The Game Ball: Wk. 13 at Buffalo

Jimbodandy

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Game ball to the WRs and TEs. This was a very unselfish gameplan; those guys are basically punting any chance to improve their stats or remain on current season total trajectories that might mean something with incetives and upcoming contracts, but the guys went out there and blocked their asses off and committed to the gameplan.
This too. Lost in the amazing OL play and the backs (including the FB), the WR and TE blocked their asses off. Total team effort on the run commitment.
 

Van Everyman

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Wow. Belichick owns like 97% of the real estate in SeanO’s head. That’s impressive. I don’t know that I have ever heard an NFL HC ever come out and explicitly say that before.
In the comments, I believe people say McDermott followed it up with “I fucked up a lot too.” But it still doesn’t really dispel the sense that McDermott has an unhealthy obsession with Belichick.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Wow. Belichick owns like 97% of the real estate in SeanO’s head. That’s impressive. I don’t know that I have ever heard an NFL HC ever come out and explicitly say that before.
Its pretty remarkable. I also want to believe that Belichick will derive great pleasure from this quote.

The gameplan for the Foxboro rematch is going to be fascinating. Assuming health for Stevenson and Harris, they can run again and may have to due to weather. But Mac throwing successfully on them will be both encouraging and entertaining.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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It's Belichick and it isn't close.

In a just world, this game would solidify him as coach of the year. The gameplan was literally out of a D3 high school playbook, and that isn't an insult. He went back to straight Xs and Os. Hell, one of the 3 passes was a screen.

His gameplan was simple. So simple that LITERALLY NO OTHER COACH IN THE NFL WOULD HAVE DONE IT.

It was the right call - that nobody would have made - and he got his team to buy in as well.

When Kingsbury wins coach of the year because of Murray (and BB is a curmudgeon), this post should be turned into a billboard.

A TV commercial when the Cardinals dont make the SB and the Patriots do.

Again.
 

soxhop411

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Was he wearing a varsity jacket when he said that?
So the run defense was embarrassing then?
Wow. Belichick owns like 97% of the real estate in SeanO’s head. That’s impressive. I don’t know that I have ever heard an NFL HC ever come out and explicitly say that before.
In the comments, I believe people say McDermott followed it up with “I fucked up a lot too.” But it still doesn’t really dispel the sense that McDermott has an unhealthy obsession with Belichick.
Seems to not be taking the loss well
View: https://twitter.com/MatthewFairburn/status/1468091321290268673
View: https://twitter.com/zackcoxnesn/status/1468095712273518595?s=21
 
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Zedia

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djbayko

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In a just world, this game would solidify him as coach of the year...

When Kingsbury wins coach of the year because of Murray (and BB is a curmudgeon), this post should be turned into a billboard.
Maybe. But Belichick was the odds favorite to win the award before tonight's game, and this MNF game has generated a lot of buzz. I'm really curious to see what his odds open up as tomorrow. Sure, there's a lot of football left to be played, but BB definitely has the upper hand.
 

Eddie Jurak

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1. Harris, Stevenson, and everyone who blocked for them
2. Devon Godchaux - how often does a nose tackle rack up 10 tackles?
3. Nick Folk

Comments:
1. This should have been an easier win, but for the poor coaching and execution of the Harry helmet punt return
2. Mac sneaks the ball very effectively. He does it differently than Brady (who was a master of it) but it works.
3. Josh Allen justified the Pats utter disrespect for him when they zero blitzed on the last play and he threw to the wrong receiver.
 

SeoulSoxFan

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From SI:

"If one thinks this loss isn’t going to stick with Buffalo like a lingering, psychological head cold, just look at the way safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer responded to a reporter asking about their run defense after the game. While they may have been reacting more to the tenor of the question, which, after a brutal game played in the equivalent of a comically exaggerated 1950s movie tornado, probably didn’t hit their ears kindly, it was clear they walked to the podium already chapped at the idea of having to talk about 46 rushing attempts at nearly five yards per carry.

Sean McDermott was also asked about the mental warfare between coaches before rattling off average field position stats and red zone attempts in an effort to downplay any psychological impact from the opposite sideline. In a well-meaning but likely regrettable moment, he said: "Let's not give more credit than we need to give Bill Belichick in this one." There's a good chance he spends the next two weeks answering questions about this."

https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/12/07/breaking-buffalo-bill-belichick-monday-night-football


Here's the Hyde & Poyer press conference. Not a good look, no matter how the question was phrased:

View: https://youtu.be/ddc2LMArMl8
 
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streeter88

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Those guys have to recover and put this epic nut punch game behind them, heal, prepare, fly to Florida, and then play their 20-year arch nemesis in 5 days. It will say a lot about the character of the 2021 Buffalo Bills if they arrive in Foxboro with any more wins than they have now.
 

Archer1979

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The importance of scoring on that two-point conversion ended up being felt throughout the entire game. That extra point loomed large especially when the Bills were down four late.

I watched the Manning-Cast for probably the first time, and pretty much for Letterman. While Dave was his usual goofy self with the idea of raising the goalposts while the game progressed, he did mention that the two-point conversion was one of those things that tends to bite you (in the second quarter).

It was mentioned earlier that the offense only scored 14 points, but it ate up a ton of the clock with the wind in their faces. Gutsy game plan on a gusty day.
 

tims4wins

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You know who's had a really, really good season? Brandon Bolden. He was solid again tonight when called upon. He's given this team some excellent play this year.
Absolutely
Fun to see Folk get to do a presser. Seems like a chill guy.
Love Folk. Seems like a great guy. I was all ready to hate him since he was a former Jet. He's the man.
All my game balls for Matt Judon. He was really meant to be a Patriot
100%
 

DJnVa

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Those guys have to recover and put this epic nut punch game behind them, heal, prepare, fly to Florida, and then play their 20-year arch nemesis in 5 days. It will say a lot about the character of the 2021 Buffalo Bills if they arrive in Foxboro with any more wins than they have now.
Bills fans were happy Brady left and now they may get to lose to Brady/Patriots 3 times in a season instead of 2.
 

phenweigh

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That game was disgusting and I hated it.

Carry on....
My wife agrees. Though I disagree, I get it. As Baseball Jones posted, most of the Pat's drives were not effective. Take away the Harris TD run and the Pat's stats don't look as good. But that long TD run happened and though I wouldn't like a whole season of such games, the occasional smash mouth game is great.
 

Red Averages

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My wife agrees. Though I disagree, I get it. As Baseball Jones posted, most of the Pat's drives were not effective. Take away the Harris TD run and the Pat's stats don't look as good. But that long TD run happened and though I wouldn't like a whole season of such games, the occasional smash mouth game is great.
If we take away the Bills best play, the Patriots win 14-3. Oh, we can't just remove plays to make a point? The bills were jamming the LoS, so a long run is the risk they run to try to slow the Patriots from 5 yard chunks to 2.

This feels like it could very quickly turn into the Bills 28-3 moment if their coaching staff/players get run over (pun) in Tampa.
 

Devizier

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How is the undercarriage looking, Isaiah?

tl;dr: McDermott throws Isaiah McKenzie under the bus and the Bills punt returner responds "DAMN" on Twitter
Hard to find a better example of why every coach should follow the Belichick method of press conferencing. Absolutely nothing to be gained by expounding on your thoughts/feelings. Even if you're misunderstood. Especially if you're misunderstood.
 

DJnVa

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So, that poster whose wife is a Bills fan---I'm guessing he didn't get lucky after the game?
 

BostonFanInCanesLand

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joe dokes

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If we take away the Bills best play, the Patriots win 14-3. Oh, we can't just remove plays to make a point? The bills were jamming the LoS, so a long run is the risk they run to try to slow the Patriots from 5 yard chunks to 2.
It seemed that they were jamming the line with small guys, though, who had no chance against Onwenu and Harry.
 

Zososoxfan

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From SI:

"If one thinks this loss isn’t going to stick with Buffalo like a lingering, psychological head cold, just look at the way safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer responded to a reporter asking about their run defense after the game. While they may have been reacting more to the tenor of the question, which, after a brutal game played in the equivalent of a comically exaggerated 1950s movie tornado, probably didn’t hit their ears kindly, it was clear they walked to the podium already chapped at the idea of having to talk about 46 rushing attempts at nearly five yards per carry.

Sean McDermott was also asked about the mental warfare between coaches before rattling off average field position stats and red zone attempts in an effort to downplay any psychological impact from the opposite sideline. In a well-meaning but likely regrettable moment, he said: "Let's not give more credit than we need to give Bill Belichick in this one." There's a good chance he spends the next two weeks answering questions about this."

https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/12/07/breaking-buffalo-bill-belichick-monday-night-football


Here's the Hyde & Poyer press conference. Not a good look, no matter how the question was phrased:

View: https://youtu.be/ddc2LMArMl8
Eh, I disagree. If you're a reporter and you use the word "embarassing" you should expect these guys to react, and I suspect that was the intent here. I mean, if these guys are wearing the right laundry you'd want them to be pissed and fuming. You can give the canned answer and say something to the effect of "you have to tip your hat to them, we need to play better" but these guys aren't robots and I prefer to see them express emotion. I find press conferences pretty silly most of the time but I relish them whenever Xs and Os are discussed or someone lets some true emotion spill.
 

moretsyndrome

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Bills fans were happy Brady left and now they may get to lose to Brady/Patriots 3 times in a season instead of 2.
They're in trouble. Short week after a damaging loss. Tompa Bay has been drilling teams at home outside of Week 1 vs Dallas. TB -3 might be an early Christmas gift.
 

BigJimEd

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Eh, I disagree. If you're a reporter and you use the word "embarassing" you should expect these guys to react, and I suspect that was the intent here. I mean, if these guys are wearing the right laundry you'd want them to be pissed and fuming. You can give the canned answer and say something to the effect of "you have to tip your hat to them, we need to play better" but these guys aren't robots and I prefer to see them express emotion. I find press conferences pretty silly most of the time but I relish them whenever Xs and Os are discussed or someone lets some true emotion spill.
Yes, that was a bullshit question by the reporter. They are a lot of ways to ask about the run defense and he chose the most trolling way, looking for a response. Then the reporter followed up with "Back in my day..." If I was a Bills player, I'd ignore that guy for a while.
 

joe dokes

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Yes, that was a bullshit question by the reporter. They are a lot of ways to ask about the run defense and he chose the most trolling way, looking for a response. Then the reporter followed up with "Back in my day..."
Exactly. Looking for a response, not an answer.

"Back in your day, a player would grab you and throw your ass into a laundry cart."
 

joe dokes

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Ted Johnson was saying this on T&R this morning. They kept their nickel package in there most of the game defending against the Pats' jumbo packages. McDermott never adjusted. Another point in Belichick's favor.
Obviously, Ted's a brilliant guy! (although on TV, it's sort of disconcerting that the top and bottom of his head dont seem to line up. Like it was cross-threaded when it was screwed back on.)

Maybe in addition to not suiting up any punt returners, McDermott didn't bring any extra d-linemen or LBs to the game.
 

DJnVa

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If you're referring to me, my wife is a Pat's fan, but didn't like the run heavy play calling. And luck has nothing to do with it.
No...there was a dude that posted something about his wife will refuse his advances after the game...