finn

Can't think of an analogue, but consider how Mac Jones, with his limited escability and mobility and so-so arm, would do behind the clown show Allen has had to work with.

Imagine him behind the Pats' line and running the same safe, "game-manager" offense, with a strong running game. He would be completing like 90% of his passes (and of course chomping at the bit). Funny you hear so little intelligent analysis among the most prominent "experts." The facts they don't see or ignore are pretty plain: Allen is a generation talent playing behind a line that's mediocre when healthy, abysmal when not, and yet he's excelling. It's like Barry Sanders all over again.

Just a quibble: Arm strength is more important in out patterns or when trying to zip a ball into a fleeting window, like Allen hitting Kumerow in that seam pattern last year. The velocity on that ball was incredible. I don't see Jones throwing that ball, even thought he's "the best quarterback in the AFC," according to some. To put it plainly, Allen can do everything Jones can do, but Jones cannot do anything near everything Allen can do (diagnose, evade pressure, run, throw in tight windows). Give Allen Jones' O-line, and you'd see startling numbers.

This seems to be the key to stopping their passing game. Jones is being lauded breathlessly everywhere, but he isn't effective when he is pressured and out of rhythm. He's a rookie, so I would think it would be effective to disguise the coverage, blitz the occasional safety or corner, and otherwise take away the short game. Dare him to beat you deep, especially if there's any weather.

This is not a good matchup for the Bills (again). The Bills play a bend-don't-break defense--all the more so with White out--and that plays to the Pats' strengths, with their limited QB, good tight end and excellent line. I don't think they'll go up and down the field on the Bills, but it will be frustrating to watch the 8- and 12-yard gains coming one after another, sandwiched between 4- and 5-yard runs. They'll hold the ball and kick field goals to go with two or so touchdowns. If that's correct, it will be up to the offense to score quite often, a tall order if their subpar line continues alternating between stupid penalties and watch-out blocks. But if the Bills are the team we want them to be, they'll score their usual 30 points, hold the Pats to 20 or so, and order will be restored to the universe.

Which makes you wonder if this one yawning difference is enough to tip the balance to the Patriots. I'd say no, but it's only because the Bills have a better team otherwise (or even) across the board. Our O-line, at least with Mongo and Brown out, may be historically bad, as in a NFL Films special or a Ripley's Believe It Or Not episode, or an exhibit at Madame Tussaud's House of Wax. No one element on the Pats is anywhere near that bad. That the Bills can STILL win is a testament to how good the team is otherwise.

Which depends almost entirely on the line giving him more than a heartbeat to throw.

We get the Titans away with both Henry and A.J. Brown, the Pats* get them at home with neither, but if the Pats* win, the story will be they're superior to the Bills.

I thought he was the second coming of Brady, Brees, and Marino, all rolled into one? If anything negative has been written about that guy in the past few weeks, I haven't read it. The Narrative is taking shape. Once it's established, there's no going back.

(You technically don't need the first two. 🤔) I had the same thought. The defense will drop a notch but will still be strong. If the offense can go up a notch and also be strong(er), they could go all the way, with some luck. Every team has flaws, especially in the AFC. It'll come down to improving the O-line and avoiding more injuries.

I had the same thought. Remember Kelly blasting House Ballard after his missed block ended up in a shoulder separation? I saw that kind of anger in Allen's face as he jogged off the field after someone--was it Boettger?---blew a block that led to the second interception in the end zone. I can understand his frustration. He's has an elite set of receivers to throw to if the line just gives him time (or so he would think), but he's dodging rushers pretty much on every drop back. It's routine: Take the snap, dodge a rusher, look downfield. Anyway, that's one parallel to 1989. Also the "one or two players away" sense. The defense is (or was, before we lost White), but the line is a mess. Give Allen a line, a one-technique D-lineman and another receiver to replace the aging Beasley and Sanders, and 2022 might just be 1990 all over again.

And he's fast. I mean, he really has wheels for a tight end.

They may wait until the last weeks of the season, when teams dump high-priced veterans. If one of them wants to play with a contender, he might sign with the Bills for a reasonable salary.

Maybe revealing some exasperation about how Daboll is (not) using him?

The bummer here is that it looks like the Bills might need to draft a one-technique d-tackle with their first-round pick, leaving guard to the second round at best. They also will need at least one wide receiver. Let's hope Beane doesn't draft another Ford over another Metcalf this time.

He gave Knox a B+, despite four drops that I saw. What's up with that?

The Bills are the FIRST in the NFL in zone blocking, and we have two very good runners for this scheme in Singletary and Brieda. Meanwhile, they're 28th in power blocking, and our power back, Moss, is having a poor season, maybe because he's met in the backfield on most carries. So the solution seems pretty obvious. And yet, for reasons best known to him, Daboll sends in Moss and power-blocking plays.

I still think that one line from the article warrants more discussion: "The Bills rank 27th in success rate on zone runs; they lead the league in success rate on man-blocking runs." I can't find the stats online to back up the author's claim, but it would seem that the solution to the Bills' offensive imbalance is to call more man-blocking plays. Am I missing anything?

This is just speculation, but I wonder if the Bills just aren't accustomed to being the hunted ones. Last year, they had a predatory edge to them, and they went after teams. Now, their opponents are the intense ones: the Steelers, Titans, Jags, Colts... even the Dolphins have played with ferocity. The Bills, by contrast, only seemed to really want the Chiefs game. Otherwise, they've just been showing up for work, at least on offense. It's like they're waiting for something. Could it be that they're, well, bored by their famously easy schedule, to the extent that they've lost their edge?

It's nauseating, isn't it? I thought the years of taunts and boasts were past us, but they're not. (I live in New England.) To make it even worse, I turn on MNF and have to see that cheater's face--yet another decade of that pimp--and hear the announcers jostling for who can praise him most. As usual, the best solution is just win, baby.

I think they win, and the Bills have 11 days to get their act together for the home stretch. If they lose, they can still pull it together, win the division and so make the playoffs, but the self-analysis will need to deeper, and it will come amidst intense media and fan criticism. It wouldn't be a pleasant 11 days for them or us.

But who else will be out? This thing isn't over.

I don't mean he's deliberately infusing politics, just that the decision to get vaxxed or not is politically fraught, so it's not the same as getting angry at malingering or underperforming players, which can be productive. I mean, how should the team process McDermott's anger? Some probably share it, others are likely sullen, since they don't think it's justified, and the ones it's directed at probably feel a toxic mix of shame, defiance and confusion. None of this is not good for the team. I wonder if he applies his vaunted "process" to himself: the guy needs to look in the mirror and stop indulging his emotions.

Hard to deny, but the penalties on third down were a major factor. If the Colts had to punt on two or three of those, it could have been a different game. Still, I think they were going to lose to in most cases. Reich's emotion may have really motivated his team to win for him. Whereas it's likely McDermott was radiating frustration all week at Brown, Star, and likely all the other unvaccinated players waiting to be infected. Palpable frustration, anger and resentment from your coach, especially at teammates not playing, isn't very motivating, I'd guess. McDermott needs to get over his attitude, because more players will be out with COVID. I think the team is deep and talented enough--and has enough heart--to win without even key players. But not with a coach simmering with anger all season, let alone politically charged anger.