An Offensive Coaching decision that really put the Bills behind in the First Half....

[Mark Vader]

11 hours ago, Billzgobowlin said:

I think most of his yards came from where there weren't plays downfield.  I think the more telling point is they stopped focusing on Cooper and balanced it out with Hollins and Shakir.

Not that focusing on Cooper was a bad thing. Cooper made several big catches for the Bills.

[chaccof]

2 hours ago, Einstein said:

 

Because the Rams executed at a level that is near impossible to duplicate. They played at peak performance for 58 minutes. That’s not normal. To expect the Lions to do the same is … hard.

I suspect the Lions won't have to execute at peak performance for 58 minutes to win.  They just need to run, run, run the ball....and I hope like heck I'm wrong. 

[Billzgobowlin]

17 minutes ago, Mark Vader said:

Not that focusing on Cooper was a bad thing. Cooper made several big catches for the Bills.

No doubt but it needs to be mixed up a little

[Aussie Joe]

7 hours ago, Einstein said:

I actually think the Rams game is going to be the tougher game of the two.

Im expecting the Bills D to be sufficiently embarrassed to play better this week … 

[Mark Vader]

19 minutes ago, Billzgobowlin said:

No doubt but it needs to be mixed up a little

I think they have done a good job in mixing it up. This was the first game where they threw to Copper, considerably more than in previous games.

[zow2]

I noticed it too when Josh was not scrambling or getting some easy yards in the first half.  He airmailed one out of bounds when he could’ve easily gotten the first. 

 

But really the Bills had no answer for how hard the Rams were gonna come out in a must win game for them.  We were still in AFC East champs, snow angel mode.  These final games will be interesting since Buffalo may not have anything much to play for (if KC keeps winning).  and then they will have to flip the switch to must-win mode in January.

[RichRiderBills]

There was huge running lanes open for QB all game. Again, Bills play stubborn ball. When we finally realized it, we were unstoppable. 

[DrPJax]

19 hours ago, Special K said:

As dreadful as the Defense was in this game, did anyone else notice that in the first half that aside from a few QB sneaks Josh did not scramble or run the ball at all in the first half. In fact, there were a few plays where he could have easily run for 10+ yards and he threw an errant pass or threw the ball away. I am not blaming JA for this, it seemed like a concerted decision by the coaching staff to keep him from running.....and the offense looked stale and out of whack because of it.

 

In the second half when the Bills were behind by 17 points, it looked like the coaching staff took the shackles off Josh, and he started running....picking up huge chunks of yards, in fact......then all of a sudden the passing game came to life and the Bills began to move the ball at will and almost pulled off an improbable comeback.

 

Were the coaches trying to play it safe since the Bills already have the Division locked up, and didn't want to risk injury?? If so, I hope they learned their lesson that the Offense will not run smoothly if the opposing D doesn't have to account for the threat of Josh running.....it opens up everything else.

 

The contrast of the first and second halves is clear proof of that, IMO.

 

Thoughts??

He reinjured his left hand early in the game and was in obvious pain. They have never disclosed his actual initial injury.  I suspect he had / has and healing from a non displaced fracture of one of his metacarpals.  That’s the top , dorsum of the mid hand and nit the wrist. I suspect this as it’s taken many weeks to heal , the glove protects his hand not wrist , and it coukd easily be reinjured.  They immediately changed play calling away from sneaks and qb runs.  He even went to hand offs and a couple pitches to avoid holding the Ball. , getting hit and hurt worse ir fumbling.  
 

He felt better in the second half.  , got it rewrapoed or even injected or took something like toradol by mouth or shot to be able to play more.freely like himself in the second half. Plus he is an animal , plays thru pain and adrenaline.kicked in as they saw a chance to pull it out.  So I think the glove stays on and that explains the two Halves.  They never tell the truth , so I can only speculate based on seeing similar cases.   Time will tell. Just my opinion seeing him in pain and the protection he is wearing. 

[Chaos]

17 hours ago, LABILLBACKER said:

So I guess our coaches had no desire to go after the 1 seed. They strategized to tap out.

I think load management is going to prove to be a thing for the regime.  I don't think I agree, but there is a reasonable hypothesis that a healthy roster supercedes seeding position in likelyhood of winning the super bowl.