The Game Goat Thread: WCG @ Buffalo

SeoulSoxFan

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Once again, everyone.

From the record-breaking "defense" to the dropped passes & the (now typical) Jones' INTs, this was the most embarrassing playoff loss in memory.

Then again, this team is still in transition and overall, I am excited about the 2022 season. I am happy that we have found a terrific rookie QB in Jones and should be ready to make a bunch of changes in the offseason.

So, an unexpectedly terrible loss in an unexpectedly terrific season. Not sure what more to add.
 

Gash Prex

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BB is the Goat of this game - the defense had nothing. Game plan was shit. No adjustments.
 

snowmanny

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Amazing that after essentially never stopping Buffalo from scoring in Foxboro...the defense was worse. This time they basically never stopped them from scoring touchdowns.

They literally have to build a defense specifically to stop Allen.
 

BaseballJones

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Worst defensive performance in history, I think. Non kneel down drives all ended in touchdowns. You literally cannot play worse defense than that.

I thought Mac played pretty well, all things considered. Tipped pick was a bad throw but also unlucky (Buffalo had one go off their hands and fell harmlessly to the turf instead of being picked). The other pick was a phenomenal play to not only deny NE a beautiful touchdown, but give the ball to the Bills. He hung in there and made some plays. He gets a passing grade (though not exactly a good grade). Bourne was tremendous. Folk did his job. Stevenson was fine. Otherwise, it was a completely, utter catastrophe in every conceivable way.
 

lexrageorge

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Anyone that rotated in on the defensive side of the ball. Did anyone make a play at all tonight?

The offense was far from perfect; in fact, often pretty bad. But they looked like the 2007 Pats compared to the way the defense played. The first Mac INT was just a great play by the defender, and essentially ended the game for the Pats right there.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Amazing that after essentially never stopping Buffalo from scoring in Foxboro...the defense was worse. This time they basically never stopped them from scoring touchdowns.

They literally have to build a defense specifically to stop Allen.
Big, big problem that this guy (and presumably, McDermott) is going to be in the division for a long time. The Pats need to figure something out pretty damned quick.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Can’t remember a less competitive 60 minute defensive performance. Allen had forever in the pocket, receivers were wide open on every play, and running lanes were open as well. What exactly was the game plan here? What were they trying to stop? It looked to me like they were running a vanilla preseason prevent defense just trying to get through the game without injury.

A sad end to a handful of great Patriot careers tonight.
 

Cellar-Door

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The Front 7, it's been a sneaky weakness all year, particularly the glacial linebackers
On offense....the line wasn't great, I didn't think Mac played very well, and most everyone buy Bourne was subpar.
 

Mystic Merlin

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Offense wasn’t good, but that’s academic because the defense literally (and this word gets misused all the time, but here it is appropriate) never stopped Buffalo’s offense.

The front seven was ghastly. In particular, Judon is - for whatever reason - one of the worst players on the team right now, they have no real nose tackle, and KVN/Bentley/Hightower/Collins cannot run. The personnel needs a major overhaul upfront.
 

Jungleland

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Yep, absolutely stunning lack of....anything positive on defense tonight. Literally, an argument for the worst defensive performance in NFL history given that it's the only time a team hasn't been stopped. It's one thing that the win streak was fool's gold, it's another to fall apart this completely over the last month of the season.

Offense wasn't great, and Mac was up and down, but overall I'm still extremely positive on his potential. But that's probably a topic for a different thread.
 

Ed Hillel

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0 punts in 2 games against Buffalo, I mean it’s so incredible I can’t even be mad. That’s historic shit right there.
 

Eddie Jurak

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1. The Efense
2. The Offense except for Mac.

Bizarre as it sounds, Mac played some of his best snaps as a Patriot on the Pats first drive in this game.

Pats were in a 3rd and 14 situation, and Mac, showing some of the best pocket awareness we have seen from him, keeps a play alive by scrambling and then throwing on the run and hitting Hunter Henry wide open 30 yards down field.

On the next play, Mac throws to a WIDE OPEN Brandon Bolden about 20 yards down field, and Bolden drops it. Bolden was standing still and the pass hit him in the hands.

The play after that is some kind of Pats receiver fuckup. Mac throws one short right, one Pats receiver reaches up and tips the ball away from the intended receiver, Meyers. That suggests that the guy who tipped it (can't remember who) was in the wrong spot.

Now we are 3rd and 10 again. Mac drops back, again shows great awareness to first step up, and then to take off and run. A Buffalo defender almost gets him at the line with a shoestring tackle, but does not, and Mac runs for 16.

Now 1st and 10 at the Buffalo 34, and Mac throws a nice deep ball to Ahgolor that gets piked off inthe end zone on what looked like a great play by the Bills safety. I don't think, but will defer to those who know better, that Mac did anything wrong here, just a great play by the safety. Or, Maybe Agholor should have gone up and battled for the ball instead of waiting for it.

Anyway, those 3rd down plays were some of Mac's best all season. Shame that the rest of the offense, like the D, chose to no show.

3. The coaching.
 

BaseballJones

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Buffalo was 6-7 on third down tonight. The only non-conversion? On the last play of the game. It was 3rd and 11 and Buffalo took a knee for -1.

The defense was so inept that in seven real possessions, Buffalo only faced SIX third downs. Here were their conversions:

1st poss: 3rd and 3, NE 24 - Allen 15 yd run
2nd poss: 3rd and 1, NE 47 - Singletary 6 yd run
2nd poss: 3rd and 4, NE 16 - Allen 5 yd run
3rd poss (counting kneel-down at end of 1st half): 3rd and 1, Buf 28 - Singletary 3 yd run
5th poss: 3rd and 4, Buf 48 - Allen 9 yd pass to Singletary
6th poss: 3rd and 1, Buf 42 - Allen 3 yd run

That's it. They moved the ball up and down the field with such ease that they virtually never even sniffed adversity tonight. Easily the worst defensive performance I've ever seen in any NFL game ever in my entire life. This wasn't the most points given up ever, but the Pats never got a single stop and never even made Buffalo work hard. It was a hot knife through butter right from the opening play.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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Defense was historically awful.

I thought Mac was actually pretty decent, especially given that we couldn’t run and put him in third and long all night. O line did nothing in the run game and broke down in pass pro in some key moments.
 

patinorange

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1. The Efense
2. The Offense except for Mac.

Bizarre as it sounds, Mac played some of his best snaps as a Patriot on the Pats first drive in this game.

Pats were in a 3rd and 14 situation, and Mac, showing some of the best pocket awareness we have seen from him, keeps a play alive by scrambling and then throwing on the run and hitting Hunter Henry wide open 30 yards down field.

On the next play, Mac throws to a WIDE OPEN Brandon Bolden about 20 yards down field, and Bolden drops it. Bolden was standing still and the pass hit him in the hands.

The play after that is some kind of Pats receiver fuckup. Mac throws one short right, one Pats receiver reaches up and tips the ball away from the intended receiver, Meyers. That suggests that the guy who tipped it (can't remember who) was in the wrong spot.

Now we are 3rd and 10 again. Mac drops back, again shows great awareness to first step up, and then to take off and run. A Buffalo defender almost gets him at the line with a shoestring tackle, but does not, and Mac runs for 16.

Now 1st and 10 at the Buffalo 34, and Mac throws a nice deep ball to Ahgolor that gets piked off inthe end zone on what looked like a great play by the Bills safety. I don't think, but will defer to those who know better, that Mac did anything wrong here, just a great play by the safety. Or, Maybe Agholor should have gone up and battled for the ball instead of waiting for it.

Anyway, those 3rd down plays were some of Mac's best all season. Shame that the rest of the offense, like the D, chose to no show.

3. The coaching.
Mac is going to be a very good QB. I liked his game tonight.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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That was the most stunning defensive performance I think I have ever seen in a big game. These teams looked like they were playing a different sport.

So many stats to tell the story but the one that I cannot believe is that the Bills made 20 first downs without facing third down. The six times they faced third down it was always short and they always converted. 77 percent! They did not face a third down on 77 percent of their series for the entire game and that is with zero turnovers. It is unfathomable against a Belichick team.

No idea who takes the blame. But I do blame the coaching staff for the punting. We all knew before the game the Patriots would be lucky to get 9 possessions. How do you give them away down three scores? There simply were not enough possessions left to win.

Would it have mattered? No. But you can’t be surprised that your players stop trying when the coaches do too. Make something happen, and if you don’t what have you lost because you were not winning without going for it anyway.

Edit — BJ beat me to the point.
 

8slim

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Everyone associated with the “defense”.

I’ve never seen anything worse than it, and I watch Syracuse University football.
 

JimD

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The coaching staff. I have no idea what their plan was tonight and I don't think they did either.
 

Greekca

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Up and down. Odd being on the opposite end of a Patriots style beatdown.

Can’t see Mayo getting a head coaching gig after that performance. Tough to get a fan base excited about a new coach coming off a performance like that. On the other hand, Daboll probably just secured himself a spot. So at least that may help next year. The Patriots have a real problem with Allen.
 

jercra

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BB is the Goat of this game - the defense had nothing. Game plan was shit. No adjustments.
What adjustments should have been made?

They didn't need to make "adjustments". They never stood a chance. Buffalo is a much better team and this game ended with them winning, as expected by most. It was a much worse performance than hoped for, but slow and old defenses don't excel in very cold conditions against very good opponents.

Now they get to make adjustments. I'd expect a much younger and more athletic D next season. I expect that team to make a ton of mistakes too. Then in '23/24 I'd expect a legit contender. This team should have had no chance to be even playing this game. BB is the only reason they were there.

I'll ask again, what adjustments would have changed the outcome?
 

Jungleland

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The decision to punt on 4th and 8 from midfield while down 20 may well be the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen BB do.

It took Buffalo FOUR plays to score a TD after that punt. FOUR.
Fourth and 1 the drive prior to that was worse, imo. 50 yard line, already enough evidence to see you can't stop the Bills tonight, and you offer them a 3 score game in the 1st quarter.
 

Seels

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They've just had so many 2nd round picks be absolutely useless over the last decade. Special attention tonight really needs to be paid to Josh Uche, who if he couldn't see the field tonight probably just doesn't have long for the NFL in general. But I stand by Joejuan Williams being the worst fucking pick of the regime. They needed offensive talent and not a 5th defensive back.

GOAT ? The drafting for the 2017-2020 seasons, whose only notable players seem to be Damien Harris, Kyle Duggar, and Michael Onwenu.
 

RG33

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Josh Allen stories about poor circulation in cold weather
JoeJuan Williams
Miles Bryant
Jakob Johnson
Steve Belichick
Mac Jones floating throws
 

BaseballJones

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Fourth and 1 the drive prior to that was worse, imo. 50 yard line, already enough evidence to see you can't stop the Bills tonight, and you offer them a 3 score game in the 1st quarter.
Bad choice, but they got HOSED on the spot. Harris' foot stepped out of bounds right at the first down marker.

48379

And this is where they marked the ball:

48380

I mean, two full yards short of where he actually stepped out of bounds. Just inexcusable reffing right there. And 4th and 2 is very different from 4th an an inch.

Still, BB should have gone for it probably, but they got absolutely frigging robbed on that spot.
 

Jungleland

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I definitely imagined they were further upfield. Agreed on the spot. Still think it probably should have been a go for it.
 

kenneycb

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Bad choice, but they got HOSED on the spot. Harris' foot stepped out of bounds right at the first down marker.

View attachment 48379

And this is where they marked the ball:

View attachment 48380

I mean, two full yards short of where he actually stepped out of bounds. Just inexcusable reffing right there. And 4th and 2 is very different from 4th an an inch.

Still, BB should have gone for it probably, but they got absolutely frigging robbed on that spot.
It’s where the ball crosses the boundary, not where the ball is when the foot lands.
 

lexrageorge

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It’s where the ball crosses the boundary, not where the ball is when the foot lands.
Agree, but the spot still looked to be a yard short. Should have been 4th and a slim yard, not 4th and a fat 2. Didn't matter much.
 

Beomoose

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Everyone associated with the D, from the junior hydration technicians all the way up to Mullet.
Both lines.
Everyone who dropped an on-target pass.
Guns for that dumb as shit attempted return in the first.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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It’s where the ball crosses the boundary, not where the ball is when the foot lands.
So move it back a yard. Not TWO.

But that rule doesn’t make any sense. Because you could still be in bounds running down the sideline and hold the ball over the white sideline and the ball is still live and in play. It should be where the ball is when the player is ruled to have gone out of bounds. Which as you can see from the photo, is right at the first down marker.
 

Silverdude2167

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So move it back a yard. Not TWO.

But that rule doesn’t make any sense. Because you could still be in bounds running down the sideline and hold the ball over the white sideline and the ball is still live and in play. It should be where the ball is when the player is ruled to have gone out of bounds. Which as you can see from the photo, is right at the first down marker.
It's the NFL, half of the rules don't make sense.
 

kenneycb

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So move it back a yard. Not TWO.

But that rule doesn’t make any sense. Because you could still be in bounds running down the sideline and hold the ball over the white sideline and the ball is still live and in play. It should be where the ball is when the player is ruled to have gone out of bounds. Which as you can see from the photo, is right at the first down marker.
Sure. But you were complaining about the spot and your evidence was an irrelevant screenshot given the rule. And the rule isn’t what you suggest so I’m not sure why you’re complaining about the refs instead of the NFL rule makers.
 

Jungleland

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Yeah, there's almost nothing to even discuss. They didn't get a single stop. Really nothing you could change to make it a competitive game.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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If there ever was a game not to complain about the officiating, this was it.
It’s not really a complaint about the officiating. It’s trying to think why BB wouldn’t have gone for it in that situation. 4th and 2 is very different from 4th and inches.

Clearly the way Buffalo scored it was immaterial to the outcome of the game, but it wasn’t immaterial to that specific decision.
 

CFB_Rules

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So move it back a yard. Not TWO.

But that rule doesn’t make any sense. Because you could still be in bounds running down the sideline and hold the ball over the white sideline and the ball is still live and in play. It should be where the ball is when the player is ruled to have gone out of bounds. Which as you can see from the photo, is right at the first down marker.
In NCAA we actually have two different rules for spotting balls out of bounds for this exact reason. If the runner runs out of bounds, it’s where the ball crosses the sideline. If the runner is running down the line, it’s where the ball is when he steps out.

He is a full yard short here