Being nitpicky: please let Allen pass the ball more

[Success]

Especially coming out of halftime yesterday.  Allen is one of the best passers to ever take the field in the NFL, and the playcalling seemed more geared for a back-up QB/game manager.  Very few shots downfield, very few 1st down passes.  Kincaid, Knox & Coleman ended up with 1 catch apiece;  Cooper had zero.

 

Again - just being nitpicky.  I'm obviously over the moon w/ the win - but it felt like it didn't need to come down to the end like that.  I would have loved to see the coaches come out of halftime and call the game like we were down a score, instead of playing it so conservative those 1st few drives.

[KentuckyBillsFan]

Definitely obvious some of our fans have not come to terms with the fact that our new identity is one of running the ball behind a big O-line and Josh not doing everything by himself

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

That was my comment yesterday, that Brady called the second half of the game as though we needed to steal one with Trubisky playing, outlasting the Ravens rather than burying them.

[gonzo1105]

3 minutes ago, KentuckyBillsFan said:

Definitely obvious some of our fans have not come to terms with the fact that our new identity is one of running the ball behind a big O-line and Josh not doing everything by himself

Yup totally agree. People want the big explosive plays and haven’t come around to were more the Steelers with Big Ben or the Panthers with Cam than we are the High flying pass team they saw 5 years ago 

[ColoradoBills]

It wouldn't shock me if Allen has 250+ yards passing Sunday.

[RiotAct]

I definitely thought we would’ve tested the Ravens downfield more… I think I read coming into the game they were the #1 rushing defense but like #28 or something in pass defense?

[K-9]

1 minute ago, Success said:

Especially coming out of halftime yesterday.  Allen is one of the best passers to ever take the field in the NFL, and the playcalling seemed more geared for a back-up QB/game manager.  Very few shots downfield, very few 1st down passes.  Kincaid, Knox & Coleman ended up with 1 catch apiece;  Cooper had zero.

 

Again - just being nitpicky.  I'm obviously over the moon w/ the win - but it felt like it didn't need to come down to the end like that.  I would have loved to see the coaches come out of halftime and call the game like we were down a score, instead of playing it so conservative those 1st few drives.

I think the play-calling was more geared to controlling possession and keeping Henry off the field. Not a totally wrong strategy, especially on a day like yesterday, given the stat I heard this morning: in their five losses this season, all by seven points or less, Henry had less than 20 carries and less than 90 yards. 
 

That said, yeah, I would like to see Josh throw it more, too. But unless Cooper is involved, he has limited options as we’ve seen at times this season.

[Fr. Jerk]

I'll pass the message on to McDermott, ya dig? 

[Charles Romes]

It seemed like Brady was on a mission to prove to the owners he’s interviewing with that he can win even with a Trent Edwards at quarterback. 

[GoBills808]

I don't think it's nitpicking at all

 

Imo we took a game that was on the verge of a blowout coming out of halftime 21-10 and turned it into a war of attrition by going full conservative in the 3rd

[Boatdrinks]

Sure , we’d love every game to be a blowout win. Who was predicting that in this case ? This was a close matchup, and not a particularly great one for the Bills. The coaches devised a way they thought they could limit Henry, keep the ball to limit Baltimore  possessions, and wear down the Ravens DL. It just wasn’t going to be a high flying Josh Allen affair. It worked for the most part. The late first and goal was not a brilliant series by the OC, and he went back to a largely unsuccessful toss play more times than I’d like. I don’t think anyone envisioned a two touchdown Bills win vs that team , so I’m not worried that it wasn’t. Top to bottom I think the Ravens are better than the Chiefs. 

[Kelly to Allen]

Brady got tight in the beginning of the second half. We had a real opportunity to open up the flood gates and got conservative.

 

We got the w tho. The ravens may have been winning outside and Brady didn't like the looks. 

 

We're on to the AFC championship 🏆 😎

[PBF81]

Allen threw the ball more against KC earlier this season than in any other game this season.  

 

With Rapp & TJ questionable we cannot afford to let Mahomes take advantage and go up there.  

 

Balance in our approach would be good, but with our playoff history, it makes perfect sense to let the strength of this team for 6 seasons now, and the best in the league, do his thing and not simply hope that our running game comes out swinging.  

 

If we go up by 10+ and the passing game is having limited effect, then great, run more, but it makes sense to do everything possible to have this offense humming going into the Super Bowl.  Philly, the likely opponent, will be a tougher out than KC.  

 

 

[Sweats]

10 minutes ago, KentuckyBillsFan said:

Definitely obvious some of our fans have not come to terms with the fact that our new identity is one of running the ball behind a big O-line and Josh not doing everything by himself

 

 

 

You know that if we attempted even a mild downfield threat, it would have softened up the D and allowed more lanes for the RB's and create even a facade of the potential to lob it at any given point.........as it was, we were completely one dimensional.

 

Albeit it paid off, however, this won't work against KC.

[Success]

13 minutes ago, KentuckyBillsFan said:

Definitely obvious some of our fans have not come to terms with the fact that our new identity is one of running the ball behind a big O-line and Josh not doing everything by himself

 

I know what you're saying - but there is a happy medium.

 

It doesn't make sense to have one of the best QB's in the game and basically take the ball out of his hands for much of the game.

 

[T.E.]

14 minutes ago, KentuckyBillsFan said:

Definitely obvious some of our fans have not come to terms with the fact that our new identity is one of running the ball behind a big O-line and Josh not doing everything by himself

That "new identity" led to absolute crap results in the 1st half against Denver and the 2nd half yesterday. No other team willfully limits the amount of plays its best player can make like we do.

[BigAl2526]

I think Buffalo will pass a lot more in the game against KC.  It will be a different game all around.  KC's offensive line isn't as good as Baltimore's.  Their run game is not as dominant.  Their defense is good, but not as good as Baltimore's.  I think Buffalo will aim for more balance in their offensive game planning.

[Logic]

As @GunnerBill pointed out in another thread:

There WERE some deep shots called, particularly in the third quarter, and Josh generally checked down on those plays.

Our outside receivers are, for the most part, not getting deep separation, or separation in general. This allows opposing defense to focus their attention and resources on shutting down the middle of the field, so guys like Knox, Kincaid, and Shakir don't have as much opportunity as you'd like.

If you can focus on shutting down the middle of the field, and allow your outside corners to matchup 1-on-1 with the outside receivers, and almost always win those matchups, well...

It's all good and well to want Josh to pass the ball down the field more, but if his receivers aren't winning their matchups, then the Bills offense has to find other ways to move the ball, which they have done capably so far.

 

[CircleTheWagons99]

Bills didnt want to show their hand since they were winning without throwing?  Next week I hope they unleash Coleman and Cooper, but I dont care as long as they win...... 

[zow2]

14 minutes ago, KentuckyBillsFan said:

Definitely obvious some of our fans have not come to terms with the fact that our new identity is one of running the ball behind a big O-line and Josh not doing everything by himself

 

People are not getting it that the student (McDermott) has learned from the master (Andy Reid).    The Chiefs have not turned the ball over in something like 8 straight games.  They don't take many sacks, they don't take tons of penalties, they don't take lots of risk.  Mostly they run and throw short/med passes to move the chains.  They make their FG's.  They wait to pounce on the other teams miscues and dumb plays.  And they win Super Bowls.  

 

We aren't gonna see a risky passing game downfield unless it's a busted play and Allen just heaves it.  If it turns into a game where they need Allen to throw, run and come from behind they will.