Buffalo Bills Week 15: Buffalo (10-3) at Detroit (12-1), 12/15, 4:25 PM, CBS

[K8fool]

judging this team so harshly and I've heard people saying6 bench milano already if the officials don't intervene the Bill's win after a really rough learning first half adjusting to milano for Dorian I think we need a healthy von and Matt to win out in the postseason

with clown world rules these games can't be close

help me out 9 on blocked punt? and 9 on punt return at the end is this really true a wwe protest ? not true , feed went out on punt block wife and brother dealing w CO alarm weird day

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Some thoughts waking up today.

I worry we have a generational Superman QB that will be wasted.

Milano, I hope he can continue to get better but zero D snaps for WIlliams two weeks in a row is a worry as well (I know he is not perfect either). Milano has not fixed the run D and Carter's return did not help either.

The Bill's should have a Game Management Quality Specialist/Assistant on staff. Andy Reed went through some of the same types of issues.

The Bills were not prepared for the WR jet sweep game and took until later in the game to finally adjust (and still did not work on final Rams touchdown). I seen Rousseau and AJ get pushed around a lot on engaged blocks.

No sacks, no turnovers, 3 qb hits, Rams 3rd downs (11-15)

The two Pats games will not be a pushover

Injuries:
Rasul Douglas being banged up (back and knee) is a worry. Ingram is the backup.
Toohill (Ribs)
Rapp (Shoulder) returned

 

[Jim Bob]

Some thoughts waking up today.

I worry we have a generational Superman QB that will be wasted.

Milano, I hope he can continue to get better but zero D snaps for WIlliams two weeks in a row is a worry as well (I know he is not perfect as well). Milano has not fixed the run D and Carter's return did not help either.

The Bill's should have a Game Management Quality Specialist/Assistant on staff. Andy Reed went through some of the same types of issues.

The Bills were unprepared for the WR screen game and took until later in the game to finally adjust (and still did not work on final Rams touchdown). I seen Rousseau and AJ get pushed around a lot on engaged blocks.

The two Pats games will not be a pushover

They do.

Matthew Smiley and Marcus West have some explaining to do today, IMO.

 

[truthbluth]

Everybody needs to chill a little. They were due for a dud. If they don't turn it around, I'll worry. But for now, a desperate Rams team with a veteran, possibly HOF QB and one of the best offensive minds in the NFL (McVay) played a near flawless offensive game including spectacular catches, and still needed a ref assist to squeak out a 2 point victory. Bills needed a little humble pie, and how they respond is everything.

 

[Jim Bob]

Josh Allen & Lamar Jackson have traded places in 2024 NFL MVP race

Quarterbacks. Wins. Stats. Was a precedent set in 2023?

www.buffalorumblings.com

 

[26CornerBlitz]

Bills D made some adjustments and got second half stops but from a scoring perspective, they still let in a ton of points in the second half. That ledger gets skewed by the first half blocked punt.

The 9 players on the field for the blocked punt is crazy. Inexcusable. They were missing two up backs. Why didn’t Martin count?

The last minute dive followed by a timeout was bad. Should’ve just hustled to the line and did it again without the timeout.

Bills defense wins in the front four. Zero sacks of Stafford. If you aren’t convinced they need to spend some draft picks on defensive line now….. Beane should’ve traded for Garrett (if he was available).

But overall, rebuilding year and it’s far from over.

9 players for the Bills was on the final play of the game with the Rams punting where the Bills needed a punt block with it being returned for a TD. Inexcusable!!!

 

[Jim Bob]

9 players for the Bills was on the final play of the game with the Rams punting where the Bills needed a punt block with it being returned for a TD. Inexcusable!!!

They were supposed to be going for the block and the botched getting the right guys out there.

Brutal.

 

[TehDoak]

I think the best McDermott analogue is Tony Dungy. A great coach who consistently got his teams prepared and played well, but also, except for 1 season, was a let down in the playoffs.

I don't think McDermott will ever be a dynasty coach.

I think we can win a championship with him and Allen.

And I honestly think we can win this year. The AFC isn't great. Baltimore if flawed, we can beat KC in KC if needed, and the QB that has traditionally shredded our defense isn't going to be in the playoffs.

IF we have a repeat of 13 seconds where a legendary performance is ruined by a coaching mistake....then I think McDermott has to go. There are some great coaches out there who can come in and take over a ready made contender and push it over the edge.

 

[buffalowing88]

I think the best McDermott analogue is Tony Dungy. A great coach who consistently got his teams prepared and played well, but also, except for 1 season, was a let down in the playoffs.

I don't think McDermott will ever be a dynasty coach.

I think we can win a championship with him and Allen.

And I honestly think we can win this year. The AFC isn't great. Baltimore if flawed, we can beat KC in KC if needed, and the QB that has traditionally shredded our defense isn't going to be in the playoffs.

IF we have a repeat of 13 seconds where a legendary performance is ruined by a coaching mistake....then I think McDermott has to go. There are some great coaches out there who can come in and take over a ready made contender and push it over the edge.

McDermott's really carving out a Marty Schottenheimer arc so far. I'm not sure I'm okay with that being his ceiling.

 

[kirby11]

Bills D made some adjustments and got second half stops but from a scoring perspective, they still let in a ton of points in the second half. That ledger gets skewed by the first half blocked punt.

The 9 players on the field for the blocked punt is crazy. Inexcusable. They were missing two up backs. Why didn’t Martin count?

The last minute dive followed by a timeout was bad. Should’ve just hustled to the line and did it again without the timeout.

Bills defense wins in the front four. Zero sacks of Stafford. If you aren’t convinced they need to spend some draft picks on defensive line now….. Beane should’ve traded for Garrett (if he was available).

But overall, rebuilding year and it’s far from over.

Wait, for real? Didn't notice this in real time, but that's a crazy lapse. I have no idea how Smiley is still here--thought he should've been canned after the DEN too many men debacle last year, and his unit has been a problem at other times, too.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Der Jaeger]

9 players for the Bills was on the final play of the game with the Rams punting where the Bills needed a punt block with it being returned for a TD. Inexcusable!!!

They had only nine players on the field for that play as well?

 

[Zman5778]

They had only nine players on the field for that play as well?

They had 11 players on for the blocked punt.

They had 9 players on for the final play of the game.

 

[Jim Bob]

They had only nine players on the field for that play as well?

They had 11 players on the field for the blocked punt from what I recall.

The 9 players was on the final play of the game. Apparently with some injuries, there was a mix up with who was supposed to be out there to try and block the punt.

McD gave the 9 players answer to a question about why there was no attempt to return the punt. McD basically said the call was to go all out for a block, but they only got 9 players on the field.

 

[Der Jaeger]

They had 11 players on for the blocked punt.

They had 9 players on for the final play of the game.

Thanks, I misread that. I thought they only had nine players on for the blocked punt.

 

[Jim Bob]

 

[Jim Bob]

Here are my rough numbers of tackles by level of the defense yesterday:

DL - 19
LB - 13
DB - 51

That is less than ideal.

 

[SharkInABoloTie]

There's a lot of back and forth about who is to blame for the loss, claims of people overreacting, etc. I will say this; I was incredibly confident in this teams ability to make it to the super bowl this year. After this game I'm much more confident in a Divisional round disaster.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

I think the best McDermott analogue is Tony Dungy. A great coach who consistently got his teams prepared and played well, but also, except for 1 season, was a let down in the playoffs.

I don't think McDermott will ever be a dynasty coach.

I think we can win a championship with him and Allen.

And I honestly think we can win this year. The AFC isn't great. Baltimore if flawed, we can beat KC in KC if needed, and the QB that has traditionally shredded our defense isn't going to be in the playoffs.

IF we have a repeat of 13 seconds where a legendary performance is ruined by a coaching mistake....then I think McDermott has to go. There are some great coaches out there who can come in and take over a ready made contender and push it over the edge.

If McD goes, you loose the Gm and most of his staff likely imo, they are a tandem. They are not perfect, but are very good. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[zenthusiast]

If McD goes, you loose the Gm and most of his staff likely imo, they are a tandem. They are not perfect, but are very good. Just something to keep in mind.

I think Beane probably gets a chance to get the next hire right if McD moves on, but maybe he’s more loyal than the average gm

 

[26CornerBlitz]

They had only nine players on the field for that play as well?

Only on the last play. The punt block scoop and score wasn't a personnel shortage. Reid Ferguson was run over which led to the punt being blocked.

 

[Zman5778]

Thinking ahead to the Lions game now:

I'm strangely more confident in our ability to beat the Lions than I was in our ability to beat the Rams. The Rams have FOUR legit WR threats. The Lions have two: ARSB and LaPorta (sometimes). ARSB is extraordinarily good, but McBabich have a habit of limiting a team's #1 target in the passing game.

Yes, we know the Lions' run game is fantastic -- but we also make an above-average amount of TFL in the running game. On a team that's as run-heavy as the Lions are, that means we're bound to stop them more than we did the Rams.....especially if we can limit ARSB.

Defensively, right now the Lions are on a tier as the Rams given how incredibly injured the Lions' D is right now.

Could be another shootout for sure......but I feel strangely good about our chances.

 

[Der Jaeger]

Only on the last play. The punt block scoop and score wasn't a personnel shortage. Reid Ferguson was run over which led to the punt being blocked.

Thanks, I read that report wrong this morning. I thought it was the punt block. While not having 11 for the last play was bad, it's not as bad as the punt block.

 

[TehDoak]

Dear Fellow Bills Fans,

Yesterday, I had the kids by myself and did not want to wear a bills jersey all day as we had plans and it is colder out.

So I opted for a zip up bills hoody my wife bought me. Last game I wore it for?

Bills @ Eagles, last year

This accursed hoody will be regulated to non game day wear.

 

[Der Jaeger]

I think the Bills are structurally sound on defense but do not have the exact right players to make it work. A few years back, Beane went all in on the defensive front. He already had Oliver and Epenesa drafted and continued with Rousseau, Basham, and then Von Miller. I don't prescribe to reaching for draft picks, or that they'll produce right away, but there is a way to reload the defensive line to make more sense.

When teams run a defense like Buffalo's, they either need a tremendous amount of talent in the starting 4, or they need to attack in waves. I don't think Beane will replicate Sapp, Rice, White, and McFarland. Or even Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, Dareus, and Hughes. But he can put schematically sound players in the right places.

Buffalo has tried that type of rotation, but I think they've went light on the DTs. I like players like Jordan Phillips, Jefferson, Johnson, etc. But they are journeyman rotation lineman. Not really the caliber of what is needed.

Rousseau: 4 down player. He needs to rush from LE. He comes off the field when he's tired.
Oliver: He's paid well but I think he's more of a pass down DT
Jones: run down 1T DT
Epenesa: run down RE

Solomon: pass down end, either comes in for Epenesa or spells Rousseau
Carter: pass down DT
Miller: I think unless he re-structures again, he's a post-June 1st cut.

With that, I like a rotation of:

Epenesa - Jones - xxx - Rousseau
xxx - Oliver - Carter - Rousseau/Solomon

To me, Beane should be in search of a pass down RE and a bigger, run down 3T DT. He'll also need a younger run down 1T DT.

Maybe a smaller UFA splash like Azeez Ojulari? There are some older DTs in free agency as well (BJ Hill, DJ Jones). I'd rather go with some younger kids at the position.

If I had to make draft picks right now, I'd take Tyleik Williams with the 1st rounder and double up with Dontay Corleone with one of the 2nds. They aren't reaches. Corleone reminds me a lot of Alim McNeill. Williams looks like a young Pat Williams to me. Which would make the DL look like this:

Run downs: Epenesa - Jones/Corleon - Williams - Rousseau
Pass downs: Ojulari - Oliver - Carter - Rousseau/Solomon

For sure, the Bills could use better OT depth, a better starting safety, and need to figure out what to do with Rasul Douglas and Amari Cooper. But this is where I'd continue with the rebuild.