. He is also the type of coach who will take a top-5 team to the Wildcard."

This is the modern day NFL. You have to expect shoot outs and your D to hold on where they can. After the first 2 drives, the D shut them down pretty well. But our O could not respond. The Defense is helping the Offense. The Offense is hurting the Defense.

Yep. The Defense has been doing all it can to keep the team in games, and has been getting no help from the Offense. Josh throws a bad pick in our own territory, the defense holds tight and forces a loss of position and punt. The Offense gets the ball back and immediately goes 3 and out in about 1 minute.

Sean McDermott isnt Dick Jauron. He's Marvin Lewis.

If you go by the classic ranking of Defenses by "yards allowed', then sure. But that Defense carried him to his first SB, and likely the 2nd as well. In 2004, the Pats were 2nd in Points Allowed with just 260. The first 3 he had help from the D and the team was balanced. The last 3 were all Brady.

This team really misses Milano.

I'm mostly surprised that this is surprising to any Bills fan who has been watching since 2018.

It's currently #7. I agree it isnt too crazy, but I'll feel better after another round of FA when it is out of the top 10.

While it isnt the best possible value, looking at the entire list of TE contracts shows that Knox is pretty accurately paid. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/contracts/sort-value/tight-end/limit-100/ The guys ahead of him are all much better. And the 4-5 guys right after him are making about as much but aren't nearly as good. Hardly our worst contract.

I chose the obvious "Dorsey sucks" but McDermott owns a good portion of the blame too. If for nothing else, not being a complete HC.

But his hit is over $16M so it makes sense to cut him.

Marry: Tre White Bang: Dawnson Knox Kill: Von Miller oh wait, what game are we playing?

Yes, exactly. The decision to fire is all Terry. And then up to him on how much he involves the survivors in the new HC hire. He could change the org structure at the time of a new hire, but I doubt he will. He likes it like this.

In the Pegula hierarchy, both McDermott and Beane have their own direct line to Terry. Beane does not work for McD. And the HC does not work for the GM. I'm not a fan of that flat org style, but it's what we have and will likely have as long as Terry owns the team.

Both separately answer directly to Pegula. Terry can absolutely fire one but not the other. Neither can fire each other. But Terry should keep Beane and fire McD.

If McD and Beane are truly a package deal in Pegula's mind then we are absolutely screwed as a franchise. Pegula needs to fire the coaching staff and work with Beane and the FO on finding a new HC. No need to throw the Beaner out with the bath water.