Can You Continue to Move Forward if Your Defense Relies on Turnovers to Succeed?

[Rich Stadium Original]

Let's not forget that the Ravens moved the ball up and down the field at will, and with the exception of the nice punch out fumble on Andrews, most of their errors were self inflicted.  Aside from the turnovers and kneel down at the end of the half. The Bills never forced a punt...the Ravens scored on every other drive. In the second half, the pass rush was non existent. Nearly 500 yards of total offense.

  Going forward, (I know we've been saying this all season) if the Bills continue to rely on turnovers and the other team plays a clean game this time, they may be setting themselves up for failure.

KC probably isn't the offensive juggernaut they have been in past seasons, but if the Bills were to face the Eagles in the SB, they have an RB that is on a tear this year, and an O line that's probably bigger and better than the one they just faced.

  

[Doc]

Yes.  Next question.

[BruceVilanch]

It appears so

[Ya Digg?]

I feel like this thread has been started roughly 13 or 14 times this year. One more time and I will have filled up my punch card and I get a free ice cream!!

[Big Turk]

The goal is to score one more point than the other team by the end of the game.

 

However they need to do it, that's how it needs to happen.

[Sweats]

Here's the thing, KC rarely turns the ball over, so teams need to play clean and sharp against them........basically good old fashioned role up your sleeves and go to work for 60 minutes and on every play.

 

If you can't win an honest game without having to rely on turnovers, i seriously have no idea how long that will carry you.

It's carried us this far, however, so KC will be a true test.

[MikePJ76]

This must be a trick question.

 

Defenses get takeaways, Offenses commit turnovers.

 

Just ask Bobby Babich he will set you straight (and I love him for it)

 

 

[KentuckyBillsFan]

My god, we held them under their season average and we mostly contained the best RB in football. The defense was fine. It's never going to be elite but it's playing well enough to win a SB if Josh plays well IMO

[Don Otreply]

Evidently yes, 

[RochesterLifer]

Your question is simple to answer - we're in the AFC championship game. Just go with the facts.

[Kelly to Allen]

Henry had 21 yds rushing in the first half....

[Ramza86]

Hell no. McDermott called another soft game on 2 minute defense. How many times this year does the other team march down the field in 30 seconds to get into scoring range when they have to score because we play that soft. 

Its been brutal to watch for 8 years now. He hasnt learned and it continues to cost us points. 

[colin]

the honest answer is no.  the flip side to that is if you don't protect the ball, you will lose to lesser teams.

 

the ravens are the 6th best nfl team of all time based on DVOA.  they are also huge fast and physical, which is an advantage vs everyone and in any scheme, so they aren't as game script dependent as other all time nfl teams by DVOA.  they lost because of turnovers way way more than we won based on anything we did.  

 

if we came out and scored 10 points on our two first 3rd quarter drives instead of a 3 and out and a 4 and out, then i'd argue we clearly played better and took advantage of mistakes and hammered the nails in when we needed to, but that didn't happen.  we really just made fewer mistakes and held on to win.

[LEBills]

In these playoffs, yes. 
 

KC was +6 in turnover differential in the regular season (same as the Ravens). The Ravens were susceptible at fumbles (7 during the regular season). This week it will need to be an interception of Mahomes who had 11 this season.

 

Washington was only +1 in differential and will throw picks and put it on the ground.

 

The Eagles were +11 with only 6 picks, but much like the Ravens put the ball on the ground with 9 fumbles.

 

The Bills were +24 this year with 16 pick and 16 fumble recoveries. It is not a fluke. KC will be toughest to force into a turnover but if we get past them there will be a punch out or two vs the NFC champ

[Don Otreply]

1 minute ago, Ramza86 said:

Hell no. McDermott called another soft game on 2 minute defense. How many times this year does the other team march down the field in 30 seconds to get into scoring range when they have to score because we play that soft. 

Its been brutal to watch for 8 years now. He hasnt learned and it continues to cost us points. 

I’m no fan of the free release soft zone defense we play and it’s frustrating to watch at times, but, iirc we played man coverage something around forty plus percent of the Ravens game, so…, 

 

Always hoping for the best, 

 

GO BILLS!!!

[T master]

19 minutes ago, Rich Stadium Original said:

Let's not forget that the Ravens moved the ball up and down the field at will, and with the exception of the nice punch out fumble on Andrews, most of their errors were self inflicted.  Aside from the turnovers and kneel down at the end of the half. The Bills never forced a punt...the Ravens scored on every other drive. In the second half, the pass rush was non existent. Nearly 500 yards of total offense.

  Going forward, (I know we've been saying this all season) if the Bills continue to rely on turnovers and the other team plays a clean game this time, they may be setting themselves up for failure.

KC probably isn't the offensive juggernaut they have been in past seasons, but if the Bills were to face the Eagles in the SB, they have an RB that is on a tear this year, and an O line that's probably bigger and better than the one they just faced.

  

 

UM - Well - 🤔 They are in the AFC Championship game and it has been a huge part of their game plan all year so i'd say it's all part of the plan but that's just me i guess ...

[ddaryl]

We do not match up well with teams with powerful running games and capable QBs. That is not going to change this year. We cannot magically find players than can fix this, we have to scheme and play mistake free.

Ravens should have won the game, but they made mistakes and we played mistake free. That was a difference.



 

[tigerthelion]

We'll find out soon enough.  

[Jauronimo]

11 minutes ago, Sweats said:

Here's the thing, KC rarely turns the ball over, so teams need to play clean and sharp against them........basically good old fashioned role up your sleeves and go to work for 60 minutes and on every play.

 

If you can't win an honest game without having to rely on turnovers, i seriously have no idea how long that will carry you.

It's carried us this far, however, so KC will be a true test.

KC put the ball on the ground a few times on Saturday and they were fortunate to recover.  

 

If we don't force any turnovers, we need to force two punts against KC this weekend to have a chance.  If we force a turnover and 2 punts, I really like our chances. 

[Bangarang]

What choice do we have?