‘20 Bills. What we know/don’t know.

[Chandler#81]

What we Know:

Bills are riding a 3 game losing streak heading into a daunting schedule which includes 5 games against the last 4 Super Bowl teams and 7 teams from the playoffs last season, plus 3 West Coast trips. The many seasons of all 1:00pm kickoffs are history with at least 4 prime time games and 3 trips west.

A 2nd year with the Oline in the same offense will be better developed and more cohesive, along with veteran additions Daryl Williams & Brian Winters. 

Stephon Diggs presence will open up the passing game for RBs, TEs and the other WRs. Sophomores Singletary, Ford & Knox are established starters on Offense. Frazier/McDermott’s Defense is solid, if not spectacular. These two know how to Coach Defense. Epenesa and a slew of quality veteran FA’s, along with the Horrible One’s return allow for new wrinkles in pass rush and blitzes. Our Punter continues to be suspect, rookie PK has a cannon leg and Roberts and Ferguson are Pros pros.

 

 

What we don’t know:

Josh Allen. Elusive, quick and fast runner. The strongest arm in team history. Moxie & ‘Want To!’ in spades. Established team leader. Unfinished pro product. Reading defenses and accuracy has improved and more improvements are expected and necessary. Can he get out of his own way and maintain in pressure situations? Can we win big games with him? More importantly, given the QB room, can we win ANY games without him?

How will 6 Rookies and 7 other sophomores on an established playoff team effect change?

How will the losses of Lotulelei, J. Phillips & Alexander impact Bills 3rd ranked Defense. Will the additions of Addison, Klein, Matakevich, Butler, Norman & Q. Jefferson improve, maintain or lessen the overall Defensive performance? Will Ed Oliver step up or down his game?

Is Bass more reliable than Hauschka? Is there really no Punter anywhere that can beat out Bojo?

With the 1st venture out of their ‘bubbled’ preseason Sunday, how will face to face contact and teams traveling agendas play out? Are the designated NFL city hotels Covid prepared regarding room staff, kitchen and counter personnel? Chartered flight and ground transportation personnel medically cleared and current? Stadium staff and security personnel?

Will Josh Norman return to form in the twilight of his career? Are we set at DB? How will Moss perform in short yardage?

Is the AFCE a much improved Division? All 4 teams return their coaching staffs and believe they have their QB situation well in hand. NE* was a 12 win team again in ‘19 -with a fast fading Brady. Jets won 6 of the their last 8 games and the much respected Brian Flores has already been impressive turning over the Dolphins culture and roster with a plethora of high Draft picks and 6 more in next years’ 1st 3 rounds. It’s difficult to imagine a depleted Patriot team falling from grace as there’s been no indication throughout this century. The path to a Home Playoff game goes through these 3 teams and we barely squeaked out a 3-3 record here last season.

 

Bonus: Expectations: Diggs, Brown, Beasley, Morse, Milano, Edmunds, Tre’, Hyde and Poyer will continue at Pro Bowl level play. Unlike most prognosticators, I expect the Bills to be firing on all offensive cylinders right off the get go. McDermott has been preaching ‘get on them quickly’ while referencing the League stats regarding 1st team to score vs wins ratio. Great emphasis has been placed on this as a methodology to reduce games ‘in the balance’ late. We have the horses, the coaching and team cohesion to realize it. Beane publicly alluded to defensive player stats not being the measure he grades by. This was evidenced by letting Jordan Phillips’ 10.5 sacks in a season and a half walk out the door. More blitzing is expected from everywhere in Leslie’s Defense this season, which aids coverages. The team is a disciplined, well prepared unit and should be able to answer unexpected challenges on both sides. Frankly, we must play desperate every week to get where we want to go.

 

Analysis:

The schedule is a bear, given quality of known competition, travel and the unknown of the virus implications. At least the Division shares the same challenge. It could take less than 11 wins to capture it and earn a Home Game in January, but only 1 team will likely make the playoffs.

 

 

[TroutDog]

Nice write up. The COVID stuff I trust this group will take care of (as much as possible). For me the biggest question is Josh and his very much hoped for improvement. I’m firmly entrenched in the camp of if he takes another step like last year we will go places...just not enough points last year. 
 

The losses along the D line, I believe, were handled well. Most of the sacks of the players we lost were coverage sacks. It would be nice if they could get more interior pressure and with Harrison back and Ed in his second season, I’m counting on it. 
 

Either way, I can’t wait!!!!! Bills football in T-6 days!

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

3 game losing streak?

 

the Jets game was a giveaway. 
 

Backups vs starters. 13 to 6 final

 

 

[Chandler#81]

1 minute ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

3 game losing streak?

 

the Jets game was a giveaway. 
 

Backups vs starters. 13 to 6 final

 

 

you CAN count, right? You can make excuses for the 4 game slide 2 years ago too. Doesn’t Change the outcomes.

[Chandler#81]

Thank you. I edited post. 

[whatdrought]

What we don't know: 

 

The route of the SB parade. 

 

What size SB ring Josh Allen wears. 

[flaz]

@Chandler#81  Good read. I thought you were just a pretty face

[Mike in Horseheads]

Is this from The Athletic?

[Chandler#81]

2 minutes ago, flaz said:

@Chandler#81  Good read. I thought you were just a pretty face

But! But! But, I AM!!

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

15 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Who won? 

 

And they actually lost 4 of 5 to close out the season...(thank you Duck Hodges).

if the Bills starters had played 

 

do you believe the outcome would have been the same?

[Nineforty]

15 minutes ago, Chandler#81 said:

you CAN count, right? You can make excuses for the 4 game slide 2 years ago too. Doesn’t Change the outcomes.

Enjoy and like the post.

 

But I will choose as a fan to view this team as having no losing streak. New season.

 

And you can hold me to that next year when things are reversed and we're riding a 19 game winning streak heading into 2021 season

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

19 minutes ago, Chandler#81 said:

you CAN count, right? You can make excuses for the 4 game slide 2 years ago too. Doesn’t Change the outcomes.

You edited the post after mine and ask if I can count?

 

[Chandler#81]

27 minutes ago, TroutDog said:

Nice write up. The COVID stuff I trust this group will take care of (as much as possible). For me the biggest question is Josh and his very much hoped for improvement. I’m firmly entrenched in the camp of if he takes another step like last year we will go places...just not enough points last year. 
 

The losses along the D line, I believe, were handled well. Most of the sacks of the players we lost were coverage sacks. It would be nice if they could get more interior pressure and with Harrison back and Ed in his second season, I’m counting on it. 
 

Either way, I can’t wait!!!!! Bills football in T-6 days!

Certainly hope so, but the team has no influence on Away games logistics measures..

2 minutes ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

You edited the post after mine and ask if I can count?

 

Yes I did. I erred, while you thought it shouldn’t ‘count’.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

The Bills backups lost to the Jets starters. 

 

The fact of that does matter.  

 

The Bill lost to the Ravens on one blown defensive play.

 

So, no it’s not something that worries me. 

 

2 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

No... I also think the team was struggling big time down the stretch. Specifically offensively. They got exposed against the better teams of the league. 

Scott, when was the last time you gave the Bills any credit?

 

Edited September 7, 2020 by SlimShady'sSpaceForce

[loedward22]

57 minutes ago, Chandler#81 said:

Bills are riding a 4 game losing streak

3 game losing streak.  Beat Pitt. Lost to NE, Jets, and Texans

Edited September 7, 2020 by loedward22

[Chandler#81]

4 minutes ago, loedward22 said:

3 game loosing streak.  Beat Pitt. Lost to NE, Jets, and Texans

Thank you. I thought my original math was correct.

 

🤦‍♂️🤬

[Don Otreply]

Nice write up Chandler#81, pretty much hit the nail on the head. Your right in that JA needs to bring it early and often, and not let up, playing desperate is a great way to put it, because everyone we play desperately wants to beat us, wether they can is a  different story.

 

Go Bills!!!

[Mike in Horseheads]

21 minutes ago, Chandler#81 said:

Thank you. I thought my original math was correct.

 

🤦‍♂️🤬

Oh what the hell post season loss's should be included. So 2 game losing streak

 

[TroutDog]

36 minutes ago, Chandler#81 said:

Certainly hope so, but the team has no influence on Away games logistics measures.

They can either send a group ahead to sanitize or hire someone locally...I’m hoping (and trusting) they’re prepared for all of these contingencies. 
 

I should have added to my original post my excitement for Diggs and to see how Knox has improved. Also the new fourth rounder (forgot his name). On the D side, I’d love to say I’m stoked to see Epenesa but it sounds like he needs some more seasoning. 

[Mike in Horseheads]

6 minutes ago, TroutDog said:

They can either send a group ahead to sanitize or hire someone locally...I’m hoping (and trusting) they’re prepared for all of these contingencies. 
 

I should have added to my original post my excitement for Diggs and to see how Knox has improved. Also the new fourth rounder (forgot his name). On the D side, I’d love to say I’m stoked to see Epenesa but it sounds like he needs some more seasoning. 

With no preseason games I think its hard to tell how to tell how noobs fit in.  Never been a fan of PS games but thinking 2 would be nice next year