The Main Reason the Bills lost

[K-Gun]

It was obvious from the get go that Shady wasn't himself. He was tentative to make his cuts with his hamstring. Instead of inserting Gillislee and sticking with the offensive identity that has been working, they chose to stick with Shady but dial back his touches. He got more plays as a pass blocker than anything else. This is how you get your #1 back to #100 percent, ask him to block Miami's D-Line all game?

Shady ran the ball 8 times. Gillislee ran the ball just 5 times. 13 rushes from your primary backs with TT as qb is not going to win many games. How dumb is it to stick with Shady while abandoning the run? Mike should have had 20-25 rushes this game. imo, this loss is squarely on the offensive decision to abandon the run and not trust Gillislee, which subsequently forced the defense to be out there for almost 40 minutes of the game.

Also, looking ahead, if Shady isn't %100 next week, Mike better see the ball 20-25 times. Or else the pats will own the ball 40 minutes of the game, and the Bills will get stomped out of the New Era.

[Turf]

It was obvious from the get go that Shady wasn't himself. He was tentative to make his cuts with his hamstring. Instead of inserting Gillislee and sticking with the offensive identity that has been working, they chose to stick with Shady but dial back his touches. He got more plays as a pass blocker than anything else. This is how you get your #1 back to #100 percent, ask him to block Miami's D-Line all game?

Shady ran the ball 8 times. Gillislee ran the ball just 5 times. 13 rushes from your primary backs with TT as qb is not going to win many games. How dumb is it to stick with Shady while abandoning the run? Mike should have had 20-25 rushes this game. imo, this loss is squarely on the offensive decision to abandon the run and not trust Gillislee, which subsequently forced the defense to be out there for almost 40 minutes of the game.

Also, looking ahead, if Shady isn't %100 next week, Mike better see the ball 20-25 times. Or else the pats will own the ball 40 minutes of the game, and the Bills will get stomped out of the New Era.

That's exactly correct. They out planned themselves. They should have committed to Gillislee and pounded the ball like the week before instead they got too cute.

[SpikedLemonade]

WRONG

[Joe Fo Sho]

I have to give out the blame to the defense. We're not going to beat anyone giving up over 200 yards rushing. Even having done that, the offense was doing well enough to keep the lead until something like 6 minutes left in the game. If our defense wasn't garbage, I think we'd have won that game. The long touchdown on 3rd and 6 was ridiculous, especially since we had 2 defenders in the area who tackled each other.

[The Jokeman]

I have to give out the blame to the defense. We're not going to beat anyone giving up over 200 yards rushing. Even having done that, the offense was doing well enough to keep the lead until something like 6 minutes left in the game. If our defense wasn't garbage, I think we'd have won that game. The long touchdown on 3rd and 6 was ridiculous, especially since we had 2 defenders in the area who tackled each other.
I had more issues with the offense is this game because the defense/ST helped give Tyrod a short field on our early TDs and the Goodwin TD was his usual bomb. Tyrod just needs to improve in his short passing game in order to sustain drives or move the field to flip the field for the defense.

[Pinkerton Security]

How can you NOT say that the main reason we lost is that we gave up 250 yards rushing? Our D couldnt get off the field.

[Pinkerton Security]

I had more issues with the offense is this game because the defense/ST helped give Tyrod a short field on our early TDs and the Goodwin TD was his usual bomb. Tyrod just needs to improve in his short passing game in order to sustain drives or move the field to flip the field for the defense.

Field position wasn't nearly as much of an issue as giving up 450 yards of offense to the Phins.

[DynaPaul]

Tough loss for sure but I think we beat them in the 2nd game.

[ghz in pittsburgh]

McCoy is THE star player on Bills Offense. It would be very difficult for him to be pushed or forced into lineup. At the presser, McCoy said as much in terms of pre-warm up test that he felt good, can do all cuts etc. It would be hard for any coach to sit him if he says I can go. So number 1 fault is on McCoy, who I believe reading too much of Miami's run defense stats from the first 5 games, any the media hype of MVP allure (just imagine the if McCoy would lead the Bills to a win, the national recognition he would get). Tell tell signs are there that he's not 100% or close to it; like missing missing all week practice except some limited Friday drills, Anthony Lynn's remarks about wanting him to be 100% unlike last year. It needs a strong willed HC like Parcel to make the right decision for him. Just like McCoy himself said that he's not good enough to play if he does not practice in a week. But Rex is not Parcel, so he should take the rest of blame.

Just my hunch --- if Anthony Lynn were the Bills HC, McCoy won't dress yesterday.

[K-Gun]

How can you NOT say that the main reason we lost is that we gave up 250 yards rushing? Our D couldnt get off the field.

If the Offense committed to running the ball, they would have been able to have had more than 23 minutes of possession.

You can't keep the D out there for 40 minutes and ask them to stop that kind of running game.

Because the Offense gave up on running the ball they let the D hang out to dry.

[Joe Fo Sho]

If the Offense committed to running the ball, they would have been able to have had more than 23 minutes of possession.

You can't keep the D out there for 40 minutes and ask them to stop that kind of running game.

Because the Offense gave up on running the ball they let the D hang out to dry.

You're making a big assumption in that you think our rushing game would have improved had we committed to it. That's not a given.

Our backs combined for 15 attempts and 32 yards. At that pace, we would have had to run the ball 121 times to match the Dolphins run game this week. That means we would have had to have the ball 40 times, as we would have gone 3-and-out every time.

You could argue that the Dolphins would have had the ball for longer and ran for more yards had we committed to the run.

[justasportsfan]

Main reason we lost is our D isn't as good as we thought it is.

On O - we dont have a mediocre passing qb. He just isn't a good passing qb.

[Mr. Pink]

2 reasons why they lost...

1. They couldn't stop Jay Ajayi.

2. Tyrod Taylor isn't good enough to put the team on his back and carry them when called upon to do so.

[Mr. Miyagi]

It was obvious from the get go that Shady wasn't himself. He was tentative to make his cuts with his hamstring. Instead of inserting Gillislee and sticking with the offensive identity that has been working, they chose to stick with Shady but dial back his touches. He got more plays as a pass blocker than anything else. This is how you get your #1 back to #100 percent, ask him to block Miami's D-Line all game?

Shady ran the ball 8 times. Gillislee ran the ball just 5 times. 13 rushes from your primary backs with TT as qb is not going to win many games. How dumb is it to stick with Shady while abandoning the run? Mike should have had 20-25 rushes this game. imo, this loss is squarely on the offensive decision to abandon the run and not trust Gillislee, which subsequently forced the defense to be out there for almost 40 minutes of the game.

Also, looking ahead, if Shady isn't %100 next week, Mike better see the ball 20-25 times. Or else the pats will own the ball 40 minutes of the game, and the Bills will get stomped out of the New Era.

I saw the same thing yesterday while watching the game. I agree with you 100%. Should've sat Shady down and punched it with Gillislee. They realized that too late in the 3rd quarter.

[Victor7]

Both sides of the ball share their blame. Can't blame just one side.

Defense was putrid all day long. They somehow managed to hold the fish to low scoring early on but make no mistake they controlled the tempo form the word go. Ayaji was over 100 yards in the 1st half and we never got to Tanny aside from a play or two from Zo Alexander

Offense is to blame for not sustaining drives. Our points early were basically gifts from special teams. Offense was doing nothing. Part of this blame goes to the stubbornness of playing a clearly hobbled McCoy. Do we not trust Gillislie ?? He's proven to be a very good backup. He should've seen more touches. Specially considering our depleted WR core made it stupid to pass as much as we did.

Aside from special teams both units played pretty bad yesterday. Blaming one or the other is useless when they were both completely ineffective. I will say this though. The defense wasn't missing nearly as many players as the offense.

[paladin warrior]

Bad Defense ..

1. without Dareus Marcell.

[Victor7]

Bad Defense ..

1. without Dareus Marcell.

Not saying he wouldn't have helped yesterday but ..... He's been missing all year long and we usually don't play this bad.

[mysticsoto]

I placed the blame on our lines. Our Oline couldn't open up holes for Shady - frankly no surprise since they were playing 8 in the box and daring T-rod to beat us in the air. But the worse part is, they couldn't pass block either. T-rod had people in his face constantly and was running for his life most of the time. It probably didn't help that we only had average to below average receivers playing.

On the Def side, the Dline should get most of the blame as well. Frankly, the front 7 are supposed to get in there and harass the qb or runner. They did neither. Tannehill had all day to throw, and when he didn't, we were getting gouged by their running back and pushed around. I don't care that they say Miami's Oline is beefier - that should also mean they are slower and perhaps even more prone to tire. Kyle Williams was invisible (perhaps being double teamed) and no one else picked up the slack. For a defense that is supposed to confuse the offense, Miami's Oline, QB and RB seemed to understand them perfectly and perfectly countered. When something isn't working, you need to have a plan B and we didn't - that part I'll blame on the coaching!

[Night Train]

The main reason the Bills lost is the failure of the D to stop the run.

[ICRockets]

I placed the blame on our lines. Our Oline couldn't open up holes for Shady - frankly no surprise since they were playing 8 in the box and daring T-rod to beat us in the air. But the worse part is, they couldn't pass block either. T-rod had people in his face constantly and was running for his life most of the time. It probably didn't help that we only had average to below average receivers playing.

On the Def side, the Dline should get most of the blame as well. Frankly, the front 7 are supposed to get in there and harass the qb or runner. They did neither. Tannehill had all day to throw, and when he didn't, we were getting gouged by their running back and pushed around. I don't care that they say Miami's Oline is beefier - that should also mean they are slower and perhaps even more prone to tire. Kyle Williams was invisible (perhaps being double teamed) and no one else picked up the slack. For a defense that is supposed to confuse the offense, Miami's Oline, QB and RB seemed to understand them perfectly and perfectly countered. When something isn't working, you need to have a plan B and we didn't - that part I'll blame on the coaching!

Piggy-backing on this point: I think the absence of Robert Woods was just as crucial in the run game as it was in the passing game. He is an incredible run blocking receiver, and without him a lot of plays where he makes crucial blocks on the outside simply weren't playcall options yesterday.

[mysticsoto]

Piggy-backing on this point: I think the absence of Robert Woods was just as crucial in the run game as it was in the passing game. He is an incredible run blocking receiver, and without him a lot of plays where he makes crucial blocks on the outside simply weren't playcall options yesterday.

True, although many times Shady was stopped at the line of scrimmage or before. The Oline was horrible - especially Jordan Mills - probably the worst I've seen him play - he was pwned big time!!!

[jamze132]

We lost because we couldn't tackle. The end.

[ICRockets]

True, although many times Shady was stopped at the line of scrimmage or before. The Oline was horrible - especially Jordan Mills - probably the worst I've seen him play - he was pwned big time!!!

Yeah, I was willing to cut him some slack early because Cameron Wake is a pretty great player, but Mario was making Mills his ***** in the 4th. That's inexcusable.

[Mace]

The main reason the Bills lost is the failure of the D to stop the run.

I'm going with this one. They were up 17-6.

If you stop the run (tackling better):
-Gillislee gets more carries, offense has more options
-Tannehill HAS to pass, you can tee off on him, that makes him shakier
-Taylor doesn't have to pass with an understrength receiving corps
-The O-line doesn't have to ineffectively pass block so much
-You don't have to sweat the hurry up offense you don't have

Everything all ties in with stopping Ajayi and Williams, imho.

I didn't grasp why they kept trying to tackle Ajayi high.....but for that matter Damian Williams carried people and he's only 212 lbs. Wasn't it Tackling 101, if someone has him high, wrap up his legs ? Why were we not adjusting ? I remember the Bills crowding the line faking blitz, I don't remember them stuffing the box. Almost seemed like they were more worried about Tannehill passing than Ajayi who was piling up yards carry after carry.

Maybe Ajayi is that good and their linemen are that much stronger than all of ours.

But stopping the run would have changed everything else, imho. Maybe they just couldn't. That's why we lost.

[BuffaloRedleg]

The Bills lost for the same reason they have lost the last five times they went into Miami with a record.

There is something psychologically damaging about being a part of this franchise. Champions come here, players go off to be champions elsewhere, but this team just can't close. They know they are the Bills and they always have in the back of their head that we're going to blow it.

I think any sane person knew that literally the Billiest thing they could do was to blow this game with all the momentum and the upcoming Patriots showdown. They give you just enough of a taste to think about thinking you might let yourself think they'll finally turn it around. This game really had loss written all over it, we all shoulda known better.

[djjimkelly]

the main reason we lost is our QB needs the team to rush for 200 + to win .


tyrod will never win a whole game with his arm. 1 drive here and there sure never when its all on his shoulders

[Mace]

The Bills lost for the same reason they have lost the last five times they went into Miami with a record.

There is something psychologically damaging about being a part of this franchise. Champions come here, players go off to be champions elsewhere, but this team just can't close. They know they are the Bills and they always have in the back of their head that we're going to blow it.

I think any sane person knew that literally the Billiest thing they could do was to blow this game with all the momentum and the upcoming Patriots showdown. They give you just enough of a taste to think about thinking you might let yourself think they'll finally turn it around. This game really had loss written all over it, we all shoulda known better.

Besides that though...

[Mike13]

The main reason you lost is because Miami dominated you.

[K-Gun]

Can we give the ****ing ball to Gillislee? He has 4 rushes for 40 yards. Maybe more than 1 rush per series would be a smart thing to do. Jesus Christ.