A Few Thoughts About The Game, in no particular order.....

[The Frankish Reich]

Pegula bought the Bills, but the Patriots still own this team.

Sad but true. Time for someone to post the Jim Mora "playoffs?" rant. Any talk of playoffs is premature until we can keep up with the Pats, at least at home.

[dave mcbride]

#10) I still have a big problem with a line that can't run block to save their lives. I have a problem with an offensive coordinator who can't figure out how to build a decent run game against the 17th ranked run defense. Then tries to have a QB who hasn't been starting for a few years try and throw almost 40 times again....against the 5th ranked pass defense. simply moronic!

 

The very last thing I would want to try and do is have a shootout against Tom Brady. I would make the run game the most important part of the offense to keep the ball away from ole Tom.

 

How can ya rail on Spiller when Fred Jackson got more carries and a worse YPC average. Buffalo Bills net yards rushing, 23 rushes for a total 68 yards!

 

Fred Jackson 10 attempts for 26 yards, a 2.6 YPC average.- Anthony Dixon 7 attempts for 27 yards, a 3.8 YPC average.- CJ Spiller 6 attempts for 19 yards, a 3.1 YPC average.

 

Let's face it. This teams offense is being schemed, game planned, and called by a person who shouldn't be an NFL coordinator. JMO

Spiller got 15 of those 19 yards on one carry. And on that carry, he fumbled.

 

One of Jackson's carries was for one yard. It was a TD, and the Pats were playing to stop that run. They failed.

Edited October 13, 2014 by dave mcbride

[thewildrabbit]

Fred was effective. Bottom line. He had 1 negative run and a 1 yd TD to reduce his ypc. Spiller's ypc was padded by that awesomely idiotic run at the end of the half that he fumbled.

 

Watching the game > reading the box score.

How can you possibly say that when he had ten touches for only 26 yards?

 

I watched the game, and no Bills RB was effective. Its not about comparing the run game stats between the RB's. its about the distinct lack of a decent run game that puts ALL the pressure on the QB who hasn't started but 3 games the the last 3 years. Running the ball more keeps the ball away from Brady, wears out their defense, and doesn't make our QB shoulder the entire offense against the 5th ranked pass defense.

[Haslett_Stomp]

1. Thanks Bill. Though I am new to posting, I have been lurking and enjoying your post-game analysis for years. I happened to watch the game today with my wife's family, who are all Pats fans. At one point my brother-in-law asked why the Bills ran it up the gut every time on first down. Hackett needs to go.
   
2. 
   
3. I also agree with the posters who pointed out that the defense was taken to task in the second half. No pressure on Brady and the Pats scored on what seemed like every possession. I was railing about the refs, especially after they called the two offensive PI calls on Sammy and Chandler (?) but it sounded like sour grapes at that point. Best part of the game for me was after making comment after comment about Marcia, my sister-in-law figured out I was talking about Brady and burst out laughing.
   

[JohnC]

The primary difference between thesse teams is the disparity in qb play. Brady quickly got rid of the ball and he made some incredibly precise passes. The TD pass with Gilmore draped over the receiver was fantastic. Orton is the best qb option we have. KO is a pedestrian qb at best who is going to get you nowhere. He'll allow your team to compete against most teams but he is not going to bring the team along to any meaningful status.

 

The Bills have been out of the playoffs for 14 consecutive years, and still counting. By the time we have a more gifted qb taking the snaps it will be approaching the 20 year playoff drought. If I recall correctly the announcers stated that the Pats have beaten the Bills in 22 of the last 23 games. That is more than pathetic, it is laughable.

 

The Bills' safeties in this game were embarrasing. Duke Williams was the worst player on the field. I'm not going to put the loss on him because the better team and the better coached team and organization beat the lesser team and organization.

 

This game was a good measuring stick. It demonstrated how far this team still has to go to being a factor in this league.

 

My level of irritation over the officiating is at the boiling point. The calls had nothing to do with the outcome but it has a lot to do with the diminishing enjoyment of watching the games. This so called "emphasis" on inconsequential touching is moronic.

Edited October 13, 2014 by JohnC

[Rob's House]

How can you possibly say that when he had ten touches for only 26 yards?

 

I watched the game, and no Bills RB was effective. Its not about comparing the run game stats between the RB's. its about the distinct lack of a decent run game that puts ALL the pressure on the QB who hasn't started but 3 games the the last 3 years. Running the ball more keeps the ball away from Brady, wears out their defense, and doesn't make our QB shoulder the entire offense against the 5th ranked pass defense.

 

When Fred got the ball he gained positive yards on all but 1 carry, and on that one the defender was on him in the back field before he had the ball. If you don't see how setting up manageable 2nd and 3rd downs and punching in a TD from the 1 effectively helps the team I don't know what to tell you.

 

Interesting that while you were watching the game you found Spiller's meaningless 15 yd run and fumble more effective than Fred's several 3-5 yd runs and TD.

[Solomon Grundy]

1) Big time kudos to Chandler today. 6 catches for 105 yards is more than one could ask for under the circumstances of todays game.

 

2) I am NOT going to fault Gilmore on the TD pass that he gave up. The coverage was near perfect, and Brady had a month to throw because of the sub-par coaching of Schwartz. Actually, I thought that Gilmore played rather well today. More to come on Schwartz.

 

3) Duke Williams was SO bad today that I am uncomfortable talking about it. The pass interference call was about as bad a play as I have ever had the displeasure to watch. I hate to say it, but Searcy got toasted too. However, he looked great compared to Duke. It was just sickening to watch Williams.

 

4) I love the way that this team fights back. Mario, Spikes, Dareus, and Bradham never quit. They just kept playing for 4 quarters. Same with Woods, and Hogan. Players such as FJ and KW always do this. My point? I praise this team for going all out despite the loss.

 

5) On the first drive of the 3rd qtr., we rushed 3 on a 3rd and 9. This was a stupid move by Schwartz, and I was screaming this as the play was setting up. They made the first down and scored a TD on the following play.

 

6) I dropped four flights and cracked my spine,

Honey come quick with the iodine.

Catch a few winks down, under the bed;

Then head back to Tennessee, Jed

 

Tennessee, Tennessee,

There ain't no place I'd, rather be

Baby won't you carry me......

Back to Tennessee.

 

7) I think that we might just have a new weapon in Chris Hogan. It looks like Orton is able to utilize him too. This is good news on a dismal day.

 

8) A special shout-out to Bradham.....it is obvious how much he want to win football games. He truly is a pleasure to watch.

 

9) Schwartz reminds me of Jauron. The Pats OL didn't impress me, but he rarely pressured them. Imo, Schwartz employed a play not to lose philosophy. He was the biggest contributor in this loss today. If Petine was still here, we would have won. Schwartz sucked THAT bad. He was a flat out disaster.

 

10) Our OL wasn't THAT bad today from where I sat. Glenn DID get schooled by Jones on the play immediately after the deuce, but this is rare.

 

11) I have been accused of being too tough on Spiller. I am embarrassed to admit that against my better judgment, I backed off a bit. Those days are gone. CJ Spiller is a liability to this football team. He is virtually useless. He needs to be benched imo. Yes, BENCHED!!!!! We can comb through his stats and pretend that he is good, but he is not.

 

12) Orton, despite the OK stats, looked more rusty than he did last week. Wrt the pick to start the 2nd qtr., he had all day to throw. That said, he still blows EJ away.

 

13) The fact that the Jets and Dolphins lost does offer us hope. Bills Fans DO deserve hope.

 

14) Robert Woods is another player who really does want to win football games. I admire his effort and courage.

 

15) GO BILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I noticed that in the group of players that you listed as players who never quit there are no offensive linemen on there. The Patriots patchwork offensive line provided better protection for their QB. The Bills offensive line needs to be called out for their play! Blame CJ Spiller all you want, but look at Fred's stat line too. Not that impressive. Why hasn't this unit shown any improvement?

[Maury Ballstein]

The zebras bent us over. Unwatchable horsecrap.

 

[Philly McButterpants]

Always appreciate these posts, but I'm thinking that you're being way too generous in your praise for the Bills. They simply did not rise to occasion today, offense defense and coaching. It was a poor game plan, poorly executed.

 

Very disappointing effort from the team today . . . Duke Williams has no business being on the field, not does McKelvin . . .

[Bob in STL]

What? Nothing on the running game?

 

Running the ball had to be a key component for success. Keep Brady off the field. Right?

 

A few more thoughts in no particular order:

 

With FJ hurting Spiller was a no show.

 

The OL has regressed badly.

[Mr. WEO]

The D line laid down in the second half. Actually, seemed Brady was left to be comfortable most of the day.

 

Our DBs still suck. Leodis is a clown. Gilmore is good for one decent play per game, then does nothing.

 

The best way to use Spiller is returning kicks. He should be out there for every kick and punt.

 

Orton looked good and not so good. Still only his second game on the team. Still an order of magnitude better than EJ.

 

Why is Mike Williams a healthy scratch today?

 

Was at the game today, it was a rush to see the reception Pegula got. Has anyone mentioned the daughters yet??

 

Chandler must have caught 5 long 1st down conversions. He looked sharp--and Orton's passes to him were lasers..

[BuffaninATL]

Hope is positively in sight, and I couldn't be happier about the upcoming years for this team. See Below.

 

Oh, I highly doubt that. If this team falls on its face I think there will be big changes all around. Kyle Orton is not the best weapon on the offense, it should be Sammy

 

Kim Pegula will be the new CEO, and there is already talks the the Pegula's will hire a known football man like Ernie Accorsi, Mike Holmgren, Ron Wolf.

 

http://www.cbssports...ship-transition

 

Good post mate, and thanks for citing the LaCanfora link- yes indeed there is reason for hope.....I like the idea of this: " If the Bills do decide to make changes, Chargers offensive coordinator Frank Reich, an increasingly hot coaching candidate who is a beloved former quarterback in Buffalo, could quickly emerge as a frontrunner."

[BillsVet]

So many things to discuss after this loss. But I still don't understand, if this is a team with marked improvement in talent, why they can't have all phases of the game working at the same time. It's the NFL and teams are always scheming to stop what you do well, but when the defense is excellent, the offense isn't good. Or, today, the offense was passable and the defense broke down.

 

If the talent is improved, then is it coaching? It ain't the Big East and NE is no Rutgers or UConn. We coach like it is though sometimes.

 

The Bills continue to be pretenders and aren't ready for prime time either.

Edited October 13, 2014 by BillsVet

[Charles Romes]

Hogan? His drop was beyond bad and he totally lucked out it was not a drive stopper. You cannot build anything with players that drop the ball like that.

[BuffaninATL]

The primary difference between thesse teams is the disparity in qb play. Brady quickly got rid of the ball and he made some incredibly precise passes. The TD pass with Gilmore draped over the receiver was fantastic. Orton is the best qb option we have. KO is a pedestrian qb at best who is going to get you nowhere. He'll allow your team to compete against most teams but he is not going to bring the team along to any meaningful status.

 

The Bills have been out of the playoffs for 14 consecutive years, and still counting. By the time we have a more gifted qb taking the snaps it will be approaching the 20 year playoff drought. If I recall correctly the announcers stated that the Pats have beaten the Bills in 22 of the last 23 games. That is more than pathetic, it is laughable.

 

The Bills' safeties in this game were embarrasing. Duke Williams was the worst player on the field. I'm not going to put the loss on him because the better team and the better coached team and organization beat the lesser team and organization.

 

This game was a good measuring stick. It demonstrated how far this team still has to go to being a factor in this league.

 

My level of irritation over the officiating is at the boiling point. The calls had nothing to do with the outcome but it has a lot to do with the diminishing enjoyment of watching the games. This so called "emphasis" on inconsequential touching is moronic.

 

agree 100% on your last point, JohnC......it would be foolish to pin this loss on the poor officiating, but I have to say you nailed it re: the dimished enjoyment of watching the games. These phantom calls and non-calls are beginning to wear on me like they're part of an Oliver Stone conspiracy plot. Those OPI "push offs" sent me over the edge, and BTW Gronk was guilty of one big-time. The refs are over-legislating the game and it is becoming laughable.

[Rob's House]

Hogan? His drop was beyond bad and he totally lucked out it was not a drive stopper. You cannot build anything with players that drop the ball like that.

 

I've seen Randy Moss drop a pass like that.

[Captain Caveman]

Please Marrone, bench CJ and Pears and cut Lee Smith.

 

Seriously, blaming Lee Smith?

[Nitro]

Running game regresses weekly. Interior blocking is lacking and the OTs were getting burned by NE outside speed on the pass rush. It seems this coaching staffing sticks to its game plan no matter what is going on in the game. It would be really nice if these huge men could open some lanes for the RBs to run through. Orton is a statue. No mobility whatsoever. Even with these faults the team is 3-3 and can make a push to the playoffs. MUST win out at home.

[John Gianelli]

 

The best way to use Spiller is returning kicks. He should be out there for every kick and punt.

 

 

Thank you. Spiller should be returning punts.

[Fixxxer]

Seriously, blaming Lee Smith?

 

I'm blaming him for not doing his job, I know crazy. He always commit stupid penalties and he can't block for **** when that is his sole purpose on this team.