If the Bills defense is healthy, they're 6-1 right now

[BuffaloBillyG]

33 minutes ago, Ramza86 said:

I do agree with this.

 

You can tell the way we planned our season was to play good defense and just work on taking what the defense gives. 

 

Unfortunately weve lost half our defense and huge positions....but guess what? Not seeing any adjustments offensively to make up for the lack of defense.

 

Nice job staff...

I think they actually are. 

 

They have seemed to lean more into a ball control philosophy at points. It would seem to me the way they can make up for lack of defense is to limit defensive time on the field.

 

My problem has been more of the lack of success when adjusting the DEFENSE to help cover up the losses. Just last week, NE was down their 2 best pass rushers and a very very talented young CB...but they got good pressure and covered well. Why can they do it and we don't? Adjustments.

 

One would think our head coach who has run defenses the majority of his career could scheme up ways to cover for the missing talent. 

[ddaryl]

The offense has issues but I agree we would most likely be 6-1 or at least 5-2 with a fully healthy D

 

Unfortunately every team needs to have depth and coaches who can scheme a team to play better when the inury bug hits.

 

 

[Simon]

8 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

How was their defense worse than decimated last season?

 

Technically, missing more than 1 in 10 of their guys.

[dave mcbride]

13 minutes ago, EasternOHBillsFan said:

 

This was at HOME against the Bengals in the playoffs WITH Milano and WITH Tre White and WITH Rousseau. Would Von in October 2023 have helped?

 

Nope. Our offense was pathetic and still will be pathetic with Dorsey as our OC. I just don't understand why you disagree with my previous statement. 

 

 

"On the other side, the Bills didn't manage a first down until the second quarter. Cincinnati's defensive line had its way, keeping Josh Allen under pressure while the secondary limited the Bills' big-play potential. The 10 points marked Buffalo's lowest total of the season. The Bills remain one of the NFL's most complete teams, but their difficulty getting out of the AFC is a storyline that's becoming difficult to ignore after another disappointing finish."

 

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/bills-bengals-live-score-highlights-playoffs/unkfqo04nptoxspzbhbtwjtc

As I've stated before, DaQuon Jones is the straw that stirs the drink on that D. His absence from the Bengals game killed them. He's arguably their most crucial defensive player. 

[Beck Water]

7 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

Technically, missing more than 1 in 10 of their guys.

 

So starting out missing Tre, and ending up missing Von?

[Royale with Cheese]

24 minutes ago, FrenchConnection said:

5-2. I think that the Jags game would have still been a loss.

 

No way French!  It was 11-7 by the 4th and didn't start really moving the ball until we were down to Vickers playing edge.

We were missing Miller, Floyd, Jones, Milano, Benford and Rousseau.  Not to mention White and Shaq Lawson.

[WhoTom]

If the offense has its act together, we're 7-0.

 

I agree that the injuries on D have been devastating, but the D has done enough to win every game this year. Even when the opposing team scored a lot, our offense should be able to 1) outscore them, or 2) at least sustain enough drives to keep the opposing offense off the field for a while.

 

Given the injuries on D, I'm quite impressed by its performance.

Given that there are very few injuries to key players on offense, I'm quite disappointed in its performance.

 

[Simon]

Just now, Beck Water said:

 

So starting out missing Tre, and ending up missing Von?

 

There was a hell of a lot more to it than that.

And again, that is last year; I'm more interested in this year.

[Beck Water]

6 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

As I've stated before, DaQuon Jones is the straw that stirs the drink on that D. His absence from the Bengals game killed them. He's arguably their most crucial defensive player. 

 

Yes - plus Ed Oliver was playing, but in a shoulder brace

[DapperCam]

I agree, but if my aunt had balls she’d be my uncle.

[Beck Water]

Just now, Simon said:

 

There was a hell of a lot more to it than that.

And again, that is last year; I'm more interested in this year.

 

Hyde of course, and then at the end of the season Damar Hamlin who had been our #2 safety all season.  Missing Daquan Jones from the Bengals game hurt.

 

This year there's no question we're on fumes.  Last season I thought Settle was maybe playing hampered with a calf injury.  This season he just looks "lost in space"

[Ethan in Cleveland]

If Allen didn't play like garbage against the Jets and Pats they are 6-1 

Team game. Lots of blame to go around. 

We should expect that Allen can and should play better.

The defense probably not barring a trade. The only hope on defense is that Oliver and Miller can get healthy and Williams can learn to play LB quickly. And that still leaves them decimated. 

[Goin Breakdown]

24 minutes ago, Returntoglory said:

But you've got a GREAT personality!

Dang. Famous words before rejection in high school haha

[BADOLBILZ]

9 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

As I've stated before, DaQuon Jones is the straw that stirs the drink on that D. His absence from the Bengals game killed them. He's arguably their most crucial defensive player. 

 

 

It's really more that it's just an area of weakness that their undersized, pass-centric defense has a hard time getting over when they put trash in there at DT1T.    Jones game has been elevated by the style of defense.   When he was a plugger in TN he wasn't very impactful.   As I've said for years.......this defense funnels action/opportunity into the middle and that's why Edmunds' play was not acceptable considering his opportunities.   I think the Bills could find another Jones.......unfortunately the guys they have scouted and acquired have been guys who just won't do the work.   Watch them go out of their way to chase DJ Reader again this offseason.   That was the one that got away..........they were willing to pay him even when they were stuck in the middle of Lotulelei's gawdawful contract.   

[Livinginthepast]

The NFL is all about team depth at all levels and I thought the Bills had done a great job on building depth but the injuries just like last year have been so numerous and impactful. In many cases (Milano, Trey) they are the worse case scenario.  Its always seems weird to me that that teams arent allowed more people on their active rosters or practice squads for situations like this or that there just aren't people who are floating around in free agency that can fill in adequately. Unlike other sports, once a person steps away from NFL football for even a few months, they don't seem to be able to ever get back to the same skill level they were at before. Therefore I guess the only solution is to make a trade and bring someone in.

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

1 hour ago, Simon said:

If D Jones, Milano and Tre White are on the field, I think they beat both Jacksonville and New England.

I don't know if they can find a way to overcome a second straight season of having their defense worse than decimated, but I also don't want to pretend they did a suck-ass job of putting together a roster that can win in this league. Because if they had the roster right now that they had at the beginning of the year, teams would absolutely fear them, and rightly so.

I realize that's ifs and buts; however, it does speak to the credible job the coaching staff and front office did in the offseason.

 

I'm not even sure you need to include White in there, but Jones, Milano and this past week Oliver.  Read many posts that injuries are no excuse, but how many teams have lost probably their 4 best defensive players (including Oliver this past week)  That's more uncommon.  Article yesterday said Bills lead the league in percentage of players on IR and that's not including Knox if he goes there.

[BarleyNY]

1 hour ago, Goin Breakdown said:

If only I wasn't fat and ugly. It the hand I'm dealt. Bills can find ways to fix it though. I'm stuck

Are you close friends with Josh Allen? If so, how close?

[BADOLBILZ]

 

 

They are 3-4 plays from being undefeated...........so hard to make a strong case against the notion that having more of their better players on the field would make a difference.    But they had everybody healthy on opening night and lost anyway.

[T master]

Those 3 were the heart & should of this Defense & you can have others come into their positions but you can't replace their play & presence on the field orin the lock room . 

 

All seemed to be going perfect up until they were lost one can only hope they get it figured out because if they don't this could be the first time since McD & company has been here that they won't make it to the play offs .

[LABILLBACKER]

1 hour ago, ngbills said:

If the Bills O plays like it should we are 7-0. 

That is very true.