Week 2 post-game thread - Patriots 40, Bills 32

[VectorPrime]

Yes we won. Thank god. But when you are up 37-13 in the 4th quarter the game should effectively be over. It should be a layup. But we got too damn cute on a 4th and 1 and a strip sack later and suddenly its a one score game. So the offense really screwed up but how did the defense, which had been dominant up to that point, give up 2 quick touchdowns?

We had the Bills embarrassed, but now they can take some moral victories away from this. I don't like it.

 

[Fixit]

Create a new position called Guy in Charge Of Stopping Josh McDaniels From Calling A Deep Route When You're Up 18 Late And Only Need A Foot To Essentially Clinch It.

 

[Clonamery]

If my head didn't explode, I would definitely overreact.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

I don't know man....I'm completely baffled by what just happened

It would've been an embarrassment had we lost....and we would have no one to blame but ourselves

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

It's still early season. we aren't in mid-season form for running up the score, yet .

Always be happy with the win.

 

[Angelpats]

We played prevent defense and we still won a division game. It's a great outcome and if the bills keep this gameplan we will be even better off next time when we actually play defense.

 

[FrodoBagginz]

2 4th and ones that should have been runs instead of passes. 2 huge mistakes that led to this atrocity. But. a win is a win so I'll take it.

 

[DaBruinz]

Belichick certainly was at McDaniels there late..

Can't help when the ref blatantly ignores a holding call that would have led to a sack of Taylor and instead calls illegal contact downfield.. That led directly to 6 points.

The 4th and 1 calls were just dumb..

Mason wasn't very good as the full back.. He needs to work at that.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Sane strategy on fourth down. If the Pats treat fourth down like the other team is capable of playing football, and not like a 12 year old playing Madden, they'll be fine.

 

[TommyD4207]

Garbage time happened, folks.

Game was never really in doubt.

 

[sevengables_2207]

They went prevent and had poor execution that allowed Buffalo to make it look closer on paper.

Furthermore, that fourth and one deep shot smacked of hubris.

Hindsight is 20/20, but still why not run or sneak for that extra foot? At the least you bleed clock, force a timeout, and pin them deep in their territory (barring a touchback).

Still, a great win in a hostile environment in the division.

 

[Fencer]

Mods please feel free to merge this into whatever else pleases you, but at the moment I'm not seeing any suitable targets.

I found Q4 clock management fascinating.

The Bills, when they were down big:

• Kept running.
• Were quick to get plays off.
• Fought to get out of bounds.
• Did burn one optional timeout because they didn't like their play call vs. the Pats' formation.
• On the whole, that was well done -- all the more because they in fact did score the 3 TDs.

The Pats, when they were up, including when they were up big:

• Kept passing.
• Kept the clock running on most plays even so (passes completed, receivers turning toward the center of the field rather than the sidelines).
• In an exception, tried some low-percentage long passes.
• Didn't execute very successfully, but did enough to win.

On that last FG vs. 4th & inches decision:

• For analysis assume -- happily contrafactually -- that the Bills were going to make their TD. If they didn't, the decision didn't matter, as the Pats win for sure.
• In one case, to win the Pats simply have to make a very short yardage first down.
• In the other case, to win the Pats have to make an easy FG, and then succeed at one of stopping a 2 pt conversion or winning in overtime.
• I think the odds were with the choice the Pats actually made.

In other comments, quite random:

• I saw Vollmer post-injury on at least two series. But Cannon was also in a lot.
• Hooman got at least one snap late.
• Williams with a catch!
• I'd never thought about it, but it makes perfect sense to have McCourty as the deep returner when expecting an onside kick. He's the best free safety on the team, which is the required skill if the Bills recover. And if the Bills kick deep, he's still a good choice to have back there.
• Collins had a terrible game. Hopefully it will be a learning experience for him. Edit: Whoops. I just saw his sack stats. Never mind!
  
• The Bills sure have some elusive runners.
• I hope Lewis learns ball security ASAP.
• With the Pats having a few early-season fumbles, PSIgate haters will have a field day. Morons.
• Harmon is great late in a half.
• As great as Brady is, he leaves a lot of opportunity on the field with inaccurate deep balls.
• That was a great catch by Amendola.
• Pats' receivers took big hits on crossing routes and the like. Dobson and Lewis were the main victims.

 

[Angelpats]

These deep passes even if they don't work will help us down the line when it comes to opening up the short and intermediate routes. It keeps the defense honest, and we were so close to executing them.

 

[pheenix11]

A crappy win is the best kind. Still get the W, but Belichick has plenty to chew their asses out for all week.

 

[DaBruinz]

OK.. Pats hang on to win this one.. 32 points allowed to the Bills... 19 points in what should have been garbage time is not good.

 

[Kdo5]

Garbage time happened, folks.

Game was never really in doubt.

Huh? It certainly was but a win is good. Hell it might be a good thing that it happened early in the year and we survived it. Means we won't let that type of thing happen again...hopefully.

But Fletcher is a problem.

 

[Fixit]

Garbage time happened, folks.

Game was never really in doubt.

WTF game did you watch?

 

[thecore762]

This guy keeps getting burned over and over and over again! How many TD's does he have to give up before we part ways with this guy?

 

[VectorPrime]

We should have won by 3 TDs and humbled the Bills. I feel lousy that we gave them hope or something to build off of or something.

I don't know, I'm just mad. I haven't been this mad about a win since probably Oakland last year

 

[reflexblue]

Yes we won. Thank god. But when you are up 37-13 in the 4th quarter the game should effectively be over. It should be a layup. But we got too damn cute on a 4th and 1 and a strip sack later and suddenly its a one score game. So the offense really screwed up but how did the defense, which had been dominant up to that point, give up 2 quick touchdowns?

We had the Bills embarrassed, but now they can take some moral victories away from this. I don't like it.

this game was easier to win then i thought it would be