Opponents' 3rd and long scare anyone else?

[Matt_In_NH]

7 hours ago, Nextmanup said:

We are the 17th best 3rd down defense in the league!  Never mind 3rd and long...

 

39.34% tied with Bengals for 17th.

 

Very average.  

 

But it all seems to work out OK in the end.

 

 

 

Average does not feel right for this defense but there have been lots of injuries and they have played tougher opponents than say last year.

[JerseyBills]

It does happen alot. Just check The GameDay threads 

 

At the same time, we convert alot of 3rd and long on offense 

[Epstein's Mother]

 

It's great that as Bills fans we can be scared of something that this defense is average at (17th in the league).

[Orlando Buffalo]

I am far more confident in our ability to convert a 3rd and 10 than any other teams vs our defense. It is not the absolute lockdown defense of last year but it is also a much harder schedule 

[fergie's ire]

Not as much as 3rd and 1 on offense scares me, but yeah.

 

[The Red King]

33 minutes ago, Epstein's Mother said:

 

It's great that as Bills fans we can be scared of something that this defense is average at (17th in the league).

 

We're 17th in 3rd and long, or 3rd overall?

[The Red King]

I'm trying, but I just can't find the stats.  3rd down overall, but not 3rd and long.  Not defensively at least.

[clearwater cadet]

Were actually at the point in my house the we prefer 3 and 3 more than 3 and 19.

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

21 minutes ago, The Red King said:

I'm trying, but I just can't find the stats.  3rd down overall, but not 3rd and long.  Not defensively at least.

 

I don't have a ranking on it - but they have given up a first down on 24 pass plays from 3rd and 7 or longer.  there have been 84 pass attempts and 4 sacks - so 24/88 plays.  

 

The offense has 19 conversions on pass plays across the same time.  If that seems low in comparison - note that we have only faced 3rd and long 67 times this year.

 

So my guess is its high - for both offense and defense.  At least we have a veteran CB coming back, and all of the other guys have taken their lumps through the season.  It's an area that I think they can improve upon simply with the reps their getting, not necessarily strategy.  

[Dave in Avon Lake now]

I understand the nervous reactions to everything Bills having followed them for more than 50 years, but the key is points given up.  Dolphins got field goals when they should have been TDs based on field position.  Same in Vikings game before the fumble.  I agree it may have to do with the DBs and Safety changes every week, but I'll take our chances against any of the playoff teams.  Let them move the ball but keep them out of the endzone.  I know we are still a top 5 defense in points allowed so take it easy everyone (although I know you can't)

[Bills92]

12 minutes ago, Dave in Avon Lake now said:

I understand the nervous reactions to everything Bills having followed them for more than 50 years, but the key is points given up.  Dolphins got field goals when they should have been TDs based on field position.  Same in Vikings game before the fumble.  I agree it may have to do with the DBs and Safety changes every week, but I'll take our chances against any of the playoff teams.  Let them move the ball but keep them out of the endzone.  I know we are still a top 5 defense in points allowed so take it easy everyone (although I know you can't)

This..      I know everybody (including myself) would like us to be the reincarnate of the 85 Bears / 2000 Ravens / 2002 Bucs defence.. but unfortunately that died when Micah and Von went down.   We are now the epitome of a 'bend don't break defense'...  Many teams (including the Chiefs) have won Superbowls with similar type defenses... Those chances increases significantly when you have a hybrid Superhero Buffalo behind center

 

Go Bills!

 

 

[Virgil]

I’m surprised we don’t ever see zero blitzes on 3rd and long.  Seems effective for the most part 

[Thurman#1]

2 hours ago, Matt_In_NH said:

 

Average does not feel right for this defense but there have been lots of injuries and they have played tougher opponents than say last year.

 

 

Despite all the injuries our D is #5 at defensive DVOA. 

 

Nope. Not worried.

 

Concerned, but I'll always be concerned.

[Fleezoid]

I'm not sure. Where's the cutoff for "long?"

[Epstein's Mother]

2 hours ago, The Red King said:

 

We're 17th in 3rd and long, or 3rd overall?

17th in 3rd down overall.  Bills were #1 on 3rd down last year.  Maybe that's where the concern comes from.

[LABILLBACKER]

10 hours ago, Nextmanup said:

We are the 17th best 3rd down defense in the league!  Never mind 3rd and long...

 

39.34% tied with Bengals for 17th.

 

Very average.  

 

But it all seems to work out OK in the end.

 

 

3rd & 22 (Miami)

4th & 18 (Minn.)

.....disagree 

[Let's Go Buffalo]

Maybe at our Home games, they need to make the 3rd Down Train Horn a little louder.......that might help out our percentage. All kidding aside, you do bring up a valid point, and hopefully we can get off the field at a better rate on third downs to save our defense from expending too many extra snaps down the stretch.

[Codyny13]

Every.damn.time

[Don Otreply]

It’s a Bills tradition to give up thirds and long, they have been doing it for damn near forever, 😂

[Heavy Kevi]

Yeah they have not been good at 3rd and long. As another poster mentioned, middle of the pack.

 

Which is crazy because iirc, through 6 weeks they led the league.