Buffalo Bills Week 14: Buffalo (10-2) at LA Rams (6-6), 12/8, 4:25 PM, Fox

[Jim Bob]

Lots of people called for the Bills downfall, and it seemed to center on Allen not having receivers. I get trading for Cooper, but he's been hurt a few games, so it's not as if he's been the driver of success. It's been Allen, the run game, possession and YAC passing on offense. But a team without a name or high-profile receiver always gets bad press.

It was a multifactor team.

Nick Wright hit the nail on the head in that most people were too high on the Bills in the past and they overcorrected this offseason.

Then there is the shiny object syndrome and people wanting to be right if the Bills took a step back.

And then there is the overrating the names that walked out the door and not realizing that a lot of them were not that effective last season or that there was not a huge step back in talent.

It also underestimated the program that Beane and McD have built here over the past 8 years. There were so many cases this season where guys went down and then guys stepped up.

And when it comes to WRs, Shakir has not seen his efficiency drop much with an uptick in usage. Hollins has been a step up from Sherfield. And the rest of the room has been a sum of the parts thing. At the end of the day, the buy in to "Everybody Eats" has been a huge thing that many talking heads did not see coming.

Bonus: the schedule has been easier than many expected.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5962381/2024/12/02/bills-49ers-josh-allen-matt-milano-amari-cooper/

But it was even bigger than that on a specific personnel grouping. When the Bills put Anderson on the field as the tight end in 11 personnel, with three receivers on the field, the Bills gained a whopping 113 yards on just six plays — an average of 18.8 yards per attempt.

Anderson, a California native playing in his first snow game in Buffalo, took to it like a polar bear to an arctic plunge. To put it mildly, Anderson is known amongst his teammates as one of the higher-energy players.

“Alec’s like a fight first, ask questions later kind of guy,” Van Demark said.

“I call him crazy because Alec’s crazy,” Dawkins added.

And Anderson took the fight to the 49ers, helping to spring several huge rushing gains that bounced outside — including the biggest play of the game that helped the Bills take firm control of the contest.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it dawg. They didn’t have any answers for us,” Anderson said. “So it’s like, they know exactly what we were going to do. They knew we were going to run the ball right there. And what happened? James had a 65-yard touchdown and we just rolled.”

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Dubi Doo]

It was a multifactor team.

Nick Wright hit the nail on the head in that most people were too high on the Bills in the past and they overcorrected this offseason.

Then there is the shiny object syndrome and people wanting to be right if the Bills took a step back.

And then there is the overrating the names that walked out the door and not realizing that a lot of them were not that effective last season or that there was not a huge step back in talent.

It also underestimated the program that Beane and McD have built here over the past 8 years. There were so many cases this season where guys went down and then guys stepped up.

And when it comes to WRs, Shakir has not seen his efficiency drop much with an uptick in usage. Hollins has been a step up from Sherfield. And the rest of the room has been a sum of the parts thing. At the end of the day, the buy in to "Everybody Eats" has been a huge thing that many talking heads did not see coming.

Bonus: the schedule has been easier than many expected.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5962381/2024/12/02/bills-49ers-josh-allen-matt-milano-amari-cooper/

Anderson may becomr quite the asset during the playoffs when the environment is generally much shittier. Is it possible Buffalo keeps him up?

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Rousseau is 2nd in the NFL in tackles for loss (15).

 

[Reddawg]

QB - We have Allen and Trubisky locked up. Might be the year to draft a backup QB in the 3rd or 4th to develop

I’ve been thinking this with an eye on Kyle McCord for a couple days now. Kid is a gamer with a great arm.

I know what I was hoping for content-wise when I see “guys wait it happened” tied to an Annie Agar post, but it wasn’t that.

 

[Jim Bob]

Anderson may becomr quite the asset during the playoffs when the environment is generally much shittier. Is it possible Buffalo keeps him up?

What do you mean by keep him up?

 

[Dubi Doo]

What do you mean by keep him up?

I was under the impression he was a practice squad elevation.

 

[Jim Bob]

I was under the impression he was a practice squad elevation.

Nope. He's been on the 53 man roster all year and is just filling the role that David Edwards filled last year.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Dubi Doo]

Nope. He's been on the 53 man roster all year and is just filling the role that David Edwards filled last year.

Oh my, that is so tragic. I cant even imagine; it hurts thinking about anything bad happening to my little guy.

 

[Djp]

If we beat the Rams do we also get the NFC Wrst champ banner too going 4-0

 

[Husko]

The Bills averaged over 10 yards per carry on 11 attempts when in their 6-OL jumbo package Sunday.

 

[Der Jaeger]

It’s not that you need an ultra high end WR1. You don’t even need a number one. I agree. But Cooper isn’t playing a number one role for us, certainly not a high end one. But I think a boundary WR that defenses respect (and just a deep guy) is something our WR group was missing before Copper, and his addition has been a big help

Resigning Cooper is important, or getting his replacement. Otherwise, DT is my biggest need.

CB is certainly a big need if Douglas walks, but I think this team can fill that hole without a major investment in the position.

For me it is:

1) WR (if Copper is not brought back)
2) DT
3) DE
4) OL (honestly anywhere, keep adding to the group with real talent)
5) CB

I'd rather re-sign Cooper or look for a complimentary vertical receiver. I think Coleman is the #1 next year. And Allen has the benefit of being able to look at Coleman and Kincaid and tell them to STFU when the complain about not getting the ball.

Just like Montana was able to do to Rice.
Just like Young was able to do to Owens.
Just like Brady was able to do to Moss.

The QB being more established than the WR is a good thing.

It was a multifactor team.

Nick Wright hit the nail on the head in that most people were too high on the Bills in the past and they overcorrected this offseason.

Then there is the shiny object syndrome and people wanting to be right if the Bills took a step back.

And then there is the overrating the names that walked out the door and not realizing that a lot of them were not that effective last season or that there was not a huge step back in talent.

It also underestimated the program that Beane and McD have built here over the past 8 years. There were so many cases this season where guys went down and then guys stepped up.

And when it comes to WRs, Shakir has not seen his efficiency drop much with an uptick in usage. Hollins has been a step up from Sherfield. And the rest of the room has been a sum of the parts thing. At the end of the day, the buy in to "Everybody Eats" has been a huge thing that many talking heads did not see coming.

Bonus: the schedule has been easier than many expected.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5962381/2024/12/02/bills-49ers-josh-allen-matt-milano-amari-cooper/

True. But I think a lot of prognosticators saw Diggs and Davis go, and it was the easy button to push to say the Bills were on the downfall. But everything you wrote is a part of it.