A few thoughts about the chiefs game, in no particular order

[HappyDays]

1 hour ago, Virgil said:

The Chiefs were going to leave Motor alone for the most part, and he was unable to punish him.

 

The Belichick strategy is to take away your best player. KC did their own take on it. They left our worst player alone and dared us to take advantage of it.

 

A game like this was inevitable. The Bills offense was entirely one dimensional all year long. The only thing we could do was throw passes to wide receivers. And at least we did that one dimension very very well. But it was bound to catch up to us. Luckily McDermott knows this is a problem and said as much in his presser today. Zero chance Singletary is our starter next year.

[Andy1]

I agree completely about how we got out coached. Our receivers were playing injured which limited us. Mahomes was killing us with very quick passes with receivers getting YAC. Even with better D linemen we wouldn’t be able to stop him.

[transplantbillsfan]

To me, the key was #2 and it's the thing I'm most irritated about.  I understand McDermott's approach to "ride with the guys who got you there" as far as your WR corps goes, but EVERY SINGLE MEMBER of our WR corps was injured

 

John Brown had the knee injury that's plagued him all season

 

Diggs had the "oblique" injury

 

Davis injured his ankle last week against the Ravens

 

Beasley was playing with a freakin fractured fibula!!!!

 

 

 

I am NOT saying we would have won this game if Kenny Stills played in place of Davis, but our WRs were absolutely blanketed and Josh had nowhere to throw the football most of the game.  Heck, KC is a well coached team that probably knew our whole WR corps was injured... so why the hell wouldn't they play man to man press coverage and be overly physical? 

 

As for Allen, even his typical "WOW!!!" throws were partially "wow!!" because of tight coverage along with the usual degree of difficulty of the throw itself.  I honestly wanted him to scramble more because it was just so obvious our WRs weren't getting open.  I don't know that it necessarily would have made a difference, but who knows?  

 

I detest designed runs with Josh Allen, but I love when he scrambles because I think he's deadly.  I think that's actually been coached out of him maybe just a little too much.  There were some plays I thought he could have run for a good gain and then failed throwing it instead.

 

The truth is I'm like you... disappointed but not upset.  Kansas City is just clearly the better team right now and was clearly better prepared.  I actually think Buffalo might be the 2nd best team in the NFL this year, but unfortunately we play in the same conference as the best team.  I pray we aren't Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts to Tom Brady's New England Patriots in this rivalry for the next decade and a half.

Edited January 27, 2021 by transplantbillsfan

[ganesh]

We knew the Chiefs offense will be operating at elite level.  What was disappointing was that we allow the Chiefs defense to dominate our offense.  When our best weapon was neutralized (Offense) we had zero shot at winning the game. 

 

The Bills game plan should have been to go into a shoot out. They missed that mark badly

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

1 hour ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

Good write up as always, Virgil.

 

 

Josh missed some throws he would normally make in the Ravens game also.  He commented that "my mechanics got away from me a bit" on one throw on a stop route that "I always hit ".   In his post-season presser (after being asked about Cole Beasley playing with a broken fibula) he commented about "a lot of guys have played hurt and never said anything about it" (it was in the context about how knowing that guys are pushing through injury makes the other players play harder for each other).  It wouldn't surprise me if he had banged up his previously injured shoulder a bit either in this or a previous game, not enough to wear a brace or go on injury report but enough that it wasn't 100%.  

 

Total speculation, but I'm hoping he can add a piece or solidify his mechanics this off season to buffer against that.

 

My main thing, that Josh himself offered in his presser, is that he simply wasn't taking what the defense gave him early on.   He acknowledged "I was pressing"

 

 

I want to like Motor.  But he must have needed something he got from Gore's mentoring, and hasn't had since.  You're exactly right.  He had the chance to be a difference maker, and he didn't take advantage.

 

 

Ultimately, This.  You've got to have a game plan to take away or at least severely limit the team's two best players.

 

 

Yea its hard for me to blame him when hes watching his defense get absolutely humiliated knowing he'll have to drop 50+ to win but I think he'll learn. That's what the chiefs do they force you to abandon your game plan with just a barrage of points lol I think Josh got a little too comfortable this season of knowing presnap he's got single coverage and trusting his guys to get open because it has never not worked...until Sunday of course unfortunately haha 

[LABILLBACKER]

38 minutes ago, billsfan714 said:

Much like a player like GBs King can have an awful game, the defensive game plan for Kelce was the equivalent.   We criticize players a lot, but that game plan was terrible.   As someone who was an adult during the SB years, it always bothered me, that in the first SB we didnt run Thurman 30 times against a 2 man front at times.   I thought Daboll and Frazier didnt come up big.  They need to get better as much as any player to get over the hump.  No doubt Reid/Bienemy/Spagnola did better than our two.   And then its up to Beane to improve the talent.   KC is the bar.   What was just awesome about this season  is its clear that process is working and our standards  we expect of this team are much higher.

KC is the bar. There's not another team I fear in the AFC. Sean and his coaches need to make that next step. That's what they expect from their players.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

9 minutes ago, Generic_Bills_Fan said:

Yea its hard for me to blame him when hes watching his defense get absolutely humiliated knowing he'll have to drop 50+ to win but I think he'll learn. That's what the chiefs do they force you to abandon your game plan with just a barrage of points lol I think Josh got a little too comfortable this season of knowing presnap he's got single coverage and trusting his guys to get open because it has never not worked...until Sunday of course unfortunately haha 

 

Except that's what KC did the first time, I believe?  He needed to take the checkdowns then.  He needed to take the checkdowns on Sunday.

[Freddie's Dead]

Glad you're OK.  Didn't realize how much I missed your thoughts until you made me wait 48 hours to read them.  

 

I didn't think Daboll wanted to run the offense through Motor, but he did want to establish the run.  Motor likely sealed his fate in Buffalo with that drop.  As I've said elsewhere, I really hated picking Singletary, but he won me over last year.  This year, his play has regressed badly, and he lost me completely with that drop.  He's going to be hard-pressed to even make the team next year.  You can't fold in the biggest moments, as he has done all year.

 

Can't wait to read these again next season.  Until then...

[Nihilarian]

Good write up.

 

What bothers me the most is this was the second time this season the Bills played the Chiefs. In that first game week six the Bills were beaten at home 26-17 by KC and it wasn't close. 

 

That first game the Bills employed this bend but don't break strategy by having their secondary play off while allowing no deep throws. So, Andy Reid and Mahomes took what the Bills gave them. They ran the ball down the Bills throat with their rookie RB Edwards-Helaire to the tune of 26 attempts for 161 yards, a 6.2 YPC AVG... 4 catches for 31 yards. Mahomes 21 of 26 for 225, 2 TDs.

 

The Chiefs defense held Allen to 14 of 27 for 122 yards passing, 2 TDs, 1 INT. Allen rushing 8 attempts for 42 yards. Singletary 10 carries for 32 yards a 3.2 YPC AVG. Diggs was 6 catches for 46 yards, 1 TD. Allen 4 sacks, 10 QB hits. 

 

Now, you would have thought that the Bills coaches would have gone over the tape on this game endlessly and corrected everything that went wrong in that first game...they didn't. In fact, it looked far worse by getting blown out by the Chiefs passing game.

 

That same Buffalo defense that held Lamar Jacksons Ravens to only 3 points... were they already mentally in Tampa awaiting the Bucs? NO, this is on the coaches. This was on Leslie Frazier and Brian Daboll. 

 

It kills me to see a 3rd year QB play his heart out attempting to carry an offense all on his own. Yes, Josh Allen is gifted, but he was not ready to put the team on his back again against the super bowl champs. Not with their holding and pass rush, QB pressure. 

 

Where has Brian Daboll been all through this playoff run? Allen basically carried the offense on his back against the Colts 24-27. What happened to that high scoring offense that just beat the Patriots 38-9 or the one that beat the Miami Dolphins 56-26? 

 

Daboll to busy working on his resume and going over his prospective job interviews to put an all in on the film for the Colts, Ravens, Chiefs? The Bills offense scored only 10 points against the Ravens... 37 called passes is a strong wind game...with the lead? Where has the run game been all though the playoffs...besides the QB? 

 

The Chiefs are noted to be an elite passing team and yet when Mahomes is stymied by coverages their offense fell back to the run game to carry the offense. 

 

 

 

 

[Gugny]

@Virgil - hi.

 

#9 ... yes.

 

Thanks for a great season of your few thoughts.

 

Did you get that last pic?  We can take this offline.

 

Bye, Virg.

 

 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

I’m sure upset they got this far and lost. It’s really hard to make it this far. 
 

They swept an AFCE that was the weakest it’s been in 30 years. 
 

crowd noise wasn’t a factor on our young QB, most of the year. 
 

They squeaked by the colts who had the ball last with a chance and then had a huge and extraordinary defensive play vs Baltimore to seal it. 
 

With the QB rookie contract window closing, this might be the most lavishly paid (at other positions) roster we are going to see for a decade. Key Defensive players are getting older. 
 

The team was relatively healthy for this late in the season. No major players out, save moss maybe. 

 

Kc gifted them an early TD... Mahomes was gimpy. 
 

They were 3 Quarters from playing a Tampa team they can Likely handle. 
 

Like McDermott says, next year they start over. There are some things to build on but they are going to be a different team. Some key player could blow an acl week 3. 
 

man i really thought this was their best shot ever. 

[BillsFan619]

4 hours ago, Virgil said:

Typically, when there's a delay between the end of the game and when I post these, it's because I needed more time to process the results or they played a late game and work was busy the next day.  In this case, I watched the message boards and saw countless amount of threads where people rushed into off season mode, tried summarizing the entire season into this game, or immediately got out the pitch forks.  For me, I was ready to write this as soon as the game was over, as I wasn't really upset or surprised with the outcome.  We lost to a team that should very well be going to their 3rd consecutive Super Bowl and has proven to have a dynamic offense that can flip a switch like anyone else.  Was I upset?  No.  Disappointed?  Of course.  But only 2 teams make it and 1 team wins it all. 

 

1 - Chess - As we've seen in each of the previous playoff games, the coaching game plans take it up a notch.  Our defense pulled out all the stops against the Ravens in an absolute masterful performance just a week prior.  In this game, the Bills clearly had a game plan, it was just unfortunately outdone by a better one.  The Bills weren't going to let the Chiefs go deep on them and they weren't going to get run all over.  In response, the Chiefs found ways to get the ball into their main two play makers hands within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage and let them take it from there.  The Chiefs kept shifting the pocket, neutralizing front four pressure and getting Mahomes outside the pocket, where he is the most comfortable.  And on defense, they pressed our guys and dared us to beat them man on man while we tried to run our offense through Motor.  Right or wrong, the Chiefs plan was better this game and the play makers took it home.

 

2 - Josh - It's frustrating when you lose a big game, especially when you know you didn't put your best effort out there.  Going into the game, some had concerns that the offense took a step back in the playoffs and the start of this game didn't help alleviate those concerns.  Josh looked off in this game, never looking comfortable, and making the high throws we last saw against the Titans and forgot how to throw out of a sack while trying to play hero ball.  On many replays, it was shown where the receivers weren't able to get open in the first half, and many would believe the Chiefs got away with their fair share of holding.  They definitely played physical and found a way to neutralize our best weapons.  Allen will tell you he didn't have a great game, but it wasn't all on him.

 

3 - Motor - When given the opportunity on the second biggest stage in the NFL, you hope your guys will step up and make the most of it.  Motor, unfortunately, did not in this game.  Motor's lack of burst and top end speed was apparent in this game and eventually got benched after an early drop in the wide open flat, which eventually led to a punt.  While he wasn't bad overall, he clearly wasn't going to be able to be the guy we could take advantage of to give us an edge.  The Chiefs were going to leave Motor alone for the most part, and he was unable to punish him.

 

4 - Dear old daddy rest his soul, left my mom a heavy load

She tried so very hard to fill his shoes

Workin' hours without rest, wanted me to have the best

Oh she tried to raise me right, but I refused.

 

5 - Offensive Line - This was easily one of the worst performances by our offensive line of the season.  Chris Jones dominated Williams on the right side and Josh faced pressure for most of the game.  The Chiefs didn't run a spy and Josh was able to make them pay on a few plays.  With the press, tight coverage and the eventual pressure. Josh was never able to get comfortable and the tempo was clearly in favor of the Chiefs

 

6 - Hill/Kelce - Tyreek was an absolute monster on the field and showed off why speed matters.  You had to tip your cap to him on the 70 yard slant route pass, where he juked out every single Bills player on the field.  Even when Tre was on him, Hill's speed was uncoverable and Mahomes had the time to wait for him to get open.  Kelce was more of a concern for me because we didn't seem to make any attempt to cover him in man.  By his seventh catch, I couldn't wrap my mind around why Milano or Poyer wasn't shadowing him or at least bumping him off the line.  To his credit, even Tre covered him a few times and couldn't slow him down.  When 70% of the offense runs through two players, you do have to question the defensive scheme a little. 

 

7 - Bass - If only he could have gotten that XP another foot higher, it would have been good.  Other than that, just great job by the rookie hitting some absolute bomb field goals.  Any concerns I had about this kid are gone and I feel really strong about him for the future.

 

8 - Refs - To be clear, I'm not putting this game on the refs, however they should have gotten ahead of the physicality in this game sooner.  Jones was caught on camera throwing a punch and there was A LOT of contact downfield against our receivers.  I understand letting them play, but there's a line.  You never want to say that another team beat you up, but the Chiefs beat us up in the first half and we couldn't recover.  By the end, emotions boiled over and we looked like the kids who can't handle a loss.  It was frustrating for a team that's shown such great composure and had a great time on the sidelines be reduced to this.

 

9 - Coaching - There's always going to be a lot of second guessing after a loss like this.  Why run the offense through Motor?  Why not go for 6 when in the redzone all those times?  Where were the blitzes?  Why not double Tyreek and Kelce and make someone else beat you?  Shoulda, coulda woulda.  I'm sure all the coaches would do something different if they could.  My bigger concern was the overall prep of the team.  Josh never looked dialed in this game and Mahomes was cool as a cucumber, even down 9-0.  They knew they were going to win this game and were better prepared.  That part is unacceptable.  Take your best shot and if you lose, okay.  This didn't feel like our best shot and that's what's frustrating

 

10- Season - Anyone who tells you they expected more out of this season is a liar.  We earned every win and did it against a really tough schedule.  Allen took an amazing leap forward and I leave the season knowing this.  The Bills learned from every single opportunity presented to them this year.  They took their licks, got right back up, and got better.  They will learn from this loss like they did against the Texans.  I have zero doubt this team will be back and win the whole damn thing.

 

Go Bills!!!!

Thanks for the thoughts, Virgil.

 

Thanks for the weekly thoughts throughout the season. I know it takes time and commitment.

 

Go Bills!

[ticketssince61]

3 hours ago, Andy1 said:

NFL Network is replaying the game now if anyone wants a second look at it.

 

 Why?

[NoHuddleKelly12]

Excellent analysis per usual, OP. I was keeping a weather eye out for your column and this was worth the wait! Agree with all your points, esp this: “Anyone who tells you they expected more out of this season is a liar.” I’m getting ready to order some AFC East Champ gear and will wear with pride, secure in the knowledge that we likely repeat as div champs and have our chance at revenge, hopefully at home in Orchard Park with a bye this time! 

[NoHuddleKelly12]

1 hour ago, Freddie's Dead said:

Glad you're OK.  Didn't realize how much I missed your thoughts until you made me wait 48 hours to read them.  

 

I didn't think Daboll wanted to run the offense through Motor, but he did want to establish the run.  Motor likely sealed his fate in Buffalo with that drop.  As I've said elsewhere, I really hated picking Singletary, but he won me over last year.  This year, his play has regressed badly, and he lost me completely with that drop.  He's going to be hard-pressed to even make the team next year.  You can't fold in the biggest moments, as he has done all year.

 

Can't wait to read these again next season.  Until then...

Shades of Ronnie Harmon’s drop in the ‘89 playoffs against Cleveland? Not coincidentally he was sent packing by the Bills after that season too. It’s a fair assumption that given the overall struggles of the run game this season and some untimely wilting in the spotlight, this “motor” will be changed out for a newer model. 

[Saxum]

My expectations at start of season was to win AFC East with a winning record.  Miami was stronger than I expected and NE & JESTS weaker.

I am rational enough to believe that if they lost Josh or another major player for majority of season we might not hit that mark.

I am also rational enough not to declare "HOT SEATS", demand firings and make irrational attacks on players because they have not got up to speed on time.

 

Bass was better than I expected and in preseason & early in season I was hoping Bills would either sign a kicker assistant coach or Stephen Hauschka signed after week 1. Bojorquez was also better than last year.  Special teams were as well most weeks.

 

Defense was not as good as I expected and it is clear that (1) Vincent Tailor was a bigger impact than most fans thought and (2) the DL did not gel in preseason.  This defense takes more time to get in sync than some other defenses and without someone like Matt Milano it does not work well against strong, multifaceted teams.

Poyer has greatly increased his skills and abilities and was a good choice of contract extension.

Tre'Davious White did not seem as strong first half of season but became better than last year in 2nd half.

Dean Marlowe was a much better player this year and was surprised that he was not used more in AFC Championship.

Levi Wallace and Taron Johnson were both better and worse than I expected.

I did not expect a lot from Josh Norman other than veteran leadership so I guess I got more than I expected except when others could not play due to him.

 

Offense was far better than I expected. Clearly the sessions in Florida and elsewhere helped.

Biggest issue was Quinton Spain - he was major element of OL last year, got a decent contract, came into camp out of shape, was tried on OL (some players are more effective in game than practices so was tried), was demoted and then SOMETHING happened to with him having foot injury when he got to Tennessee making Bills let him leave without trading, suspending him or putting him on inactive list.  This cost them a significant amount of money, money they could use next year.

 

Some of the other newer players show potential and hopefully next year we will still have training camp and preseason games to develop even if NFLPA pushes 'see we do not need it, pay players anyways and they will work out at home' even if it was proved that some will take the money and not do much and some need it to become more effective.

 

[BobbyC81]

5 hours ago, GETTOTHE50 said:

I cant say I disagree with any of this. #9 is what bothers me the most. I am still puzzled by the game plan and prep.

 

And I think #8 needs to be part of #9. McD has to know that the refs let the teams play hard and loose come championship weekend and the greatest example of that is Robey's PI against the Saints.

 

Im just puzzled about how McD handled everything. He didnt prepare the team at all, and he wasnt prepared himself.

 

Like he's OK with going for it on 4th down at midfield on the first drive, but is scared while in the redzone?

 

I am just so confused by it all since I could have sworn he was preparing the team all year for this game against the Chiefs.

 

I hate to say it, but the Chiefs are currently the best team in the NFL by quite a bit. And I know this because they handily beat the Bills, who were the best team going into this past weekend.

McD said he decided to take the FG before the half because he wanted some points since KC got the 2nd half kickoff.

[BobbyC81]

2 hours ago, NoHuddleKelly12 said:

Excellent analysis per usual, OP. I was keeping a weather eye out for your column and this was worth the wait! Agree with all your points, esp this: “Anyone who tells you they expected more out of this season is a liar.” I’m getting ready to order some AFC East Champ gear and will wear with pride, secure in the knowledge that we likely repeat as div champs and have our chance at revenge, hopefully at home in Orchard Park with a bye this time! 

It’ll be tough to get that bye if the NFL has the same format.  Think about it, they went 13-3 and were 2nd seed.

[BobbyC81]

1 hour ago, NoHuddleKelly12 said:

Shades of Ronnie Harmon’s drop in the ‘89 playoffs against Cleveland? Not coincidentally he was sent packing by the Bills after that season too. It’s a fair assumption that given the overall struggles of the run game this season and some untimely wilting in the spotlight, this “motor” will be changed out for a newer model. 

IIRC Harmon compounded that drop by stating after the game that it was the throw.  He didn’t take all the responsibility.

[GETTOTHE50]

20 minutes ago, ColeB said:

McD said he decided to take the FG before the half because he wanted some points since KC got the 2nd half kickoff.

 

yep, but i think most agree that it was the wrong decision