A Few Thoughts about the Colts game, in no particular order

[Virgil]

Mariano Rivera is arguably the best MLB closer of all time. Beyond the numbers and championships, the thing that made him so great was that every hitter knew what pitch was coming. When you were down 0-2, the high cutter was coming your way. Posada would literally stand up behind the plate. As a viewer, it almost didn’t make sense why these professional athletes couldn’t hit a pitch that they knew the location and type, yet it just kept happening. If there ever was an example that represented the Bills game, it’s knowing exactly what and who was going to hurt you against the Colts, but being able to do absolutely nothing to stop it.

 

1 - Wentz - I could talk about how great JT a was, but I think that Wentz barely completing 50% or his passes for just over 100 yards should tell you the story of how a 40 point loss went. Wentz had a few good passes and managers to Houdini out of a sack, but how often do you see games today where the quarterback isn’t relevant.

 

2 - Penalties - I’m done pointing the finger at the refs or any other conspiracy theorist, we are consistently one of the worst teams for penalties and it’s losing us games. Penalties comes down to coaching for me and McD owns it. If I were him, I would have benched Addison after his roughing penalty. That was absolutely inexcusable and extended another Colts drive. Addison is also the DE who couldn’t tackle Wentz on the escape play. On our first drive, penalties knocked us back from a first down at the 25 to a 3rd and long from the 40, which led to an INT. Penalties bailed the Colts out on 3rd down multiple times. Poyer jumped in with a personal foul hit out of bounds, that added 15 and put the Colts in scoring range. Some want to question the teams toughness, others intensity. No matter what it is, coaches own all things mental and we’ve been far from good since the Titans loss.

 

3 - Ford - I was surprised to see Ford and Williams be left to block one on one for a lot of the game. And, surprisingly to everyone, Ford did a great job. He handled Buckner a few times and Josh was relatively good to pass on most plays.

 

4 -So I'm riding away, away
Hiding away, away
So much talk it makes no sense at all
So I'm flying away, away
Driving away, away
Passing old friends I don't miss at all

 

5 - Moss - After watching the past few games, I would be good demoting Moss to our 3rd back. Breida showed some good flashes again and Motor even had some solid plays. It’s tough to talk about the running game when you only rush ten times roughly, but everyone seemed to get the memo about upping their game besides Moss.

 

6 - Special Teams - If you only had to watch one play in this game to know how it went, just watch the McKenzie kickoff return before the half. McKenzie found a way to trip in the open field and then fumble the ball away, with no defenders within 5 yards of him. On a drive that could have setup the halftime double punch and make this an entirely different game, all the McKenzie haters watched in slow motion as their wildest dreams came true. Also, if you needed more of a reason to understand how off this game was, Bass missed two FGs, one that got caught by the wind and off into the stands.

 

7 - Chiefs - This is a first for me, but I write them so I’ll do what I want. If you watched the Chiefs game, in what was meant to be a passing slug fest, the Chiefs did two things well. They ran the ball to control the clock, going against who they are as a team. And when on defense, they led their highly paid pass rusher stay on the field and get pressure against Dak. While teams have strengths and weaknesses, they are still comprised of NFL players. Our inability to ever show a power run game and our 40+ million defensive rotation line with our first two draft picks, are not showing up at all and it’s killing us. Yes, the Colts were running the ball at will and we weren’t in a pass rush situation often, but that much money on a line who can’t do the one trick of their one trick pony show is a concern. Some teams are built for certain things, and we clearly are not built to win in the trenches. And in a weather game where that matters and we apparently don’t need a dome, we looked like a high school team.

 

8 - Daboll - I honestly thought Daboll had a decent strategy for this game and continued his varied looks.  Execution and penalties were the real killer here, then add on the 3 score deficit.  The Bills offense was going right down field until the penalties knocked them back.  If they kept going, (yes, I know SDS), then it's reasonable to believe the game is tied at half.  Now, going 3 and out to start the second half was bad and I wonder what happened to the scripted plays to start the second half, but I can forgive Daboll for having to play from behind and not being helped by the defense or player mental discipline.

 

9 - Dome - Whether you want to say we are a physical team or not, there's no denying that we've had multiple games over the past few years that have affected our offense.  I understand that both teams need to play in it, but other teams are adjusting better.  I also understand wanting a home field advantage in colder weather against warm weather teams.  With that being said, I truly believe we need a dome stadium with a retractable roof.  If the stadium stays in OP, the money saved will more than cover that feature.  Would it have mattered in a game like this?  Possibly not.  But would Allen have been able to have a little more accuracy and would the drops have been as rampant?  I think the team needs to have the option going forward.  We aren't playing the Dolphins in the playoffs anymore.  Yes, it was fun, and if you miss it we can open the roof.  More so, home field advantage doesn't seem to mean much to this team.  The fans are as loud as ever, travel well, and I can't think of a game where the team used it to their advantage. 

 

10 - McD - Someone posted on Twitter that the Bucs were 7-5 at this time last year and went on to win the Super Bowl.  There are few teams built to dismantle our front line and we've played two of them in the Colts and Titans.  The Bucs are coming up and can probably do the same.  Does that mean our roster is garbage?  No.  Each team is built different and it's a passing league.  However, coaches can typically scheme to adjust for weaknesses and I have a big issue that we seem to be crippled by the loss of Star, Edmunds, Mongo, and Spencer.  I understand that they are starters, but 2 of them didn't even play last year and we got it done.  McD needs to get this team more disciplined and ready to adjust to other schemes.  This loss is as much on him as it is anyone else.  And going forward, I believe the Bills need to make the business decision about their roster in terms of who is at a higher risk to play in games.  We can't keep hoping not to lose guys from week to week and have it affect the team.  I respect everyone's decision to do what is right for themselves and their body, but I also respect that this is a business and you need to put the best product on the field.  If there is a player that you can't rely on to be out there all 17 games, then you need to make the appropriate moves to be prepared.

 

On to the Saints on a short week and then home Monday Night against the Pats.  We are no longer in the driver's seat, nor are we the media darlings we were.  Maybe that's a good thing.  Maybe the players bought into the hype.  Regardless, they haven't looked right on offense all year and need to figure it out.  If they get on track in December, the rest of the season doesn't matter.  These next few weeks are crucial and I still Billieve we are playing for the one seed.

Go Bills!!!

Edited November 23, 2021 by Virgil

[Metal Man]

5 minutes ago, Virgil said:

6 - Special Teams - If you only had to watch one play in this game to know how it went, just watch the McKenzie kickoff return before the half. McKenzie found a way to trip in the open field and then fumble the ball away, with no defenders within 5 yards of him. On a drive that could have setup the halftime double punch and make this an entirely different game, all the McKenzie haters watched in slow motion as their wildest dreams came true. Also, if you needed more of a reason to understand how off this game was, Bass missed two FGs, one that got caught by the wind and off into the stands

 

To me this is the play that really sealed the game as a loss. Bills D was getting dominated on the ground and the Colts chewed up tons of clock but the O had been playing pretty well up to that point outside of the two bad penalties that killed the first drive so there was still the feeling that the Bills could win it in a shoot out. After that fumble/score though it was pretty evident that the wind was out of everyone's sails and we were in for a long second half as fans.

[cale]

Great review. I'll only disagree with one thing. We know Ford is bad. The team knows that Ford is bad. Our opponents know that Ford is bad.  And we're still having to play him. What does that say about our roster management? It's embarrassing.

[Success]

Great write-up. The only word I disagree w/ is "arguably."  Love the Rivera analogy & it's definitely appropriate.

 

The penalties are probably the #1 problem right now.  McD needs his own version of Levy's "don't be dumb, don't be dirty."  Fixing that alone puts us back in contention.

 

100% agree on the last part. I think this team bought the hype, and we've kind of seen that not just in the play, but in some of the body language (and the Jags defender noticed that also).  In some games, it seems like they were thinking more about who they might face in the AFCCG than in the task at hand.

 

If the last month doesn't wake them up from that dream, not much will - but I tend to think they'll come around.  I just don't know if that's enough to get them to the SB w/ the current construction of the team.  Anything is possible this season, with no clear fave.

 

[quinnearlysghost88]

Good write up. Look for zero adjustment this week. They just don’t have the time. Players will have to dig deep and out effort the saints. Something tells me the dome is a welcome sight. 

Edited November 23, 2021 by quinnearlysghost88

[Mark Vader]

Fantastic, @Virgil.

 

Agree with a lot of what you said.

 

Penalties are really hurting us, and that has got to stop.

 

The McKenzie fumble was devastating.

 

Completely agree with you on Moss.

Edited November 23, 2021 by Mark Vader

[Apocalypse Nuts]

Great stuff again, Virgil. 
 

I like your choice for point #2 given the total crap-fest that this team has become with penalties.  It's not even funny and it's really getting old, fast.  Is Rex Ryan consulting on discipline or something?  WTF? 

 

Of course, in Bills fashion, when the fans come back they start showing a stinker of a 2021 team just in time for the 17 game season, so the pain might be extra long this year. 

 

I'm not giving up completely on them yet, but I'm not stressing over them stinking it up some more this season before Beane and Co. make some serious decisions to address the offensive line and d-tackle positions.  Time to move on from Feliciano, Ford, and anyone else who sucks wind.  I think we can be confident that Beane will not be ignoring the o-line in the least come next off season.  And honestly, Josh could use a little more time to work on the more nuanced parts of his game.  He's clearly meeting some regular challenges this year so he's not as far along as we'd like him to be.  Not just yet anyway.

[LeGOATski]

21 minutes ago, Virgil said:

9 - Dome - Whether you want to say we are a physical team or not, there's no denying that we've had multiple games over the past few years that have affected our offense.  I understand that both teams need to play in it, but other teams are adjusting better.  I also understand wanting a home field advantage in colder weather against warm weather teams.  With that being said, I truly believe we need a dome stadium with a retractable roof.  If the stadium stays in OP, the money saved will more than cover that feature.  Would it have mattered in a game like this?  Possibly not.  But would Allen have been able to have a little more accuracy and would the drops have been as rampant?  I think the team needs to have the option going forward.  We aren't playing the Dolphins in the playoffs anymore.  Yes, it was fun, and if you miss it we can open the roof.  More so, home field advantage doesn't seem to mean much to this team.  The fans are as loud as ever, travel well, and I can't think of a game where the team used it to their advantage. 

Great write-up, as always. Stop trying to sterilize the game with the roof crap, though.

 

I think it's mostly mental. There were plays to be made out there (and like you said, penalties to NOT be made). They just dropped the ball, literally. It seems like they need to rediscover what makes them tick as a team. They don't seem to have any fuel in the tank right now.

[All_Pro_Bills]

36 minutes ago, Virgil said:

2 - Penalties - I’m done pointing the finger at the refs or any other conspiracy theorist, we are consistently one of the worst teams for penalties and it’s losing us games. Penalties comes down to coaching for me and McD owns it. If I were him, I would have benched Addison after his roughing penalty. That was absolutely inexcusable and extended another Colts drive. Addison is also the DE who couldn’t tackle Wentz on the escape play. On our first drive, penalties knocked us back from a first down at the 25 to a 3rd and long from the 40, which led to an INT. Penalties bailed the Colts out on 3rd down multiple times. Poyer jumped in with a personal foul hit out of bounds, that added 15 and put the Colts in scoring range. Some want to question the teams toughness, others intensity. No matter what it is, coaches own all things mental and we’ve been far from good since the Titans loss.

This has been my #1 gripe all season.  It definitely cost them the Jags game.  It's a surprise when there's no flag on kick and punt returns.  A needless hold on a McKenzie KR cost the Bills a late 4th quarter TD and the lead against the Titans which might be forgotten given the failed QB sneak to end the game.  That's two games right off with better focus and discipline.  We'd be sitting at 8-2 right now. 

False starts, off sides, stupid personal fouls that extend opponents drives or kill them on offense.    This is correctable without any radical changes, or roster moves, scheme changes, or game planning.  I'm just tired of waiting for a flag on every play.  Tired of waiting for a flag on 3rd down that extends the other teams drive or a penalty on offense that kills a big play at some critical time during the game.  Like you, I'm not blaming the refs or accusing them of some bias.  But damn it, just fix it!

Edited November 23, 2021 by All_Pro_Bills

[UB2SF]

Appreciate the write-up, Virgil. Understandable that it took a couple days to process it! The one other thing that really stood out to me was the poor tackling. Yeah, I know Taylor is strong and powerful, but it was shocking to see so many people bounce off him, or worse still, just swipe at his legs. Especially disappointing to see our DBs -- who IMHO are among the best-tacking secondaries in the league -- flailing and failing. I haven't seen the stats on missed tackles or Taylor's yards after contact, but I bet they are 🤮. A stunning indictment of the mental and physical toughness of the team.

[Virgil]

22 minutes ago, LeGOATski said:

Great write-up, as always. Stop trying to sterilize the game with the roof crap, though.

 

I think it's mostly mental. There were plays to be made out there (and like you said, penalties to NOT be made). They just dropped the ball, literally. It seems like they need to rediscover what makes them tick as a team. They don't seem to have any fuel in the tank right now.

 

I don't see why it's sterilizing the game.  Look at the greatest show on turf.  I would argue that dome settings are just as part of the game as cold weather teams.  If we were the 85 Bears and knew our identity was going to be smash mouth football for the next 20 years, I'd say leave it be.  But the game just keeps following the college schemes and passing is the future.  I was all about an open air stadium until a few years back, but I've changed my tune

[TheCockSportif]

Glad that you coaxed this one out, @Virgil.  Between you and @Shaw66, I can't wait 'til Monday (or in this case Tuesday) for you to weigh in.

 

I'm just not feeling this team at the moment given where they are, but all is not lost.  You nailed it, like @Shaw66, as you always do!

Edited November 23, 2021 by Groin

[Virgil]

1 minute ago, Groin said:

Glad that you coaxed this one out, @Virgil.  Between you and @Shaw66, I can't wait 'til Monday (or in this case Tuesday) for you to weigh in.

 

I'm just not feeling this team at the moment given where they are, but all is not lost.  You nailed it, like @Shaw66, as you always do!

 

Yeah, sorry for the lateness on this one.  Yesterday just got away from me.  I was never really upset over this loss and expected it.  I was fairly mellow all game.

[LeGOATski]

Just now, Virgil said:

 

I don't see why it's sterilizing the game.  Look at the greatest show on turf.  I would argue that dome settings are just as part of the game as cold weather teams.  If we were the 85 Bears and knew our identity was going to be smash mouth football for the next 20 years, I'd say leave it be.  But the game just keeps following the college schemes and passing is the future.  I was all about an open air stadium until a few years back, but I've changed my tune

Because it eliminates the elements. It's sterile. 

 

How many great teams have been playing in open air?

- Pats

- Chefs

- Packers

- Pitt

- Seahawks

- Titans

- 49ers

- Bucs

- Broncos

- Ravens

 

Then who do you have under roofs?

- Saints

- Rams

- Falcons?

- Colts?

- Texans?

- Cardinals?

 

 

I'm just trying to name all the real contenders over the last couple decades...

 

Roof vs open doesn't matter. It's about the players and coaches. 

 

So let's stop trying to sterilize the game. Just build a great team. Weather elements are a basic part, a classic part of football. I don't want to lose that.

[Bleedbuffaloblue]

Great write up as usual Virgil. Probably your best all year IMO. Every point was spot on with maybe the exception of the dome stadium part, but even that argument definitely has some merit.

As many have said the penalties are probably far and away the biggest concern. The failure of the coaching staff to correct that problem 11 weeks into the season really is concerning and like you said McD owns this. There is no you screw up, take a seat on the bench policy whatsoever with this team. Bone headed penalties and fumbles occur and the guilty parties are seldom even brought over to the sidelines for a good tongue lashing let alone a seat on the bench. No way Addison should have stayed in the game or McKenzie allowed to return another kickoff! Seems the HC is giving these guys way too much credit for being able to correct this by themselves. Stupid is as stupid does!

Star should never have been allowed to make this team at the end of camp without being vaccinated. McBean saw first hand last season what our run game defense could be reduced to without him and there were no moves to find a suitable replacement. If you are going to allow these guys to have the free will to put their personal beliefs ahead of the team then you need to have a plan when they let you down. Definitely not the case here.

[corta765]

 

1 - Wentz - Agreed if they would've made Wentz pass we win

 

2 - Penalties - I think now the team is so frustrated that the moment things go sideways frustration sets in and the penalties build from there. I was at the game and you could see Allen's body language on Ford's penalty on 3rd down just say "you gotta be kidding me here we go again". Since the bye the only game that they have had smooth sailing was the Jets and the other three the penalties have really seemed to get to them. Some of the penalties are stupidity (Offside or netural zone), some just talent (holding), and some have just been frustration building that mixes those two. McD really needs to get these guys back to just playing smart and I think this would subside. They are playing almost too emotional.

 

3 - Ford - The O-Line in general was not the same problem it has been. The defense allowing the Colts to go up 14-7 and then 17-7 and then 24-7 killed any gameplan and allowed their front 7 to peal back their ears and go hard at the line.

 

5 - Moss - I thought he was an X factor as last season progressed until injury. Since then I am not sure if it is confidence or recovery or lack of effort but he has been awful.

 

6 - Special Teams - Andre Roberts cut looks so bad now

 

7 - Chiefs - Different Chiefs take. When they played KC Buffalo was the aggressor. Since KC Buffalo has not been the aggressor in a game. That energy is hard to channel but it is so needed. Whatever the case may be mentally they need to be willing to pay the price and make the other guy bleed regardless of how much blood they have on them already. That has been the single quality since the bye week they have missed the most in my eyes.

 

8 - Daboll - Agreed. Can't even judge as the game got out of hand so quick I am not sure what to say. The offense moved the ball and then went INT, TD, fumble, & missed FG. It was 24-7 by their 5th possession and your game plan is limited at that point.

 

9 - Dome - This game is the one that broke me in terms of weather. I am over sitting in rain soaked the entire game win or lose. I am over having an offense that is a Ferrari yet they are limited to 35 mph. I could give two sh*ts about old school football I just want to win and the weather limits this teams best strength to do so.

 

10 - McD - Anyone who tells me the Bucs last year were 7-5 I am ripping on at this point. I love Josh but he is not Brady at this time. If you told me Tampa started 0-4 I would say Brady could still win the SB because it is what he does. The season in general I lay at the hands of McD. This is the first season since he became coach I have questioned the teams effort and smart. The 2018 Bills would beat the team at this moment just simply because they played smarter and harder despite a real lack of talent. I have no doubt this team could turn it around and has the potential for big things. But at this current juncture I do doubt it happening. Not since the Peterman start has McD faced such a time where legitimate questions on his operation are at the forefront. I really believe 90% of the Bills issues would go away if he can just get this team to playing smart football and wanting to punch the other team first (figuratively). Since the bye they look like a team that has read the headlines and are entitled. That is on the coach no one else.  Like you said I want to see more creativity and urgency scheme wise and play wise. Stepping back as a neutral fan it is a fascinating situation as this is the biggest adversity McD has had, being an ascending team is easy and fun, being the cream of the crop with the goal of SB is a true challenge in focus and coaching. 

[buffaloboyinATL]

1 hour ago, Virgil said:

 

9 - Dome - Whether you want to say we are a physical team or not, there's no denying that we've had multiple games over the past few years that have affected our offense.  I understand that both teams need to play in it, but other teams are adjusting better.  I also understand wanting a home field advantage in colder weather against warm weather teams.  With that being said, I truly believe we need a dome stadium with a retractable roof.  If the stadium stays in OP, the money saved will more than cover that feature.  Would it have mattered in a game like this?  Possibly not.  But would Allen have been able to have a little more accuracy and would the drops have been as rampant?  I think the team needs to have the option going forward.  We aren't playing the Dolphins in the playoffs anymore.  Yes, it was fun, and if you miss it we can open the roof.  More so, home field advantage doesn't seem to mean much to this team.  The fans are as loud as ever, travel well, and I can't think of a game where the team used it to their advantage. 

 

Before this game I kept saying Josh Allen was weather proof, so I loved having teams have to come to Buffalo and face us in the elements. Unfortunately, I am no longer confident that this is the case. A power RB like Jonathan Taylor is much better suited for a game like this, than our pass based Offense.  At the end of the game, I said "I guess we need a dome after all".  

[Nextmanup]

I see none of your sub-topics are "JOSH ALLEN."

Which I find funny, as he was mostly terrible in the game and his performance probably directly relates to the loss more than the other factors combined.

 

 

[chongli]

1 hour ago, Virgil said:

We are no longer in the driver's seat

 

I look forward to your weekly write-ups Virgil! We are definitely not in the driver's seat for the #1 seed, but we are still in control for the division title...we just have to win to keep pace with New England, then beat them in two weeks (a big if, but I'll take that at this point and hope we come strong for the playoffs).

[Virgil]

24 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

I see none of your sub-topics are "JOSH ALLEN."

Which I find funny, as he was mostly terrible in the game and his performance probably directly relates to the loss more than the other factors combined.

 

 

I strongly disagree.  I also include him almost every week.  There were more pressing concerns to me this week.