Buffalo vs New England Wildcard Game: 8:15 PM Saturday Night

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

40 minutes ago, Dr. K said:

I am in n o way shape or form a Pats sympathizer but from what I've seen he makes some pretty good throws, with anticipation and accuracy. His arm is nothing special but he seems pretty smart and relatively composed for a rookie.

 

I know they are giving him game plans with training wheels on them, but I would not say that this point he can't become a good quarterback. 

Oh neither would I maybe he’ll pick it up well when they give him more control of the offense.  But I think people were too quick to crown a guy as the next great thing that was just completing mostly wide open 7-10 yard throws with plenty of time in the pocket.  He’s still a big question mark in my opinion 

5 hours ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

Nope. Most times when there is news on a Wednesday or earlier of a player testing positive, that player ends up playing. It's because the test was actually the day before and they can test out as late as game day. It's incredibly annoying, but you can't do the usual counting of exactly 5 days forward from the time the news breaks.

I think you can only test out in less than 5 days if you are asymptomatic though and we have no idea if he’s symptomatic or not so whoever said ‘he definitely will play’ was incorrect…that’s all I was trying to say 

[Warcodered]

 

[NewEra]

Nice write up, as usual.
 

Hyde should definitely be the return man this game.  

 

One thing I think should be mentioned:  

Slot WR vs Slot CB:  and who will it be?  Beasley or Mckenzie?   Will Belichick trust to put Myles Bryant out there again?  Will he play more zone to help him out?  Will we go back to lil dirty or stick with Cole?  Or maybe split snaps?  Idk, but I think the matchup could play a big part in the outcome of the game.

[YoloinOhio]

 

[NewEra]

I’d like to throw in, if I may

 

Aj Klein vs Taron Johnson:  Taron usually plays 85- 100% of the snaps. In the NE matchups this seasons, he’s played in 43% and 70%.  
 

In the first NE matchup, AJ Klein was out with covid and Taron played 43%. Klein’s replacement, Dodson, played 53% of the snaps in that game.  And he was pretty bad. 
 

in the 2nd matchups, Taron played 70% while Klein played 30%

 

does Klein only play when they go Jumbo or do they trust Taron to hold up?  AJ made the tip that led to Hyde’s first pick.  I’d like to see more of him this week.  Will we?

[Motorin']

34 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Nice write up, as usual.
 

Hyde should definitely be the return man this game.  

 

One thing I think should be mentioned:  

Slot WR vs Slot CB:  and who will it be?  Beasley or Mckenzie?   Will Belichick trust to put Myles Bryant out there again?  Will he play more zone to help him out?  Will we go back to lil dirty or stick with Cole?  Or maybe split snaps?  Idk, but I think the matchup could play a big part in the outcome of the game.

 

Right now the Pats only have 3 cb's active. JC Jackson, Bryant and Jojuan Williams. 

 

Sean Wade and Mills are on the Covid list...

 

Might mean more zone?

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, NewEra said:

I wonder what they would go for if we had some climate control?

 

First home playoff game in front of a potentially FULL stadium in over 2 decades…..and tickets are selling for under $50.  That’s really sad. 

 

 

Now down to $40. Prices dropping with the temps. How soon before we see $10 tickets?

[The Wiz]

1 hour ago, nucci said:

they are practicing in 38 degree weather...how is that the same as 0?

Convert it to Celsius?

[Patrick Duffy]

1 hour ago, Since1981 said:

For those not here in WNY. 38 and 0…It’s 38 degrees difference.
So, remember, 38F + 38F is 76F. What do you feel 38F vs 76F?

 

0 just hurts catching THE ROCK. 
 

I’m not sure how anyone can “practice” in 0. Maybe the indoor practice facility is 40 degrees

 

1 hour ago, Logic said:

Weather, weather, weather.

Let's look at some matchups and factors that will decide the game!
 
Judon vs Dawkins - Dawkins got the better of this one in the last meeting between these two teams, turning Judon into a non-factor. That said, Judon was placed on the COVID list the very next day, so who knows how much stock to put into his performance in that game. He has previously had big days against the Bills when he was a member of the Ravens. Whether and to what extent Judon can impact Josh Allen will be one of the biggest determining factors in the outcome of this game.

Will Barmore and Mills play? Arguably the most consistent pressure-creator on the Pats' d-line is Christian Barmore. He was hurt last week, but the MRI showed no serious damage. It is unknown whether he will be healthy enough to be in the lineup this week. If he isn't, it's a huge break for Buffalo's running AND passing games. Jalen Mills, meanwhile, has been playing quite well lately as CB2 for the Patriots, and he's currently on the COVID list. The Bills lacked a healthy Gabe Davis the last time these two teams played. With his return to the lineup -- and the return to health of Emmanuel Sanders -- the Patriots better hope that Mills returns to the lineup for Saturday's game. The depth behind he and JC Jackson is not super great. 

Can the Bills keep the running game going? Since week 11, the Patriots have the fourth WORST run defense in the league. The Bills, in that time, have the third BEST rushing attack. Can Singletary keep up his recent string of impressive performances? Can the Bills effectively unleash Josh Allen as a runner? Allen has rushed for over 60 yards in three straight games. In the frigid night air of Orchard Park, who's gonna want to tackle Allen if he gets running at full speed? Would YOU?

Bills D-line vs Pats O-line - The Bills d-line, led by Harrison Phillips and Ed Oliver, has really ratcheted up their effectiveness the past few weeks. They've been stopping the run, holding their ground, beating double teams, bending the edge, and pressuring and sacking the quarterback. That said, no one would mistake the Pats' excellent offensive line for the lackluster groups of the Falcons and Jets. The ability of the Bills to pressure Mac Jones and force him into rookie mistakes will be paramount to the success of the Buffalo defense.

Can anyone return kicks and punts? Bueller? Bueller? This has all the makings of a game where, if the Bills don't shoot themselves in the foot with stupid mistakes, they should win. Not committing penalties, executing their assignments soundly and tackling well, and most importantly: HOLDING ON TO THE FOOTBALL. The Bills return game has been a revolving door of terrifying fumble-itis lately. I think we're all to the point where we hold our breath any time McKenzie or Stevenson field a kick. It is my hope that Hyde is used as the punt returner and that the Bills don't have to field many kickoffs. Belichick, though, will likely instruct his kickers to kick the ball off short of the end zone, thus FORCING the Bills to return it. I don't care if they don't have big return yardage -- all I care about in those instances is that they hold on to the football.



Ultimately, just like last time these two teams played, the team that wins the line of scrimmage most often on both sides of the ball and takes care of the football will win. I'm less worried about the Pats beating the Bills than the Bills beating themselves. Play a clean game, play physical in the trenches, don't turn the ball over, and the Bills win.


 

 

[YoloinOhio]

 

 

[PaattMaann]

42 minutes ago, Motorin' said:

 

Right now the Pats only have 3 cb's active. JC Jackson, Bryant and Jojuan Williams. 

 

Sean Wade and Mills are on the Covid list...

 

Might mean more zone?

 

or it means they know those CBs will come off the covid list

 

Bellychick has cheated at every opportunity, I am fully confident he has a way to cheat this protocol too (example: player tests positive and he says "you dont have any symptoms right!???" and then have a player do a couple neti pots before swabbing to get cleared (doc told me not to do any neti pots before testing because they found it caused false negatives often FWIW). I easily think he can manipulate this system. Im not a conspiracy guy I just know the depths that he will go to to get around rules and this is no different. 

[NewEra]

53 minutes ago, Motorin' said:

 

Right now the Pats only have 3 cb's active. JC Jackson, Bryant and Jojuan Williams. 

 

Sean Wade and Mills are on the Covid list...

 

Might mean more zone?

I’d be shocked if they weren’t active for the game, but we’ll see

[Since1981]

1 hour ago, NewEra said:

Hyde should definitely be the return man this game.

Just fair catch it! Risk v Reward ratio at OF is not worth a couple yards.  

[Motorin']

20 minutes ago, PaattMaann said:

 

or it means they know those CBs will come off the covid list

 

Bellychick has cheated at every opportunity, I am fully confident he has a way to cheat this protocol too (example: player tests positive and he says "you dont have any symptoms right!???" and then have a player do a couple neti pots before swabbing to get cleared (doc told me not to do any neti pots before testing because they found it caused false negatives often FWIW). I easily think he can manipulate this system. Im not a conspiracy guy I just know the depths that he will go to to get around rules and this is no different. 

 

If they don't have symptoms, sure. But their cb Bryant was just out for 8 days with Covid. 

 

If Wade & Mills have symptoms, they'd be pretty stupid to have them pretend like they don't. 

 

 

 

 

[Seventeen]

 

[YoloinOhio]

 

[Doc]

7 hours ago, Son of a K-Gun said:

We all know that Mac isn't driving the van...Mommy Belichick has him strapped in his baby seat in the back.

 

 

And you can practice indoors and it be plenty cold, you know.  Just don't turn on the heat.

[YoloinOhio]

 

[Logic]

It really looks like the Bills will have no excuses not to perform well on offense.

Receivers room fully healthy. Running backs room fully healthy. Offensive line together for the third straight week. Allen healthy. Knox healthy. Weather will be cold, but likely with no significant wind or precipitation.

All systems go. Blast off.

Edited January 12, 2022 by Logic

[Warcodered]

7 minutes ago, Logic said:

It really looks like the Bills will have no excuses not to perform well on offense.

Receivers room fully healthy. Running backs room fully healthy. Offensive line together for the third straight week. Allen healthy. Knox healthy. Weather will be cold, but likely with no significant wind or precipitation.

All systems go. Blast off.

Yes but if you haven't heard already, we haven't practiced enough outside and are therefore cursed.