Buffalo vs Kansas City Divisional Game: The Aftermath

[Seasons1992]

8 minutes ago, Ann said:

This is speculation based on McDermott's "execution" words. My question would be... wouldn't Bass ask if he should squib it? Or isn't that done?
 

 

 

Hey Sean, 

 

Go find your kicker, grab him by the facemask, and in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, tell him what to do. No chain of command needed. 

[Alaska Darin]

27 minutes ago, Seasons1992 said:

 

Hey Sean, 

 

Go find your kicker, grab him by the facemask, and in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, tell him what to do. No chain of command needed. 

The entire unit, honestly.  It's "game winning time" - not the time to be ambiguous or assumptive.

[Seasons1992]

48 minutes ago, Alaska Darin said:

The entire unit, honestly.  It's "game winning time" - not the time to be ambiguous or assumptive.

 

Sean looks angry but deep down, he seems to be too nice when it comes to the crunch-time situations.

[Ann]

And it was a beauty, too:




Video:

 

 

[Ann]

....

 

 

Video:
 

 

[BillsFan101]

I just took a time machine into the future and found out how the Bills lose next season in the playoffs, the comeback team of the year the Jacksonville Jaguars kick a last second 85 yard field goal to beat the Bills by 1. Another one to add to the Music City Miracle and the 13 Second Epic Fail.

 

In the future I also wrote down all the lottery numbers for the next year so I am going to be super rich. 😀

 

 

[Deranged Rhino]

4 hours ago, BillsFan101 said:

I just took a time machine into the future and found out how the Bills lose next season in the playoffs, the comeback team of the year the Jacksonville Jaguars kick a last second 85 yard field goal to beat the Bills by 1. Another one to add to the Music City Miracle and the 13 Second Epic Fail.

 

In the future I also wrote down all the lottery numbers for the next year so I am going to be super rich. 😀

 

 

 

You must then use your winnings to make like Tonya Harding on the Jag's kicker's knee and thus change the future! 

[Arm of Harm]

18 hours ago, Alaska Darin said:

Every time I watch a defense get shredded at the end of games I think back to Mike Shanahan talking to his defensive coordinator in the Super Bowl before the Packers last drive.  Shanahan says "Just do what you do" basically imploring the guy to get the &#%$ after Favre and force him to make plays under pressure. 

 

YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME.

“Just do what you do,” would not be good advice to give to Leslie Frazier. We don’t want Frazier to do what he does. 

[Alaska Darin]

6 hours ago, Arm of Harm said:

“Just do what you do,” would not be good advice to give to Leslie Frazier. We don’t want Frazier to do what he does. 

Not the point I was making, though I can see why that would be the conclusion drawn.  You simply don't drop guys 30 yards from the LOS when the other team only needs a FG.  Mind-numbing.

[Beer__League__Hockey]

12 minutes ago, Alaska Darin said:

Not the point I was making, though I can see why that would be the conclusion drawn.  You simply don't drop guys 30 yards from the LOS when the other team only needs a FG.  Mind-numbing.

 

They must have been mentally paralyzed by the last Chiefs TD.  They choose and encouraged the FG attempt, hoping it would be just long enough that they'd miss it.  Or if made, McD probably thought he'd win the coin flip in OT.

 

And separately on offense, they needed the Chiefs to go up by 9 to ultimately unchain Josh to the 19 & 26 running game and just start sling it.  If they did that from the start, the results would have been different in my mind.  Unless the weather conditions require it, playing small ball does not fit an aggressive team philosophy.

 

Overall flaccid coaching.  The more I think about it the angrier I get - because nothing will change next year.  49 will be back fill the wrong run holes, which crosser to guess on in pass coverage, and running games will be leaned on when a shootout game requires THE MOST POSSIBLE POINTS THAT YOU CAN SCORE!!!!!

[Core Four]

57 minutes ago, Beer__League__Hockey said:

 

They must have been mentally paralyzed by the last Chiefs TD.  They choose and encouraged the FG attempt, hoping it would be just long enough that they'd miss it.  Or if made, McD probably thought he'd win the coin flip in OT.

 

And separately on offense, they needed the Chiefs to go up by 9 to ultimately unchain Josh to the 19 & 26 running game and just start sling it.  If they did that from the start, the results would have been different in my mind.  Unless the weather conditions require it, playing small ball does not fit an aggressive team philosophy.

 

Overall flaccid coaching.  The more I think about it the angrier I get - because nothing will change next year.  49 will be back fill the wrong run holes, which crosser to guess on in pass coverage, and running games will be leaned on when a shootout game requires THE MOST POSSIBLE POINTS THAT YOU CAN SCORE!!!!!

 

I'm concerned about the same thing.  Sure, Beane and McD preach "learning from this," "we'll get better," etc; but when the next season rolls around you still have Frazier at DC running the same weak scheme, 49 at MLB, and a surprise mind-numbing re-signing or two like Addison is back on a 2-year extension.

 

It's almost as if "the process" is for the players, not the coaches.  Just like socialism is for the people, not the socialist.  Maybe an extreme analogy, but I'm tired of the stupid, shoot-yourself-in-the-foot errors they inflict upon themselves; either through personnel signings or coaching decisions that end up sucking.

 

It's not so much that McD hasn't been to the SB, or loses AFCCG and Divisional round, or whatever, it's how he loses.  He has shown that he and his staff are worse foes than the Chiefs.

[IDBillzFan]

On 1/27/2022 at 7:44 AM, Core Four said:

It's not so much that McD hasn't been to the SB, or loses AFCCG and Divisional round, or whatever, it's how he loses.  He has shown that he and his staff are worse foes than the Chiefs.

 

Whenever the Bills have a game end badly, whether it was this past Sunday or the Jags game, I tend to stay away from here (and all media in general) because it's tough to see straight when Bills Fandom looks a lot like the last few minutes of "Carrie."

 

I planned to do as much with this game, but woke up Monday realizing that -- the way the team lost, notwithstanding -- I freaking love this team.

 

What you wrote above is absolutely something to consider, so I try to find ways to turn it around optimistically without making a counterargument, given the homer that I am.

 

Something to chew on, especially for those who were not born yet, or don't remember, see if this sounds a little like the past two seasons:

 

1988 AFC Championship Game vs. Cincinnati: The Bengals forced three interceptions and allowed only 45 rushing yards and 136 passing yards to go with an offense that held the ball for 39:29 out of sixty minutes. Bills starting running back Thurman Thomas was held to just six yards on four carries, while quarterback Jim Kelly completed only 14-of-30 passes for 161 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988_Buffalo_Bills_season

 

1989 Divisional Playoff Loss vs. Cleveland:  In a shootout, Browns linebacker Clay Matthews intercepted Bills quarterback Jim Kelly at the Cleveland 1-yard line with 3 seconds remaining to preserve a 34–30 victory. Kelly threw for 405 yards and 4 touchdowns while Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar threw for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions. Browns receiver Webster Slaughter had the best postseason performance of his career with 3 receptions for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns.

 

Buffalo scored first with wide receiver Andre Reed's 72-yard touchdown reception. But Cleveland struck back with a 45-yard field goal by Matt Bahr and a 52-yard touchdown pass from Kosar to Slaughter. Kelly's 33-yard touchdown pass to James Lofton put the Bills back in the lead, 14–10, but Browns retook the lead with Ron Middleton's 3-yard catch shortly before the end of the first half.

 

On the opening drive of the second half, Kosar hooked up with Slaughter for another touchdown pass, this one 44-yards, to increase their lead to 24–14. Buffalo responded with a 6-yard touchdown catch by running back Thurman Thomas, who tied an NFL playoff record with 13 receptions for 150 yards. But Browns running back Eric Metcalf returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to give his team a 31–21 lead by the end of the third quarter.

 

After an exchange of field goals, Thomas caught a three-yard touchdown pass. But the extra point failed, forcing the Bills to attempt to score a touchdown instead of a field goal on their final drive. With time running out, Kelly led the Bills to Cleveland's 11-yard line, but halfback Ronnie Harmon dropped a potential game-winning catch in the end zone, and Matthews intercepted Kelly on the next play.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_Buffalo_Bills_season

 

And then came 1990-1994. Food for thought. We never really know what will come next. Not ever.

Edited January 28, 2022 by IDBillzFan

[Core Four]

7 minutes ago, IDBillzFan said:

And then came 1990-1994. Food for thought. We never really know what will come next. Not ever.

 

That is certainly the optimistic view and one to consider.  I think the difference between the 1988-89 examples are that the current team is better than those teams, overall.  The 88 + 89 Bills weren't good enough to go to the SB.  This team is, just that the coaching decisions failed them.  That is my thought, anyway.  Maybe a light goes on over the next few weeks as Beane and McD watch the Championship games and SB from home.  At this point, as fans we can only hope.

[Crap Throwing Clavin]

21 minutes ago, IDBillzFan said:

 

Whenever the Bills have a game end badly, whether it was this past Sunday or the Jags game, I tend to stay away from here (and all media in general) because it's tough to see straight when Bills Fandom looks a lot like the last few minutes of "Carrie."

 

I planned to do as much with this game, but woke up Monday realizing that -- the way the team lost, notwithstanding -- I freaking love this team.

 

What you wrote above is absolutely something to consider, so I try to find ways to turn it around optimistically without making a counterargument, given the homer that I am.

 

Something to chew on, especially for those who were not born yet, or don't remember, see if this sounds a little like the past two seasons:

 

1988 AFC Championship Game vs. Cincinnati: The Bengals forced three interceptions and allowed only 45 rushing yards and 136 passing yards to go with an offense that held the ball for 39:29 out of sixty minutes. Bills starting running back Thurman Thomas was held to just six yards on four carries, while quarterback Jim Kelly completed only 14-of-30 passes for 161 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.

 

1989 Divisional Playoff Loss vs. Cleveland:  In a shootout, Browns linebacker Clay Matthews intercepted Bills quarterback Jim Kelly at the Cleveland 1-yard line with 3 seconds remaining to preserve a 34–30 victory. Kelly threw for 405 yards and 4 touchdowns while Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar threw for 251 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions. Browns receiver Webster Slaughter had the best postseason performance of his career with 3 receptions for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns.

 

Buffalo scored first with wide receiver Andre Reed's 72-yard touchdown reception. But Cleveland struck back with a 45-yard field goal by Matt Bahr and a 52-yard touchdown pass from Kosar to Slaughter. Kelly's 33-yard touchdown pass to James Lofton put the Bills back in the lead, 14–10, but Browns retook the lead with Ron Middleton's 3-yard catch shortly before the end of the first half.

 

On the opening drive of the second half, Kosar hooked up with Slaughter for another touchdown pass, this one 44-yards, to increase their lead to 24–14. Buffalo responded with a 6-yard touchdown catch by running back Thurman Thomas, who tied an NFL playoff record with 13 receptions for 150 yards. But Browns running back Eric Metcalf returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to give his team a 31–21 lead by the end of the third quarter.

 

After an exchange of field goals, Thomas caught a three-yard touchdown pass. But the extra point failed, forcing the Bills to attempt to score a touchdown instead of a field goal on their final drive. With time running out, Kelly led the Bills to Cleveland's 11-yard line, but halfback Ronnie Harmon dropped a potential game-winning catch in the end zone, and Matthews intercepted Kelly on the next play.

 

And then came 1990-1994. Food for thought. We never really know what will come next. Not ever.

 

Friggin' Ronnie Harmon.  That play still makes me angry.

[IDBillzFan]

9 minutes ago, Core Four said:

 

That is certainly the optimistic view and one to consider.  I think the difference between the 1988-89 examples are that the current team is better than those teams, overall.  The 88 + 89 Bills weren't good enough to go to the SB.  This team is, just that the coaching decisions failed them.  That is my thought, anyway.  Maybe a light goes on over the next few weeks as Beane and McD watch the Championship games and SB from home.  At this point, as fans we can only hope.

 

I choose the optimistic view because it goes down easier, and there is literally not a single thing I can do as a fan to change what happened, except stop being a fan, and that's not an option for me. 

 

That said, this team was not good enough to get to the SB, which is why we're having this conversation.

[Spartacus]

21 minutes ago, IDBillzFan said:

 

I choose the optimistic view because it goes down easier, and there is literally not a single thing I can do as a fan to change what happened, except stop being a fan, and that's not an option for me. 

 

That said, this team was not good enough to get to the SB, which is why we're having this conversation.

not good enough to get to the SB?

 

these posters would indicate the Bills need a complete re-do of coaching philosophy to stay out of the basement. 

[Arm of Harm]

2 hours ago, Spartacus said:

not good enough to get to the SB?

 

these posters would indicate the Bills need a complete re-do of coaching philosophy to stay out of the basement. 

The players are good enough to get to the Super Bowl. The offensive coaching is good enough to get to the Super Bowl. The defensive coaching? Not so much so. 

[Robs House]

3 hours ago, IDBillzFan said:

 

I choose the optimistic view because it goes down easier, and there is literally not a single thing I can do as a fan to change what happened, except stop being a fan, and that's not an option for me. 

 

That said, this team was not good enough to get to the SB, which is why we're having this conversation.

 

That's the rub. This team was good enough to make it to the SB, but the coaching staff incredulously threw it away. 

 

You can be optimistic about the future and still be honest about what happened and how poorly it was handled.

[Core Four]

2 hours ago, Spartacus said:

not good enough to get to the SB?

 

these posters would indicate the Bills need a complete re-do of coaching philosophy to stay out of the basement. 

 

This is misinterpreting the sentiment of those who thing there needs to be a philosophy shift to get to the next level.  I don't think anyone believes the Bills will be in the basement next season.

[snafu]

3 hours ago, IDBillzFan said:

 

I choose the optimistic view because it goes down easier, and there is literally not a single thing I can do as a fan to change what happened, except stop being a fan, and that's not an option for me. 

 

That said, this team was not good enough to get to the SB, which is why we're having this conversation.

 

I'm with you.

I'm saving my emotion for wins, not wasting it on losses.