The Bengals opening drive

[Livinginthepast]

I've watched the Bills in the playoffs for the past 4 decades back to the 1980 season and I have to say no opposition opening drive has ever foreshadowed a game more than what the Bengals did today to start off. Sure there have been some terrible Bills teams who have given up terrible opening drives in the regular season (McD era teams have been actually really bad at this) but this is the playoffs. No playoff Bills team I can recall ever took such a punch to the face as the Bills did on the opening drive today.  The drive planted the momentum to the Bengals and they never gave it back. The drive was so easy and so effortless that it immediately took the crowd out of the game and oddly seemed to permanently deflate the Bills D going forward. It also exposed Frazier for the fraud that he is defensively with Bengals receivers wide open on every down, no pass rush, a D line getting gashed on runs and a QB completing every single pass. In short it was like a Mike Tyson knockdown or standing 8 count in the first minute of the first round.  I just cant get my head around how the Bills (especially Frazier)could have possibly have been so poorly prepared for what they knew the Bengals could do. Its almost as if Frazier didn't watch any film at all this week on the Bengals. One of their best O Lineman was out, yet no pressure or scheme to that side. If this isn't enough to get Frazier fired, I simply don't know what is?

Edited January 23, 2023 by Livinginthepast

[Bferra13]

Agreed with this assessment. This and the second drive was the knockout punch. I think that's what makes everything so much worse. They had a ton of time to fix things but, God help us they did the opposite of that.

Edited January 23, 2023 by Bferra13

[Jerome007]

What about the Bills first play on offense? A McKenzie sweep? While the ground is slippery and it's better t o go North-South? Same drive there was a Cook run, again going sideways. 3 and out. 

 

Sure those plays can work, but in that weather? Wow

 

Chase all alone was crazy. Outcoached, period,

[SCBills]

The worst part, and the reason why I can’t believe anyone wants Frazier back next year after this (and 13 seconds) was that I didn’t even bat an eye when Cincy went down and scored … I just expected it.  
 

In a Divisional Round Playoff Game, I expected the opponent to score a TD on the opening drive and it didn’t even affect me. 
 

Think about what that says .. because I know I’m not alone. 
 

Edited January 23, 2023 by SCBills

[Aussie Joe]

17 minutes ago, Livinginthepast said:

 Its almost as if Frazier didn't watch any film at all this week on the Bengals. One of their best O Lineman was out, yet no pressure or scheme to that side. If this isn't enough to get Frazier fired, I simply don't know what is?

 

Apparently the coaches are at the facility 24/7....( or close to it) during playoff times...and lots of hours during a regular season week

 

I assume that McD is talking to Leslie all the time ... isnt he wanting to know what Leslie is planning to do during the game? Like how they are going to respond/counter the opposition strengths and weaknesses? And if he isnt happy he can say so?

 

Im no fan of Leslie or this D, but McD needs to take some of the blame.... he seems to be all care and no responsibility .. nice work at $6M+ a year if you can get it...

[BuffaloBillsGospel2014]

26 minutes ago, Livinginthepast said:

I've watched the Bills in the playoffs for the past 4 decades back to the 1980 season and I have to say no opposition opening drive has ever foreshadowed a game more than what the Bengals did today to start off. Sure there have been some terrible Bills teams who have given up terrible opening drives in the regular season (McD era teams have been actually really bad at this) but this is the playoffs. No playoff Bills team I can recall ever took such a punch to the face as the Bills did on the opening drive today.  The drive planted the momentum to the Bengals and they never gave it back. The drive was so easy and so effortless that it immediately took the crowd out of the game and oddly seemed to permanently deflate the Bills D going forward. It also exposed Frazier for the fraud that he is defensively with Bengals receivers wide open on every down, no pass rush, a D line getting gashed on runs and a QB completing every single pass. In short it was like a Mike Tyson knockdown or standing 8 count in the first minute of the first round.  I just cant get my head around how the Bills (especially Frazier)could have possibly have been so poorly prepared for what they knew the Bengals could do. Its almost as if Frazier didn't watch any film at all this week on the Bengals. One of their best O Lineman was out, yet no pressure or scheme to that side. If this isn't enough to get Frazier fired, I simply don't know what is?

 

I'm a huge "It's not how you start , it's how you finish" guy and the team did not start or finish. You will never win a game if you can't start or finish no matter what sport.

[Governor]

Especially after starting the same exact way on the Monday night game. We were overmatched and the team knew it weeks ago.

[K D]

Who won the coin toss? I missed it. But even when the Bengals win they take the ball. Their beat reporter said they saw when the offense sits too long the get out of rhythm so they always take the ball to start the game or the other team defers so either way they go on offense first. If we won the toss we should have taken the ball to throw them off

[US Egg]

If the end zone was outside the stadium, it appeared the Bengals could have driven the Bills ‘D’ that far backwards, if need be, on more than just the opening drive.

[BigBadBills]

Cincinnati was a much more physical team. They bullied us.

[Brand J]

How about that defensive timeout McD took later in the 2nd half on a Bengals 3rd down? I laughed to myself and thought “the Bengals will pick this up anyway” and sure enough, they did. I’ve never seen timeouts burned on defense so ineffectively. What are they discussing during the timeout? Who makes the best Buffalo Wings? 

[Bferra13]

15 minutes ago, Governor said:

Especially after starting the same exact way on the Monday night game. We were overmatched and the team knew it weeks ago.

Pretty sure a reporter asked either Frazier or McDermott that same question regarding Monday. Response, "were not going to change anything. We will do what we do best." Yeah great call guys. Should be the nail in the coffin.

[SinceThe70s]

14 minutes ago, KDIGGZ said:

Who won the coin toss? I missed it. But even when the Bengals win they take the ball. Their beat reporter said they saw when the offense sits too long the get out of rhythm so they always take the ball to start the game or the other team defers so either way they go on offense first. If we won the toss we should have taken the ball to throw them off

 

And that would have solved losing the battle on both sides of the line all day? C'mon man. 

[LABILLBACKER]

46 minutes ago, Livinginthepast said:

I've watched the Bills in the playoffs for the past 4 decades back to the 1980 season and I have to say no opposition opening drive has ever foreshadowed a game more than what the Bengals did today to start off. Sure there have been some terrible Bills teams who have given up terrible opening drives in the regular season (McD era teams have been actually really bad at this) but this is the playoffs. No playoff Bills team I can recall ever took such a punch to the face as the Bills did on the opening drive today.  The drive planted the momentum to the Bengals and they never gave it back. The drive was so easy and so effortless that it immediately took the crowd out of the game and oddly seemed to permanently deflate the Bills D going forward. It also exposed Frazier for the fraud that he is defensively with Bengals receivers wide open on every down, no pass rush, a D line getting gashed on runs and a QB completing every single pass. In short it was like a Mike Tyson knockdown or standing 8 count in the first minute of the first round.  I just cant get my head around how the Bills (especially Frazier)could have possibly have been so poorly prepared for what they knew the Bengals could do. Its almost as if Frazier didn't watch any film at all this week on the Bengals. One of their best O Lineman was out, yet no pressure or scheme to that side. If this isn't enough to get Frazier fired, I simply don't know what is?

This ridiculous Tampa 2 zone crap has been worthless since day 1.  It doesn't work without an elite pass rush.  Let's have 7 players backpedal into open space and hopefully someone accidentally runs right in front of them.  

[QLBillsFan]

32 minutes ago, Jerome007 said:

What about the Bills first play on offense? A McKenzie sweep? While the ground is slippery and it's better t o go North-South? Same drive there was a Cook run, again going sideways. 3 and out. 

 

Sure those plays can work, but in that weather? Wow

 

Chase all alone was crazy. Outcoached, period,

Yes the side to side run plays!! And cool totally on skates when he did get the ball. Also with the snow a more steady pass rush was in order, Bills slid by Burrow about ten times. 

10 minutes ago, JayBaller10 said:

How about that defensive timeout McD took later in the 2nd half on a Bengals 3rd down? I laughed to myself and thought “the Bengals will pick this up anyway” and sure enough, they did. I’ve never seen timeouts burned on defense so ineffectively. What are they discussing during the timeout? Who makes the best Buffalo Wings? 

Yes holy … 3rd and ten as if they were going to do something different? What was the thought process ? 

[BuffaloRebound]

I hate how this defense gets pushed around.  And I hate how nobody is expected to make a play in the front 6 except Milano.  Star was given $50m to occupy blockers and never make a play.  We’re constantly told how important Edmunds is to the defense but he never makes a play.  Milano was the only reason Cincy didn’t score 28 points on their first 4 possessions.  We would’ve been better off not putting any D Linemen on the field in the 1st half.  That’s how bad they were.  It looked they were coached to just stand there and occupy blockers.  Cincy had so little respect for our defense they were calling timeouts on their own 15 yard line with 25 seconds left in the half.  

[Since1981]

“the weather advantage Bills have”

please don’t pull that crap ever again.
Slip slide sideways runs, jet sweep!!?? 

[Dr.Sack]

A bad time to play worst game of the year on both sides of the ball. 

[Brand J]

I think the defense has a lot of “good” players, but no “great” ones, aside from Von Miller before his injury and Matt Milano. There’s only 2 blue chip talents on the defensive side, but the collection of talent is enough that we should be getting more out of that group. The pieces weren’t used effectively (obviously). It’s not like we had guys getting beat in one on one, Cinci had players running Scott free through the secondary all game and that was without blitzing. Just an inexcusable game plan and shame on Frazier and McD for sticking with the same failed gameplan from the first Cinci game (when it was clear we’d have problems then). “You don’t want to overthink things” says Frazier. How about thinking at all? How about scheming players to stop what Cinci does well? How about taking away either the run or the pass?? No resistance for either. 

[Dan]

11 minutes ago, JayBaller10 said:

I think the defense has a lot of “good” players, but no “great” ones, aside from Von Miller before his injury and Matt Milano. There’s only 2 blue chip talents on the defensive side, but the collection of talent is enough that we should be getting more out of that group. The pieces weren’t used effectively (obviously). It’s not like we had guys getting beat in one on one, Cinci had players running Scott free through the secondary all game and that was without blitzing. Just an inexcusable game plan and shame on Frazier and McD for sticking with the same failed gameplan from the first Cinci game (when it was clear we’d have problems then). “You don’t want to overthink things” says Frazier. How about thinking at all? How about scheming players to stop what Cinci does well? How about taking away either the run or the pass?? No resistance for either. 

It has happened more times than not... no team specific game plans.  The defense just doing what they did.  In a lot of games.. they can over come it in most games Josh can score enough to for the other team out of their game plan. In the playoffs... its a recipe for getting bounced.  4 years in a row.