A Few Thoughts About the Rams Game, in no particular order

[Virgil]

I've come to realize that BBFS is similar to addiction, in the way that once it's in your system, you may never fully get it under control.  After the Bills made the playoffs last year and broke the 10 win mark, I felt cleansed of my 20 year torture.  I believed, and still do, in McD and Beane.  But BBFS is clearly still buried deep within me, like a Tammy waiting around a corner for Ron Swanson.  I had my doubts about this game because the Rams offense seems to have bounced back and Goff was playing pre-contract solid.  You never know what you're going to get with a west coast traveling team that you haven't seen each other's systems and our defense was suspect after the Miami game.  With that being said, by the time the Rams took a 4 points lead, my stomach was twisted in knots in ways that I haven't felt since the kickoff return fumble against the Pats or the Music City Miracle.  Like watching a train wreck in slow motion, my brain flash forwarded to the rest of our tough schedule, the media saying how the Bills ended up being just the Bills, and all the other little brother beatings we are used to taking.  But then Josh, being the ice-veined specimen he is, just kept taking those steps and you know the rest.  After the game, I just kinda sat there for a bit, taking it all in.  Then I took my daughter home, drove home listening to WGR, and then passed the ***** out for the night.  Seriously, the game took that level of an emotional toll on me.  To have written this last night would have been a disservice to Bill from NYC and anyone who reads this.  The rule is to never write these while still in my feels about the game.  Well, here you go....

 

1 - Milano/Edmunds - Like most of the things I'm going to talk about, this is a story of two halves.  Milano showed us exactly what this defense missed against the Dolphins in the prior week.  He was playing fast, sideline to sideline in coverage (blew up a screen play perfectly), and also did a great job picking an open lane for an early sack; which led to a longer miss field goal.  My notes to myself were literally "find a way to pay this man."  Edmunds played about 5 yards off the LOS and also showed good closing speed and hesitation to feel out the run/pass.  Both of them were in on most tackles and you could feel the defense elevate it's game with them on the field.  Then the second half kicked in...and I don't know if it was adjustments (more on this later), their injuries flaring up, or conditioning due to missing a week, but these guys (Edmunds more so) just looked gassed.  I was surprised how out of breath both of them looked just halfway through the 3rd quarter.  And as the Rams kept running the ball, Edmunds kept creeping up closer and closer to that line, to the points where he was useless if he lined up in the wrong slot.  How Edmunds ended up covering Woods on one of his big gains makes no sense to me.  The collapse was complete when Edmunds got absolutely bowled over on the goal line for a touchdown, not long after missing a tackle on Woods' first TD. 

 

2 - Gabriel D - With so many fan favorites on the fighting for roster spots this off season, I was curious to see how the rookie fit into the Bills plans.  Not only has he made a lot of fans forget about Foster and Duke, he is quickly taking snaps from Beasley.  The size, speed, hands, and ability to find soft spots in the zone shows more and more each week.  After an fantastic touchdown catch last week, Davis was the first half MVP as he showed great field awareness with a toe-tap deep sideline catch from Josh.  I think he had 80 receiving yards in the first half.  He was also trusted as the go-to man on 4th and game, which drew the PI call (Also, more on this later).  I love that we have 3 solid receivers in front of him, so he can learn the game and be called upon when needed.  But I think we are starting to see someone that will easily slide into a predominant role as one of our receivers eventually moves on. 

 

3 - Beasley - If Davis was the MVP of the first half, Beasley was the MVP of the second.  It's been easy to forget about Beasley in the first few weeks with Josh, Diggs, and Smoke just running circles around everyone.  But when it mattered most on a crucial 3rd and long, Beasley came up clutch finding a spot in the open zone and just getting his body past the down marker.  Beasley quietly had a 100 yard game and really reminded us how he's the bailout option for Allen as everything comes crashing down around him.  Just a clutch game from a guy who has accepted his role as the number 3 and watches the rookie slowly eat away at his snap count.  Good on you Beasley, you are still very appreciated and part of this offense.

 

4 - Black throated wind, keeps on pourin' in,

With it's words of a life where nothing is new,

Ah, mother american night, I pass from the light,

Ah, I'm drownin' in you.

 

5 - Singletary - If you are one who believes a that a running back needs to take a few hits like our QB does to feel mentally into the game, then this was the game for you.  In easily Singletary's best game of the season, he showed not only the burst and ball security we want to see, but an amazing juke move that left more than a few defenders looking for their cleats.  I believe Motor ended the game with 120+ all purpose yards by games end and, left many and myself wondering, why wasn't he used more when up 28-3; but I digress.  Singletary played low to the ground, showed great patience, good hands, and really looked like a guy who can be the bell cow for this potent offense.  I don't know if the split with Moss was hurting him or not, but after this game, Moss can take his time coming back.  Credit to Yeldon for showing well in a small sample size.

 

6 - Secondary - I'm really not sure how to evaluate the secondary in this game and am waiting on the All-22 review to validate some of my suspicions.  But, in watching a lot of the replays, I'm not convinced this unit was put in the best position to win.  To start with the positives, Johnson had a strong showing in his first game back with some solid open field tackles while Wallace got himself an Int.  However, in the second half and against a team that you know can't be held down offensively for long, Woods and Cupp began to eat.  Yes, the run game for the Rams was strong enough that made their play action that much more efficient (also more on this later).  However, on multiple 3rd and long plays for the Rams, I saw the Bills line up in the exact same zone formation defense that made absolutely zero sense to me.  Tre would be on the weak side, pressed at the line, where none of the receivers were lined up.  Wallace would be on the other side showing a large cushion.  In each of these plays, the Rams would run some kind of slow crossing route that lost the coverage in the middle of the field, leaving them fairly wide open for big gains.  On the last TD, which looked like White got beat, watch it again and see that Tre was actually the only player to recognize the play and try to adapt to it.  But with that....

 

7 - Frazier - Blowing a 25 points lead is completely unacceptable, win or lose.  In the second half, we stopped sending more than 4 rushers, even when the game got close and even though it showed great success early in the game.  I'm not asking for all out blitzes, but at least send 5 or 6 man!  We had Edmunds covering Woods on a deep pass.  We had our defense pressing up on the line worried about the run when the Rams needed to score points quickly.  We didn't react to their line shifts where they created overloaded rushing lanes.  These are all things that we saw last season before McD took the play calling away from him.  For a top 5 Defense last year, we haven't looked that way in the second half two weeks in a row.  I don't know if this is Frazier's version of a prevent with a 25 point lead, but it was the wrong call and I really hope we see some adjustments in both the defensive line fronts and mixing of zone and man.  This schedule isn't getting any easier and we can't, and shouldn't even need to, rely on the offense for 30+ points a game.

 

8 - Offensive Line - If there were one conversation I wish I could listen in on, it's that of the offensive line rotation.  For starters, credit to Daboll for settling on Ford at Guard.  I know it's been three weeks, but Ford has looked good in the role and Williams has been holding it down at RT.   Even with that, I was surprised to see Ford take over for Spain at LG in this game.  I heard on the radio this morning that Spain got benched prior to the start of the game.  How does that even happen?  Either way, until late in the second half, the offensive line looked good again as Allen had plenty of time to throw.  Yes, Donald eventually got some pressure, but if that's all twhe damage he did, then I consider that to be a successful effort.  I'm also not sure who came in for Dawkins, but they held up okay.  Hopefully we get some good news about him soon.

 

9 - Allen - Don't buy a Porsche if you care about good gas mileage.  Allen is an absolute baller who is never going to get dragged down easily and will kick and scream all the way to the dentist.  Yes, that might result in plays where he fumbles.  But it's also going to result in plays where he almost rips the head off a defender by the helmet.  I don't want Allen to lose any of his edge so long as he stays healthy.  I mean c'mon, did you see his fake option toss that made a defender fall over sideways?  I wouldn't trade Allen for anyone right now.  Oh yeah, he also put up 300 yards again, accounted for 5 total touchdowns, and spits in the face of adversity.  There is no "lull" in Allen.  The kid is always on.  Even when my BBFS was in full effect, Allen just went our there on that last drive and got it down.  3rd and long?  Who cares.  Defense in his face? Find Kroft.  Smoke out?  Hit Beasley deep down the sideline.  Ramsey wants to talk trash? Hit Diggs for a TD and put the game away on the last drive.  I have absolutely zero reason to believe that the Josh Allen we've seen these past 3 weeks isn't the permanent Josh Allen we are going to see for the next 15 years, and I wouldn't change a thing about him.

 

10 - Kroft - Tyler has taken a lot of abuse from this fan base.  We clamored for a receiving threat TE and we signed Kroft.  He gave us the game winning TD against the Steelers last season, but little else.  He saw his snaps drop significantly to Knox and it felt like a forgone conclusion that he will be gone next season.  Then, as if he'd been doing it all along, Kroft catches not one, but TWO touchdowns, including the game winner.  And honestly, that wasn't even the best part of his game.  Kroft was an absolute monster with his blocking game.  One one rushing play to the outside by Motor, I saw Kroft know THREE dudes out of the way by himself.  He was fantastic in this game, without being too flashy.  If this is a healthy Kroft and how he can perform when called upon, there might be hope for him yet. 

 

Extra Thoughts - Officiating/Rules - That was not PI at the end.  I'm glad it went for us, but it was illegal contact to me at best.  If I was a Rams fan, I'd be pissed.  However, they apparently got away with one to win against the Cowboys in week one and they definitely got a free interception from us (Seriously, I don't know how that got upheld).  More so, I'm more concerned with the non-call against Allen that led to the 15 yards Unsportsmanlike.  I saw where the rule states you can't horse tackle within the box, but how is that a rule?!  Horsecoller tackles became an issue due to safety after multiple injuries as a result of them.  Why is that any less dangerous against always-protected QB?  I can fully understand why Allen complained and didn't know that rule and I guess props to the ref for holding to it.  Regardless, that's a stupid rule.

 

Misc Thoughts:

-Players were slipping all over the field

-Congrats to Epensa for the increased snap count and first sack of his career

-Bojo had two solid Punts and hasn't given anyone a reason to curse his name this season

-Is Poyer the MVP of the defense so far?

-Commentators made a point to say that McV never has come back from 25 points in his career (twice!)

-Feels like it's a matter of When, not IF, Roberts returns a kickoff for a touchdown this season

 

 

Sorry again for the delay everyone.  I didn't even get to all of my notes  There was just so much to this game.  But here's my final thought:  If a perennial winning team was to walk away with this win, no one would really talk about the blown lead, they would instead talk about how they found a way to get it done.  This is a game that a non-McD team would have lost.  This is a game that brought up all those 20 year drought feelings. But that's the thing, we aren't that team anymore.  Allen won't let us be.  This is how you know we've made that leap.  We're 3-0 and there isn't a game on this schedule, no matter how hard it looks, that we don't have a legit opportunity to win.  Yes, they will study the film and I have full confidence that McD will step in where he needs to and address the defense.  Daboll and this offense can just keep doing what they are doing.  This was a great win.  There is no asterisks.  There is no "buts".  It was a great win by a 3-0 team heading to Vegas next week.

 

Go Bills!!!!

[dave mcbride]

That was PI. Textbook.

[BuffaloBillies]

"I saw where the rule states you can't horse tackle within the box, but how is that a rule?!  Horsecoller tackles became an issue due to safety after multiple injuries as a result of them.  Why is that any less dangerous against always-protected QB?  I can fully understand why Allen complained and didn't know that rule and I guess props to the ref for holding to it.  Regardless, that's a stupid rule."

 

Totally agree. Who ever made that carve-out rule? First I heard of that too. Dumb. 

[ganesh]

This game resembled so much like the Houston playoff game, except for the result.  I think Allen (in spite of his poor decision to later, yet again) learned from that failure for most part and was a lot more determined to come up with the victory.   Glad he is our QB.  Go Bills.

[RiotAct]

46 minutes ago, Virgil said:

With that being said, by the time the Rams took a 4 points lead, my stomach was twisted in knots in ways that I haven't felt since the kickoff return fumble against the Pats or the Music City Miracle. 

 What about the playoff game against the Texans? Lol.  My feelings during the latter part of that game were 50x worse than how I felt when the Rams took the lead on Sunday.

[Shaw66]

Mike Pereira said that if your illegal contact continues until the ball is in the air, it becomes pass interference. Thats what happened. When Davis made his cut, the ball was in the air.  The contact continued until the cut.   

 

Davis made the play.  He forced the db into a position where he had to disengage.  But if he did that, the catch would have been no contest.  Davis is a winner. 

[DCbillsfan]

Definitely a penalty at end of game.  Ty Nysekhe came in for Dawkins.  I'll take a win anytime.  I think this win will standout more as the season progresses.  Rams are a real good team.  

[BillsfaninSB]

19 minutes ago, RiotAct said:

 What about the playoff game against the Texans? Lol.  My feelings during the latter part of that game were 50x worse than how I felt when the Rams took the lead on Sunday.

I felt the same way as Virgil.  Something about giving up a 25 point lead at home mid 3rd quarter would be the beginning of the end for this team.   Hard to get over that.

 

The Houston game was bad but I felt like the Bills were making progress.   A Rams loss would have been a bad backslide.

 

 

 

 

Edited September 29, 2020 by BillsfaninSB

[Stank_Nasty]

24 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

Mike Pereira said that if your illegal contact continues until the ball is in the air, it becomes pass interference. Thats what happened. When Davis made his cut, the ball was in the air.  The contact continued until the cut.   

 

Davis made the play.  He forced the db into a position where he had to disengage.  But if he did that, the catch would have been no contest.  Davis is a winner. 

This right here. I’m really confused at how he came on the broadcast and explained it and yet nobody refers to that statement and the media is running rampant with it being a 100% bogus call. Could it have gone uncalled? Sure. Was it technically an okay call? YES. 

[Golden Goat]

1 hour ago, Virgil said:

I've come to realize that BBFS is similar to addiction...

We've been smoking schwag for decades -- all of a sudden, KIEF! Rehab can wait a bit.  

 

 

 

Edited September 29, 2020 by Golden Goat

[Freddie's Dead]

9 minutes ago, Stank_Nasty said:

This right here. I’m really confused at how he came on the broadcast and explained it and yet nobody refers to that statement and the media is running rampant with it being a 100% bogus call. Could it have gone uncalled? Sure. Was it technically an okay call? YES. 

 

And all the media quacking about the PI said NOTHING about the BS INT.  They owed us.

[transplantbillsfan]

good stuff

 

I don't think that OPI call is as clear as you think it was. But honestly I don't care because the game swinging Interception was ABSOLUTELY NOT an interception.

 

It's just karma.

[Virgil]

19 minutes ago, Stank_Nasty said:

This right here. I’m really confused at how he came on the broadcast and explained it and yet nobody refers to that statement and the media is running rampant with it being a 100% bogus call. Could it have gone uncalled? Sure. Was it technically an okay call? YES. 

If you think I could hear what the announcer was saying over my hyperventilating, you’re crazy.  
 

Maybe I was on a different broadcast, but the announcers were iffy on the call as it happened too.  
 

As Shaw said, if that’s the rule, okay.  I just feel like it gets ignored way more than it’s called and if it went the other way, people would be losing their minds here 

[JoPoy88]

The DB had the receiver locked up past 5 yards, past the point Allen released the ball, all the way to the very top of Davis’ route. Well within the definition of DPI. Now, is it called all the time on plays similar to the one on Sunday? No. But officials’ inconsistencies don’t change the rulebook. Go watch it again.

[Virgil]

2 minutes ago, transplantbillsfan said:

good stuff

 

I don't think that OPI call is as clear as you think it was. But honestly I don't care because the game swinging Interception was ABSOLUTELY NOT an interception.

 

It's just karma.

This was talked about on the morning show a lot where people called that the momentum swinging play.  
 

I agree with you, but also feel like it’s hard for one play to swing momentum in a 29 point comeback.  So many things have to happen and people keep pointing out that one turnover.  
 

I’d challenge that Allen’s fumble and 15 yard penalty was bigger as they were almost close enough to put points on the board and it was a potential 10-14 point swing 

[Stank_Nasty]

Just now, Virgil said:

If you think I could hear what the announcer was saying over my hyperventilating, you’re crazy.  
 

Maybe I was on a different broadcast, but the announcers were iffy on the call as it happened too.  
 

As Shaw said, if that’s the rule, okay.  I just feel like it gets ignored way more than it’s called and if it went the other way, people would be losing their minds here 

Pereira immediately came on and said “unlike the interception ruling I think they got this call right” he then went on to say he thinks a more accurate call would have been illegal contact. regardless it’s an automatic first down. 

[Virgil]

1 minute ago, JoPoy88 said:

The DB had the receiver locked up past 5 yards, past the point Allen released the ball, all the way to the very top of Davis’ route. Well within the definition of DPI. Now, is it called all the time on plays similar to the one on Sunday? No. But officials’ inconsistencies don’t change the rulebook. Go watch it again.

But don’t they also look at who was initiating contact?  I may have been raged out by that point, but it looked like Davis was trying to run through the defender and was equally initiating the contact.  
 

I haven’t really watched a replay yet 

1 minute ago, Stank_Nasty said:

Pereira immediately came on and said “unlike the interception ruling I think they got this call right” he then went on to say he thinks a more accurate call would have been illegal contact. regardless it’s an automatic first down. 

And that was my fault as well.  But like I said, I wasn’t watching as anything more than a scared child by that point 

[JoPoy88]

6 minutes ago, Virgil said:

But don’t they also look at who was initiating contact?  I may have been raged out by that point, but it looked like Davis was trying to run through the defender and was equally initiating the contact.  
 

I haven’t really watched a replay yet 

 

i’ve watched it several times. It probably falls into the realm of opinion, but it looks to me Davis was trying to make a move off the line to establish inside position and the DB locks on to him so Davis can’t separate inside.

[kjack151]

The Rams should never complain about a call that went against them after that non-PI that they got in the NFC championship against New Orleans.  

[Warcodered]

2 hours ago, Virgil said:

More so, I'm more concerned with the non-call against Allen that led to the 15 yards Unsportsmanlike.  I saw where the rule states you can't horse tackle within the box, but how is that a rule?!  Horsecoller tackles became an issue due to safety after multiple injuries as a result of them.  Why is that any less dangerous against always-protected QB?  I can fully understand why Allen complained and didn't know that rule and I guess props to the ref for holding to it.  Regardless, that's a stupid rule.

I mean it was technically a face mask