THE ROCKPILE REVIEW – And Down Go the Dolphins –

[Shaw66]

Fans have different opinions about the color commentators on NFL broadcasts.  Some like one and dislike another.  Others feel the opposite.

 

I like Chris Collinsworth.  I like him because he genuinely enjoys watching the games.  He gets excited about plays and about situations.  Does he embellish his excitement sometimes?  I’m sure he does, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t enjoying what he’s seeing.  And he sees the game well.  As soon as a play is done, he often talks about one player who did one particular thing; then the replay comes up and there it is, just as he said. 

 

Sunday night Collinsworth got to call the final game of the 2023 regular season, the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins to decide which team would win the AFC Eastern Division.  He got a great game to watch, full of interesting plays, important plays, big plays, and big mistakes.  He loved it.

 

Late in the game, Collinsworth said something that was absolutely correct – the game felt every bit like a playoff game.  It was dramatic from the very first play until the final interception.  Every play mattered, and every fan watching knew it mattered.  Everything about the game was at an emotional level higher than Bills-Cowboys, Bills-Eagles, Bills-Chiefs in previous weeks.  It was great football entertainment, and it was the perfect game on which to end the regular season and move into the playoffs.

 

And, of course, it was a perfect game for the Bills, because they came from nowhere six weeks ago to the number 2 seed in AFC championship bracket.  I loved it.

 

One play was one of the great plays in Bills’ history:  Deonte Harty’s 96-yard punt return tied the game and gave the Bills the emotional energy to take the lead on their next possession.  And because the game felt just like a playoff game, I will remember that play together with Taron Johnson’s 101-yard interception return against the Ravens in the 2021 Divisional playoffs.  

 

Emotionally, the plays were so similar.  The Bills were leading the Ravens and were trailing the Dolphins, it’s true, but the Ravens were about to score to tie the game, and the Bills had seemed to be going nowhere.  They certainly seemed to be going nowhere against the Dolphins.  As Johnson started out of the end zone, I thought he should have taken the knee and the touchback.  As Harty caught the punt on the four, I thought he should have taken the fair catch.   Then, in both cases, an absolute explosion!  By the time Johnson hit the 20-yardline, and Harty, too, it was a simple footrace. 

 

Both games turned around after those 80-yard dashes.  I knew the Ravens were dead birds after Johnson’s magic, and when the Dolphins went three and out on their next possession, they were dead fish.  Two role players (Johnson hadn't yet emerged as the stud he's become), two game-changing plays, two phenomenal Bills’ wins.

 

Mike McDaniel is one of those offensive-geniuses we keep hearing about.  He installed some wrinkles in the Dolphin running attack that absolutely tore up the Bills’ in the first half.  Achane, particularly, was running wild, and Collinsworth appreciated every minute of it.  He understood and explained how McDaniel had taken misdirection to a new level, and how it was confusing the Bills.  Still, the Bills’ defense held the Dolphins to two touchdowns in the first half, and the Bills trailed by only 7. 

 

Then Sean McDermott, the other coaching star in the game, took over.  Having watched only from the sideline, and with the help of his assistants, he developed and installed the antidote during half time.  McDaniel’s magic was neutralized, and the Dolphins didn’t sniff the end zone again.  The defense completely smothered the Dolphins in the second half – the run game fizzled, and the offensive line harassed Tua enough to limit the effectiveness of the Dolphin quick passing game. 

 

Josh Allen had just enough to overcome a series of costly mistakes, including a first-half interception and a second-half sack-fumble-turnover.  Still, he was larger than life.  When he got going, running like a man possessed and making multiple pinpoint throws to receivers finding their way into seams, he was Josh Allen at his best.  He’s just so good, running and passing, that he demoralizes the other team.  His play said, “We are not going to lose,” and the Dolphins heard it. 

 

The playoffs began Sunday night.

 

GO BILLS!!!

 

The Rockpile Review is written to share the passion we have for the Buffalo Bills. That passion was born in the Rockpile; its parents were every-day people of western New York who translated their dedication to a full day’s hard work and simple pleasures into love for a pro football team.

Edited January 9 by Shaw66

[dock581]

Great write up as usual. What was very obvious is how energized the D was after Harty’s return. They were just flying to the ball.

[Shaw66]

1 minute ago, dock581 said:

Great write up as usual. What was very obvious is how energized the D was after Harty’s return. They were just flying to the ball.

Right.   I have to admit, I didn't notice Spector, whom several people have commented on.   What I noticed was that the defensive line wasn't blowing people up, but they were working hard enough to get consistent pressure and be making stops in the run game. 

 

And the D backs were all over the place.  Loved when Poyer lit up that guy and Collinsworth went nuts.  Rapp was possessed on the last two plays.  Benford stood out all game, and Jackson was his usual solid self.   

 

It was a great show.  

 

I'm sure the Dolphins came into the game expecting to win, and came into the second half confident.   I usually don't take pleasure in the other guy's misery, but I really enjoyed thinking about how shell-shocked they were at the end.   Josh just coming at them relentlessly, mistakes or not, especially on the long third-down run, Harty exploding on them, and the defense just completely taking it to them.   It was awesome.

[Olliemets]

Nice!! Love your comment comparing the Harty's return to Taron's 101 Yrd Pick Six a few years back. I felt exactly the same way. A jolt of energy out of nowhere that sparked the team. Once Dolphins went 3 and out on next possession I felt very confident.

[MiltonWaddams]

I was thinking the very same thing in regards to the relation between Hartys return, and the Taron Johnson pick six against Baltimore. The emotional charge that came out of both were game changing.

Edited January 8 by MiltonWaddams

[From Roc to Ky bills fan]

Shaw, you are a rockstar... 

Thank you

 

Go Bill's 

[Ralonzo]

18 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

I usually don't take pleasure in the other guy's misery, but I really enjoyed thinking about how shell-shocked they were at the end. 

 

No need to imagine how it was behind the scenes... we'll see it on "Hard Knocks" 

 

We should have a GDT for that/

[Blackbeard]

Loved your part about McDermott installing the antidote.  So accurate. 
 

Great write up 

[Shaw66]

6 minutes ago, Ralonzo said:

 

No need to imagine how it was behind the scenes... we'll see it on "Hard Knocks" 

 

We should have a GDT for that/

I don't watch Hard Knocks.  Never have.   Will there be an episode following this loss?   I mean, it'll be seriously painful for them, but good reality TV.  

 

GDT?

[Ralonzo]

Just now, Shaw66 said:

I don't watch Hard Knocks.  Never have.   Will there be an episode following this loss?   I mean, it'll be seriously painful for them, but good reality TV.  

 

GDT?

 

Yes, the season finale is tomorrow on HBO (HBO Max maybe) at 9 pm.

 

GDT = a Game Day Thread for it. Yes, I'm evil.

[Shaw66]

8 minutes ago, Ralonzo said:

 

Yes, the season finale is tomorrow on HBO (HBO Max maybe) at 9 pm.

 

GDT = a Game Day Thread for it. Yes, I'm evil.

Ooh.  I won't be watching, but a GDT is a great idea!

[Beck Water]

47 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

Right.   I have to admit, I didn't notice Spector, whom several people have commented on.   What I noticed was that the defensive line wasn't blowing people up, but they were working hard enough to get consistent pressure and be making stops in the run game. 

 

And the D backs were all over the place.  Loved when Poyer lit up that guy and Collinsworth went nuts.  Rapp was possessed on the last two plays.  Benford stood out all game, and Jackson was his usual solid self.   

 

It was a great show.  

 

I'm sure the Dolphins came into the game expecting to win, and came into the second half confident.   I usually don't take pleasure in the other guy's misery, but I really enjoyed thinking about how shell-shocked they were at the end.   Josh just coming at them relentlessly, mistakes or not, especially on the long third-down run, Harty exploding on them, and the defense just completely taking it to them.   It was awesome.

 

If my math is right, the Dolphins got 7 rush yards in the 2nd half.

 

Seven (7).

 

They got 101 rush yards in the first half.  They finished with 108 rush yards.

 

Think about that for a minute.  A run game that is clicking so well, it gains 5.9 YPA, a TD, 5 1st downs in the first 30 minutes.

 

You go into the locker room, eat some orange slices and PB sammys and come out ready to rumble.

 

7 yards.

 

They had a total of 3 first downs in the 2nd half.  Three (3), two of which were on the final drive.

 

That's really a defensive masterwork, especially when you factor in losing your best DB before the end of the half and a starting LB (who is already your 2nd string because your all-pro has been out since Game 5)

Edited January 8 by Beck Water

[Saxum]

Rapp's interception reminded me of Hyde's playoff interception of Mac Jones.

Opponent player was covered by another Bills player and safety came in and grabbed ball thrown from AFCE QB.

 

 

 

 

 

[Shaw66]

8 minutes ago, Limeaid said:

Rapp's interception reminded me of Hyde's playoff interception of Mac Jones.

Opponent player was covered by another Bills player and safety came in and grabbed ball thrown from AFCE QB.

 

 

 

 

 

Right about how the coverage worked.  Hyde's may have been the best INT I've ever seen.

[Dan Darragh]

DOWN GOES FRAZIER! 

DOWN GOES FRAZIER!

DOWN GOES FRAZIER!

[Logic]

Thanks for the writeup. Enjoyed it, as always.

You (and Collinsworth) are absolutely right. That WAS a playoff game. 

I thought three things stood out last night: Brandon Beane's free agent acquisitions (Harty and Sherfield -- quiet all year -- accounted for two of the three Bills TDs, Taylor Rapp had the game sealing interception), McDermott's masterful defensive coaching, and Josh Allen simply putting the team on his back and willing them to victory once again. He accounted for 91% of the Bills' offensive production on the night. 91%. And the 4th quarter? Well...he simply wanted it more than anyone else on the field, and that was the difference in the game.

The defense -- and missing key players, mind you -- stifled the Phins in the second half, as you said, and held them to a full game TOTAL of 14 points. This was one of the top scoring offenses in NFL HISTORY, mind you, and they were playing at home. 14 points.

The special teams, maligned much of the season, produced a touchdown.

The offense, despite a bevy of mistakes, scored the go-ahead touchdown in the 4th quarter and bled enough time off the clock at the end -- including two gutsy 4th down decisions -- that the Dolphins simply didn't have enough time to mount a comeback.

All three phases. Complimentary football. Just what Sean McDermott's been preaching all season. I said repeatedly earlier this season that I thought his time as Bills coach had come to an end and the team should move on from him. It's only fair that I point out, then, that in the biggest game of the season, his defense shone brightly, his team played the complimentary football he always preaches and displayed the mental toughness he always touts, and at the end of the night...the once totally-left-for-dead Buffalo Bills were the AFC's 2-seed. Masterful job by coach McDermott.

Gosh, football is fun sometimes.

 

[Beach]

awesome read, but i think Taron Johnson was only 5 years old in 2001

[Prospector]

This is all good, but what does a real unbiased opinion think? Like a very Beastly opinion, may even be considered Filthy. 

[BillsDad51]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

Thanks for the writeup. Enjoyed it, as always.

You (and Collinsworth) are absolutely right. That WAS a playoff game. 

I thought three things stood out last night: Brandon Beane's free agent acquisitions (Harty and Sherfield -- quiet all year -- accounted for two of the three Bills TDs, Taylor Rapp had the game sealing interception), McDermott's masterful defensive coaching, and Josh Allen simply putting the team on his back and willing them to victory once again. He accounted for 91% of the Bills' offensive production on the night. 91%. And the 4th quarter? Well...he simply wanted it more than anyone else on the field, and that was the difference in the game.

The defense -- and missing key players, mind you -- stifled the Phins in the second half, as you said, and held them to a full game TOTAL of 14 points. This was one of the top scoring offenses in NFL HISTORY, mind you, and they were playing at home. 14 points.

The special teams, maligned much of the season, produced a touchdown.

The offense, despite a bevy of mistakes, scored the go-ahead touchdown in the 4th quarter and bled enough time off the clock at the end -- including two gutsy 4th down decisions -- that the Dolphins simply didn't have enough time to mount a comeback.

All three phases. Complimentary football. Just what Sean McDermott's been preaching all season. I said repeatedly earlier this season that I thought his time as Bills coach had come to an end and the team should move on from him. It's only fair that I point out, then, that in the biggest game of the season, his defense shone brightly, his team played the complimentary football he always preaches and displayed the mental toughness he always touts, and at the end of the night...the once totally-left-for-dead Buffalo Bills were the AFC's 2-seed. Masterful job by coach McDermott.

Gosh, football is fun sometimes.

 

Three of TBD's favorite whipping boys, Harty, Sherfield and Rapp, made critical plays for the Bills. Plus Spector's pinch-hit for Dodson. Good for them. Good for us.

[Shaw66]

6 minutes ago, Beach said:

awesome read, but i think Taron Johnson was only 5 years old in 2001

Uh oh.  I guess he picked up the game early!