How confident are you about the Bills going into the playoffs?

[Joe Ferguson]

 

[SydneyBillsFan]

Despite some recent lapses in concentration and execution, I think we're on an upward trajectory at the right time of the year - but then so are the Chiefs, Titans and Bengals. Throw COVID and winter weather conditions into the equation and it is very hard to predict how far we will go.

 

Confident but not overconfident.

 

 

 

 

[billsherd]

I was more confident last year compared to this year.

[billybrew1]

9 hours ago, Nextmanup said:

I was hoping for them to be in better form than they currently are, unfortunately.

 

Of course, they might kick it into gear in the Jets game and stay there.

 

They also might get it going in the first playoff game and stay at that level as well.

So you never know.

I do wish we had been playing at a higher level--consistently--than we have been, however.

 

 

If JA isn't enough, forget everything else.

 

This team will go as far as he can carry us on his back.

 

BTW, that's how it works with ALL football teams.

 

It's all about the QB, all the time.

 

 

Yup, football has always been known as the great one on one sport.

[Protocal69]

On 1/4/2022 at 7:25 PM, thenorthremembers said:

Gotta be honest, there has been something disjointed about this team all year.  It goes beyond the odd losses to the Steelers, and Jaguars and has something to do with the passing game.  I think Josh has had a fine season, but the team's inability to strike fast bothers me a lot.  

 

When is the last time you can remember the Bills being able to hit a go route?   It seems Josh has a lot of trouble being accurate on the long ball.   The Bills longest passing play of the year ranks 31st in the league, that puts Josh behind guys like Teddy B, Sam Darnold, Joe Flacco and Tua.   Additionally, his current Y/A is 6.9, good for 20th in the league, think Carson Wentz, and Ryan Tannehill.  The guy is a baller, and I love that he is our QB but with the inability to hit a real game turning play and an uptick in interceptions, I am incredibly worried about the playoffs, especially if they have to play from behind.  What is the point of being able to throw it 80 yards in the air if you cant hit a WR in stride?

 

Josh Allen is not alone here.  The Bills WR group also worries me.  They simply arent an explosive group.   Right now they are 20th in the league in yards after catch.   Maybe its Josh holding the ball too long, and not allowing the wideouts to catch the ball in stride, but whatever the case the Bills offensive weapons just dont turn short passes into long gains.

 

The Bills seem like a team destined to make it into the second round but not much beyond.

 

Any stat comparison with Josh Allen that involves the likes of  Cooper Rush, Davis Mills, and Tayson Hill I can give two rats asses about. How about show me what QB has the most amount of 20 yard passes or 40 yards passes. You know the type of passes that are repeatable during the course of the season if you want to talk about the deep passing game. 

 

You talking about go routes. You do realize that it kinda hard to hit a bunch of go routes when team play 2 high safety the majority of the game against you. I would bet that Allen is in the top 10 in the league facing 2 high coverages.

 

This is the perfect example of looking at a meaningless stat and making conclusion with no context what so ever.

 

Maybe we can have this conversation later if the Bills arent in the top 7 in passing yards and Top 5 in scoring especially with us primary being a pass 1st team.

 

Does Allen need to improve is straight line deep passing probality yes. Is it at the point is so relevant to that it is a issue this year? Not even close

Edited January 6, 2022 by Protocal69

[Nihilarian]

9 hours ago, Generic_Bills_Fan said:

Pretty sure the shoulder injury that sunk cam newtons career was on a passing play not a designed run lol 

Even if Newton had never been injured... he isn't, wasn't, hasn't been nearly as good as Allen is as a passer...and never has...

 

10 seasons in the NFL and Newton has had only four seasons at 60% passing or above. Out of those ten seasons he has had only 3 that were winning seasons 2013-2015-2017. His QB record is 69-60-1.

His TDs, he has only one season with 30+ TD passes. In 2015 with 35 TDs, and the next season in 2016 went 6-8 with a 52.5 completion percentage, 19 TD passes. Newton threw for 4000 yards only once, his first season.

 

Newton barley breaking 20 TD passes a season most of his career.

 

Allen, in his four years in the league, 10 TDs, 20 TDs, 37 TDs respectively, and 34 already this year. Completion percentage, 52.8, 58.8, 69.2, 64.1 and we also know that Allen hasn't been one to take the check down pass until recently. Already 3 out of 4 winning seasons. 38-21 record. with two 4000 yard seasons. 

 

 

Lastly, If Allen had an OC who knew how to defeat a cover 2 shell defense (after being an NFL offensive coordinator for 12 years) and build a decent ground game enough to help take the offense off the QBs shoulders somewhat, Josh Allen would have been the NFL MVP this season. 

 

 

P.S. Yes, the Buffalo Bills have finally found a run game the last few games and finally figured out how to work to defeat a cover 2 shell. Why did it take most of the season to figure this out?

 

 

[Nihilarian]

8 hours ago, thenorthremembers said:

Gotta be honest, there has been something disjointed about this team all year.  It goes beyond the odd losses to the Steelers, and Jaguars and has something to do with the passing game.  I think Josh has had a fine season, but the team's inability to strike fast bothers me a lot.  

 

When is the last time you can remember the Bills being able to hit a go route?   It seems Josh has a lot of trouble being accurate on the long ball.   The Bills longest passing play of the year ranks 31st in the league, that puts Josh behind guys like Teddy B, Sam Darnold, Joe Flacco and Tua.   Additionally, his current Y/A is 6.9, good for 20th in the league, think Carson Wentz, and Ryan Tannehill.  The guy is a baller, and I love that he is our QB but with the inability to hit a real game turning play and an uptick in interceptions, I am incredibly worried about the playoffs, especially if they have to play from behind.  What is the point of being able to throw it 80 yards in the air if you cant hit a WR in stride?

 

Josh Allen is not alone here.  The Bills WR group also worries me.  They simply arent an explosive group.   Right now they are 20th in the league in yards after catch.   Maybe its Josh holding the ball too long, and not allowing the wideouts to catch the ball in stride, but whatever the case the Bills offensive weapons just dont turn short passes into long gains.

 

The Bills seem like a team destined to make it into the second round but not much beyond.

 

All I can say is... put this, along with a lot of other issues on the direct shoulders of the Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator. The man had a terrible record as an NFL OC before he got to Buffalo! 

 

And Allen, with all his elite skills has made Brian Daboll look somewhat decent.

 

Let's not forget that this is the man that thought Nathan Peterman was a viable starter against the Ravens in 2018. Sent him out there to get destroyed! Daboll had no plan against that fierce Baltimore pass rush, not in 2018 6x sacks for Peterman, Allen, and again in 2019 6x sacks Allen. 

 

If not for Allen and his unique running ability, toughness, brains and overall elusiveness...he might have ended up on a dumpster heap like so many Cleveland Browns QB's have...super star arm aside.  

 

 

All I can say is, week 9, to lose to the 1-6 Jacksonville Jaguars 6-10 (worst team in the NFL that NE just pasted with a 50 burger) with the 30th ranked defense who sacked Josh Allen 4x!!!

Only 9 rushes by Buffalo RBs that game with the QB throwing 47 times...

QB having difficulty passing in a game...just keep throwing! Yep, this team has a weakness alright.

[stevestojan]

The team got hot at the right time. The last 14 quarters have been the most consistent string of performance this season, despite not taking a 7000 point lead against ATL in the first minute like many wanted. We still won by two TDs. 
 

[JMF2006]

100%

 

Edited January 5, 2022 by JMF2006

[thenorthremembers]

4 hours ago, Protocal69 said:

Any stat comparison with Josh Allen that involves the likes of  Cooper Rush, Davis Mills, and Tayson Hill I can give two rats asses about. How about show me what QB has the most amount of 20 yard passes or 40 yards passes. You know the type of passes that are repeatable during the course of the season if you want to talk about the deep passing game. 

 

You talking about go routes. You do realize that it kinda hard to hit a bunch of go routes when team play 2 high safety the majority of the game against you. I would beat that Allen is in the top 10 in the league facing 2 high coverages.

 

This is the perfect example of looking at a meaningless stat and making conclusion with no context what so ever.

 

Maybe we can have this conversation later if the Bills arent in the top 7 in passing yards and Top 5 in scoring especially with us primary being a pass 1st team.

 

Does Allen need to improve is straight line deep passing probality yes. Is it at the point is so relevant to that it is a issue this year? Not even close

You focused on one part of my worry.   I get you cant constantly hit a go, but they are game changing plays that I cant recall the Bills hitting this season.

 

My bigger worry is Allen being below 7 Y/A for the season.   I think both things are part of a larger systemic issue with the team.  I think the passing game is incredibly reliant on Josh moving out of the pocket and throwing back to the middle of the field. 

 

Love the QB but the variety on offense is lacking.  Where are the slants, the screens, the aforementioned gos?  If I have two high id hope to see at least one slant or screen to take a advantage of out of box players.

 

Also like to see one offensive player take a 5 yard quick hitter to the house.  Hard to do that when you are catching a lot of zone beaters after the Qb has just scrambled for 5 seconds.

 

 

[nucci]

Very confident

[eball]

15 minutes ago, nucci said:

Very confident

 

Me too.  The Bills are literally 2 or 3 plays away from being the #1 seed and preemptive favorite to win the AFC.  They are a complete team — no glaring weaknesses.  They are well coached and have a superstar QB.  They play well on the road.  What’s not to like?  Which other team in the AFC has a more complete team/coaching combination?  KC is very good but their D is still questionable.  Indy is very good but they just lost a playoff clincher at home to Vegas (and they have Wentz).  Tennessee is very good but not as complete.  The Pats***?  Please.

 

This Bills team is better than last year’s team.  They had their ups and downs this year, but something happened at halftime vs. the Bucs and they’ve been a different, ultra-focused group since then.

[nucci]

14 minutes ago, eball said:

 

Me too.  The Bills are literally 2 or 3 plays away from being the #1 seed and preemptive favorite to win the AFC.  They are a complete team — no glaring weaknesses.  They are well coached and have a superstar QB.  They play well on the road.  What’s not to like?  Which other team in the AFC has a more complete team/coaching combination?  KC is very good but their D is still questionable.  Indy is very good but they just lost a playoff clincher at home to Vegas (and they have Wentz).  Tennessee is very good but not as complete.  The Pats***?  Please.

 

This Bills team is better than last year’s team.  They had their ups and downs this year, but something happened at halftime vs. the Bucs and they’ve been a different, ultra-focused group since then.

I concur

[SoCal Deek]

I’m feeling very much like I did the last Super Bowl year. Going into the playoffs that year I felt they’d gotten there on borrowed time. I feel just like that this year. My expectations are low, but I’m happy they have a punchers chance. Who knows, they went all the way to Atlanta that fourth year. 

[Captain_Quint]

4 hours ago, Nihilarian said:

Even if Newton had never been injured... he isn't, wasn't, hasn't been nearly as good as Allen is as a passer...and never has...

 

10 seasons in the NFL and Newton has had only four seasons at 60% passing or above. Out of those ten seasons he has had only 3 that were winning seasons 2013-2015-2017. His QB record is 69-60-1.

His TDs, he has only one season with 30+ TD passes. In 2015 with 35 TDs, and the next season in 2016 went 6-8 with a 52.5 completion percentage, 19 TD passes. Newton threw for 4000 yards only once, his first season.

 

Newton barley breaking 20 TD passes a season most of his career.

 

Allen, in his four years in the league, 10 TDs, 20 TDs, 37 TDs respectively, and 34 already this year. Completion percentage, 52.8, 58.8, 69.2, 64.1 and we also know that Allen hasn't been one to take the check down pass until recently. Already 3 out of 4 winning seasons. 38-21 record. with two 4000 yard seasons. 

 

 

Lastly, If Allen had an OC who knew how to defeat a cover 2 shell defense (after being an NFL offensive coordinator for 12 years) and build a decent ground game enough to help take the offense off the QBs shoulders somewhat, Josh Allen would have been the NFL MVP this season. 

 

 

P.S. Yes, the Buffalo Bills have finally found a run game the last few games and finally figured out how to work to defeat a cover 2 shell. Why did it take most of the season to figure this out?

 

 

Honestly it doesn't matter (but I get your point about the MVP and possible 1 seed). But as long as they can do it now, consistently, when it counts they will be a problem for any team in the playoffs. 

[Dablitzkrieg]

I believe in prime time Josh.  Diggs is an animal when it counts and Davis is $$.  I'm an however concerned about Henry coming back

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

[Solomon Grundy]

If Josh Allen plays the way he did in 2nd Patriots game, Bills will win the Super Bowl!! He needs that “they didn’t know who the  F*** I was” mentality.

[cd1]

Not confident.

 

I believe the Bills can beat any team in the NFL BUT I also believe the Bills can LOSE to any team in the NFL (aka Jags).

 

Unlike last season, this season I am apprehensive about which Bills team shows up to play for every game.

 

Funny, last season I believed those old days (draught years) were behind us. But losing to the Jags busted my bubble.

 

Best I can muster these days is Cautiously Optimistic.

 

I blame this on the ptsd from 20 years of futile fandom. 

 

[Coffeesforclosers]

Are the Bills a Juggernaut? Nope.  But the 2001 Rams and the 2007 Pats were and looked how that ended.  

 

They have better than punchers odds against anybody in the tournament except Indy.  I'm alright with that.  When I'm not alright with it, I remember that for 19 years straight we'd spend January talking about the Bills would ***** up their draft.  "Well, we don't have a franchise QB and the defense is a chew toy, so let's draft RBs and safeties..."

 

Just enjoy the show.