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

[LABILLBACKER]

1 hour ago, ganesh said:

It is also possible that those coaches who won the ONE super bowl put in a different approach that year and then were never able to replicate it.  

 

The question with McDermott is - if you know he cannot get you over the hump, then what are you playing for -  Moral victories in regular season ?

Unfortunately it seems like 60-70% of our current fan base are content with regular season accomplishments.

[Dr.Sack]

I’m confident going into the game that McDermott will do what he must to shut down the Ravens run game. 

[HerdMentality]

[Mister Defense]

18 hours ago, Mister Defense said:

 

Just a quick clarifying question, based on this statement in your OP: 

 

"If McDermott shuts down the Ravens or at least holds them under 20'ish points, that's it for me."

 

In order for McDermott to keep his job next year as the Bills' head coach, your statement above seems to clearly imply that if the Bills win this game 41-38 McDermott should not be back as the head coach next year. Or, 51-45, 35-34 etcetera

 

As that type of victory by the Bills would definitely mean the Bills did not 'shut down the Ravens' or 'at least hold them to under 20'ish points'

 

Is my point accurate or is it just a misinterpretation of your generous, well thought out criteria for McDermott to hold onto his job?

 

It is something I want to know before the game and I am sure McDermott has been thinking the same thing since you created the OP.

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

Hey, Mr./Mrs. Rigotz,

 

Are you going to answer these important questions, above???

 

Like I said there, it seems very very clear in your OP that a win today is not enough for McDermott to keep his job, but that only an extremely specific type of win will meet your criteria and enable McDermott to keep coaching here next year. And  possibly beyond.

 

Can you confirm this, clarify this?

 

The game is today and we need to know!.

 

 

 

Thanks again for your time.

 

 

 

 

 

[Mikie2times]

Curious how people view this one with his legacy. I was hoping to get something a little more definitive . On one hand, we did a really good job taking away the run early. On another, we allowed 25 with 3 turnovers. Nearly 7 yards a play again, it seemed like they could do whatever they wanted in the 2nd half. I will lay off him until this run is over. But it was the type of win where it feels like we really didn’t learn a lot more and I thought we would going in. 

[Taro Nimbus]

Just now, Mikie2times said:

Curious how people view this one with his legacy. I was hoping to get something a little more definitive . On one hand, we did a really good job taking away the run early. On another, we allowed 25 with 3 turnovers. Nearly 7 yards a play again, it seemed like they could do whatever they wanted in the 2nd half. I will lay off him until this run is over. But it was the type of win where it feels like we really didn’t learn a lot more and I thought we would going in. 

It was a tough game against arguably the best team in the AFC.   By best I mean scariest.    

[Nelius]

Initial reaction is it’s a course correction and growth which seems in-line with McD this year. Being more aggressive, etc. Seems he’s turned a corner, maybe even intentionally. Feels like he’s been preparing for this for months 

 

Can’t do anything but give him credit for a victory like this. Certainly not a negative or a non commital shrug. They stopped Henry and Lamar, I’m good 

[Pecos Bills]

3 minutes ago, Mikie2times said:

Curious how people view this one with his legacy. I was hoping to get something a little more definitive . On one hand, we did a really good job taking away the run early. On another, we allowed 25 with 3 turnovers. Nearly 7 yards a play again, it seemed like they could do whatever they wanted in the 2nd half. I will lay off him until this run is over. But it was the type of win where it feels like we really didn’t learn a lot more and I thought we would going in. 

A little more definitive?? That’s an actual playoff win against a really tough opponent, c’mon man.

[Nelius]

1 minute ago, Pecos Bills said:

A little more definitive?? That’s an actual playoff win against a really tough opponent, c’mon man.

A close one as the underdog as well. Trying to answer the question but Double Mike is goal post mover extraordinaire, and this was some laughably quick movement 

[FireChans]

7 minutes ago, Mikie2times said:

Curious how people view this one with his legacy. I was hoping to get something a little more definitive . On one hand, we did a really good job taking away the run early. On another, we allowed 25 with 3 turnovers. Nearly 7 yards a play again, it seemed like they could do whatever they wanted in the 2nd half. I will lay off him until this run is over. But it was the type of win where it feels like we really didn’t learn a lot more and I thought we would going in. 

Probably the best win of McD’s postseason career tbh.

 

next week would supplant it. 
 

Im hoping he goes 2-0.

[Mikie2times]

1 minute ago, Pecos Bills said:

A little more definitive?? That’s an actual playoff win against a really tough opponent, c’mon man.

I don’t know that I saw anything today that was incredibly different than the past on defense. It was a huge win. We allowed about the same level of production we have been in the past but we got the turnovers and the drop. First half game plan was really good. Especially in shutting the run game down. Ravens looked like they ran out of time. 

[Nelius]

2 minutes ago, Mikie2times said:

I don’t know that I saw anything today that was incredibly different than the past on defense. It was a huge win. We allowed about the same level of production we have been in the past but we got the turnovers and the drop. First half game plan was really good. Especially in shutting the run game down. Ravens looked like they ran out of time. 

“The Drop”

 

tell us how you really feel Mike.

 

and running out of time is called coaching football. You know, what McD has been killed for on here for 3+ years

[FireChans]

4 minutes ago, Mikie2times said:

I don’t know that I saw anything today that was incredibly different than the past on defense. It was a huge win. We allowed about the same level of production we have been in the past but we got the turnovers and the drop. First half game plan was really good. Especially in shutting the run game down. Ravens looked like they ran out of time. 

The first half defense was the best defensive half McD has had in the divisional round since 2020.

 

I think we all saw that first LJ TD and thought "here we go again."

 

I'm not sure what you wanted with Hamlin/Bishop on the backend tbh. They forced 3 TO's.  The Ravens never had the ball with the chance to take the lead after the 1st Q.

 

It wasn't perfect or pretty, for sure. BB's HoF SB gameplan came down to a missed FG.  Doing just enough to beat a great opponent is the way it goes.

[DCofNC]

45 minutes ago, Mikie2times said:

Curious how people view this one with his legacy. I was hoping to get something a little more definitive . On one hand, we did a really good job taking away the run early. On another, we allowed 25 with 3 turnovers. Nearly 7 yards a play again, it seemed like they could do whatever they wanted in the 2nd half. I will lay off him until this run is over. But it was the type of win where it feels like we really didn’t learn a lot more and I thought we would going in. 

My only complaint is they appeared to let off on all the pressure in the 2nd half, need to stay with it, keep QBs out of rhythm and keep running up the score, don’t let it be as close as this was

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

That's what's funny, the Bills were the underdog at home, most of the country was picking the Ravens, add to that most everyone talked about this being a bad matchup for Bills, and Ravens were best team in AFC.

 

But yet if the Bills lost, McD needs to go!

 

(And yes being underdog just reflects how people bet, but people wouldn't bet that way if they didn't think Ravens were going to win)

[billsfan714]

Ive been critical of McD in the past, but he heard the criticism and didnt stay in or open in nickel.  It was a more aggressive D for sure.   You cant criticized what worked today.   Lets do it again next week.

[ganesh]

57 minutes ago, Nelius said:

Initial reaction is it’s a course correction and growth which seems in-line with McD this year. Being more aggressive, etc. Seems he’s turned a corner, maybe even intentionally. Feels like he’s been preparing for this for months 

 

Can’t do anything but give him credit for a victory like this. Certainly not a negative or a non commital shrug. They stopped Henry and Lamar, I’m good 

This !

[TrentEdwardsCheckDownOn4th]

Mcdermott coached a hell of a game today. 

[cgg716]

Mcdermott has shown growth. And maybe he's able to ride it out for 8 quarters, but he's final piece of growth, the hardest one for many coaches. The style of play he knows and loves, is of a bygone era. Every off-season has been spent putting capital into an antiquated system. Especially with the direction the league is headed. Maybe they hoist the big one in spite of it, but he still needs to adapt 

[appoo]

And this is my McDermott moment:

 

https://bsky.app/profile/proant.bsky.social/post/3lg5fwap5222g