So, how is everyone feeling about this defense going into the playoffs?

[Nephilim17]

Inconsistent defense.

 

Offense will have to excel for us triumph.

[stevestojan]

We will need to score 40 in every game in the playoffs. 

[harryS]

We can't win against the hardest possible path:  Ravens - at Chiefs - Eagles

 

But the defense can probably come up big once.  That means we'll need help from other teams to clear the path.

 

In my dream scenario, the Chargers take out both the Ravens and Chiefs for us, then succumb to use in the ACCCG.  On the NFC side, Minnesota emerges so we can have the 0-4 Bowl.

[ganesh]

17 hours ago, QB Bills said:

I have zero confidence in this defense and the guy running it when it comes to the playoffs. The turnover luck will have to continue and Josh will continue to have zero margin for error for the Bills to have a chance. It's a big ask.

Playoffs are always tight...The best of the best are playing in it with high stakes. There is minimal to no margin for error.

[Buffalo Boy]

15 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

and balanced with 2nd highest scoring offense in the league.

   That is the crux of the matter. All the numbers you just listed are with an historically good O.

   Give them a middle of the road O and they are probably a bottom 5 D because teams aren’t playing catchup and unbalanced football in the process.

    This D’s only saving grace is takeaways. But, again, how would that stat look if teams weren’t forced to push the ball downfield?

[Don Otreply]

If an effort is made to defend the run, and not give up to many free yards from the line of scrimmage on opponents short pass routes we will be fine,  

 

 

GO BILLS!!!

17 hours ago, HOUSE said:

You are not watching the playoff defense yet. It's still on the blackboard. 

Agree, and I hope we are correct in this thinking, 😁👍

[eball]

My hot take?  We underestimate how much injuries have hampered this defense in certain games this year, and we’re finally getting healthy at the right time.  This is the year the defense doesn’t let us down in the playoffs.

 

[RunTheBall]

If the D-line comes to play, and we can improve that horrific 3rd down defense even a little, I think the D can do enough to give us a chance to win every game.

 

My concern is if the offense starts slow or has an off game, we will be dependent on turnovers to keep us in it and that’s just so highly variable.

 

[Freddie's Dead]

We're *****.

[JP51]

A bit scared if they don't get turnovers just fine if they do 

[BillsFan130]

43 minutes ago, eball said:

My hot take?  We underestimate how much injuries have hampered this defense in certain games this year, and we’re finally getting healthy at the right time.  This is the year the defense doesn’t let us down in the playoffs.

 

In the back 7, agreed.

 

But D line has been pretty healthy all year minus some rotational guys, and that's still The biggest concern IMO

[ProcessTruster]

18 hours ago, Chandler#81 said:

We’re not a dominating Defense by choice (also due to lack of size & talent). I think it’s predicated on the expectation that the MVP is going to score early and often, so we give the run away and concentrate on coverage more. It’s very effective when the O is humming. But when it’s not, we’re in a tough spot..

there you have it.  Well put.   As long as the roster is healthy and Josh and the O execute, the D will be fine playing their way, against anyone. 

 

 I actually tend to go get food and drink when the defense is on the field, why be concerned? .   The Offense is the show in this franchise and its not even close.  

 

And I fully expect the O to score (a lot) on anyone (as they have demonstrated for 4 months) , so we are good here.   Not an issue.   Go get the win, Bills.  

Edited January 1 by ProcessTruster

[Boatdrinks]

9 hours ago, Solomon Grundy said:

I'm more worried about the special teams

 

Can’t disagree. Bass should kick through EZ every time. Not worth the risk kicking short

[JaCrispy]

20 hours ago, US Egg said:

I feel good....

 

Too much focus on the two barn burners.    

Perhaps the focus is warranted…And if you count the Ravens game, where we got blown out, those are 3 playoff teams where our defense looked sub par…

[T master]

I'm not real sure what happened in the Rams game but that is one that got away just because that was their best game of their last 3 for the Rams meaning . It looked as if the Bills just came out flat in that game .

 

Now being mostly healthy and Babich learning from recent gaffs in his D they have been better .

 

I think the best thing Babich did was call Ed out because since then he has been playing a hole lot better and needs to keep it up if they want the success they are looking to achieve . 

[ProcessTruster]

20 hours ago, Since1981 said:

It’s all premised upon O getting started early enough to partially mute opponents run game. Pretty convinced this is the “complementary football” we hear about. 

yep, that's what it is

20 hours ago, Since1981 said:

It’s all premised upon O getting started early enough to partially mute opponents run game. Pretty convinced this is the “complementary football” we hear about. 

yep, that's what it is

20 hours ago, Since1981 said:

It’s all premised upon O getting started early enough to partially mute opponents run game. Pretty convinced this is the “complementary football” we hear about. 

yep, that's what it is

20 hours ago, Since1981 said:

It’s all premised upon O getting started early enough to partially mute opponents run game. Pretty convinced this is the “complementary football” we hear about. 

yep, that's what it is

[Beck Water]

6 hours ago, harryS said:

We can't win against the hardest possible path:  Ravens - at Chiefs - Eagles

 

Well, then.  That Settles That.  No need to play the games, I see!

[SCBills]

Pre-angry that they will let us down… again. 
 

However, a small piece of me hopes McDermott finally shows us what he can do with a healthy Defense when it matters.

 

Up to this point, there’s always been an excuse.   The only excuse he has right now is that they just aren’t good enough .. which I hear our podcasters discuss, and eh…

 

They had 6M to give to a WR made of glass..

 

We paid Ed, brought back Daquan, spent a premium pick on a DT, brought back AJ, Smoot is solid, have Rousseau, Von in the Floyd role for the Playoffs.

 

LB is in a far better position than last year with 75% Milano plus a healthy Bernard and Williams.

 

Healthy Douglas, Benford and Taron give us one of the best DB rooms in the league.

 

Rapp is just as good as what Hyde gave us last year and they’ll have to figure it out between Hamlin & Bishop (another premium defensive pick)

 

I know we have an undersized defense, but much of that is by design.  Thats what McDermott wants.. a quick, gap shooting front 7.. so figure it out. 

 

Tell me why we can’t expect them to step it up this postseason?  We should, and McDermott can really change the narrative around him if they do. 
 

Edited January 1 by SCBills

[Beck Water]

20 minutes ago, T master said:

I'm not real sure what happened in the Rams game but that is one that got away just because that was their best game of their last 3 for the Rams meaning . It looked as if the Bills just came out flat in that game .

 

I tend to agree.  I think the Rams game represented a 'perfect storm':

1) the Bills players had just won a difficult snow game the prior week - those kind of games leave the players extra bruised and sore because Highmark lacks under-field heaters so it's like playing on cement
2) the Bills players and coaches had trouble taking their "party hats" off from clinching the division to get back down to business against a team w/ a mediocre record
3) the Rams meanwhile were giving that game everything they got, with their playoff hopes on the line (and in fact, while the Rams have won every game since then, they have not managed to score more than 20 points in any of their next 3 games (44 total points in their next 3 games, as many as they scored against the Bills).  Couple ways of looking at that: either the Bills D is horridly worse than the 9ers, Jets, and Cardinals, or the Rams were extraordinarily revved up and drained themselves to get that victory

Then the next couple of weeks, the Bills were playing through a bunch of D injuries.  

 

I think the Bills D is better than the Rams and Lions game showed, but I can't say I'm not concerned by it.  I felt at the start of the season that it was not going to be a very good defense this season because they just didn't have the Hosses.  They've outplayed my expectations by A Lot, but my expectations were pretty low.

[Boatdrinks]

21 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Pre-angry that they will let us down… again. 
 

However, a small piece of me hopes McDermott finally shows us what he can do with a healthy Defense when it matters.

 

Up to this point, there’s always been an excuse.   The only excuse he has right now is that they just aren’t good enough .. which I hear our podcasters discuss, and eh…

 

They had 6M to give to a WR made of glass..

 

We paid Ed, brought back Daquan, spent a premium pick on a DT, brought back AJ, Smoot is solid, have Rousseau, Von in the Floyd role for the Playoffs.

 

LB is in a far better position than last year with 75% Milano plus a healthy Bernard and Williams.

 

Healthy Douglas, Benford and Taron give us one of the best DB rooms in the league.

 

Rapp is just as good as what Hyde gave us last year and they’ll have to figure it out between Hamlin & Bishop (another premium defensive pick)

 

I know we have an undersized defense, but much of that is by design.  Thats what McDermott wants.. a quick, gap shooting front 7.. so figure it out. 

 

Tell me why we can’t expect them to step it up this postseason?  We should, and McDermott can really change the narrative around him if they do. 
 

What we see is what we get : perhaps they just aren’t all that good. There is no magic switch to flip and step it up. Interesting that while “ pre angry” , there’s only a small part of you that hopes the defense / Bills HC is successful. That says a lot.