Buffalo Bills Week 13: San Francisco (5-6) at Buffalo (9-2), 12/1, 8:20 PM, NBC and Peacock

[misterchainsaw]

The thing that scares me about Baltimore is the home run ability in the run game. They can just break the big one at any time, and our defense is still susceptible to that.

They can line up full house and beat you to the corner from it. Lamar has been pretty good from the pocket this year at all levels of throws and it just makes that offense unfair.

I think I'm glad for the result tonight, even if there were some fun thoughts of the Chargers having a shot at the Chiefs in the west if they got past this game.

I'm not sure I'd hate the 2 seed if it meant the Chiefs and Ravens playing in round two and us getting, well, ANYONE else.

 

[Zman5778]

I'm not sure I'd hate the 2 seed of it meant the Chiefs and Ravens playing in round two and us getting, well, ANYONE else.

If getting the 2 seed means we get the Dolphins/Chargers/Broncos/Colts at home in the WC round.....and then the Steelers in the divisional round (or another one of the Dolphins/Chargers/Broncos/Colts)? And only have to play either the Ravens OR the Chiefs?

As opposed to the bye and then BOTH the Ravens AND Chiefs?

I know I'm supposed to say I want the bye. I know I'm supposed to say I want to beat the best on the way to a 'Ship.

I don't think I can say either.


That said, in an ideal world -- we get the 1 seed. Divisional round against the Texans or Steelers and then the AFCGC at home against the winner of Ravens/Chiefs - who beat each other into a bloody pulp.

 

[zenthusiast]

hell, I’d take a championship run from every opposing qb getting food poisoning the day of each game

 

[Zman5778]

hell, I’d take a championship run from every opposing qb getting food poisoning the day of each game

If we ever make another SB run.......I am legitimately afraid of some wackadoodle Mafia member going Jeff Gillooly on the NFC team's starting QB.


And I'm only like a quarter joking.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

49ers injury update and Kyle Shanahan conference call.

 

[K8fool]

The thing that scares me about Baltimore is the home run ability in the run game. They can just break the big one at any time, and our defense is still susceptible to that.

milano

 

[KiwiGriff]

We went for hike with the hounds today to the Reservoir, then Duty Free shop, and got new sneaks at the Adidas Outlet. It was great to take a break.

Now on to the holidays!

Damn Panthers!

That is my sort of day. Outside time, animals, and some new kicks.

 

[TehDoak]

I think it's safe to say at this point that LA's defensive numbers were inflated by a weak schedule to open the season. Baltimore having their way with them after a slow-ish start.

I actually think their offense's inability to sustain drives was the issue today and red zone problems. The game was close until the 4th quarter. If they score 3 TDs and 1 FG instead of 1 TD and 3 FGs before the start of the 4th, its a much different game. So many dropped passes by the chargers, especially in the second half. The lack of weapons in the passing game for Herbert is going to be their doom.

The game turned when they went 3 and out on their second drive of the second half and punted it back to the ravens. They broke a 51 yard run for a TD and then the game was downhill for Baltimore instead of back and forth.

And this game was actually extremely important for the Chargers because their BEST case scenario was to be the 5 seed and play Houston in the WC round. Now its likely they get the 6 seed with one of Baltimore/Pittsburgh getting the 5 seed, which means they have to travel to the other.

 

[yahhockey]

Steelers: @ Bengals, vs Browns, @ Eagles, @ Ravens, vs Chiefs, vs Bengals
Ravens: vs Eagles, @ Giants, vs Steelers, @ Texans, vs Browns

They currently have the same number of wins but the Steelers have one less loss. The Ravens still have a decent shot at winning the division. I wouldn't be gunning for the two seed with the expectations the Ravens remain the fifth seed. Even if they remain the fifth seed it's not out of the realm of possibility that a team goes into Pittsburgh and wins so that team would play KC and Buffalo still faces Baltimore in the divisional round. It is advantageous to play one less playoff game. The potential hypotheticals about opponents has too many unknowns. The known of guys being healthier and having one less game on their body to potentially cause injuries is more important. If the Ravens falter down the stretch and end up fifth or lower then maybe they aren't the team you are scared to face.

 

[TehDoak]

milano

Milano will help, but he won't solve the issue. It's a scheme problem.

Buffalo will give up the runs to the second level. The problem is that if a RB can break contain on the 2nd level they can break off a huge run. Go back and look at the big runs, its almost always a clean hole where an RB can get some momentem and then run past a linebacker to the secondary and it becomes a foot race.

Its really just a trade off, big runs like that are rarer than big pass plays, and teams need more to go right for it to happen. Its frustrating, for sure. But overall success of the defense suggests its the proper decision.

 

[Jim Bob]

Milano will help, but he won't solve the issue. It's a scheme problem.

Buffalo will give up the runs to the second level. The problem is that if a RB can break contain on the 2nd level they can break off a huge run. Go back and look at the big runs, its almost always a clean hole where an RB can get some momentem and then run past a linebacker to the secondary and it becomes a foot race.

Its really just a trade off, big runs like that are rarer than big pass plays, and teams need more to go right for it to happen. Its frustrating, for sure. But overall success of the defense suggests its the proper decision.

I would argue that it is a scheme choice and not a scheme problem.

There is no defensive scheme that can take away everything that a quality NFL offense wants to do. The Bills defense is designed to take away explosives in the passing game first and foremost. That is why they have played nickel about 80% of the time, dime about 20% of the time, and rarely played with either 3 LBs or with a heavy box.

The Bills D is 7th in Points Allowed, 7th in Passing Yards per Attempt, 4th in INTs, & t-5th in fumbles recovered.

Because they play so much nickel and dime and they play so many light boxes and dare teams to run against them, they get gashed in the running game when they make alignment and/or run fit mistakes. But, that is the gamble they are willing to make in order to make it really hard to get explosive plays in the passing game.

They are making the bet that explosive running plays are rarer than explosive passing plays if they were to take Taron Johnson off the field and play a 4-3. Or, if they were to load up the box against the run on a more regular basis and give up more on the backend.

And even with all that, the Bills have only given up 6 rushing TDs this season (tied for 3rd fewest in the NFL).

They give up a lot of yards per carry (t-3rd worst at 4.8 YPC), but they have been good at stopping the run in the red zone and not giving up rushing TDs.

At the end of the day, I'll take a defense that is pretty good at taking the ball away, not giving up a lot of points, and has been solid when needed for the most part (red zone & second half).