AFC Championship Game Week Thread - Bills at Chiefs

[Straight Hucklebuck]

2 minutes ago, Process said:

This whole Milano situation is so strange and makes very little sense. I had seen McDermotts comments but just saw Babichs response. The way they both responded makes it seems like he took himself out of the game, which is hard to believe. Very curious to see if he is practicing today. 

His last play he is a mirror on Lamar as he is flushed left, he takes off full speed at Lamar and pushes him down, and Banged up Bills said he limps, but I've watched it several times and it cuts off from both angles right after Lamar hits the ground so I didn't see any limp. 

[Process]

2 minutes ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

His last play he is a mirror on Lamar as he is flushed left, he takes off full speed at Lamar and pushes him down, and Banged up Bills said he limps, but I've watched it several times and it cuts off from both angles right after Lamar hits the ground so I didn't see any limp. 

An injury would make sense...until you hear the comments from the coaches. Never seen anything like it from them. 

[Magox]

2 hours ago, mjt328 said:

 

If you want to know what happened with Stefon Diggs, just look at Amari Cooper's production.

He is currently in the spot that Diggs would have been occupying.

 

Last year, Diggs saw his usage/numbers completely fall off a cliff when Joe Brady took over as coordinator.  He clearly saw the writing on the wall that it was going to be the same in 2024, and he wanted no part of it.  The offense was shifting into a more balanced attack, more checkdowns, less downfield passing and most importantly, no more forcing him the ball.  

 

Based on how Brandon Beane approached free agency and the cheap compensation we got back, I don't think he ever planned on trading him. Diggs forced his way out the door.  The Bills were mostly willing to deal with the temper tantrums, cryptic posts, blow-ups and degrading relationship with his quarterback.  They excused his toxic behavior as just being an emotional player who really wanted to win.  

 

As the year has progressed, I think we are now seeing Diggs exit as a blessing in disguise.  Despite his talent, his attitude was a cancer to the locker room.  There were moments when we missed his ability early in the year, but Cooper has now filled that role.  He is perfectly happy to draw away defensive coverage, and just make the clutch plays when he's called upon.  Doesn't need 100 catches and 1200 yards receiving.  Just wants a ring.

 

 

I've been making a similar point, there are people on the board who want to allocate premium resources on a boundary WR, I do think they are still important but for this team they are not as important than other teams.  It doesn't make sense to go after a super high value WR in FA or to trade up to get one under this teams current offensive construct.    Resources should be invested appropriate to the utilization of the importance of that position to the team.   

 

Outside of Josh Allen, the offensive line is the most important position groupings for the offense.  Even though boundary WR's will be important to any team in the NFL, it's not as high with the Bills than others. Getting good competent guys who can catch, block, get some separation, make some contested catches who won't demand the ball is all that is required from the position.   

 

With that said, Brady could end up leaving the team and then you get another coach who places more emphasis to the boundary WR's could step in.   As far as this next year is concerned, I think I would opt out of trying to retain Amari and look to maybe trade for Cooper Kupp or wait for him to be released, he fits what the Bills are looking for on all aspects that is important to what they want out of the receivers, he can do it all and is versatile and he shouldn't cost a lot of cap money and draft capital and I think he would be more effective for this team than Amari.

[Big Turk]

 

Brilliant design for a few reasons...

 

First, it occupies a blocker because he has to respect the fact that player is up on the LOS and could be rushing. This prevents double teams and gives their players a 1-1 matchup in at least 2 spots even when only rushing 3.

 

Second, it allows the Bills to send pressure from one side by overloading it and then have a defender ready to fire freely once the QB flushes to that side.

 

Third, the LB almost is "hiding" behind the big OLine so Mahomes may lose sight of him as he moves around the pocket and as he steps up, there that player is coming free through a hole to tackle him. Kinda like what happens on the Bernard sack where Mahomes is running thinking he has space and here comes Bernard full speed from a short distance away and he has no chance.

 

Would be shocked if the Bills don't deploy this a lot in this game.

Edited 3 hours ago by Big Turk

[Dan]

37 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

There's a bit more to unpack there I think.  Some media guys who know ball, like Greg Cosell, were saying that Diggs simply wasn't a #1 WR in the league any more by the end of last season (in terms of his ability to release and his speed downfield).  Whether he started the season that way and physically wore down, can't say. 

But it's a fact that by the end of 2022 under Dorsey and with Diggs being force-fed (for example) we weren't seeing the production the latter half of the season.  Was that Allen's UCL?  Was that Diggs wearing down?  Dunno - but Diggs started the season with 7 of 9 games being over (or close to) 100 yds.  He finished the season with 2 of 7.  And that's under Dorsey.

 

Last season under Brady, Diggs was still targeted 11 times each against Philly and KC.  He caught 6 (55%) and 4 (36%)

Some posters here with some connections were saying it was an "open secret" as far back as the Senior Bowl last year that the Bills were trying to trade Stefon Diggs.

As far as Amari Cooper goes, I think the Bills expected to get more production from him albeit not "Diggs as a focal point" levels.  Out of his 8 games with us, he's had 4 over 50 yds and I think that's what the Bills were banking on, 3-4 receptions a game for 50+ yds.  He has missed 3 games, 2 with injury and returned playing in a cast.  I do wonder if he's still dealing with nagging injuries that are slowing him down.  

 

Or maybe at age 30, like a lot of players, he's finding that all the bruises and dings add up during the season.

 

It's hard to tell from the televised broadcast, but I believe I've seen him open at times when Josh went elsewhere with the ball.  The throw to Shakir over the middle of the field vs the Ravens, wasn't Cooper beating his guy down the R sideline?

That was Coleman.  

[GoBills808]

30 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

 

 

It's hard to tell from the televised broadcast, but I believe I've seen him open at times when Josh went elsewhere with the ball.  The throw to Shakir over the middle of the field vs the Ravens, wasn't Cooper beating his guy down the R sideline?

 

no Cooper is bracketed up top, Coleman is coming open tho...Allen takes his go-to guy after seeing safety shaded to Cooper's side

 

it's a big time throw. The trajectory and the placement are very very impressive...I think the tendency is to want to rifle it in there and take the safety out of the play but instead he layers the easy catch right into Shakir's chest

 

[Beck Water]

9 minutes ago, Dan said:

That was Coleman.  

 

Negative.  #18.  Coleman (#0) was busy being embrangled at the LOS with the guy who was covering him.

Although on further review, Cooper was so open because the back covering him (Wiggins?) saw Kincaid uncovering and expected Allen to throw to him, so he turned and looked back.

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

21 minutes ago, Process said:

An injury would make sense...until you hear the comments from the coaches. Never seen anything like it from them. 

I’m thinking he was just completely gassed and didn’t want to be a liability on the last few plays.  Seems like  a coach wouldn’t want to make that public if true.  I could def be wrong though it’s just a wild guess lol 

Edited 3 hours ago by Generic_Bills_Fan

[Jeffbigalls]

Perhaps nantz will get to repeat summerals iconic "There will be no 3 peat" from the end of the 1990 NFC title game (one of the greatest games in NFL history) 

[Beck Water]

19 hours ago, boyst said:

jst saw this and it is spot on. he was looking all over, head on a swivel and over thinking/asked to do too much. babich should have noticed this, so should mcdermott.

 

i expect this week to be different. i expect some 4-3 packages - and even some dime with cam lewis coming in over milano (if banged up) and/or bernard. cam lewis showed he can stick with kelce last year.

 

Bernard does not come off the field in the Bills dime package.  He has the green dot and calls/sets up the defense.  No chance we see Cam Lewis coming in over Bernard.

 

This week may be "different" but the Bills played 4-3 on 32% of the defensive snaps against the Ravens - I don't see them doing that as much against KC frankly.

 

TBN ran an article breaking down the defensive formations and I pulled some quotes from it about the coverages if you want to look for my post.

Edited 3 hours ago by Beck Water

[Steptide]

 

[Fleezoid]

29 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

Brilliant design for a few reasons...

 

First, it occupies a blocker because he has to respect the fact that player is up on the LOS and could be rushing. This prevents double teams and gives their players a 1-1 matchup in at least 2 spots even when only rushing 3.

 

Second, it allows the Bills to send pressure from one side by overloading it and then have a defender ready to fire freely once the QB flushes to that side.

 

Third, the LB almost is "hiding" behind the big OLine so Mahomes may lose sight of him as he moves around the pocket and as he steps up, there that player is coming free through a hole to tackle him. Kinda like what happens on the Bernard sack where Mahomes is running thinking he has space and here comes Bernard full speed from a short distance away and he has no chance.

 

Would be shocked if the Bills don't deploy this a lot in this game.

 

Huge point. Got to keep Mahomes from eusing! Too many eushing yards will kill the Bills. 

[Big Turk]

4 minutes ago, Fleezoid said:

 

Huge point. Got to keep Mahomes from eusing! Too many eushing yards will kill the Bills. 

 

Not sure what eushing is, but I agree!

[Magox]

34 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

Brilliant design for a few reasons...

 

First, it occupies a blocker because he has to respect the fact that player is up on the LOS and could be rushing. This prevents double teams and gives their players a 1-1 matchup in at least 2 spots even when only rushing 3.

 

Second, it allows the Bills to send pressure from one side by overloading it and then have a defender ready to fire freely once the QB flushes to that side.

 

Third, the LB almost is "hiding" behind the big OLine so Mahomes may lose sight of him as he moves around the pocket and as he steps up, there that player is coming free through a hole to tackle him. Kinda like what happens on the Bernard sack where Mahomes is running thinking he has space and here comes Bernard full speed from a short distance away and he has no chance.

 

Would be shocked if the Bills don't deploy this a lot in this game.

 

 

What was encouraging about this aside from its effectiveness is that they used Dorian WIlliams and Bernard as the spy on different occasions.    They should absolutely do that between the LB's, don't make it predictable who the spy will be and that will help make pre snap reads more difficult for Mahomes to diagnose.

[Dan]

20 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

Negative.  #18.  Coleman (#0) was busy being embrangled at the LOS with the guy who was covering him.

Although on further review, Cooper was so open because the back covering him (Wiggins?) saw Kincaid uncovering and expected Allen to throw to him, so he turned and looked back.

Look at the screen grab right above you.  Zoom in.    It’s 0, Coleman.    (Unless we’re talking about different plays)

1 minute ago, Magox said:

 

 

What was encouraging about this aside from its effectiveness is that they used Dorian WIlliams and Bernard as the spy on different occasions.    They should absolutely do that between the LB's, don't make it predictable who the spy will be and that will help make pre snap reads more difficult for Mahomes to diagnose.

Agreed.. I like the way they mixed it up.    Has a defense ever spied 2 players?   In this case I’m thinking Mahomes and Kelce. 

[GoBills808]

10 minutes ago, Steptide said:

 

do they load up confetti for the visitors? i honestly do not know

[eball]

On 1/21/2025 at 10:29 AM, Logic said:

I joked about it earlier in this thread, but the Bills need to find the "chip on their shoulder" this week.

You and I and everyone else can find the notion of needing extra motivation in such a big game silly. But we saw, and had it confirmed by multiple players, how impactful the media all picking the Ravens, the Jerry Coleman comments, etc was for the Bills players. Allen mentioned it right after the game. Just about every pro athlete is motivated by perceived disrespect, and our team seems ESPECIALLY motivated by it. They THRIVE as underdogs. You and I can think that's silly, but that's the reality.

Meanwhile, you have Andy Reid saying to the press yesterday "I presume the Bills will be favored, but that's okay, we'll do what we do". He's already planting the seeds in his players' minds that THEY'RE the underdogs. Nevermind that they were a one loss one-seed. I GUARANTEE that they'll be painting themselves as the underdogs all week in their locker room. 

 

So I hope the media doubts the Bills loudly and repeatedly all week, harps on how Josh CAN'T beat Mahomes in the playoffs, etc. 

The Bills need to find their chip for this week. 
 

 

Funny, I heard that Reid quote also and immediately thought "well, well, well, let the games begin."  He really doesn't have any other choice.  What else is he going to tell his team?  They're back-to-back SB champs.  He's got to come up with something.  As I said last week, extra motivation does matter to these guys.

 

The good news is that regardless of what imaginary "chip" KC is placing upon their shoulders, the Bills don't have to manufacture one; KC is the last obstacle in their path towards writing their own story.

 

 

[YoloinOhio]

3 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

do they load up confetti for the visitors? i honestly do not know

I don’t think so. Will have to look back at the Bengals win there from a few years ago 

Edited 3 hours ago by YoloinOhio

[Beck Water]

57 minutes ago, Process said:

This whole Milano situation is so strange and makes very little sense. I had seen McDermotts comments but just saw Babichs response. The way they both responded makes it seems like he took himself out of the game, which is hard to believe. Very curious to see if he is practicing today. 

 

What were McDermott's comments and what was Babich's response?

 

This guy reported that Milano did go into the blue Medical tent at some point of the game:

Milano missed 8 snaps of the game.  5 of them were because the Bills were running a 4-1-6 dime.  (they also ran a 3-2-6 dime)

So he missed 3 snaps, potentially, due to injury.  

Banged Up Bills thinks it was the play where he chased down Jackson:

Someone did report that he went into the Blue Tent earlier in the game, so he may have had something looked at there and tweaked or re-injured it.

Banged Up comments that he was seen in the locker room putting weight on his R leg.

 

Keep in mind at the point they were doing their media availability, the coaches only have the very highest-level injury info from the game.  They're notified that a player goes into concussion protocol.  They're notified if a starter is declared "out" of the game (which apparently Rapp was).  Other than that, Monday is when players make their way in to the facility for evaluation and treatment or tests, and the coaches are busy wrapping up any learnings from film of the game they just played, then power-watching film from the next opponent.

Players who have talked about Toradol say they don't feel the injury during the game or even Monday, but Tuesday.....

Edited 3 hours ago by Beck Water

[Logic]

1 minute ago, eball said:

 

Funny, I heard that Reid quote also and immediately thought "well, well, well, let the games begin."  He really doesn't have any other choice.  What else is he going to tell his team?  They're back-to-back SB champs.  He's got to come up with something.  As I said last week, extra motivation does matter to these guys.

 

The good news is that regardless of what imaginary "chip" KC is placing upon their shoulders, the Bills don't have to manufacture one; KC is the last obstacle in their path towards writing their own story.

 

 

The Chiefs are always the funniest ones with this "no one believes in us" stuff.

Like...I get it. Every team searches for motivation in this stuff. Seemingly every pro athlete on planet earth is motivated by it.

But I guarantee that if the Chiefs win the Super Bowl this season, you're gonna hear a bunch of "no one believed in us" and "been doubting us all year" stuff coming out of their mouths. Yes. The 15-2, 1-seed, back-to-back champion Chiefs. No one believed in you. Sure. But you'll hear it! Its a lead pipe lock!

Athletes are so funny, man...