Confluence of a lot of things--Bills just didn't play well

[jahnyc]

With so many thing not going well, it was kind of amazing that we were in a position to win the game with three and a half minutes to go.  Unusual that all of the following happened:

 

• Two critical plays ruled against us by the referees after the booth review when they both could have (and likely should have) gone in our favor
• Josh Allen not being able to get enough push to covert very short yardage situations
• Josh not being able to run effectively in general
• Kincaid not making a catch that would have potentially changed the outcome
• Groot falling a lot and/or losing containment
• Mahomes running for more yards than Josh (after no real rushing attempts in the regular season match-up where the Bills had a spy on him)
• Bills not converting two two point conversions
• KC not being stopped once in first half (other than the fumble)
• Losing Benford early in the game and then Elam being picked on and playing poorly
• Josh dropping a snap early in the game

 

Coaching was a mixed bag, but much more in favor of KC.  Defense did not play well, but there were some adjustments made at the half and KC did not run the ball effectively for most of the second staff and the defense did force a couple of punts and a field goal to put the game in reach for the offense.  On the offensive side, great that we came out in the second half running the ball but then relied on the push play instead of Cook to convert third and fourth downs.  Overall, we were outcoached, but we still were in a position to win the game.

 

The Bills were just off on Sunday.

 

 

[US Egg]

Thank you for talking me back off the ledge.

[PBF81]

Shortly into the game a few friends and myself commented that they didn't seem very well prepared for what KC threw at them, on either side.  KC dominated the D in the entire first half and had that continued they've have posted an even bigger day and a monster day offensively.  Offensively Allen looked out of sync but in the first half we didn't run well and with the exception of that long pass to Hollins and maybe one other semi-long throw, the passing game was being overwhelmed too.  

 

I still think that Allen was out of sync after posting an average 17 for 26 for 160 or so yards, and a mere 5 passing TDs over the prior four games.  That doesn't include the Pats game that he sat.  So for six weeks he didn't do much in terms of passing.  Maybe he was just a little rusty.  

 

Otherwise, we were shaking our heads at the screens and other dumb plays.  

 

 

[BillMafia716ix]

Josh didn’t play like he needed to in order to win the game. They needed his A game and he brought his B game. Not enough vs. Mahomes. 

Edited Tuesday at 05:45 AM by BillMafia716ix

[Kelly to Allen]

They got out coached, badly 

[Mike in Horseheads]

15 minutes ago, Kelly to Allen said:

They got out coached, badly 

Give some examples?

[ExiledInIllinois]

So, in other words the Chiefs played better because they were allowed to get into FG position one more time than the Bills.  Crown them football Gods!

 

The Bills played great.  They lost by a kick.  Don't turn the ball over on downs (OOOPSIE!) and they possibly win or go to OT...

 

Chiefs had 10 drives to Bills 9.

 

Why do the Bills have to play 2×, 3× more perfect?

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 06:23 AM by ExiledInIllinois

[jahnyc]

The teams are both really good and evenly matched.  That certainly is the statistical story over the last number of years.

[MJS]

I think they played pretty well. They were facing a good opponent. They just didn't make those few critical plays when they needed to.

[SirAndrew]

Josh didn’t get enough push on the short yardage plays? Maybe it’s just the way it was phrased, but that was an offensive line failure, and play caller who didn’t understand what wasn’t working. Josh can’t run through multiple three hundred pound guys. 

[Jerome007]

In both the Ravens and Chiefs game, it seems amazing that they won or that the game was close. Takeaways and a few clutch plays (Hollins twice vs the Chiefs for sure!) made the difference. Heck, even all year, no receivers, TE or WR, had stats to shout about. Yet... they won most games.

 

Anyway, for all that, this one stings. So close... again.

[JohnNord]

8 hours ago, jahnyc said:

With so many thing not going well, it was kind of amazing that we were in a position to win the game with three and a half minutes to go.  Unusual that all of the following happened:

 

• Two critical plays ruled against us by the referees after the booth review when they both could have (and likely should have) gone in our favor
• Josh Allen not being able to get enough push to covert very short yardage situations
• Josh not being able to run effectively in general
• Kincaid not making a catch that would have potentially changed the outcome
• Groot falling a lot and/or losing containment
• Mahomes running for more yards than Josh (after no real rushing attempts in the regular season match-up where the Bills had a spy on him)
• Bills not converting two two point conversions
• KC not being stopped once in first half (other than the fumble)
• Losing Benford early in the game and then Elam being picked on and playing poorly
• Josh dropping a snap early in the game

 

Coaching was a mixed bag, but much more in favor of KC.  Defense did not play well, but there were some adjustments made at the half and KC did not run the ball effectively for most of the second staff and the defense did force a couple of punts and a field goal to put the game in reach for the offense.  On the offensive side, great that we came out in the second half running the ball but then relied on the push play instead of Cook to convert third and fourth downs.  Overall, we were outcoached, but we still were in a position to win the game.

 

The Bills were just off on Sunday.

 

 

This is it.  Whenever losses happen fans want to find the low hanging fruit like coaching or Kincaid’s drop.  But that always lacks a lot of nuance. 
 

The Bills needed to play one of their best games of the season and they didn’t.  
 

7 hours ago, MJS said:

I think they played pretty well. They were facing a good opponent. They just didn't make those few critical plays when they needed to.

Lost in all of this is how good Mahomes, Reid and Spags are.  Dan Orlavsky called his 4th and 5 blitz an “all time great call.”  It’s not a matter of Josh making a mistake or Joe Brady getting out coached.  It was an all-time great DC making a better call in a crucial moment.  

[Jerome007]

7 hours ago, MJS said:

They just didn't make those few critical plays when they needed to.

To me it's the opposite. It was the 1s and 2nd down plays. Of course those "critical plays" stand out. But the issue was they were always in such "critical plays" all game long. 3rd and long, 4th downs.

 

As many other teams have done against the Bills D, the Chiefs had many drives when they had basically no or very few 3rd downs. They kept gaining 10+ or 8-9 yards per play! They had first downs without even going to 3rd downs. So... no critical plays for them. They didn't need to. Much better this way! What "critical play" did the Chiefs make that they just had to make? 

And for all the Chiefs' winning aura, it's their defense that dominated all year. Their offense and Mahomes looked like juggernauts Sunday, but it was their highest scoring game, all year! The narrative that the Bills D fails in th playoffs is sadly an accurate one.

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 02:27 PM by Jerome007

[zow2]

From the 30,000 foot view,  I thought Kansas City looked like the better club.  They were composed from the very beginning, they made their effective plays look easier, Bills OLine did not dominate like I thought they would,  Bills DLine was held at bay most of the time,  KC had better coaching overall and certainly situationally.  Mahomes looked better than Allen overall, not by much but he did.

 

I would be a lot more upset if the Bills lost on a fluke...But they did not. I understand the 4th and 1 call was huge, but maybe we could've pushed Josh for a full extra yard and not made it a judgement.  

[BuffaloMatt]

I hate that I love this team

[skibum]

Wow, you didn't even hit most of my top 5. 

[SCBills]

Agreed on all of the above.

 

I will say, however, the only reason everyone thinks the Chiefs are perfection in big games personified is because they get the breaks.   I'm not at all backing off that simply because we also didn't execute.

 

Let's look at this the other way if we don't have every single call, including the biggest call of the playoffs thus far, go against us and win the game:

 

-Mahomes fumble when Chiefs could go up two scores early

-Allowing a TD before half when up 21-10

-Empty possession up 21-16 out of half

-Mahomes taking an open field sack on the second possession of the 3rd quarter negating any ability to get points

-Mahomes getting sacked when the Chiefs had an "and goal" situation to go up 7 late in the game, only going up 3

[PBF81]

9 hours ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

Give some examples?

 

Entering the game seemingly completely unprepared for what was about to hit them. 

 

And those screens, who's brilliant idea was that.  

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 03:24 PM by PBF81

[BearNorth]

Still thought on the tush push we should have an alternate play - something like Heavy formation right with Brown, Anderson, Hollins [very good run blocker],  not having Cook on the field for those, [and there were the 2 4th downs and the 2 PAT's ] was coaching malpractice.

[Mango]

3 hours ago, SirAndrew said:

Josh didn’t get enough push on the short yardage plays? Maybe it’s just the way it was phrased, but that was an offensive line failure, and play caller who didn’t understand what wasn’t working. Josh can’t run through multiple three hundred pound guys. 

Also that was a first down. And so was the third down before it.