A Few Thoughts about the Cowboys Game, in no particular order

[Virgil]

I can honestly say I didn't know if was going to write another one of these this season.  Not because of the prior wins or losses, but because I don't see a point in writing the same content over and over again.  The Bills team and individual players rarely did enough from week to week that constituted 9 things and lyrics to talk about.  I mean, I can sum it all up with Kincaid, Kindcaid, McD's defense collapses, and Floyd/Oliver.  However, this Dallas game was a different beast and one of the more enjoyable games of the season.  

 

1 - We got you Josh - I promise, Cook will be second. If there's one thing I loved most about this game above all else, it's that the coaches and team finally proved to Josh that they could beat a quality team without needing him to be superman.   I don't think I've ever been happier to see our starting qb throw for under 100 yards in my entire time as a Bills fan.  Not only that, but to see Diggs and Allen still pumping up the team on the sidelines, supporting the offensive line and Cook, just shows you again how great a team dynamic McD (yes, dropped here intentionally) has built.  To take it a step further, the Bills have also sent a message to every other team in the league that you have to plan for more than Allen and Diggs, which is a very scary thought.

 

2 - Yes Chef! - I have been one of many who believe that you can plug and play most running backs in a good system and you will see similar results.  And while I do believe that still, Cook showed just how important confidence, rhythm, and skillset together can allow a back to perform at the next level.  I was really impressed with Cook's acceleration after a cut.  His change of direction had defenders falling all over themselves.  Cook also showed great angles when bouncing outside and just blew past guys.  Even better was just how the rest of the team fed off every run.  Usually Josh has to perform some heroic feat to get everyone all riled up, but you could see everyone bracing for the next big run.  I mean honestly, when's the last time you can say you were excited for the next hand off.  The only thing that prevented the perfect game was the dropped potential touchdown, which wouldn't be an issue, if we didn't have the same issue in Philly a few weeks back.  But all that being said, Cook is now the #2 back in rushing yards and total yards.  For you fantasy owners, I bet you are really hating on Murray and Josh stealing all those goal line carries.

 

3 - The Pulls - Maybe I don't pay attention to this enough in other games, but it seemed like our lineman pull game was exceptional.  I counted at least six big runs where a guard or tackle pulled to the other side of the line and laid out a monster block.  It was almost comical to see those guys get to the next level and destroy a defender.  You've all seen the replay of Dawkins blocking a defender into the next time zone on one of the big Cook runs.  Regardless, such a simple play design allowing the big dawgs to shine was a beautiful thing and I couldn't be happier for the line to finally show some success.

 

4 - Run for the money, caught short on the rent.

Big ideas, but the cash is all spent.

The trouble with love is it's on vase.

You just want a cup, but you don't want to race.

No, you don't want to race.

 

5 - Definition on Insanity - Not to take away from the Bills success, but anyone else find it strange that the Cowboys seemingly made zero adjustments at half time.  I get it, the Cowboys are built for speed on defense, which they sacrifice size for.  However, stack the box, but some bigger depth guys in, do something different!  On the few plays we actually did pass the ball, you could see that Dallas was ready for it as they got to Josh somewhat quick.  Which is fine, when you aren't down 21 and the Bills have proven they have no issues continuing to run the ball.  It all just seemed really weird to me how they played that game on defense.  I get it in the first half, as you expect Josh to be Josh and just start throwing because that's who he is.  But on that 8 minute drive in the 3rd quarter where we ran it almost every play, there's just no excuse for that.

 

6 - Calm the Crazy - I was a little nervous when Dodson and Rapp were making some questionable hits that led to penalties.  With the tempers flaring early, I was expecting some really dumb penalties that would bring Dallas back into the game.  However, credit to both of them, and maybe McD, but they found a way to clean that up and keep the intensity alive.  That was one of the most punishing defensive games I can remember in quite a while.  Every time a Cowboy touched the ball, they were getting hit immediately.  We didn't just beat them, we absolutely BEAT them.  For context, Dallas kept their starters in for a moral victory touchdown at the end of the game, because we destroyed the previous 3 loss team's confidence that badly.  Let that one sink in.

 

7 - Defense - I honestly forgot that Cooks was on the Cowboys until Dak missed him deep early in the game.  For a moment, I got nervous as I realized how the Cowboys were so tough to defend.  They have legit speed in both receivers, that make you play two safeties deep, which opens up the run; which Dallas has a great offensive line and backs themselves.  Even with that being said, we found a way to defend both.  Our line may not have been able to stop their rushing attack behind the line much, but they also didn't let them get much further.  We were able to force multiple third downs, which is when our pass rush kicked in.  Add to that a ball-hawking Poyer, Benford, and other swarming defenders.  I don't even know what to say about Floyd anymore.  He is just an absolute beast.  I really wish we could just give Von's contract to him.

 

8 - Phillips - To give credit where it's due, Phillips played a monster game.  I personally think Phillips has been overall ineffective and a bit of a liability this season.  Phillips has always been an emotional player to me, which is great when it works, but can also work against you.  In this game, Phillips was an absolute wrecking ball.  Dak is probably waking up with cold sweats now just thinking about it.  Phillips was able to take on multiple blockers on quite a few plays, which left Oliver, Groot, and Floyd 1 on 1 with blockers.  Guess how that went....

 

9 - McD/Beane - Props to both of these guys for both getting the pieces and utilizing them to their potential.  We held their offense to 10 points (3 real ones), without Jones, Milano, Tre, Hyde, and AJ.  I know there's a lot of cap concerns and replacing the older guys.  And yes, that Von contract worries me.  But to get this output without those main staples, half of which aren't getting any younger, shows that this team is not even close to being out of their window.  

 

10 - Going forward - If you cared to listen to the media today, there was one consistent theme you heard.  Keep the Bills out of the playoffs, because you don't want to play them.  The Bills and 49ers are considered the two hottest teams in the league and it's all coming together at the right time.  We are one Bass FG away, or 11 men on the field, from being in control of the 2 seed right now, which is crazy if you think about this season.  Again, props to McD for getting this Defense back to playing lights out.  Props to Brady for supporting Josh and creating another superstar in Cook.  And props to all the other unsung heroes (Knox, offensive line, Poyer) who are quietly having a strong second half and really helping bring it all together.

 

 

Off to handle our business and setting up an epic Week 18 game in Miami.  Go Bills!!!

[Bills!Win!]

Trading for Douglas has turned the bills into a chippy hard hitting defense. The guy is a baller 

[Virgil]

Just now, Bills!Win! said:

Trading for Douglas has turned the bills into a chippy hard hitting defense. The guy is a baller 

Agreed.  I didn’t see the value in the trade at the time.   Very happy to be wrong 

[chongli]

Your column is back!!! A good omen for this season!

[Scott7975]

Funny. I said weeks ago that if the Bills could just find a way to make the playoffs that they could be one of the most dangerous teams in it. Some people rolled their emoji eyes at me. Now the media is all saying it. 

[Saxum]

3 minutes ago, Scott7975 said:

Funny. I said weeks ago that if the Bills could just find a way to make the playoffs that they could be one of the most dangerous teams in it. Some people rolled their emoji eyes at me. Now the media is all saying it. 

 

Well some have their eyes rolled back so far they cannot see and are as bad as the talking heads who will not give up campaign that Josh Allen will never be high end starter in NFL.

[SoonerBillsFan]

1 hour ago, Virgil said:

Agreed.  I didn’t see the value in the trade at the time.   Very happy to be wrong 

I am with you Virgil.  I was 100% wrong.

[Virgil]

36 minutes ago, Limeaid said:

 

Well some have their eyes rolled back so far they cannot see and are as bad as the talking heads who will not give up campaign that Josh Allen will never be high end starter in NFL.

To me, the issue was the defense.  Josh could score 40 and I wasn’t convinced we wouldn’t give up 41.  We blew so many games on the final drives, I believe it was a warranted concern.  
 

These last two weeks have felt different and if we play the same way the next three weeks, we can beat anyone 

[Peace Frog]

Found this little gem on Facebook reels.  Enjoy!

 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/884010753180711

[VaMilBill]

On point number 6. I definitely agree with Rapp. Dude scares me to include for our own players safety. 
 

Dodson being penalized was unfair I thought. Dak was still running and looked like he was about to cut inside. I mean he barely started the slide process and he was basically on top of Dodson. QBs, if they want to be protected, need to slide to allow an appropriate amount of space and human reaction time to the defender.  Same thing goes for QBs running out of bounds. 

[TheWeatherMan]

4 hours ago, Scott7975 said:

Funny. I said weeks ago that if the Bills could just find a way to make the playoffs that they could be one of the most dangerous teams in it. Some people rolled their emoji eyes at me. Now the media is all saying it. 

So the team with the 4th highest point differential in the NFL might be dangerous if they make the playoffs?  

1 minute ago, VaMilBill said:

On point number 6. I definitely agree with Rapp. Dude scares me to include for our own players safety. 
 

Dodson being penalized was unfair I thought. Dak was still running and looked like he was about to cut inside. I mean he barely started the slide process and he was basically on top of Dodson. QBs, if they want to be protected, need to slide to allow an appropriate amount of space and human reaction time to the defender.  Same thing goes for QBs running out of bounds. 

Dodson lead with the crown of his helmet…15 yard penalty all day long.

[Peace Frog]

Here's another one.  🤣

 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/891282325982670

 

[Doc Brown]

4 hours ago, Limeaid said:

Brady also had DEs dropping back doing covering of WRs which is something a previous DC was criticized for in this forum.   

It was very effective when these smaller WRs were hit by the DEs.

I know Brady is so hot right now amongst fans but I don't think he calls the defense plays quite yet.  

[ProcessTruster]

5 hours ago, Bills!Win! said:

Trading for Douglas has turned the bills into a chippy hard hitting defense. The guy is a baller 

and Rapp and Dodson, who are the anti-Hyde ,  Poyer, Rapp and Dodson; they are looking to hurt you, whereas Hyde / Milano avoid big hits.   

 

...Somewhere, Leonard Smith is smiling....  

[4th&long]

Just to clear up one thing, Dallas did bring in a 5th defensive lineman to help stop the run. That’s when Buffalo started running to the outside more. That makes buffalos dominant day running the ball more impressive. People think Dallas didn’t try to adjust because they never stopped Buffalo. Truth is they did try and it didn’t matter!

[CSBill]

52 minutes ago, VaMilBill said:

On point number 6. I definitely agree with Rapp. Dude scares me to include for our own players safety. 
 

Dodson being penalized was unfair I thought. Dak was still running and looked like he was about to cut inside. I mean he barely started the slide process and he was basically on top of Dodson. QBs, if they want to be protected, need to slide to allow an appropriate amount of space and human reaction time to the defender.  Same thing goes for QBs running out of bounds. 

 

He hit him in the head, helmet to helmet. Good news, we also got that call later on Shakir.

[BobbyC81]

5 hours ago, Scott7975 said:

Funny. I said weeks ago that if the Bills could just find a way to make the playoffs that they could be one of the most dangerous teams in it. Some people rolled their emoji eyes at me. Now the media is all saying it. 

I was one of those that believed, based on history with McD, that they could come out of the bye, win out and take the AFC East again.  They’ve now won what seemed the 2 toughest games of the 5.

 

Hopefully they can continue vs the Chargers.  It’s raining out here right now but forecast is for partly cloudy and temps in  low 60s for Saturday.

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

6 hours ago, Bills!Win! said:

Trading for Douglas has turned the bills into a chippy hard hitting defense. The guy is a baller 

 

6 hours ago, Virgil said:

Agreed.  I didn’t see the value in the trade at the time.   Very happy to be wrong 

 I liked it at the time, but even I didn't see Douglas being as good as before. I saw him as "ok, he's a spot piece for this year"

 

Now, I am not sure that we don't roll out Douglas, Benford and Johnson and Tre's future is not as a starter on our team.

[Bob Jones]

1 hour ago, VaMilBill said:

On point number 6. I definitely agree with Rapp. Dude scares me to include for our own players safety. 
 

Dodson being penalized was unfair I thought. Dak was still running and looked like he was about to cut inside. I mean he barely started the slide process and he was basically on top of Dodson. QBs, if they want to be protected, need to slide to allow an appropriate amount of space and human reaction time to the defender.  Same thing goes for QBs running out of bounds. 

Not sure how many times I’m going to have to post this in here, but I’m going to keep doing it.  Rapp absolutely was in the right, and did what he needed to do on the play where he was flagged for a late hit.

 

Dak was FIVE YARDS PAST the 1st down marker when he very easily could have just run out of bounds, but HE DIDN’T. Instead, he turned left, toward the middle of the field, seeking to gain more yards. So here comes the defenders, at full speed, seeing a guy not going OOB, but looking to keep going down the field. And then Dak sees said defenders and decides to give up/slide at the last possible moment. Rapp, or any defender, at that point, can’t stop on a dime. Bad call by the refs.

 

The reality is that a lot of these running QBs are gaming the system and getting some defenders to give up early because the defenders are afraid of the PF call. I applaud Rapp and say keep being aggressive.

[AmishRifle]

@Virgil thank you for writing again.  I enjoy your posts!

 

Cook is fantastic!  Hope he keeps his legs under him for the rest of the season and the playoffs.  The acceleration after a gigantic cut is fantastic.  The pulling game by the o-line was next level too.  Exceptionally drawn up and executed.  It’s been in the playbook for awhile now, pre-Brady, but this game really highlighted the athleticism of our o-line.