finn

Not just the board. All the major media outlets were crowing how amazing the Bengals were and how they dominated the hapless Bills. Little mention they scored 3 points in the second half against a decimated defense, or that it was a game right until the end. Why the prejudice against the Bills? The Bengals, Chief, 49ers are all darlings, but the glass is always half empty when it comes to the Bills.

Von did look slow. If he can't chase, hold the edge, or rush the passer, why is he on the field? I realize he needs reps to get back into form, but you don't want him in there when the game is still in doubt, right? Have other teams suffered as many injuries as the Bills the past two seasons? Miller, Hyde, White, Milano, Jones... To say nothing of Hamlin, Harris, and Hynes, and degrading injuries to Allen, Poyer, Davis, and Groot. Sure, Aaron Rogers' Achilles probably trumps them all combined, but still, what a motherlode of injuries.

And Browns. More rules changes coming maybe?

I wonder if that's what was behind McDermott's "complementary football" comment. I.e., "I told Dorsey to stop to slow down the [effective] tempo because you'll be scoring too fast and my defense will get tired." As a new coordinator, Dorsey might not be able to tell him to f- off. Daboll could, to a degree at least.

Agreed. He's not a normal QB. He's more like Elway and Young than Brady and Manning, and I'm concerned that Dorsey and McDermott are trying to make him something he's not. Young once said that when he was playing in the old USFL, he would tell his center to snap the ball over his head once in a while just because he thrived off of broken plays. Allen is the same way. No one is better, in fact. Amazing improvisor, howitzer arm, great vision and anticipation, fantastic runner, big frame, surprising speed...He has the whole package. But it seems McDermott especially wants a pocket passer. Allen is trying to comply, but he's frustrated by the limitations. The fire isn't there anymore, at least not consistently. I say release the Kraken. Make this offense literally unpredictable. Go on fourth down from everywhere, fake punts and kicks, mix in gimmick plays, reverses, direct RB snaps... Tap into Allen's creativity and let him have fun. In fact, let him call some plays on occasion, not just audibles, either. I'm here to say that Allen has the potential to be the best QB in NFL history, the real GOAT. But he's got to be freed from the Lilliputians that have him tied to the ground.

Gabe Davis became WR2.

Agree. Dorsey is like most people in new situations. He doing ok for a first-time coordinator, but you don't "ok" for a team that is otherwise ready to go to the Super Bowl. McDermott really rolled the dice choosing him. At the time, it seemed logical and harmonious to hire from within. But it was a mistake. He's just another Joe Coordinator. This is a real test for McDermott. It's hard to admit a mistake of this magnitude, hard to be perceived as disloyal, hard to change course in midstream. Much easier to justify staying the course--right into long-term mediocrity. Then it's HIS job on the line.

I've said more or less the same all season. Gabe Davis is a liability the same way Von Miller is at this point: They take time from more impactful players. The stats he has have more to do with the quality of the QB throwing to him than any ability he has. I keep thinking they would have gotten a heck of a return if they had traded him after the 13 second game.

Not sure that's quite fair or accurate. The Bills D held this supposedly high-powered offense to 3 points in the second half, even with their teammates turning the ball over twice and injuries to Benford, Bernard, and Hyde. They looked like Swiss cheese early but then adjusted. The Bills offense, though, went into their familiar hibernation. You can't score 18 points over four quarters and expect to win against a talented team. Something is very wrong on that side of the ball.

Put a conventional quarterback back there and he'll show you. Dorsey is using a Lamborghini to run errands around town, and he doesn't understand why it isn't very effective in this role. After all, it's the best car in existence! Maybe in ten or fifteen years Dorsey will get it, but if he doesn't by now, he should be replaced. And not by another "Josh-approved!" crony, unless he's creative, innovative, fearless, and willing to take full advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime QB. Dorsey: an ordinary Joe doing ordinary things. Give him a pat on the back and show him the door.

My impression is that the offense Dorsey is running is good, even very good, but it simply does not match the quarterback he has. You see Allen doing his best Brady impression, trying to read the defense, waiting, waiting, then getting sacked, throwing an interception, or saying "Screw this stupid play, I'm making something else happen." Neither Dorsey nor McDermott seem to get that Allen thrives on chaos. He's at his best outside the pocket, his receivers breaking off their routes to get open. Imagine an OC (and head coach) who worked with these traits rather than against them. There's potential for a revolutionary offense. Instead, you have Dorsey and McDermott trying to make Allen into Tom Brady.

You might be right. If they miss the playoffs, they might do more than tweak the roster. Find upgrades for Brown, Davis, the aging safeties, the washed Miller, and the inadequate punter, find a high-quality offensive coordinator. And maybe, just maybe, pull the plug on McDermott.

How about all Allen runs? Anything but more wasted throws to Davis.

Well, on the other hand, when is the last time you saw Davis make a great catch on a bad ball? His specialty is catching balls that fall into his hands and in stride. And those he drops at a good clip. But he's a good blocker!

We need to give him a break. It's not like he had an extra few days to prepare or anything.

I don't recall Allen running once. I wonder if McDermott shut that down again.

This is not the team we thought it was. It just isn't. I've never called for McDermott's head, but when a team is this bad on offense, defense, and special teams, you have to conclude he's a big part of the problem.

National TV. It never fails.

Sweep the leg!

You know, why don't they just invite a fan out of the stands to play right tackle? It would save money, and, who knows? Maybe she'd do better than Spencer Brown. She couldn't do worse. Why is this guy on the field?

A little boo boo. How would Jim Kelly deal with that?

Hey, Dorsey, don't run it against Reader on first down.

He could never throw another pick in his career, and he'll still be known as the QB who threw all the interceptions. That narrative is locked in forever.

And Davis' catch rate is like 50%, not a good combination. Imagine if Davis was DHop or Tee Higgins.

Other teams have stopped this offense, and not just when Burrows was injured. What is about the Bills or their coordinator/coach that they can't even slow them down? It's embarrassing.