Bills do best to not appear competent. Shamefully succeed.
I think this might be the most frustrating game from the Bills this year. After keeping the Rams totally in check in the first half, marching down the field several times, keeping the visitors on their half of the field and looking generally dangerous, something had to give. A change in defensive coverage allowed the Rams to score when it was critical to do so. Sam Bradford, Rams QB, converted a brace of 3rd downs and even a 4th down, capitalising on bad zone coverage with some dinky passes. This was on the back of an insistence to not use what chances were presented to the Bills to actually win, preferring to keep the game close for some unknown but infuriating cause.
The game started with a bunch of 3-and-outs, 4 in a row actually, this was not because both teams were defensive powerhouses but rather that they were both offensively anaemic. It was a sign for things to come.
For the Bills, this was mainly because of awful play-calling by Head coach Chan Gailey which unfortunately has been a theme of the season. The Bills have moved past the point where a lack of talent is truly holding them back, except for maybe at the QB position, and the coaching staff are instead gimping them with continually erratic and mind bending plays.
To highlight this point, Running-back CJ Spiller is averaging 6.6 yards-per-carry, which is absolutely astounding, but in today's game he had 9 carries. Out of a total 58 offensive plays, 20 of which were rushing, 9 were given to your star player. That is absolute drivel. I think I could call better plays on Madden after chugging 2 litres of methylated spirits.
I guess my biggest gripe at this stage is that Chan Gailey has the idea of what he wants his offence to play like, and is moulding his players to fit that. Instead of playing to the list's strengths, he's forcing his crud down their throats, when you have such an electric play-maker on your team like CJ Spiller, you should be shaping your offence around him. Also, stop playing so fucking conservatively. You can't rest on a lead of only 5 points hoping your Defence will 'get the job done' because if there has been a slogan for the Bills this season, it's "Shit the bed at the worst possible opportunity".
The defence was actually holding up for the majority of the play. This was mainly because the Rams star receiver, Danny Amendola, was sitting out and they were getting no penetration on the run. But still, they kept the Rams to measly gains on every drive of the first half, which is a positive. In the second, the Rams adjusted and the Bills didn't. Changing from Man-coverage to Zone-coverage on the final drive, was a move by a madman, Defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt, who undermined the good effort the D had put up all game by putting them in a position to be chipped away at and ultimately, cost the Bills the game.
Fitzpatrick was serviceable, but unable to put the team on his back and carry them over the line. I don't blame him though, as he was put into a position to lose and made the most of it, disconnected with his rookie receiver TJ Graham (not the first time this year) and gave up the easiest pick ever seen.
Here lies a similar rant
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