Week 16: Bills at Patriots***(*), 4:30 pm on NFLN, Postgame

[Big C]

I don't know if anyone addressed this already, but does anyone think they tried to beat them with a more vanilla gameplan knowing the odds to take the division were next to nothing? Not wanting to put anything new on tape in case we see them a third time?

 

I do feel good about how these guys will play in January. I like that Allen threw no picks even if he was slow to get started. We were knocking on the door again. Third time's a charm?

[mannc]

24 minutes ago, london_bills said:

So interesting. I take your point that they are better in all areas, but I do tend to think if we had an elite QB then we are better then they are immediately by having a more potent offense.

I don’t think Brady is a better QB than Josh Allen, at this point.  Brady is in a system that is perfectly designed and adapted to his strengths and weaknesses, while Allen is in a poorly designed mess of an offense whose goal is to score 17 to 20 points per game.

[HurlyBurly51]

27 minutes ago, Dave from westfield said:

Josh Allen should be moved to TE and the Bills need to find a QB that can actually throw the ball with some accuracy 

2 posts - and a heckuva start for you.  Enlightening and insightful.  I look forward to your long and illustrious TBD career. 

[london_bills]

2 minutes ago, Big C said:

I don't know if anyone addressed this already, but does anyone think they tried to beat them with a more vanilla gameplan knowing the odds to take the division were next to nothing? Not wanting to put anything new on tape in case we see them a third time?

 

I do feel good about how these guys will play in January. I like that Allen threw no picks even if he was slow to get started. We were knocking on the door again. Third time's a charm?

I just don't think this is the way mcdermott operates. I would be suprised. 

3 minutes ago, mannc said:

I don’t think Brady is a better QB than Josh Allen, at this point.  Brady is in a system that is perfectly designed and adapted to his strengths and weaknesses, while Allen is in a poorly designed mess of an offense whose goal is to score 17 to 20 points per game.

Interesting. I do to be honest. His pocket awareness of when there is someone on their way towards him is so good he gets rid of the ball at that moment. Also more accurate. 

[Big C]

5 minutes ago, london_bills said:

I just don't think this is the way mcdermott operates. I would be suprised. 

Interesting. I do to be honest. His pocket awareness of when there is someone on their way towards him is so good he gets rid of the ball at that moment. Also more accurate. 

 

I generally agree and understand. However, there doesn't seem to be another explanation for why we unleash more pressure packages. We basically rushed 4 and played zone the whole game and were picked apart like always. With that sorry bunch of receivers and Brady's limp arm we should have been more comfortable bringing more rushers. We did it more the first time we saw them and it worked very well. Now I know we had a crap ton of missed tackles but that is a different issue. 

 

To your second point, Brady has a ton of experience. Allen can develop those traits with more time. Accuracy issues for Allen have more to do with his patience and footwork, which we have already seen improvements on this season.

[london_bills]

6 minutes ago, Big C said:

 

I generally agree and understand. However, there doesn't seem to be another explanation for why we unleash more pressure packages. We basically rushed 4 and played zone the whole game and were picked apart like always. With that sorry bunch of receivers and Brady's limp arm we should have been more comfortable bringing more rushers. We did it more the first time we saw them and it worked very well. Now I know we had a crap ton of missed tackles but that is a different issue. 

 

To your second point, Brady has a ton of experience. Allen can develop those traits with more time. Accuracy issues for Allen have more to do with his patience and footwork, which we have already seen improvements on this season.

What's happening in the first half? So his footwork is wrong and he's rushing the throws due to nerves? 

[YoloinOhio]

 

[gobills1212]

3 hours ago, Buffbills716 said:

Allen DID NOT give this team a chance.  What game did you watch?  The last time I checked, both defense and offense need to play well.  Yes, the defense made mistakes, but you can't expect them to do everything.  

Yikes dude. Were you the one calling for Barkley?!

[whatdrought]

My god. The nancies around here. You’re all idiots. 

 

 

 

Also, after looking at the replay of the final play, Beasley jumped half a second too early for that ball. Hard task either way, but his timing was off a bit.

[london_bills]

7 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

That's awesome. 

[CincyBillsFan]

Interesting observation after a great day of NFL football in which all 3 games had playoff implications. 

 

How did the QB's do?  Allen was the youngest & Brady was the oldest and we had some big names playing today.  So going by QB rating we have:

 

1)  Brady = 111;   1 TD/0 INT

2)  Allen = 103;   2 TD/0 INT

3)  Goff = 86;  2 TD/1 INT (1 Pick 6)

4)  Garoppolo = 71;   1 TD/2 INT

5)  Watson = 62;   0 TD/1 INT

6)  Winston = 47;   1 TD/4 INT (1 Pick 6)

 

Not bad showing by Allen all things considered.

 

 

[Boatdrinks]

27 minutes ago, Big C said:

I don't know if anyone addressed this already, but does anyone think they tried to beat them with a more vanilla gameplan knowing the odds to take the division were next to nothing? Not wanting to put anything new on tape in case we see them a third time?

 

I do feel good about how these guys will play in January. I like that Allen threw no picks even if he was slow to get started. We were knocking on the door again. Third time's a charm?

I agree, and mentioned it in a few threads. It was quite clear they weren’t going to put any new stuff on film for the upcoming playoff game. They also likely think they could see NE again at some point. They still gave themselves a chance to win with a basic gameplan, but fundamentals were lacking on defense today. They made life miserable for Brady in the first meeting, but not even an attempt to do so this afternoon. A microscopic shot at the division title wasn’t worth sacrificing a possible win in the playoffs, where your first game could be your last. I think if we went into today with tied records, the gameplan would have reflected it. 

1 minute ago, CincyBillsFan said:

Interesting observation after a great day of NFL football in which all 3 games had playoff implications. 

 

How did the QB's do?  Allen was the youngest & Brady was the oldest and we had some big names playing today.  So going by QB rating we have:

 

1)  Brady = 111;   1 TD/0 INT

2)  Allen = 103;   2 TD/0 INT

3)  Goff = 86;  2 TD/1 INT (1 Pick 6)

4)  Garoppolo = 71;   1 TD/2 INT

5)  Watson = 62;   0 TD/1 INT

6)  Winston = 47;   1 TD/4 INT (1 Pick 6)

 

Not bad showing by Allen all things considered.

 

 

He showed improvement from the first meeting , and we had a legitimate chance to send it to OT with a bit better job by Daboll imo. Back of the end zone fades are too low percentage for my liking in that game situation. The Bills have no receivers that can make a play on the ball there. It has to be perfect, as there isn’t a George Kittle or Kyle Rudolph to snare it on this roster. Anyway, Allen’s game today leaves me more confident than not that this team can get a WC round win in 2 weeks. 

[stevestojan]

We’re in the playoffs. 

[CincyBillsFan]

7 minutes ago, CincyBillsFan said:

Interesting observation after a great day of NFL football in which all 3 games had playoff implications. 

 

How did the QB's do?  Allen was the youngest & Brady was the oldest and we had some big names playing today.  So going by QB rating we have:

 

1)  Brady = 111;   1 TD/0 INT

2)  Allen = 103;   2 TD/0 INT

3)  Goff = 86;  2 TD/1 INT (1 Pick 6)

4)  Garoppolo = 71;   1 TD/2 INT

5)  Watson = 62;   0 TD/1 INT

6)  Winston = 47;   1 TD/4 INT (1 Pick 6)

 

Not bad showing by Allen all things considered.

 

 

 

I would also add that of the 6 QB's playing today only 2 threw for over 300 yards and they both lost.  And both of the 300 yard passers threw pick sixes.  It's clear to me that in these late season, playoff like dog fights throwing a pick 6 is a much more critical factor then throwing for over 300 yards.

 

 

 

[Giuseppe Tognarelli]

21 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

Am I the only one who doesn't like this? This does two things:

 

*Cheapens the meaning of the reception when they win big games/makes it an every game thing regardless of result

*Sends the message that the fans are into moral victories and are accepting today's loss

 

I went on and on about how great the airport reception was last week, but this strikes me as embarrassing.

[london_bills]

1 minute ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

Am I the only one who doesn't like this? This does two things:

 

*Cheapens the meaning of the reception when they win big games/makes it an every game thing regardless of result

*Sends the message that the fans are into moral victories and are accepting today's loss

 

I went on and on about how great the airport reception was last week, but this strikes me as embarrassing.

I never really thought of it like that. Fair point 

[Best Williams Available]

1 hour ago, stuvian said:

You can criticize our playcalling. You can criticize the refs. You can say there are no moral victories. 

 

What you cannot deny is that we belong on the field with the best teams in our conference. You cannot  deny that Josh Allen gets better with each successive week.

You cannot deny that Coach Clappy has expunged the ghosts of the Decade of Fail. You cannot deny that the front office of Pegula/Beane/McDermott is one for the ages .

 

We are nascent and Patriots are in decline. I don't deny that Belicheat called a great game but no one can deny that we are on the way up and they are getting older . 

 

We are going to get a second chance at either the Pats or Ravens. Who wants to play us now?

I mostly agree but you can’t exorcise the ghosts of the past until you drop an L on the Pats. You can’t be a true contender being the 2nd best team in your division. We’re close, but things need to progress quickly.

The Rams/Eagles were nascent but already declining. In this league (apart from NE) dynasties last 2-3 years. The window to take a title is short-lived.
 

I think we’re all frustrated that we saw a pretty poor effort by our squad but still had a chance to beat one of the best. NE played nearly flawless and better than late, and we were one play away. There’s hope there. Let’s hope on our second chance that both the coaches scheme and players execute better.

[atlbillsfan1975]

32 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

I am not there but from the outside This is the definition of die hard fans. Win or lose they are cheering for you. 

[Big C]

10 minutes ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

Am I the only one who doesn't like this? This does two things:

 

*Cheapens the meaning of the reception when they win big games/makes it an every game thing regardless of result

*Sends the message that the fans are into moral victories and are accepting today's loss

 

I went on and on about how great the airport reception was last week, but this strikes me as embarrassing.

 

If it were almost any other team and any other scenario maybe. I think it is a show of support like "don't worry we know you'll get them in the playoffs." The fans aren't giving up on them because they couldn't beat the dreaded Pats this time. It won't be the last time. 

[Locomark]

My disappointment today was our defense got shredded and looked pedestrian in the 2nd half. Zero sacks vs the Pats 4 sacks was a big difference maker in the game. That final drive it killed our TD chance. 

I expected our offense to score 20 and they would have done so had they not had to score the TD at the end. Way too many chunk plays against our defense today. If you are going to win on defense then your defense needs to bring it in big games. We didn’t. Guys like Milano, Oliver, Hughes didn’t have any plays that changed the course of the game and the front 7 needed that. Only the backend keeps making plays every week.