DrDawkinstein

This is all it comes down to. Another strategic unwritten rule that everyone knows and coaches to, except McDermott apparently. But hey, we didnt give up a Field Goal. *clap clap clap*

It's Friday and someone has been at it since Happy Hour.

No, it's not declining. We're all just getting old. There are more young, potential-star QBs in the league right now than I ever remember. That is huge for the league right there. The refs suck. But they've always sucked. We just have replay and better cameras to show us how much they suck. We'll see if the NFL ever does anything about it, but they havent in the last 50 years so... Folks upset about more games on streaming services are the same as the folks that complained when the NFL went to cable. MNF moving to ESPN was a big deal to a lot of people. They still watched. The ratings are still there. Same will be for the streaming services.

A lot more productive time on my hands. And a lot less heart break.

Nailed it. I have a handful of Dolphins fans near me down here, and they all agree with that list. Ross is the biggest problem, GM is the other big problem. It's likely Ross isnt going anywhere, so they're stuck wishing for a new GM. But they also know that given the track record, Ross doesnt have the ability to identify/hire the right guys (and us Bills fans know that cycle all too well). Love to see it.

You heard it Bills fans. Legal precedence established to enter the pit with zero consequence. Do what you gotta do!

Are they tho? Is this happening everywhere? I dont watch enough other games to know. I just went back through last week's games using ESPN's Play by Play feature. There are some examples of teams getting the ball back with ~30sec left on the clock. None of them end up like ours. All of them end up as expected. Either teams just taking a knee to end the half, or trying a few plays and getting no where because this situation is so easily defended. Not a single other example of teams using 20-30seconds to hit a couple of big plays and get into scoring position. I'll keep looking through the other weeks, but it almost seems that the NFL knows if there is any time on the clock, you have a chance to score against McDermott. edit: Looked through the previous week as well and found a couple similar examples Benglas/Ravens, Bengals got the ball back with :34 and all their TOs. Used 4 plays to go 80 yds for a TD Broncos/Raiders, Broncos got ball back with :27. Ran 5 plays to go 38 yards and setup a 44 yd FG. Seahawks/Giants. This one is the most like what we are talking about. Seahawks got the ball with :22 left and used 2 plays to go 45 yds and setup a FG.

Sure, but when we have personnel and alignment to defend the sideline in order to prevent a mid-range pass out of bounds, you cant say the coaches are putting those players in the best position to succeed. Rather, I'd argue they are directly setting them up to fail. They've been told defend the boundary. The Offense does something else (that everyone else saw coming). The players can only do so much. The coaches should have had, at the very least, a combo like Hollins and Kincaid back in the end zone to do just that. Instead, we left our smaller guys in to go get a jump ball against guys like Lazard and Wilson.

Crazy how much we all assume that the other team getting the ball back with ~20seconds left means automatic points, and the Bills were forced to pick their poison. I've been watching football religiously for almost 40 years now, and I dont ever remember feeling like this about a team. Other than playing against specifically Brady and the Pats. But outside of that, down to mere seconds, it was always "ok, we'll stop them and run out the clock and head into half". I'd love to see a stat that tracks Opponent Scoring when they get the ball with less than 30 seconds on the clock. And where McD's Bills rank in that. Maybe with the modern rules all teams have issues defending 80yds in a small amount of time? But if that is the case, why dont Offenses treat every drive like time is running out? The Jets, Chiefs, etc managed to drive into scoring position in 1 or 2 plays. To me, that seems more like a consistent defensive melt down than anything else.

He's been playing bad for a long time. No reason to think he'll start playing better. Plus he's an #######. No thanks.

McDermott was willing to give up a TD as long as we prevented a FG. Classic McD strategy.

Or how about dropping him and Rousseau back in coverage on the last 2 plays of the game?

A bunch of sub-6' guys going to defend against 6'5" Lazard. It would never go any other way with that personnel and scheme. Everyone knew a Hail Mary was coming. Put in taller, hands players. This isnt Rocket Surgery to anyone but McD.

I'm for it! our best option, imo

Those and the inability to get lined up properly with illegal formations.

I'm not one to make excuses or point out anomalies, and it is certainly a problem. But I wonder where we rank if you remove Henry's 65 yards on 1 attempt 🤣

You arent wrong, but that isnt a knock on the critics/fans. Frankly, giving up ANY points in 21 seconds is worthy of criticism and questioning. But that is Classic McD. The fact you assume it is an "automatic FG' shows how much McDermott has conditioned the fanbase into knowing it is inevitable we will give up a bad score.

McD said it to Laura Rutledge on his way to the locker room. The Bills were defending the sideline and the Jets went for the Hail Mary. We guessed wrong and/or werent prepared for the change.

I'll tell you exactly what happened on TV. McD takes a Time Out and Troy/Buck immediately launch into how it was a smart idea since Rodgers throws so many Hail Marys, and everyone knows it, to take the TO and get your guys ready to defend a Hail Mary properly. They even take the time to show Rodgers' numerous Hail Mary attempts. But instead, McD decides to "defend the sideline" so we dont give up a Field Goal. And let's them score a TD. Everyone in the world knew Rodgers was going to throw a Hail Mary there, except McD.

Here's another example off the top of my head. After 13 seconds, the very next time we played the Chiefs week 6 of the next season. We score a TD with 16 seconds left in the half. Bills fans everywhere joke to their friends "no way we do this again". Surely, McD learned a lesson. We kick them the ball, and McDermott immediately takes a defensive Time Out. And then we proceed to give up a 20 yd reception AND let them get out of bounds. And kick a FG before the half. CLASSIC MCDERMOTT

I dont trust Coleman as a rookie right now to make that play. No major offense to him. I'd just go with more experienced Pros right now. Hollins for the size and experience. Kincaid for the size and hands. But yes, agreed we shouldnt be rushing only 2 to begin with.

And in the end they conceded a TD by trying to defend a FG. Classic McDermott.

If we are going to rush 2, that means we get to drop 2 extra guys back into coverage. Surely, McD must understand that the Hail Mary is an option here. So rush 2 if he must, but make those extra 2 guys like Mack Hollins and Dalton Kincaid. Instead of the munchkins Rapp and Johnson back there. He doesnt even understand his own bad strategies well.

Hail Murray 13 seconds 16 seconds (the very next time we played the Chiefs week 6 of 2022) I'm sure there are others And now this All of them right after McDufus takes a Time Out. Embarrassing and pathetic. He has ZERO situational awareness. He has ZERO feel for the game. He has ZERO advanced strategy. We will continue to be embarrassed in these situations as long as McD is Head Coach.

Trying to go "all in" for a Wild Card spot in the current AFC landscape at 2-4 is absolutely bonkers. They are so desperate. Love to see it.