Post Game Thread Week 4 Bills @ Patriots

[long distance]

Seriously .. this made me suspicious right from the start ..


–This was an incredibly appropriate way for the day to start for 64-year-old referee Pete Morelli.


(Screenshot from NFL.com/GamePass)

Hey, uhh … Pete. Peter. Mr. Morelli. Sir. The camera is on this side. Same side it’s always been. Pete. Pete! Over here!

 

[long distance]

Ugliness Equal On Both Sides Of The Ball And Other Leftover Patriots Thoughts

nice breakdown with pictures by hurley.

Great review, thanks!
This paragraph nails also the “we did bad job at coaching“ (game planning):

–The issues were not limited to the offensive side of the ball. Not even close. Though allowing 16 points might not look like a bad day for the defense, the fact is that the Bills were able to possess the ball as long as they wanted, taking 5-15 yards at will against a Patriots defense that really never adjusted to what the Bills were doing. The Bills went three-and-out just once all day. They entered the game ranked 30th in yards per game.

The plan for the defensive ends seemed to be overly concerned with containing Tyrod Taylor, which resulted in the tackles easily sealing off the ends and giving LeSean McCoy room to operate outside the tackles. And somehow, Robert Woods got a hold of Rob Gronkowksi’s invisibility cloak, as there were several plays where the Patriots flat-out did not cover the man.

 

[TBR]

The only INTs this team has so far this year have come at the hands of Jamie Collins.

All other turnovers forced were on special teams or fumbles (forced by linebackers).

I don't believe a DB has been involved yet.

 

[SVN]

Devin McCourty breaks down Bills running game
interesting breakdown by mcourty

 

[VJCPatriot]

Poor result obviously on both sides of the ball. But overall I am pleased to come out of the Brady-less period at 3-1. This just shows us that there's only so much magic BB can weave without Brady. The carriage turned into a pumpkin. Brissett isn't ready for prime time!

 

[deters]

The only INTs this team has so far this year have come at the hands of Jamie Collins.

All other turnovers forced were on special teams or fumbles (forced by linebackers).

I don't believe a DB has been involved yet.

Uh didn't Harmon get pick to end phins game?

 

[TBR]

Uh didn't Harmon get pick to end phins game?

Ah, forgot about that.

 

[luuked]

Devin McCourty breaks down Bills running game
interesting breakdown by mcourty

Some of the simpletons in the gameday thread should watch this on loop just to realize why it wasn't exactly easy to stop some of the Bills attack.

The defensive gameplan just didn't work well enough because players couldn't win enough individual matchups to stop those outside runs often enough.

It's like they always say it, is not until middle/end of October until you know who your team is this year (i.e. "identity") and this applies for both offense and defense. So if anything good can come out of this debacle is that the staff should have tons of teaching tape, corrections and a better grasp of what our biggest defensive issues are.

 

[bbobbo]

Devin McCourty breaks down Bills running game
interesting breakdown by mcourty

i hope that's a regular feature. really informative.

 

[PatCat]

I expected 2-2 but got 3-1. We are going to win this division and bust buffalo a** enroute. Gronk will find his self, Jules will be better with TB and ditto for Mitchell and Hogan. I couldn't be happier right now

 

[reflexblue]

Hopfully this loss will be analogous to the one in Kansas City a couple of years ago when KC kicked the patriots azz, The team was humiliated and responded by winning the super bowl.

 

[PatsBoy12]

I felt very strongly that IF the Pats lost one of the first four, it would be to the Bills. I just didn't think it would be in such a fashion. Two days later and I'm still trying to figure out what that was on Sunday. I know it's easy to jump into hyperbole, but I really do think that was the worse I've ever seen in the last 17 seasons. Wow.

 

[Marqui]

Bedard breaking down how much Logan Ryan sucks right now.

 

[JackBauer]

Bedard breaking down how much Logan Ryan sucks right now.

One might get the impression that you don't like Logan Ryan.

 

[Marqui]

One might get the impression that you don't like Logan Ryan.

I think he's atrocious as a starting outside CB. He might be solid as a 3rd slot CB. Just my opinion.

 

[SVN]

Bedard breaking down how much Logan Ryan sucks right now.

meanwhile
Jeff Howe On Toucher & Rich: Logan Ryan Hasn't Been As Bad As You Think

 

[Jackson 2]

Bedard breaking down how much Logan Ryan sucks right now.

I'm breaking down how much Greg Bedard sucks right now.

 

[long distance]

In the end .. after all the reads .. this game was on the coaches as much as on the players.
I agree with Dussault .. bad execution of a bad game plan (or game plans - both O&D - that were not working). The usual “we have to coach better, we have to play better" BB mantra applies here quite literally.

Patriots-Bills Film Review: Defense Edition

Of course it is not easy to prepare a game plan - and the players - with two injured back-up QBs. If you learn just hours before the game that the much better and more experienced option is not ready to play - it makes the job that much harder.
One of the most interesting takes in the aftermath of the shutout was McDaniels saying that they had basically one game plan with only slight adjustments to one or another QB. And it really didn't look like a fully JB game plan - like it did vs HOU.

In that situation they needed a few brakes. They didn't get them. They didn't provoke them.
They also missed on “Do your job“ mantra - and the tide just wouldn't turn. When BB threw the tablet (uncharacteristic show of emotions) it was pretty much clear comment on that.

Two turning point moments in this sense stay in my mind.
1. The mess up of the first kick return - the blame went on Cyrus with Slater later taking it on him showing leadership .. But it actually was (also) on him: Cyrus did a bad judgement call but Slater had no job telling him what to do in the middle of the action. If Cyrus would go with his wrong decision the result would be much better (unless he fumbled) than with Slater intervening in the inappropriate moment.
2. Blount clearly got to the 1st down on the first good drive for the O that could still turn the game. Referees marked it short. BB should do the job and challenge it. Especially the way the game was going - psychologically. He didn't. More importantly - he didn't get a chance to make this decision. But Josh didn't even give him a chance. He went for a quick surprise play that was whistled off. We know how that finished.

All this doesn't matter much but still ..

 

[Mack Herron]

 

[bbobbo]

1. The mess up of the first kick return - the blame went on Cyrus with Slater later taking it on him showing leadership .. But it actually was (also) on him: Cyrus did a bad judgement call but Slater had no job telling him what to do in the middle of the action. If Cyrus would go with his wrong decision the result would be much better (unless he fumbled) than with Slater intervening in the inappropriate moment.

i don't know what slater's responsibility during the KOs is, but he often signals to the returner to stay in the endzone. i always assumed that it was his job to make that decision since he has more time to survey the field and identify where the gunners are, whereas the returner is concentrating on catching the ball cleanly.

2. Blount clearly got to the 1st down on the first good drive for the O that could still turn the game. Referees marked it short. BB should do the job and challenge it. Especially the way the game was going - psychologically. He didn't. More importantly - he didn't get a chance to make this decision. But Josh didn't even give him a chance. He went for a quick surprise play that was whistled off. We know how that finished.

i was surprised how quickly that went as well. they really should have challenged that spot.