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

[Virgil]

In writing these, I've always tried to respect the original author, Bill From NYC, by giving myself enough time after the game to gain some rationale perspective.  One never wants to write a review when they are too happy after a win, or angry from a loss.  When you do, you lose the bias for your team or get carried away in the moments; and in my opinion, lose credibility.  As the hour passes from the final whistle, I realize that emotion has to be part of these thoughts.  You don't break a 25 year drought without reminiscing about all the "almost" moments, all the players who got so close and all those who stayed very far away.  With that, these thoughts are going to be a little bit different, as I believe this milestone deserves it.

 

1 - Allen - Besides Lamar Jackson, there wasn't a quarterback I wanted least in the draft than Josh Allen.  No part of me believed you could teach a small school quarterback how to both win and be accurate.  When the Bills announced they were trading up in the draft and I heard the word Josh, I got excited at the prospect of Josh Rosen leading us to the playoffs in a few short years.  When the last name of Allen was said, I was in a full blown meltdown for roughly 48 hours.  One thing I will give myself credit for is my ability to embrace any player on our team.  Once that grace period passed, Allen was my quarterback and I've supported him since.  

 

Allen joined the 4,000 yard club today and has multiple single season franchise records in his sights.  Allen hasn't only been good these past few games, he's shown the poise, command, skill set, and leadership we've waited 25 years for.  It would be easy to talk about a number of plays in this game, but I'm only going to talk about one.  The Broncos showed a defensive back blitz from the guy covering Beasley in the slot.  Allen had 20+ seconds on the play clock to fake some snaps and see what the defense was looking to do.  Josh recognized the blitz, audibled the play, and snapped the ball.  On the play, he faked the throw to Beasley, waited for the middle zone linebacker to jump inside, then he actually threw the ball a half second later to the outside of the linebacker for a 20 yards gain over the middle.  This one play shows just how much the game has slowed down for Allen and how far he's come.  Yes, the 55 yard bomb to Diggs was nice too.  Same with the Kumerow touchdown.  Oh yeah, don't forget the first down pass to Diggs while he was getting sacked.  There's a lot to choose from.

 

Anyone who wants to pick on Josh Allen's game can no longer be listened to or taken seriously.  Allen has shown high level performance against multiple top defensive talent and hasn't slowe down at all.  He's a franchise quarterback who deserves to be discussed as not only MVP, but as a top quarterback in the league.  His stats and performance on the field tonight should be an expectation now, not a hope.

 

2 - Diggs - Honest question, do teams know they are allowed to cover him?  When we traded for Diggs, I knew we were getting an elite receiver and I did have concerns about his public dissatisfaction with the Vikings.  And as I've watched other elite receivers like Michael Thomas, I couldn't figure out how teams let them go uncovered.  Now that Diggs has been here all season, broken our single season receptions record with two games left, and continues to get wide open, I realize that I didn't truly know what an elite receiver was until now.  Previously, I believed the other teams were just trash or didn't want to abandon their scheme.  In these past few weeks of watching Diggs get wide open time after time, when everyone on the field knows he's the primary target, has just blown me away.  Diggs was a monster again tonight, making catches all over the field, finding the first down marker time after time, and even breaking one deep.  From Evans, Moulds, to Stevie, we've had a lot of good receivers play for the Bills over the division drought, and Diggs has outperformed all of them in only one season.

 

3 - Tre - For the second time in as many games, the opposing teams inexplicably made comments about our team team that added just a little bit of extra motivation.  Now, why Drew Lock of all people would make those comments about Tre is beyond me.  While I want to talk focus on the play where Tre played a shallow zone, saw the pass going just behind him, and adjusted back enough to get a hand on the pass; that wasn't his most impressive play.  In taking a play out of Poyer's book, Tre played up on the line a few times and was able to make some backfield stops.  None, more important than the strip sack of Lock which led to the Hughes defensive touchdown.  Tre had to run around the entire offensive line and chase Lock down from behind and never took his eyes off the ball.  It was a truly beautiful revenge moment that you only see in movies and allowed us to score out second touchdown in under two minutes.  

 

4 - You who have found it please help me along.

I'm a man, I'm a man, - I'm not made out of stone.

My needs they are simple, I don't want anything,

but I surely want to fly on those wings, on the run, one more time.

 

5 - Daboll - Like Josh, I remember exactly where I was when Daboll got hired.  I couldn't put my phone down to stop trashing the hire.  Why would we hire a guy who hasn't proven anything at an NFL level who seemed to make his career by being friends with well regarded coaches.  Josh was going to be doomed and the offense was going to take a step back.  Have I mentioned how wrong a lot I am?  While I don't want to hate on any player from this game, Ike got a penalty called on one of the best executed Statue of Liberty plays I've seen.  Allen sold the crap out of it and Singletary walked right into the end zone.  Seriously, if you missed the game, try to find it on Youtube, as it was that well done.  Daboll deserves as much credit for this offensive output, the careers bests for Allen, Beasley, and Diggs as anyone.  He's created a scheme that's so powerful that you are almost surprised if we don't get 3rd or 4th down conversions.  Even when we were 1st and goal from the 30, you couldn't completely dismiss that we weren't going to get six.  Then, combined with Josh's arm and Daboll's play calling, Allen found Kumerow over the middle for a beautiful touchdown pass.  Even better, Daboll's found a way to make our rushing attack relevant to close out games.  Like Allen, getting 30 points out of this offense should be the expectation going forward.

 

6 - Gilliam the Unsung - High profile players get you to the playoffs, but depth and rotation is where teams become next level.  Gilliam is a prime example of a guy making the most of his opportunity.  On the long Allen touchdown scramble, Gilliam had not one, but two key blocks that allowed Allen to score untouched.  If there's a second play to Youtube, this is it.  Gilliam's field awareness was superb and made all the difference.  While this was one of many scoring plays, this one really shows how this team plays as a unit on the field.

 

7 - Defensive line - While Frazier is still dialing up the extra pressure blitzes, the front 4 has done a great job recently getting pressure on their own.  Hughes may get the glory this week after the fumble recovery touchdown, but Oliver and Addison were monsters out there today.  Oliver blew up quite a few plays and have a dominating sack.  Addison continues to impress me with his speed as he chased down a surprisingly fast Lock from behind a few times.  Maybe it's the fear of additional blitzers coming in, but the front 4 is showing the pressure we haven't seen since the Cold Front a few years back.

 

8 - The Swing - How many times over the past 25 years have you seen the Bills dominate a game, look to be in control, then one turnover and score causes it all to come crashing down?  Over the past few games, we've seen moments like this where the Bills bounced right back, and today was no different.  The Bills were up 14-0, just forces a 3 and out, then Roberts muffed the punt, bringing the defense right back out and allowing a touchdown.  Previous Bills teams would have collapsed in those moments.  This Bills team walks right back out on the field and imposes their will that much more.  In fact, until garbage time, the Broncos didn't score again.  Mistakes by the Bills don't shut the team down like before, and I would challenge it only motivates them even more.  Roberts even brought one back into Broncos territory for his own personal redemption.  The point is, this is a very different, very resilient team, that I believe would have handled that 16-0 Texans collapse very differently.

 

9 - Comradely - My favorite pre-game ritual is hearing Beasley screech "I love you Josh Allen" after each pre-game huddle.  As much as Fitz was, and still is, loved by this community, I can't remember a Bills team as close as this one.  And yes, I'm including the early 90's team.  When Kumerow scored, he may have been the least excited player out there.  The entire offense was in the endzone to congratulate him.  After the Hughes touchdown, it was dance party on the sidelines.   We've seen this for weeks, but this team genuinely loves and supports each other.  These guys play for each other more than themselves.  It's infectious, it's leading to wins, and it's all in credit to....

 

10 - McD - If a team comes out flat, it's on the coach.  When a team, wraps up the division with 2 games left by absolutely dominating another NFL team, and has built a roster that can compete with ANY team in the league, then the coach gets that credit too.  McD won't take any credit, and was quick to thank the Pegula's and everyone else for the win, but his process has built a team that should have all teams scared to play us.  When McD was hired, I didn't know what to think.  He wasn't a flashy hire.  The clapping seemed hollow and the ex-Panthers signings became comical at times.  Like Allen and Diggs, McD should be a top candidate for coach of the year and I have zero doubt that McD is going to keep this team a top the NFL for years to come.  Of the personal foul call against Allen, where he was shoved out of bounds, you could see him run up to Allen before Josh could say anything back to the defender.  McD knew exactly what Josh was about to do and tried everything he could to prevent his star QB from getting a retaliatory flag.  That's a coach who knows his team and keeps his eyes on the big prize.

 

 

Listen, I know I didn't go deep into a lot of specifics about the game.  In a blowout game where the offense goes off, the defense shuts down the opposing team, and everything was all Buffalo, there's a lot to talk about.  For me, and I apologize if I missed the mark, but the biggest take away was the entire team personality and performance.  We dominated the Broncos.  This game was never in doubt.  In a season where people were trying to predict total wins and wonder how important the Pats and Dolphins games would be, the Bills removed all the suspense.  I don't think anyone saw this season coming from Allen, Diggs, and our overall record.  The Bills did exactly what an elite team is supposed to do in this game and that's put away a weaker opponent.  Am I predicting a Super Bowl run?  No.  Would anyone be surprised if it happened?  No.  And to be able to say that is the greatest victory of all.

 

Go Bills!

Edited December 20, 2020 by Virgil

[Jerboski]

Lots to love about this team 

 

Great stuff 

[scuba guy]

You lied you finished early nice

Always better after a bills big win

[Figster]

Best thoughts in no particular order ever...

[GETTOTHE50]

Not many, if any players, have the will power that JA17 does. It is awesome

[Malazan]

I love Gilliam. I think he will end up being one of those really, solid players that makes the plays you don't see. Amazing pick.

 

McDermott is what gives me confidence that even if the Bills coaching staff gets raided this offseason, it won't torpedo them the way I think it did the Eagles. I've always contended that one of the most important things, if not the most important, is his ability to hire coaches. I have confidence that he can replace the guys that go on to bigger roles on other teams. 

[loveorhatembillsfan4life]

Mcd was practically choking up in his postgame speech. It was awesome to see.  4 years of building towards this moment. Goal 1 win the East, host a playoff game. Love the message stay humble, hungry. Bigger things await! 

[Coastie]

I can't even pretend to analyze the games this well. thank you for the post. Continue to learn me every week 😏

[zow2]

Good recap. on the negative the penalties bothered me. I read on a Chiefs site that the Ref crew in Denver is notorious for throwing flags on TD plays and calling them back.  it’s a BS crew and hopefully they don’t work a Bills playoff game. 

[jkeerie]

You didn't miss the mark, Virg.  You were spot on.  Great write up as usual.  Thanks for that.  In all my 67 years, and with great respect for the team of the 90's, this is my favorite Bills team.  No egos.  No braggadocio.  Just work hard.  Improve.  Play the game.   Go Bills!

[beer]

Special team. Special post. Thank you 

[Virgil]

2 minutes ago, zow2 said:

Good recap. on the negative the penalties bothered me. I read on a Chiefs site that the Ref crew in Denver is notorious for throwing flags on TD plays and calling them back.  it’s a BS crew and hopefully they don’t work a Bills playoff game. 

I had notes to write about it and Allen’s comment about “how many times do we need to score?” was perfect.  I just didn’t want to kill the mood.  
 

Even Mahomes had a tweet about it, which also shows he’s paying attention to the Bills....

[Coastie]

2 minutes ago, jkeerie said:

this is my favorite Bills team.  No egos.  No braggadocio. 

 

I hadn't considered it but you are right. There were some rocky moments with the "bickering Bills" I tend to forget with my rose colored hindsight glasses. We have seen none of that with this team yet and I hope we never do.

[Big Turk]

This game was never in doubt from the opening kickoff in my mind. The offense simply looks unstoppable at times and rolled up over 500 yards on a decent Denver defense and literally could have probably had 60 points if not for the 3 TDs that got taken off the board with penalties and being stopped on 4th down at the 3 yard line.

 

The defense is back to looking like they did last year. Lock had under 100 yards passing until mid 4th quarter and they held the Denver running game in check until garbage time when they traded 5 and 6 yard runs for time off the clock.  2nd game in a row with a defensive TD after having none before the previous week since 2017.

 

This team is just so freaking good, I am not sure if we should be scared of anybody and that includes KC. The D was nowhere near what it is now the last time we played them and the offense continues to improve putting up another huge day even without Brown.

 

[Augie]

4 minutes ago, Virgil said:

I had notes to write about it and Allen’s comment about “how many times do we need to score?” was perfect.  I just didn’t want to kill the mood.  
 

Even Mahomes had a tweet about it, which also shows he’s paying attention to the Bills....

 

Rather than kill the mood, we could add to the mood. We have done this against a pretty darn good schedule! I’m not sure how we rank as a team vs opponents over .500, but the last I saw it was pretty strong. 

[ganesh]

13 minutes ago, jkeerie said:

You didn't miss the mark, Virg.  You were spot on.  Great write up as usual.  Thanks for that.  In all my 67 years, and with great respect for the team of the 90's, this is my favorite Bills team.  No egos.  No braggadocio.  Just work hard.  Improve.  Play the game.   Go Bills!

The common thing between the 90s team and today's team -   great HC.

 

The difference between the 90s team and today's team -  The HC not taking the pedal of the gas. 

 

I hope that makes the difference between going to the SB and winning the SB

[Simon]

3 minutes ago, Coastie said:

 

I hadn't considered it but you are right. There were some rocky moments with the "bickering Bills" I tend to forget with my rose colored hindsight glasses. We have seen none of that with this team yet and I hope we never do.

No doubt. Those guys were fun to watch play ball but there were some genuine asshats in that locker room.

I don't see any of that with this crew.

 

I've been on a few ball teams and I typically don't get caught up in the starry-eyed hand-holding at a distance, but there is absolutely something very unique and genuine going on in that locker room. I hope those boys are appreciating it because it's a rare and wonderful experience.

[ganesh]

4 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

Rather than kill the mood, we could add to the mood. We have done this against a pretty darn good schedule! I’m not sure how we rank as a team vs opponents over .500, but the last I saw it was pretty strong. 

this.

 

When this season started, no one thought we would go 3-1 that could be 4-0 if not for hail Murray against the super strong NFC West.  Everyone thought this was a 9-7 win team with the tough schedule.

[HappyDays]

23 minutes ago, Virgil said:

The Broncos showed a defensive back blitz from the guy covering Beasley in the slot.  Allen had 20+ seconds on the play clock to fake some snaps and see what the defense was looking to do.  Josh recognized the blitz, audibled the play, and snapped the ball.  On the play, he faked the throw to Beasley, waited for the middle zone linebacker to jump inside, then he actually threw the ball a half second later to the outside of the linebacker for a 20 yards gain over the middle.  This one play shows just how much the game has slowed down for Allen and how far he's come.

 

I said this in the game thread too, the mental game has caught up to the physical game for Allen. He's out there calling his own plays and audibles. I used to be really annoyed with all the hard counts we do, seems like it was giving us more false starts than actually getting the defense to jump Offside. But now I see the purpose behind it. Allen is using those moments to see what the defense is going to do so he can counter it and he's executing brilliantly.

 

I think part of the reason Allen is so successful is he has the same mindset about the game that the most passionate fans have. I could tell at the end of the game he wanted to keep running up the score. Most other QBs in that situation are fine to hand off the ball or throw check downs but Allen keeps gunning it like they're dowm 21 points. He said in his post game interview that the deep pass to Diggs was his play call, not Daboll's. Give me a QB with that attitude and that arm over anyone else in the league.

[SinceThe70s]

2 minutes ago, Simon said:

No doubt. Those guys were fun to watch play ball but there were some genuine asshats in that locker room.

I don't see any of that with this crew.

 

I've been on a few ball teams and I typically don't get caught up in the starry-eyed hand-holding at a distance, but there is absolutely something very unique and genuine going on in that locker room. I hope those boys are appreciating it because it's a rare and wonderful experience.

 

It dates back to some great moments at the end of Kyle Williams career. Impressive that it's spanned a number of years.