Bills vs Ravens Divisional Round

[CaseyatBat]

30 minutes ago, klos63 said:

Tucker is 22 -30 this season.  He's not very reliable this year. 

 

I hope he is not reliable sunday but those numbers are skewed by some early season struggles.

 

Tucker has been kicking much better the second half of the year and his track record speaks for itself. Until Bass stops blowing big opportunities he wont get the benefit of the doubt like Tucker.

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

19 hours ago, Chugga said:

I say bring the MVP trophy to the game and whoever walks out winner grabs the trophy.

Let Lamar have the MVP. I’d rather Allen get the dub 

[uninja]

4 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said:

I hope you’re right, but I’m not sure about that. HOU played like a one and done imo. The Chargers were just worse! A good team might have been up 21 -0 against the Texans and won going away. I’d love a Texans win, but I think they have to play a lot cleaner and a lot better than they did Saturday to notch a win at Arrowhead. 

 

Texans have always played the Chiefs tough, and were doing well against them until Dell's knee exploded. I don't know that their receiver situation is advantageous and their o-line is definitely shaky at times but Stroud has made it work when he has to through that. I give them a slim chance of beating the chiefs, but the Texans are one of those teams like the Bengals that manages to give them fits.

[GaryPinC]

12 hours ago, ghostwriter said:

I think Buffalo needs to control the TOP. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry need to be off the field as much as possible. 

Honestly, I felt like they purposefully did that against the Broncos and will do it throughout the playoffs to protect their D.  Eat up the clock on offense, they're good enough and Josh is smart enough.  If a team get us out of that, I'll know it's trouble.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

48 minutes ago, Motorin' said:

 

I mean, if the Bills play dime all day against the Ravens heavy sets they'll rush for 300 yards. 

 

If it's cold and snowy, I'd love to see the Bills play a 5 man line with just one deep safety. Literally a 5-3 defense (with TJ at his normal spot.) 

 

Make Lamar throw the ball in 10 degree weather and do not let them run. 

I just used the dime thing as an example. I have no idea what McD is scheming up. 
 

But I do think they are going to have to be fast enough on the edge to stop those Lamar read options. 

[mbowman14]

I feel homefield is much more important vs the Ravens than the Chiefs.  Reasons:

1. Bills have proven multiple times during the regular season that they can win at Arrowhead and while their fans are great, Bills seem to relish that environment.  Also, would have won a playoff game there if not for that period of time which shall not be named.

2. The Ravens feed off their home crowd and I feel that stadium with all of the darkness resembles a dark alley fight for which the Bills are not designed.

3. I don't think Highmark has much impact on Mahomes..he is seemingly unflappable.  I do think the crowd and some mistakes can snowball on Lamar and my hope is that is what happens Sunday night. 

[GreenMtnBillsFan]

9 minutes ago, GaryPinC said:

Honestly, I felt like they purposefully did that against the Broncos and will do it throughout the playoffs to protect their D.  Eat up the clock on offense, they're good enough and Josh is smart enough.  If a team get us out of that, I'll know it's trouble.

Agreed! I feel like that's been the Bills blueprint and evolution this season that we're seeing come into full form. Eat clock on offense by having a ton of options to keep drives moving, this in turn helps Josh stay efficient and still able to make Josh magic happen when the times come. Then if we can control the game and get ahead, our defense can start teeing off for negative yards and turnovers, especially once they make 2nd half adjustments. 

 

What makes things dicey is if the game script gets away from us (like it did in Week 4) and we're the ones playing catch up. Josh can keep us in any game, but the other elements become much harder to execute if we're down multiple scores. I think the boys know that though are more prepared to take it to Baltimore and not let them take over the game. it will be a tough one, but Go Bills, let's keep this train running! 

[Motorin']

6 minutes ago, mbowman14 said:

I feel homefield is much more important vs the Ravens than the Chiefs.  Reasons:

1. Bills have proven multiple times during the regular season that they can win at Arrowhead and while their fans are great, Bills seem to relish that environment.  Also, would have won a playoff game there if not for that period of time which shall not be named.

2. The Ravens feed off their home crowd and I feel that stadium with all of the darkness resembles a dark alley fight for which the Bills are not designed.

3. I don't think Highmark has much impact on Mahomes..he is seemingly unflappable.  I do think the crowd and some mistakes can snowball on Lamar and my hope is that is what happens Sunday night. 

 

I'd add a 4. The Bills Defence gets a ton of energy from the home crowd. Going to need to make some stops. 

[Buddy Hix]

I want this win for Josh so bad. Allen is such a great player but is taken for granted outside of Bills Mafia. I understand why Lamar is going to get the MVP, but it still irks me that Allen doesn’t get the respect he deserves.

 

McD should be coaching for his job Sunday. A fourth consecutive divisional round loss is unacceptable. But I’m aware that Pegs won’t can a coach who brings in two home playoff games…

[HopelessNJBuffaloFan]

This should be a good game that can go either way. I honestly do not think we are SB team. It is not that we are bad, it is just that there are better teams. Can we get to and win the SB? Yes, but so can the rest of the teams left. Going to be an interesting playoffs.

[stevewin]

55 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said:

I hope you’re right, but I’m not sure about that. HOU played like a one and done imo. The Chargers were just worse! A good team might have been up 21 -0 against the Texans and won going away. I’d love a Texans win, but I think they have to play a lot cleaner and a lot better than they did Saturday to notch a win at Arrowhead. 

I also can see Stroud folding in the big game and the team following - despite all the crowning given to him by the media as a rookie as the next coming he just doesn't give off that steely it factor to me

[Boatdrinks]

6 minutes ago, Buddy Hix said:

I want this win for Josh so bad. Allen is such a great player but is taken for granted outside of Bills Mafia. I understand why Lamar is going to get the MVP, but it still irks me that Allen doesn’t get the respect he deserves.

 

McD should be coaching for his job Sunday. A fourth consecutive divisional round loss is unacceptable. But I’m aware that Pegs won’t can a coach who brings in two home playoff games…

I believe you have to look at replacing the HC if the Bills fail to reach the AFC title game. ( I think they find a way to beat the Ravens in OP, but maybe that’s just my fandom). Is it really about 2 home playoff games or is it about the success it takes on the field to get those games? I’d say it’s the latter. If you replace McD, it has to be with a HC that’s proven - ie led a team to a SB win. Is that guy available-Belichick ( buyout?) Gruden ? Who is there? Many hotshot coordinators have failed as HC’s. It’s a different job. 

[Scott7975]

3 hours ago, Sojourner said:

There was a stat I read the other day going into the WC about their passing defense and how it’s almost flipped the last few games as a result of them changing the role Kyle Hamilton had. They’ve played him more on the back end role at safety rather than the slot/box and apparently it’s paying off dividends since week 12. 
 

Since that period they apparently ranked first in nearly every major statistical category. 

 

Their defense has definitely improved over the year but have to deep dive their schedule to see if just the switch made a difference or their quality of opponent played into that.  Its much like the vaunted Broncos D everyone talked about but left out that they got burned by elite offenses pretty consistently.

I didnt deep dive them too much but I know in that time period they played the Browns, Steelers, Giants, Texans. Thats 4 of the 6 games. 3 of those teams are garbage on offense. Texans arent garbage on offense but over rated with their skill players mostly all sidelined.

[strive_for_five_guy]

35 minutes ago, GaryPinC said:

Honestly, I felt like they purposefully did that against the Broncos and will do it throughout the playoffs to protect their D.  Eat up the clock on offense, they're good enough and Josh is smart enough.  If a team get us out of that, I'll know it's trouble.

Agree, this team is happy to run so long as the other team can’t stop it.  Baltimore is very tough against the run, arguably better than Denver at it.  I’d be surprised if we’re able to be as successful running next week, but Brady will no doubt plan for that too.  The Ravens have some solid players in their secondary (Hamilton is a great safety), but don’t have Patrick Surtain.  I’d expect we need to open up the passing game more next week than we needed to against Denver, but we’ll see.

[DapperCam]

31 minutes ago, mbowman14 said:

I feel homefield is much more important vs the Ravens than the Chiefs.  Reasons:

1. Bills have proven multiple times during the regular season that they can win at Arrowhead and while their fans are great, Bills seem to relish that environment.  Also, would have won a playoff game there if not for that period of time which shall not be named.

2. The Ravens feed off their home crowd and I feel that stadium with all of the darkness resembles a dark alley fight for which the Bills are not designed.

3. I don't think Highmark has much impact on Mahomes..he is seemingly unflappable.  I do think the crowd and some mistakes can snowball on Lamar and my hope is that is what happens Sunday night. 

Another reason: Lamar Jackson hates the cold. When it’s like 50 degrees he’s in a full ski mask. Forecast for next Sunday has a low of 12, and it’s a night game.

 

Bills players probably don’t love the cold, but they are used to it by now.

Edited Monday at 05:46 PM by DapperCam

[Scott7975]

1 hour ago, Boatdrinks said:

I hope you’re right, but I’m not sure about that. HOU played like a one and done imo. The Chargers were just worse! A good team might have been up 21 -0 against the Texans and won going away. I’d love a Texans win, but I think they have to play a lot cleaner and a lot better than they did Saturday to notch a win at Arrowhead. 

 

The only chance the Texans have is if KC comes out rusty from not playing for 21 days and the Texans can take advantage and build up a big lead. I doubt they can take advantage though. They are so over rated.

[HomeskillitMoorman]

Josh is probably going to have to wear the cape in this one

[90sBills]

4 minutes ago, Scott7975 said:

 

The only chance the Texans have is if KC comes out rusty from not playing for 21 days and the Texans can take advantage and build up a big lead. I doubt they can take advantage though. They are so over rated.

Exactly. Like the last time when they met in the playoffs and the Texans jumped out to a 24-0 lead because of KC’s mistakes. That led to…oh wait. Nevermind. 

[paulmm3]

Carl Cheffers and crew will be calling the game. That's fine. Feels like they're saving Shawn Hochuli for his bff Kansas City AFC championship game assignment but we'll take it week by week.

[YoloinOhio]

20 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said:

I believe you have to look at replacing the HC if the Bills fail to reach the AFC title game. ( I think they find a way to beat the Ravens in OP, but maybe that’s just my fandom). Is it really about 2 home playoff games or is it about the success it takes on the field to get those games? I’d say it’s the latter. If you replace McD, it has to be with a HC that’s proven - ie led a team to a SB win. Is that guy available-Belichick ( buyout?) Gruden ? Who is there? Many hotshot coordinators have failed as HC’s. It’s a different job. 

This is going to come up a lot if they lose and I’m not saying the sentiment is incorrect, or that they shouldn’t,  but I feel 100% confident that the pegulas will not move on from McD if they lose to Baltimore. So it’s not even worth all the debate. JMO