Personally, this Ravens matchup is my "McDermott Game."

[Rigotz]

McDermott has been at least average in the regular season. 

The playoffs are another story. Maybe this year is different.

 

Round 1 over Denver was a huge defensive win. Holding them to 7 points was impressive.

In the 7 games prior to our Wild Card matchup, the Broncos had scored 29, 41, 31, 34, 24, and 38.

 

Round 2, we face a Ravens offense that has been dominant.

If McDermott shuts down the Ravens or at least holds them under 20'ish points, that's it for me. I'll stop talking about his job security.

 

No coach can shut down every elite QB and elite offense every year and yes, he's had some poor defensive performances in the playoffs.

 

However, if he gets it done this time, I've seen enough. Bring him back with open arms next year and probably again the following year.

 

Anybody else feel the same?

[thronethinker]

Dont need to shut them down, just need to do enough to cause them to make mistakes. Lemar will crumble if they get in his head.

 

[MDH]

Just win.

 

Don’t care if it’s 13-10 or 42-40.
 

Just win. 

[Rigotz]

1 minute ago, MDH said:

Just win.

 

Don’t care if it’s 13-10 or 42-40.
 

Just win. 

 

So if the Bills win 13-10 or 42-40 it doesn't impact your feelings on McDermott at all?

 

That's surprising. To me, as a Defensive specialist, McDermott needs to show that his defense can step up in the playoffs against top competition.

[TurfToeJam]

6 minutes ago, thronethinker said:

Dont need to shut them down, just need to do enough to cause them to make mistakes. Lemar will crumble if they get in his head.

 

 

Exactly.  Our defense may not be able to stop Henry.  But if we win the turnover battle that's huge.

[appoo]

14 minutes ago, Rigotz said:

McDermott has been at least average in the regular season. 

The playoffs are another story. Maybe this year is different.

 

Round 1 over Denver was a huge defensive win. Holding them to 7 points was impressive.

In the 7 games prior to our Wild Card matchup, the Broncos had scored 29, 41, 31, 34, 24, and 38.

 

Round 2, we face a Ravens offense that has been dominant.

If McDermott shuts down the Ravens or at least holds them under 20'ish points, that's it for me. I'll stop talking about his job security.

 

No coach can shut down every elite QB and elite offense every year and yes, he's had some poor defensive performances in the playoffs.

 

However, if he gets it done this time, I've seen enough. Bring him back with open arms next year and probably again the following year.

 

Anybody else feel the same?

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills if you classify McDermott as ***** "at least average"

[julian]

Just give your offense an opportunity to win the game without having to be perfect, a short field, maybe a defensive score or just force some punts late in the game.

[billsbackto81]

I've been critical of his post season coaching schemes and decisions.  To be fair he did do a good job last year against KC with a depleted D filled with off the street players and 2nd/3rd stringers. 

 

I have to hold him to a higher standard now. This is the first time in 4 years this D goes into the playoffs nearly 💯. 

 

I understand it's a tough draw and possibly our worst match up but this is the D he chose to roll with and they're healthy.

 

Now it's time for him and Babich to make it happen. 

 

[Sojourner]

24 minutes ago, Rigotz said:

 

So if the Bills win 13-10 or 42-40 it doesn't impact your feelings on McDermott at all?

 

That's surprising. To me, as a Defensive specialist, McDermott needs to show that his defense can step up in the playoffs against top competition.

Too much talent to care about the score line. They’re more than capable of producing. Excessively. They’re easily one of the top 5 teams in the league that are from the 8 left. A win is more important than the score line imo but totally understand the view you have. There’s validity there also. 
 

This is potentially a game where who can make the singular stop to take the lead late or put some distance between themselves and the other team. 
 

The only way McD or the staff can be lambasted is if we are on the wrong end of a blowout or an absolutely crucial error that leads to a loss; a la 13 seconds. 

[Sweats]

I actually do agree with the partial strategy of owning the TOP............milk the clock, methodically move the O down the field and give our D enough time to rest.

 

With a little extra rest time for the D, i'm hoping they play a little tougher and with a little more energy especially in the 4th quarter where a well rested D can make or break outcomes.

[SoMAn]

41 minutes ago, Rigotz said:

McDermott has been at least average in the regular season. 

The playoffs are another story. Maybe this year is different.

 

Round 1 over Denver was a huge defensive win. Holding them to 7 points was impressive.

In the 7 games prior to our Wild Card matchup, the Broncos had scored 29, 41, 31, 34, 24, and 38.

 

Round 2, we face a Ravens offense that has been dominant.

If McDermott shuts down the Ravens or at least holds them under 20'ish points, that's it for me. I'll stop talking about his job security.

 

No coach can shut down every elite QB and elite offense every year and yes, he's had some poor defensive performances in the playoffs.

 

However, if he gets it done this time, I've seen enough. Bring him back with open arms next year and probably again the following year.

 

Anybody else feel the same?

I’m sure McD can sleep well tonight knowing he has your blessing to continue for at least another season as the Bills head coach. 🙄

 

Anyone who’s entertained the notion of firing McDermott is a complete idiot in my opinion. The team has won 14 of 18 games in what was expected to be a ‘transition year’ with the exodus of several key players. It would probably have been 15 of 18 if they’d played their best team against the pats. In the process, they handed defeats to the top seeded teams each conference, and also both teams from the last Super Bowl. 
But yeah, let’s start looking for McDs replacement if they lose. 
When I hear the ‘fire McDermott’ chants, I’m convinced they’re coming from the same idiots who went ballistic when the Bills chose Josh Allen rather than Josh Rosen. 

[Gman10]

41 minutes ago, TurfToeJam said:

 

Exactly.  Our defense may not be able to stop Henry.  But if we win the turnover battle that's huge.

And if we can have a lot of control time. Keep Henry and Lamar cold and on the sidelines 

[Lionel Hutz]

I agree that he needs to win this game because it would be his first playoff win against a legit contender. 

 

Unfortunately, the Bills could lose 69-0 and McDermott will still be back next year. People here would still praise him cause he wins the division every season. 

[gonzo1105]

It is until the next week where fans call for his head

[msw2112]

57 minutes ago, Rigotz said:

 

So if the Bills win 13-10 or 42-40 it doesn't impact your feelings on McDermott at all?

 

That's surprising. To me, as a Defensive specialist, McDermott needs to show that his defense can step up in the playoffs against top competition.

 

At this point in his Bills career, I really don't care if McDermott has a background as a defensive coordinator.  As head coach, he's responsible for the whole team, and for what it's worth he's delegated the DC responsibilities to Babich.

 

As long as the team finds a way to win, I'll be happy with the head coach.  In recent years, teams with good defenses really haven't shut down opponents with good offenses in the playoffs.  Defenses are not holding strong offenses under 21 points (or under 3 scores).  The last two Super Bowls, for example, were 25-22 (moderate scoring) and 38-25 (high scoring).  The more achievable goal, rather than shutting down a potent offense, is the old "complimentary football" cliche.  The defense has to do enough to slow the opponents' offense that will allow its offense to score more points than the other team (not trying to state the obvious).  Force a punt here or there and/or hold a potential TD drive to a FG.  Create a turnover or 2.  The offense has to (as mentioned above) control the clock enough to keep the defense rested and effective.  If the Bills defense makes one critical stop late in the game to allow them to win 42-40, then they've done their job.  I just don't see a defense out there that's going to stop Buffalo, Kansas City, Baltimore, Detroit, LA Rams, Philadelphia, etc. from scoring a fair number of points in the playoffs.

Edited 2 hours ago by msw2112

[Mikie2times]

Give me an argument that doesn't involve the regular season for him to be the guy. He has a chance to do that with a strong defensive showing.

[eball]

McDermott is 6-6 in the playoffs (6-5 with Josh).  In the playoffs you’re always playing another playoff team (duh), so an above-.500 record can’t (or shouldn’t) be considered “bad.”

 

We all want to reach the next level.  A lot has to go right to get there.  Our head coach is not the problem.

 

[DCofNC]

1 hour ago, Rigotz said:

 

So if the Bills win 13-10 or 42-40 it doesn't impact your feelings on McDermott at all?

 

That's surprising. To me, as a Defensive specialist, McDermott needs to show that his defense can step up in the playoffs against top competition.

No, I don’t care, there are no moral victories. Win the game. 

[Don Otreply]

40 minutes ago, SoMAn said:

I’m sure McD can sleep well tonight knowing he has your blessing to continue for at least another season as the Bills head coach. 🙄

 

Anyone who’s entertained the notion of firing McDermott is a complete idiot in my opinion. The team has won 14 of 18 games in what was expected to be a ‘transition year’ with the exodus of several key players. It would probably have been 15 of 18 if they’d played their best team against the pats. In the process, they handed defeats to the top seeded teams each conference, and also both teams from the last Super Bowl. 
But yeah, let’s start looking for McDs replacement if they lose. 
When I hear the ‘fire McDermott’ chants, I’m convinced they’re coming from the same idiots who went ballistic when the Bills chose Josh Allen rather than Josh Rosen. 

It’s great when fans who actually don’t know sh-t about coaching an NFL team talk out their aszses, 

 

We fans say some of the most stupid things.., 

 

Sure I’ve wanted to fie him, for like fifteen minutes after a loss, but that’s just fan frustration bubbling over, 

 

Sean isn’t going anywhere, his seat isn’t remotely warm. If you don’t believe me, ask Terry Pegula, 

Edited 1 hour ago by Don Otreply

[Mikie2times]

23 minutes ago, eball said:

McDermott is 6-6 in the playoffs (6-5 with Josh).  In the playoffs you’re always playing another playoff team (duh), so an above-.500 record can’t (or shouldn’t) be considered “bad.”

 

We all want to reach the next level.  A lot has to go right to get there.  Our head coach is not the problem.

 

We are 0-6 against seeds 1-4 under McD

 

Lets not pretend people who questions his ability to lead us to a Super Bowl are wildly irrational.