Bills took advantage of Joe Philbin Brain Freeze in Buffalo

[goheels22002]

The Patriots can learn a lot from the Dolphins' insistence on throwing the ball in their 19-0 loss that gift-wrapped the AFCE and jeopardized their 2013 playoff chances.

Tannehill was sacked six times and Matt Moore threw two late picks to seal the victory while the running backs idled in the garage. The Patriots should go run heavy to keep that excellent pass rushing front seven of Buffalo's honest tomorrow.

This Bills defense holds the franchise record with 56 sacks with one more game to go. I imagine they'd like to add to their record against the Patriots.

Bills blitz Dolphins in 19-0 loss for Miami | Miami Dolphins In Depth

 

[Uncle Rico]

Weather might play a role in the approach too. Not much wind, but pretty rainy.

 

[upstater1]

The Bills are great at 2 things. Run defense and sacking the QB. Their DBs can be exploited. Especially if it's raining. Short throws, keep the chains moving. Hard to run against K Williams, Dareus and Alonso. You have to keep them honest, but hit them where they're weakest, and throw it before they get to the QB.

 

[Triumph]

Miami was due for a let down after beating NE for the first time in 3 1/2 years.

Miami will beat the Jets and NE will beat Buffalo.

 

[fnordcircle]

Miami was due for a let down after beating NE for the first time in 3 1/2 years.

Miami will beat the Jets and NE will beat Buffalo.

Jets are going to win that game. It's exactly the sort of game that Rex's teams typically win. The other team has more to lose, Rex could use a win to help save his job.

 

[Gwedd]

Jets are going to win that game. It's exactly the sort of game that Rex's teams typically win. The other team has more to lose, Rex could use a win to help save his job.

Real schadenfreude would see them play to a tie. Watch both fan bases implode.

 

[supafly]

The Bills are great at 2 things. Run defense and sacking the QB. Their DBs can be exploited. Especially if it's raining. Short throws, keep the chains moving. Hard to run against K Williams, Dareus and Alonso. You have to keep them honest, but hit them where they're weakest, and throw it before they get to the QB.

The Bills are the only team in the NFL to have these 2 major stats:

--4 different players with 4 or more INTs

--4 different players with 7.5 or more sacks, led by Mario Williams' 13

(3 major stats if you count their offensive statistic of having 2 RB's who are both over 800 yards rushing in Jackson and Spiller)


This leads me to believe that attempting to run the ball as often and consistently as possible is the way to go. Of course, we'll also rely on our quick release passing skills to balance things out in terms of the short passing attack, but I think they'll attempt to get the ball going on the ground.

 

[supafly]

Rex could use a win to help save his job.

You may be right, but according to some recent news rumors from a couple of major outlets, Rex's job is apparently safe for at least next year as a contract extension is likely to be announced as early as tomorrow.

I think it'll be a good game, but I'd be surprised if MIA didn't take advantage of their chance to make the playoffs.

Watch, the Jets will win this year---but of course they couldn't beat the Dolphins in 2008 to get us a wildcard spot at 11-5. Bastards.

 

[upstater1]

The Bills are the only team in the NFL to have these 2 major stats:

--4 different players with 4 or more INTs

--4 different players with 7.5 or more sacks, led by Mario Williams' 13

(3 major stats if you count their offensive statistic of having 2 RB's who are both over 800 yards rushing in Jackson and Spiller)


This leads me to believe that attempting to run the ball as often and consistently as possible is the way to go. Of course, we'll also rely on our quick release passing skills to balance things out in terms of the short passing attack, but I think they'll attempt to get the ball going on the ground.

Their DBs are really not very good.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

Jets are going to win that game. It's exactly the sort of game that Rex's teams typically win. The other team has more to lose, Rex could use a win to help save his job.

I like the way you are thinking, but I think Miami brings everything they got and pull it out.

This weekend really does have a playoff-type atmosphere to it. some things are set, but nothing is fully decided (except the Chiefs are the 5 seed)

 

[goheels22002]

The Bills are the only team in the NFL to have these 2 major stats:

--4 different players with 4 or more INTs

--4 different players with 7.5 or more sacks, led by Mario Williams' 13

(3 major stats if you count their offensive statistic of having 2 RB's who are both over 800 yards rushing in Jackson and Spiller)


This leads me to believe that attempting to run the ball as often and consistently as possible is the way to go. Of course, we'll also rely on our quick release passing skills to balance things out in terms of the short passing attack, but I think they'll attempt to get the ball going on the ground.

The Falcons pounded the Bills on the ground with 30 carries for 151 yards and 3 rushing TDs. The Falcons won the game in OT and owned time of possession 38 minutes to 25 minutes. Ridley, Blount and Vereen can do that.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Buffalo Bills - Box Score - December 01, 2013 - ESPN

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Cold rain, steady downpour with winds over 10MPH. Not a day to throw much.
Problem being is that the Bills can load up against the run and crowd the middle against the short pass. Tough game ahead.

 

[Deus Irae]

Five wide, empty backfield

Four wide + Vereen

 

[supafly]

Their DBs are really not very good.

No, I'm not meaning to claim that their DBs are good. I'm just speaking of the pressure that will likely be coming from their more than capable front 7, and how we may be able to combat it a bit by running the ball more in the vein of the BAL game last week.

Of course we will still take advantage of the quick release passes in the air too, down the shorter areas of the field. There may not be too much time to wind up and pitch it deep tomorrow, much like many other weeks lately.

 

[supafly]

The Falcons pounded the Bills on the ground with 30 carries for 151 yards and 3 rushing TDs. The Falcons won the game in OT and owned time of possession 38 minutes to 25 minutes. Ridley, Blount and Vereen can do that.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Buffalo Bills - Box Score - December 01, 2013 - ESPN

That's what I'm leaning towards--more balance like last week, with a point made to effectively rush the ball.

Of course gameplans change too, especially adjustments based on what the defense is giving you, so all of our "expert" analysis may be out the window due to factors that we may not be able to predict. If you're simply speaking of a gameplan to go into tomorrow afternoon with right off the bat, I would have it much like what we've done lately in terms of the quicker release/shorter field passes from Brady, but I'd have a strong focus on attempting to run the ball too.

It may not only benefit this particular game, but it's good to see that aspect of the offense clicking in general during this time of the season.

 

[Ivan]

Cold rain, steady downpour with winds over 10MPH. Not a day to throw much.
Problem being is that the Bills can load up against the run and crowd the middle against the short pass. Tough game ahead.

I see it differently. I think the advantage goes to the offense in slippery conditions, it negates a pass rush and gives the receivers a big edge. Brady excels in these situations, big advantage to the Patriots imo. A clean field would make their pass rush a much bigger deal, mudding slows them down big time.

 

[JMarr]

Five wide, empty backfield

Four wide + Vereen

Develin + Ridley
Develin + Blount
Develin + Vareen
Vareen

Run it 35 times.

 

[Deus Irae]

Develin + Ridley
Develin + Blount
Develin + Vareen
Vareen

Run it 35 times.

I'd rather see them win the game by knocking Buffalo out early. Teams with nothing to play for tend to fold if they get down quickly, but they often fight to the end if they can keep it close.

 

[Gwedd]

Cold rain, steady downpour with winds over 10MPH. Not a day to throw much.
Problem being is that the Bills can load up against the run and crowd the middle against the short pass. Tough game ahead.

I thought that way for a bit, but like as not those guys already have the trailers loaded and ready to leave once the game is over.

My prediction?

Pats: 31

Bills: 17

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

Over the last 8 games Buffalo made Miami and the Jets look bad. Good earned wins for sure. Other than that they lost 35 to 17 against NO, 34-31 to Atlanta, 27-6 to Tampa Bay, 23-13 to KC, 23-10 to Pitt, and won a close on against Jax 27-20. Note, in that win against Jax 2 weeks ago Buffalo ran for 200 yards (and earned 4 TOs). In their win last week against Miami they ran for 200 yards. I think they have passed for less than 200 yards 5 out of the 8 with only one game near 250 (??). Notice a pattern??
Then add to it -- though I personally don't know this as a fact -- conventional wisdom says Thad Lewis starting makes them even lesser on offense. Thad Lewis is the starter for today.

Anything can happen. Buffalo could come out and play their best game of the season to win. They definitely are not a total bum cellar dwelling team. But more than a few appear to be letting the gravity of what's at stake for the Patriot's build up the Bills to a degree that is a bit disconnected from performance reality.