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Ep. 76 - Ravens Get Their Wings Clipped
38 Plays3 months ago
The Bills take OUT the Ravens in the divisional round and move on to face their nemesis next week for the AFC conference championship. Join the fellas and special guest as they breakdown the Ravens match-up and preview the huge game against KC.
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction
00:00:24
Speaker
What's going on everybody? You're listening to the Let's Go Buffalo podcast, your favorite podcast for all things bills and savers with the pals, Nigel, Tom, Jake, and our buddy Dana today.
00:00:40
Speaker
episode 76 coming at you quick reminder y'all y'all know the drill follow the socials baby you can find us on all of them with the handle at let's go buff pod that's buff with two f's we're on all of them instagram x youtube uh tiktok as long as it's still there which it seems to be at the moment uh if you catch us on youtube please leave a like drop a comment helps us out with that good old algorithm and with that being said let's get around here and say hello to the fellas and to you tom i say On to the AFC Championship game we go. What up, you winners? What's going on? Everybody feeling? Yeah. Freakin go bills. Yes, sir. Go bills.
Buffalo Bills' Victory Celebration
00:01:23
Speaker
Dana, let's get to you today, buddy. What's going on, brother? Oh, I'm just on a high from the win yesterday. Oh, my gosh. That game could have been a little bit more stressful, probably, but I was
00:01:36
Speaker
I'm glad my blood pressure pressure was not being taken because it was sky high. Yeah, yeah. Definitely a little hairy there towards the end. Thorpedo, what's going on, brother? Yeah, the just just coming down from all the nerves from last night. That was ah i was a heart clenching game, for sure. But fun to watch, fun to be here. A little hungover today, but vibes are high.
00:01:56
Speaker
I am also a little bit hungover today, but with that being said, I guess the first thing we should do in order to keep this train right out of moving is open up a beverage here of some kind. So we're doing our part with all all you folks out there. Here we go. Three, two, one.
00:02:19
Speaker
Never one to mess up a little bit of stitches. Well, Tom, since as you drove that bus when I was hung over here, why don't you go ahead and let us know what you're drinking there? You're welcome. The best of influences over here. I'm drinking a ah big ditch from a brewing company. Space donkey. Hey, Bernie, with some galaxy hops. So a little beer. And I think that's only appropriate. I do. I do find that I like my i like my galaxy hops. Dana, what are you drinking there?
00:02:49
Speaker
Yeah, because I live in PA, I brought a little pi a beer. This is called Helltown or this is from Helltown Brewing. It's called the Buffy. It's an easy IPA. It's delicious. Nice, dude. I like that black hat you've got there, bro. With the black oh logo. Nice. Very nice. Jake, are you drinking anything at all?
00:03:10
Speaker
I regrettably have nothing in the house. So I i am not. so yeah And I will I will be scapegoat number one if I have caused a mass collapse. Now, you get a pass, you get a pass a because you're still moving into a new a new location there and be you were also up in Vermont with Tom. You just got back in, I think, very recently. So you get a pass right now. I'm sure you drank plenty of beers with Tom. I think I think the the Buffalo Bills forces will forgive you.
00:03:40
Speaker
I hope so. if If they don't, then we'll put out my home address. Everybody can write me a email. Yeah, perfect. That sounds good. um Let's see. Sabers update. None. They still suck onto to the bills. Tommy, you want to drive this bus through through Victory Monday here?
Bills vs. Ravens Recap
00:03:56
Speaker
Oh, yes. Yes. And there's some black feathers sticking out of the wheels. The Buffalo Bills sent the Baltimore Ravens packing twenty seven to twenty five in the divisional round of the playoffs.
00:04:11
Speaker
Just absolutely bananas. Just, just, this is the game that everybody was waiting for this, the buildup. Nobody thought the bills couldn't do this. Nobody outside of Buffalo, right? Everybody was running us off. Everybody thought that this was the Ravens game to lose. Guess what it was. Um, and, uh, it's ah just, just what are showing, um, all three phases came out and did what they needed to do. We got lots of talk about it all three phases, but I think Sean McDermott had a great day. Just what a day for Buffalo.
00:04:41
Speaker
Yeah, dude, well said. I think, um I guess ah to to kind of start off just ah up ah if everybody wants to throw out a little positive takeaway there, I think for me, and you kind of touched on it very briefly there, Tom, which is a three-phase win, dude. Everybody contributed. um Josh Allen didn't have to be spectacular yesterday, um and and we were still able to come away with a win.
00:05:03
Speaker
um You know, I'm sure there might be a couple moments moments or two um where he'd like like to have the the decision back, but that's, that's live sports and that's the way it goes. But he was, he was impactful, excuse me, what he needed to be. And so didn't have to be, you know, a Superman Josh Allen. And I think that is a great thing that he didn't have to do that. And we were able to come away with a, with a W here.
00:05:29
Speaker
Absolutely. um Dana or Jake, what's like one big takeaway you guys thought of here? Like, what was the one of the fun parts from this game?
Tyler Bass's Contribution
00:05:37
Speaker
ah For me, like I think somebody that's been kind of dragged through the mud a little bit earlier on in the year and even recently, and there was some breath holding last night, but Tyler Bass put up nine of the 27 points for the team, almost a third, not almost, a third of their points. Looked confident and there's a big reason why they were able to take care of business.
00:05:57
Speaker
Yeah, great callloth by you there jake yeah he was sensational last night dana yeah I love the the Tyler Bass call out. He's ah been one of my favorites over the years and it's been, you know, kind of annoying to see him struggle.
00:06:14
Speaker
This year and the end of last year, but to see him go perfect was insane. And he made a 51 yarder in that weather, which is not an easy feat. ba mos Yeah. The, the bills ended up winning by what? Two points. So that's huge. That 51 yarder, where he struck the shit out of that ball, dude. And it was, it was a nice kick, man.
00:06:38
Speaker
Yeah, pure. Yeah. Right down the up, right down the middle, like beautiful. And I think, wasn't he perfect last week against Denver too? Like, I think he's been great the last few weeks. I believe he was. Yeah. You know, whatever routine he's in, he's got to stick to it. I need, read. I need you out there just to make this keep his tire, the bass on the tracks and keep doing what he's doing.
00:06:57
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, Hey man, good, time good time to to find your swing, you know, so to speak. That's huge. Go ahead,
Game's Pivotal Moments
00:07:05
Speaker
Tom. The big thing for me was this defense, right? We go, we go into the playoffs in the last several years.
00:07:11
Speaker
The big reason I think many of us in in Bills Mafia can kind at attribute the losses to a defensive failure of some sort, right? If it's some kind of collapse or mistake or coaching decision and things like that, all generally regarding the defense. I'm really excited to see this defense last week play super well. I'm excited to see the defense play last night against arguably the best offense in football that nobody has an answer for.
00:07:37
Speaker
31 teams are all trying to figure out what the heck to do with the Baltimore Ravens and held them to 25 points, held them to, uh, to field goals multiple times in the red zone, uh, and created three turnovers. I think those havoc plays, those like splash plays. This is what this Buffalo bills defense is predicated on right now, because on paper, you wouldn't necessarily say that there are top five, top 10, maybe not even a top 12 defense without their ability to go in and create and go get that ball. I think that's what this defense has set up to do. And while, yeah, that's a fine line to walk and it kind of sucks and it's scary. They're doing it, right? They're doing it. So the boys just like, let them keep going. Let them keep, let them keep cooking. There's an awful interception by Lamar caught by Taylor rap. Uh, silly little fumble by Lamar. Um,
00:08:29
Speaker
and MVP question mark, uh, and picked up by Von Miller and he scurried down. If that, if on was five years younger, he was, he he would have gone all the way. Um, and then, uh, uh, punch out by Terrell Bernard on Mark Andrews, right? Like the, just to take away this ball. I think those big moments were huge and obviously created the ability for this, this belt flow Buffalo bills team to, to send the Ravens back.
00:08:53
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, all huge. The the turnovers in particular, right, were, I mean, when they happen particular, like in particular, particular, the TB punch out on Mark Andrews there was like,
00:09:09
Speaker
Such a huge game-changing moment, dude. um I was super bummed that Von Miller didn't get the scoop and score there. He looked a little slow running ah running that ball back. But yeah, that was a fun moment. um I got a piggyback one more thing on the defense here. And that was holding Derek Henry to 84 rushing yards, um which felt massive. And in addition to that, holding Lamar to 39 rushing yards.
00:09:36
Speaker
to the Had a better day passing the football than than Josh Allen I mean Lamar still went 18 for 25 254 yards to passing touchdowns And then the rushing yards to go along with that so he still had a great day I mean that that that one touchdown pass to I think it was Hollywood Brown where he just stood in the pocket for ever and Baitman. Hollywood's on the Chiefs. We have to see that. Sorry. Yeah, that's right. That's right. Sorry, Baitman. Thank you. That'll be the hangover brain coming up there. He just stood in the pocket forever. It looked like watching Josh Allen just extend the play, extend the play, and then find a guy in the end zone. And for that to be a great catch, too. I mean, it wasn't without its warts for the Bills. I mean, Lamar still had a hell of a game. And it did get nerve-wracking there in the second half, for sure.
00:10:44
Speaker
but Yeah, dude, should we talk about that a little bit? how I mean, it took some game-changing plays turnover-wise for us to feel like we had that game back in our control.
Fourth Down Decision Debate
00:10:55
Speaker
Yeah, I think let's tell a story from the beginning, though. Let's let's start start with the first half. I think going into the half, if you could have told me that we'd be up 21-10, I turned and looked at Jake. Jake and I were hanging out the day um the day of. And I said, if if we can get into the half, seven plus points up,
00:11:12
Speaker
I'm feeling really good because I think that's the lead that you need to then, especially because you can't give the Ravens the lead. You can't, you can't let them play with the lead and let them just all jump on Derek Henry shoulders and just ride the game out. Um, you need to have that. So I think going into this into the half, if you told me that we were up 21 10, I'd be absolutely absolutely. I sign up for that every single time.
00:11:34
Speaker
you Yeah. 100%. Yeah. And then coming out, right? Coming out of the half, I think this is one of my, the bad and the uglies on our little, uh, on our ah programming document here. Uh, is that the going three and out and two drives in a row out of the half when you have a lead, an 11 point lead against the Baltimore Ravens is something you absolutely cannot do.
00:11:57
Speaker
I think let's get into it in a couple minutes here but I think we will get to there get the it to there I think it was ah a scheme wise I think that was a decision they were making to play um conservatively and and really trying to hold on to the ball and and milk the clock but um so then that gets us into this point where it is a tight game right we get down we're driving it are the bills second to last possession get down to the end zone get um fourth and two, I'm sorry, third and two, right, I think on the on the um on the goal line. And it's, in my opinion, a little bit of a silly call. ah ah Josh Allen run um on a shotgun, um which goes into which runs into a brick wall, nothing happens. And then they decide that this is a decision point, right of do we kick it, go up eight,
00:12:43
Speaker
Or do we try and go and score? So I think this is for me is a little bit of a, I think this is a great conversation point. It's, I'm going to back up a second and it's a, in my mind, the best decision is to have had a better play on third down, right? That's the best decision is give me two touch pushes right in a row, so push, push, push, Josh Allen's 10 yards into the end zone. Um, but, uh,
00:13:08
Speaker
Outside of that, now you're on fourth down. Can't change what happened. What do you think is the correct decision? did I mean, hindsight's 20-20. We're here at the wind, right? And it seemed like it was the right decision. What do you guys think? Did Sean McDermott make the right decision by kicking it and going up eight? Or should he have gone for it?
00:13:25
Speaker
I, Tom, I think you said it perfectly. I think the play call on third down was not good. ah There's no way Baltimore wasn't ready for that. I remain in the same camp as you. I would like to have seen two tush pushes right in a row because worst case scenario, and granted it's bad, but worst case scenario is it's a turnover on downs like on their goal line, right? So you make them go the full 100
Bills Defense Shines
00:13:52
Speaker
yards of that football field with that amount of time left.
00:13:54
Speaker
um You know, Derek Henry scary in that situation. Yes, but I, I still think, I mean you do to two push pushes in a row. And that's a touchdown for the bills, getting not getting a touchdown there.
00:14:06
Speaker
i I was beside myself at home. I, cause I was so positive. That's what we were going to do was two tush bushes. And we were going to go up by, you know, however many points there. Um, and and then when we didn't, I was like, Oh my God, dude. Now and there's something I gotta got to touch on here. Obviously we were gifted Mark Andrews dropping that two point conversion, right? It should have been a tie game. And night's sir if if you give him another 100 attempts at that, he catches 99 of them.
00:14:37
Speaker
right we got i think we got the one there um i don't know they tried to hand him the game ball too but he dropped that as well sorry sorry i'll ski myself out it's also not the first time that mark andrews has dropped uh game winning two-point conversion as well is it versus dealers a few years ago But, but I mean, still, you know, like he, I mean, all that game, he was, I mean, he was a favorite target of Lamar Jackson. And I think he caught just about everything. yeah So it's not like Mark Andrews was having a rocky game by any stretch of the imagination. So that being said, I do want to touch on this note too, because I see people clinging to this. There was still a minute and 33 seconds to go in that game.
00:15:18
Speaker
Yeah, you know, and all time'm out with two timeouts and Josh Allen and that offense and all we needed was a field goal. So like, let's not pretend that that game was taken care of right then and there because it absolutely was not. I think if you're saying, you know, that was the game deciding moment, of course, it was impactful. And were I a Ravens fan, I'd probably be feeling the same way. But objectively, it was not a game defining moment.
00:15:42
Speaker
because of but there was still still a lot that was going to happen in that game. So I just want to toss that out there, too. That was something I needed to i needed to get off my back there. um Jake, Dana, anything you guys want to touch on for the the second half of that game there? Yeah, well, you asked ah about the fourth down situation. And I think absolutely you kick it there ah for a few reasons that I'll just interject, which we've gone over. But ah A, you got Tyler Bass, who's been perfect.
00:16:11
Speaker
ah B you go up by eight a and they cannot outright win the game right there. So that's worst case scenario. See, you got Josh Allen. So if they do, uh, this offense has been humming. They couldn't exactly stop us in the first second or fourth quarter either. Um, minus, you know, a drive in the first quarter and, uh, D
00:16:41
Speaker
What was it? I can't remember, but that's all so that's I Dude, really great points. Like, like, like legit though, like all really great points. And it worked out for us. Right. Because we, you know, that two point conversion wasn't converted. Yeah. and I remember D actually, if you miss it and you go down and you don't convert that and you're down, you're up only five and you give them our Jackson, the ball back. I know scary. That that's.
00:17:06
Speaker
That's not good for me at fuel, right? If it was a, Hey, like, okay, we're only up four and we need it. If we kicked a field goal, we're only up seven. So then they could still drive, get a touchdown and go up go and and get a two point. Like then I think that's a go forward situation, but the fact that it would be, give us an eight point lead. That was the right decision in my mind.
00:17:23
Speaker
yeah Yeah, I'll just say that D was the Baltimore offense had shown you until up until that point that they were able to ah poop down their leg and give the ball back. And also our defense was playing very well in taking the ball away. And in that situation, you're up eight and it's fourth quarter. So all basically all of the pressure is on Baltimore. So you put them in a tough situation. Good points there, Dana. Yeah, absolutely. Totally.
00:17:54
Speaker
Jake, anything you want to add onto the to for the second half of that game or God, no, I agree. I think, I think it was the right decision. It can't get totally agree with everything you're saying. I think the the wrong or the more wrong decision was third down where, you know, I think Baltimore is ready for both options, Josh running or handing it off. So that, that, that I wish you could take back, but pay enough in the end, they got squeaked by with it. So.
00:18:18
Speaker
I was, I was dying for a little play action call on that third down. I thought they had set themselves up so well, yeah you know, like me, or even just like a, like a, like a Josh Allen, like if you're going to have him run on a shotgun, have him start to fake to run, but then a tight end. Yeah. Or, or a jumbo lineman just leak out there. So he takes five steps forward and then just something like that. I was like, this is the moment you set yourself up for it so well. And maybe you're saving that for the next two games, you know, but It's I hope I hope that's not their attitude. This is winter. You know, and this is winner home like you need to win that you bought every stop you need to win this game. Next week doesn't matter. Right. And that I bet that attitude better be the same for this weekend and in my mind of hey, you it's this take take it all out. Right. Whatever it happens, whatever you think that you need to do, do it. um One of my other favorite parts of this game was I thought both sides of the trenches for the Buffalo Bills were dealing.
00:19:13
Speaker
Our boys were hyped up and ready to play and making their presence known against a really, really good Ravens offensive line in a really, really good Ravens defensive line. um the The boys came out and that was the thing that I knew if again, if we can go into the half with the lead and if we can see some signs of life from this, ah from the trenches, we'd have a chance to hang in this game.
00:19:38
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, dude. Well said, I thought, I mean, God, dude, this bill's offensive line is so fucking good. They're so good, dude. And and I like ah and and I don't want to say he's an unsung hero, dude, but man, oh, man, oh, man, did we.
00:19:53
Speaker
catch a good one there with Spencer Brown. I'm super stoked that he was able to figure out some of his, you know, his, his quirks coming in just so, so raw because my God, did you combine that athleticism with, with what has become some pretty sound looking technique. And you got to give Aaron Cromer his, his flowers for that one, dude. I mean, Spencer Brown is a monster of a right tackle. And then you, I mean, just, yeah, the whole, the the whole offensive line unit,
00:20:21
Speaker
as a whole for the bills whether it be pass blocking or run blocking i mean we're super fortunate dude but that was the narrative going in that i think they leaned on a lot was that they weren't big enough they weren't strong enough they were disrespected by media and vegas and being the underdogs for tommy retistat off first time underdogs at home and x number of years yeah so i mean i think they fed off of that and ah You know felt disrespected going into the game and I think that fueled them a lot good huge narrative. Yeah, I mean um want from everyone I just want to ask a question. Did you yeah so I I didn't really
00:20:59
Speaker
what What did you guys see from the defensive line for the Bills in particular that's got you stoked because I didn't feel like personally they did anything special really I was I was not let down because I felt like what's more important to me in that game is Containing Lamar and Lamar barely, you know didn't didn't get much there so that I call a win But in terms like I didn't really felt like I see anything particularly dominant from the Bills defensive line. Do you guys feel like you saw some moments where there were some really truly like dominant instances? Well, for me, the reason I said that was more about the O-line, I have to be honest, but I thought the D-line was decent. And I'll let Tom expand on this because we touched on it a little bit. Containing Lamar Jackson is like containing a fucking racehorse. It's not easy to do. So I thought, I mean, I think they still had some good fast you know pass and things, but
00:21:49
Speaker
Maybe Tom can expand there and say what he saw if there's anything else. I'm going to need to do another rewatch. I've already rewatched it this morning. I truly think people there's people out there on Twitter already upset about the Bills pass rush not showing up again. i Again, I think it matters. Context matters. It matters who you're playing. It's Lamar Jackson. It's Lamar fucking Jackson. We've said it. This is now the third time we're saying it, that you can't get him down on the ground. So I think the the game plan was a cage rush. right Like, hey, we're going to contain you. There was multiple times where the Bills de-linemen were in the backfield.
00:22:19
Speaker
But I think they were, A, either chasing him, and it's Lamar Jackson. You're not taking him down. It's like Josh Allen. You're not going to take him down in the backfield. You're just not. um And if you do, you're really freaking lucky. um in Or I think they were truly playing it slow a few times. Like even just on that last Ravens drive where they did end up scoring a touchdown, I saw the Bills defensive lineman get deep into into the backfield and did not over pursue Lamar because Lamar had a big back, a big drop.
00:22:46
Speaker
and um I truly think that they were just making sure that Lamar wasn't going to scoot ahead and go get 20 yards on the grounds. So i felt I felt really good considering that we didn't expect this D line to come in and be dominant, right? We needed them to come in and be and have a pulse and be be middle of the road and not lose because of So the pass rush, I felt OK because, hey, we're seeing some signs. They're in the backfield. They're making they're getting some wins, even even if it was manufactured on stunts or sending an extra line and a linebacker, ah sending a safety, whoever, right? Whatever um Babbage was was kind of scheming up. And I also think that the fact that they met Derek Henry at the line many times that game. Yes, he got through few a few times, right? Thank God DeMar Hanlon caught him on that one ah breakaway.
00:23:35
Speaker
um There was a second one as well. But for the most part, we met Derek Henry at the line, which is what you need to do against a back like that, right? he If he gets a ahead of steam, good fuck, nobody's stopping. hes That's why he's a Hall of Famer and will be one of the best of all time um because of that ability, his strength and his speed. But if you can catch him before he has a chance there, that's when you have a hope and a prayer. And I thought they did a ah good job of doing that. So that's what made me feel really good about the defensive line because again, that with the narrative going in from everybody, and to be honest, in the back of our heads, I'm sure of, Hey, how do we how do we deal with these Ravens offensive lineman, and Derek Henry, hot and Patrick record, right? Like, how do you do that? um And I think they did a decent job didn't didn't completely, you know, balling them up, but they did a good job to to limit them.
Defensive Line Effectiveness
00:24:24
Speaker
That that's my point of view.
00:24:25
Speaker
Yeah, rest your case, Tom. I think that's all well said, dude. And that I agree with, for sure. i And and you said I think the most important thing you said there, Tom, was the way that you stopped Eric Henry is you catch him early. Because if you if he gets that out of steam, it's it's like trying to tackle a live horse, right? Like, good luck. um So, yeah, getting him like contact early. I mean, there were there were tons of instances where he did not cross the line of scrimmage before getting some contact.
00:24:53
Speaker
So I think that's really well said by you, Tom. And that I agree with 110%. I guess maybe I was being a little bit too critical and looking more specifically at pass rush. i I didn't need them to be dominant. I needed them to be decent. Yeah. Right. That's in my mind. That's where I'm at.
00:25:08
Speaker
Dana, did you have something for this? yeah yeah Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. If I can interject a little bit on the pass rush side of it, I thought, well, first of all, the defense, I think, you know, the book on the bill's defense is you play zone a really solid zone and you have your front four as an attacking style, uh, line where they're going to affect the quarterback. They're going to be the ones that are going to go in and penetrate.
00:25:32
Speaker
and make those errant throws. And then if your defense is in a good spot, they're going to be able to come down with a ball and get some takeaways. So early on, I felt like we were super aggressive on the defensive line. Specifically with Ed, I think Ed Oliver was in the backfield quite a bit in the first quarter. But we also saw when that happened, when Lamar would drop back, he was almost baiting them into attacking.
00:26:01
Speaker
And when someone would would go, he would just go right up the hole that the one guy vacated and get 10 or 15 yards in the scramble. And that happened a couple of times. um So once the bills got up, especially in the third quarter, I saw a bit of a shift, which which is where you saw the cage where like, okay, hold up your guy and make Lamar make reads and like, don't go in and give him the open lane.
00:26:29
Speaker
Right. And um I thought that was sort of a, I don't know, it was, it was interesting because that was when they started really moving on us. So I don't know what you do there, but I did see our attacking style front four early on in the game.
00:26:47
Speaker
Yeah, I also think the bills defense were not helped by the offense because the offense didn't maintain the lead, right? At let them get back into a little bit of a run game um where if we if we had maintained an 11 point or hopefully even more, right? A point lead. I think it would have forced the Ravens into more of a hey, we gotta move the ball and we need to score. We need more possessions. We can't milk the clock with Derek Henry, um so I think the defense in the second half also got put in a tough position by the offense.
00:27:17
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. The moment that game script starts, starts to slip a little bit, particularly for that Bill's defense, it can get, it can get ugly real quick, but lucky for us. I mean, dude, and I, I keep coming back to that, that punch out by, by trouble. I mean, dude, that was so huge. And what a fucking, I just can't, I'll never forgive myself for being so wrong about him, dude. What an upgrade over, I don't even Yeah, upgrade over Tremaine Edmonds. I mean, truly, in the especially in the splash play sense, dude. like Does Terrell Edmonds offer you a little bit more in pass protection? Probably, but not so much more than than Bernard that it the trade-off of the splash plays is even remotely close to worth it. so i just
00:28:03
Speaker
I keep coming back to that play for some reason. I'm sorry. I know that's kind of been a tangent. What a captain moment. Right. That's a hey, I'm cat i mean I'm going to I'm going to take this this game in my hands. This is how I can really because he he was not going for the tackle there. No, he was going for the ball that was a home run or nothing. play If he missed, then Mark Andrews getting a big game. Like he was catching the ball and going to get to get some yards after catch. And he he he decided that's what the bill's defense needed in the the entire team. I'm sure it was just a fucking Dolt of adrenaline to everybody like what ah timing was awesome on that. Yeah Um, I me personally fellas i'm i'm ready to get into into next week unless anybody has anything else they want to Drop on the on this game here. I think I guess my last prevailing thought is what a what a fucking battle And in all respect to the ravens and harbaugh and I really do like lamar jackson a lot, dude. I like him Oh, yeah there. I like him as a person. I I still feel
00:28:58
Speaker
This is easy to say now because we won. But like I'm still bummed that everything got so shitty between the two fan bases with the MVP conversation. And and like i mean like let's let's be real, dude. like like There's a lot of legacy conversation with this game. But like this is not the last time these two quarterbacks are going to be in the postseason playing against one another. I mean, we've got we've got several more of these. like The next time it happens won't be the last time it happens. So like it's you know like it's just it's it's not a Josh Allen's all of a sudden better than Lamar Jackson. It's just a, he got the edge this time around. So still nothing but respect for that Ravens team, but in particular, Lamar Jackson, he is a generational talent and he's a, he's a pleasure to watch. And the league is better with him in it. Yeah, totally agree. Yep. All the, yeah. Yes, absolutely. Love, love Harbaugh. Love, love Lamar. Love, love that, that organization. They're really fun to root for it when we're not playing against them.
00:29:53
Speaker
Totally. and And had they won dude, I mean, because fuck the chiefs, I would have been the biggest Ravens fan. So yeah. Anybody else have anything they want to touch on for, uh, for the, get for this game? Yeah. I have two prevailing thoughts from actually just kind of watching every game of the divisional round for the, from this past weekend.
00:30:14
Speaker
which is, you know, always it's going to be a crazy bout where you just go on head to head versus really good football teams. Um, it seems simple, but you really saw this past week in probably three out of the four games in particular, that taking care of the ball is so important.
00:30:33
Speaker
It doesn't matter how many yards you get. um This is a pretty cool stat. Of all the division games that we saw from last week, every winning team had less offensive yards. So yeah the yards don't matter. What matters is you taking advantage of the other team's disappointing place and you're able to control the ball when you can.
00:30:56
Speaker
And um my second thought is basically that I love that we're continually seeing new ways in which this bill's team can win. And we really saw the special teams pull their weight and the defense really get leaned on and the offense just kind of being a role player.
00:31:17
Speaker
just a game manager. They were good. Yeah, they were good, but they were not great. Yeah. And they just didn't make mistakes and they put points up when they needed to. And then they just leaned on the other team, honestly making ah disappointing acts. And that's what got us the win.
00:31:35
Speaker
Yeah. And I'm really excited because that's what this build statement done all season, right? They've taken care of the ball. They have not shot themselves in the foot. No turnovers and only one penalty that was accepted that should not have been a penalty on the bills, right? Like I think, I think, that yeah, like really good set up and notch not letting, not losing the game yourself.
00:31:55
Speaker
which I think goes back to saw McDermott, right? I think his coaching job has been, I've seen a lot of evolution from him this year when it's been very cool. I think I've seen, I've seen him how he's, he's, he's addressing some tough situations in games. Um, obviously the players are prepared for all these kinds of weird wonky situations. They seem to know what to do and they're not caught off guard this year. Um, and they're taking care of the ball, like all that kind of stuff. So yeah, and I completely agree with you Dana. Hmm.
00:32:24
Speaker
You don't think that he contradicted himself a little bit, Tom, by not going for on that fourth down last night? At the end of the game, no, be in him I'll go back. I'll go back to my other argument. If it's because it was going to he went up eight. Yeah. Well, they could they could not lose on that decision, right? yeah If they if it was, hey, we're going up seven, then yes. Or if we're going up six, then yes. But if it was because it was eight, that's what made me feel better. Also, if it was a different team, too. Yes. yeah totally Um, if it was, yeah, but I think, yeah, that that's what makes, if it was, Hey, no, we're, this would only put us up seven. I would have absolutely wanted him to gone for it and just let Josh figure out how to get the touchdown. Well said chiefs time.
00:33:09
Speaker
Can we just talk about the rest of the divisional games real quick? Just because how fun that weekend was divisional playoff is like my favorite. It's the best end of and then football it's the but because it's got four games all loan by themselves. Right. Like so fun in a Saturday night, Sunday night. Um, so awesome. I think the commander story is awesome. I do too. I'm so, my God. Heartbroken for lions fans really truly. Yes. You'll feel really bad for those guys. It felt like a, like a.
00:33:39
Speaker
a season of destiny for Detroit for a while there, dude. But I just think the defensive injuries in particular probably became too much to overcome. Talk about not taking care of the ball. Yeah, that too. There was some of that too, but I just a little bit of unlucky. Right. Yeah. Because ah yeah at some point you just got to get lucky. You got to be good enough for long enough and get lucky. But he threw his QB through three picks. Like it's tough to win that game. Totally. And and know and and I think I think Derek off at a fumble, like I think it was four turnovers committed by Derek off. So Yeah. um And it kind of, I mean.
00:34:11
Speaker
ah Ben Johnson hires head coach for Chicago. I'm sure Aaron Glenn is going to get picked up. So it might be kind of a, Hey, oh it's a little bit of a reset up there in in Detroit and see what Dan Campbell can do again. But, um, yeah, I think Eagles commanders is going to be a really, really fun matchup. Uh, I am East baby. Yeah. I unfortunately don't think that matchup is going to be fun at all. I think Eagles are going to fucking roll right over Washington. I think, it's I think that's going to be a boring NFC championship game.
00:34:40
Speaker
I hope there's enough volatility that I think that the the commander is going to get a spark. I think he can absolutely wear to and keep themselves in a game. You're I think I think you're right that the Eagles are going to be really physical, that Saquon is going to run for 250 yards. Take one, dude, we got to talk about Saquon for a minute, dude, because this guy is I mean, holy fuck, if I'm him, I feel like I want to sue the Giants for robbing the first however many years of my career.
00:35:07
Speaker
Yeah. Look at what this guy is doing on a halfway decent team, dude. It is unbelievable. The highlights we've seen from him this year. I think he had over 200 yards yesterday that one backwards leap over that defenseman six weeks ago, whatever. I mean, dude, where is that? Like the NFL has been blessed that this guy has been buried on a dog shit Giants team because now he's a huge fucking problem.
00:35:34
Speaker
Yeah, anytime the Madden developers write in a new you move, like for a move that you did, yeah you know you're doing something right. Yeah, dude. Something right. Yeah. He's crazy this season. Yeah. yes Particularly right now. Yeah. Yeah. Gonna be a problem. Gonna be a problem for the commanders. That's for sure. I don't i don't envy that ah that defensive coordinator to figure out what the hell you're gonna do against him.
00:35:59
Speaker
I do not either. um Here's a fun one. Does anybody legitimately think that that Houston Chiefs game is different if some of those. OK, I got it. I hate being the asshole that bitches about the referees. I hate being that guy, but we're I mean, brother, come on. I mean, you've got to be kidding me with some of those calls in that game. Yeah, I mean, I mean,
00:36:27
Speaker
And it's just so crazy to see just the difference, the juxtaposition also, like you watch that game and you know, the Chiefs are getting all the penalties go their way. And then you watch the Lions, you watch Jared Goff literally get crossed upside the head and it's no penalty. It's yeah it's just like, it's it's so silly that it's not at least consistent.
00:36:48
Speaker
That call, and and and here's the thing, it's never gonna become consistent because it's subjective and each referee is a different human being with a different brain.
Anticipation for Chiefs Matchup
00:36:58
Speaker
These calls have to become reviewable. You just you just have to, bro, because you are being shown week in and week out that like Dana just said, this is not a rule that can be held up with any amount of consistency. And the and who the quarterback is matters.
00:37:15
Speaker
which is which is horseshit dude i know exactly what called dennis or play dennis talking about yesterday with jared gov i'm sure we all do he just gets absolutely i mean i mean blown up dude like it looked like both of his feet almost left the ground yes he got hit so hard And for that to not be a call when that one call that that Patrick Mahomes did get where it wasn't that nobody even hit him it was two Texans colliding over top of him dude that was the big crack that I'm sure the ref heard and made him throw the flag dude it's just got to become reviewable. This is this is an atrocious look for the NFL
00:37:51
Speaker
and And and it's unfortunate that it has to be a talking point, not only for the Chiefs Texans game or, yeah, Chiefs Texans, but for what the game plan has to be for the Bills going into the AFC championship game. That part sucks for me. Absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah, it's yeah it's it and the problem is it's become it's become the product is suffering, right? The NFL product of what they put on screen and on field is suffering because of this 100 percent.
00:38:19
Speaker
Yeah, dude, and yeah, it's yeah. And ah you know that there's going to be that's going to be in the back of our heads this entire game on Sunday. It's going to be in the back of our heads of hey, when is that call coming? wednesday' coming Is it a sports league or an entertainment league is what's going to be going through my head and yeah, I think a lot of calls are gonna dictate the Outcome of that in my head. yeah I just like here's an unfortunate thing is and I guess I we didn't talk about all the vision We still want to talk about some of these divisional games. No, we keep moving. Keep the foot. We're on a flow. Yeah, cuz I I mean like
00:38:52
Speaker
the mentality going into this Chiefs game is is just has to be the moment yeah or ever I guess really anywhere not even when he's outside the pocket you can't hit my homes like like if you if you're gonna go for a sack I feel like you you just got to grab onto him and hold on to him while you're standing up I feel like if you're going to make it, make it count, make it worth it. Just absolutely send them into another zip code. or just yeah If you're going to get the flag, fucking helmet under the chin strap then.
00:39:24
Speaker
Yeah, like like really go for it. I'm not saying injure him. I'm just saying this and the Matt Milano, Mike White hit like do that every chance you get. Yeah. And just tee off. I know. God, that's just that's what I want. That's what I want. But yeah, it's going to be part of it. It's absolutely going to be part of it. It's it's they forced our hands. They have they have, which is which is shitty. OK, so we're getting into the chiefs. Can I can I start on this one a little bit here? Yeah. Go in. I'm I'm the wind. Yeah. Turn around.
00:39:54
Speaker
i'm I'm incredibly excited to be here. and And the main reason for that is for me, the scariest part of the AFC is now behind us. I was terrified of that Ravens team. My God, you guys, I can't think of a time when the Chiefs are more primed to be fucking had. I mean, they're still not playing dominant football on either side right now.
00:40:20
Speaker
Mahomes doesn't look amazing. i Kelsey looks old. I know he had a couple of great plays in key in clutch moments yesterday. But Kelsey looks old, dude. i just like And knock on wood.
00:40:35
Speaker
But I'll just start this conversation off by saying, going into this Kansas City Chiefs game for the AFC championship, dude, I could not be feeling more confident. I've never felt this confident going up as the against the Chiefs, dude. And it's just the way that they keep winning these games, dude, is just like the carriage is going to turn into a pumpkin, dude. And I can't wait for it to be one week from yesterday. And that's the that's what I want to start off going into this game.
00:41:05
Speaker
I'm fucking pumped. I'm fucking pumped. Oh, yeah, baby. Let's go. I mean, this is we're here, right? This is the chance. This is what we're fans for. This is what we've wanted all season. This is and to be honest with you, going into the season. Did anybody expect this? No, no. If you told me that we made the playoffs, I'd be like, heck, yeah. Awesome. That's what do you mean, Tom. It's a rebuild year.
00:41:27
Speaker
It's a rebuild year, right? Yeah, right. Here we go. So I think it's awesome. I think the big thing is is we've we've figured out how to play the Chiefs, right? This is the matchup. this is Everybody likes to see this. this is Unfortunately, we're in the biggest games of the year every freaking time, ah probably because we have Josh Allen. But um this is the time of what can we do to the Chiefs in the postseason?
00:41:51
Speaker
Right? We have their number in the regular season. I honestly feel great. Anytime we're matched up in the regular season, sure, it's going to be a good game and they absolutely have a chance, but I feel good. I don't know if I feel Nigel good at this point, but this is especially because it needs to be different. Somehow we need to affect this chief's team in a different way. I'm encouraged because we got Bobby Babbage at the helm.
00:42:15
Speaker
um I'm encouraged because of the way that this team has been playing. And I'm encouraged because we have Josh Allen. And Josh Allen's on a heater right now, and he has not taken off this cape really um in the playoffs yet. I think it's next week. You mean puts the cape on, Tom? Sorry, yeah, he has not taken the cape out of the closet. How about that, right?
00:42:40
Speaker
You got it, Tom. You got it, right? Yeah, that was good. That was good. That was the landing. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Somebody please take this from me. I know, dude, I think I think you're exactly right, dude. And and I mean.
00:42:52
Speaker
Oh, here's the thing, dude. I'm not even positive Josh is going to have to put the cape on. I'm just I don't know, dude. And and and I hope I because I'm not I don't feel like I'm being cocky. Don't get me wrong, dude. I recognize who we're playing. I recognize that it is Patrick Mahomes. I recognize that it is Andy Reid. I recognize that it's Spaggs Travis Kelsey. I mean, you can go down the list. But the proof is in the goddamn pudding this season, dude.
00:43:21
Speaker
I mean, the bills are just, they're just, I know the records don't indicate it, man, but they're just fucking playing better in particularly the quarterback suit. Mahomes is not, I mean, I'm not sure Mahomes was the top three quarterback this season. Was he better than Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow?
00:43:40
Speaker
no I don't fucking think so. but jaden daniel Or Daniels. Or Jayden Daniels for that matter. I mean, you're just, you know, but you, but you have to respect the pedigree, right? This is a quarterback that has won multiple secret roles. He's been to the AFC championship game seven years in a row now. Like you have to respect all of that. And don't get me wrong. I do. I recognize that yeah until proven otherwise, Patrick Mahomes is the greatest player in the world.
00:44:05
Speaker
But the I test right now does not tell me that Patrick Moses the best quarterback in the world tells me that Josh Allen is the best quarterback in the world. And this this bills team is rolling with a lot of momentum right now dude, I just, I don't see a world where this chief's team team can can can match up right now on either side of the football.
00:44:24
Speaker
Sure. I just, I mean, and again, dude, like you guys know, I'm the, I'm the worry wart of, of this podcast and of our bills, group texts. But I just, if that was the Ravens for me, dude, I thought the Ravens were going to be the cream of the crop for us, but we got by them. It was by the skin of our teeth. Fucking bring me to bring me to Kansas city, dude. I'm so goddamn ready for this game.
00:44:48
Speaker
Yeah. I would still much rather, no, I totally agree with everything you're saying. i All that said, and I agree with you, I still would rather have lost to the Ravens than get this far and lose to the Chiefs. Maybe that's an obvious statement. but Yeah. But I mean, earth I don't know, dude, it's it's in the moment. It's easy to say that, but I mean, like looking back, dude, or like right now, like if we lose yesterday, like I don't get to enjoy one more kick-ass victory monday with my friends on a podcast you know so like you at least get that one more week of bliss and dunking on ravens fans and you know like that's it's easy to be like fuck this it's not worth it in the moment because you know in in that moment and when you lose those playoff games it is like it feels like the world is coming down yeah at least for me yeah it's it's like the walls are closing in and like getting up the next day is a fucking chore and like it's just tough dude but like
00:45:41
Speaker
You know, we lose that game yesterday and we don't get to have this great, you know, day off from work, hanging out, shooting the shoot and feeling awesome too, you know? Yeah, you're right. and i do I do understand your sentiment, Jake.
00:45:52
Speaker
but For me, it's going to be I'm going to need Josh to put on that cape because I'm going to need to make sure that we're up four scores with one minute left um for me to actually feel good. Even then, I won't even. I'm going to need multiple I'm going to need it I'm going to need a good multiple arms length um for for this team to feel good going and end this game, which is probably not going to happen. Right. The the Chiefs play teams close. so The Chiefs play teams close. And that's going to be the big thing. It's going to be the little things. It's going to be penalties.
00:46:18
Speaker
It's going to be taking care of the ball. It's going to be the right decision on third and fourth downs. It's going to be um limiting or sorry, limiting the the decisions that eliminating the decisions that the ah that the the chiefs are making on third and fourth down, right? Like making sure that they're that we are. Plus in that column of of the little things that that that make things right. But unfortunately, the Chiefs are really good at that, right? They're really good at letting other teams beat themselves.
00:46:48
Speaker
here's here's the other great news with that though is everything you just said Tom I feel like for the most part the bills are already doing right which kind of leads me to like my and I don't want to say my final prevailing thought, but like it is kind of that. like Just keep doing what you've been doing. Keep preparing the way that you've been preparing. like Right now, whatever you're doing is working, the routine that Tyler Bass is in, the routine that Josh Allen's in. You're getting contributions from in key moments from guys. like I know Matt Collins had one catch last night, or I think it was one catch. But my god, it was a clutch moment, huge moment, catch.
00:47:28
Speaker
You know, just just keep doing what you're doing. It's working right now fives are high You're you're pulling the right levers at the right time, you know, like like we could we could Criticize sean mcderman i'm not going for that fourth down if we want to I think in this group right now i'm the only one that would really offer any criticism Anyways, but the fact of the matter is it was the right lever to pull at that at that point in time With what had happened or the way that game ended right? So the the right levers are being pulled the right bushing buttons are being pushed just Just keep on the trajectory you're on, dude. don't don't You don't have to make any, like i don't I don't think you need to going into this game, make any massive overhauling decisions, right? You wanna pull a couple more things out of the playbook, Joe Brady? Fucking let it rip, dude. You obviously, there's there's a couple of things you gotta have a plan for. One of them's Patrick Mahomes, or I guess three things I'll say. Patrick Mahomes, you gotta keep an eye on Kelsey, and you gotta know how you're gonna handle Chris Jones.
00:48:24
Speaker
Yep. we're We're still watching him be a game wrecker. Chris Jones right now might be the best player on that chief's team period. I don't think that's a stretch of ah of ah of ah of a thing to say. absolutely not No, absolutely not. He's consistent and he's yeah, he makes his presence known. Game in and game out.
00:48:39
Speaker
thank god that's good on good though for this bill's team exactly good on good you handled them the week that we played them in the regular season which was huge so i think that's what like i just you don't have to you don't have to rewrite the book this week dude keep doing what you're doing because right now it's working you've got the momentum you had a great victory a sound victory over a great raven scene last week You know, ba whatever Babbs and McDermott are doing in collaboration with one another to prepare the defensive game plan is working. Just keep it up, man. Keep it up. Absolutely. Man, there's something you said earlier, Tom, that I think I want to just take as little zoom out perspective on. And it's just the fact that we get to be here as Bills fans, we are still in the hunt. And before like just.
00:49:28
Speaker
The beginning of this season, even before the season started, the fact that we're here now is just a joy to me as a bills fan, as a, as someone who loves this team so much as we all do. Um,
Preparing for the Chiefs
00:49:42
Speaker
I am not as confident as Nigel. I will say that about this upcoming game versus the chiefs, but you do see a difference.
00:49:52
Speaker
in the way this team carries themselves, the way they speak to pressers after the games, the way they're just conducting themselves on the field. And I think kind of what speaks to that is experience is key in situations like this. um That's why I'm confident and also why I'm scared. The reason why I'm confident is this team has been here before. We've gone into the Chiefs world. We've lived there.
00:50:21
Speaker
We have all but done everything we've needed to do. We just didn't get over the hump. And I think we are primed to be able to do that. And I have full confidence that if we are in that same position again, this team will be able to get over that hump and make the right calls, make the right decisions, take the correct steps to do that. The thing that's scary,
00:50:49
Speaker
is you're going against a team who just wins and they have won it all multiple times. And they have a coach that is maybe one of the best we've ever seen. So it's just, it's going to be an insane game. It's going to be a really fun game to watch and I'm super looking forward to it.
Closing Remarks
00:51:08
Speaker
I'm so unbelievably thankful that I am here and we have this opportunity. Yeah. Yeah. Well said, Dana. And if if they are going to get over the hump,
00:51:19
Speaker
It's got to be against the Chiefs. It has to be poetic. This is the storybook, right? This is the storybook. Beat the beat the Ravens. Go and beat the Chiefs. Go freaking do it. Boys, anything else? Are we closing this out? I think, oh, man, I'm like emotional about it, dude. I know. God, I want it so bad. Yeah, just fucking do your thing. That's all I got. Do your thing, man. Get out there, boys. What you've been doing, boys. Yeah, I want to do one more of these.
00:51:48
Speaker
See you boys this time next week. Folks, go enjoy this, go rewatch that game, go watch every highlight, go just go watch go scroll through Twitter and see every Bills content creator just dunking on Ravens fans and laugh a little bit and do it twice. ah Go but make sure to high five your friends, hug your family, say Go Bills. Hell, scream Go Bills out the freaking window as you're driving down the thruway.
00:52:10
Speaker
Um, and my recommendation, join me, please. And, uh, go ahead and, uh, play some Mr. Brightside every morning to really get your, your pep in your step and have some fun. And let's go freaking Buffalo bills.
00:52:24
Speaker
Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for spending some time with us. Please give us a like and a follow on Instagram, X, TikTok, and our YouTube channel at Let's Go Buff Pod. These are my pals, Jake and Nigel. My name is Tom, and you're listening to the Let's Go Buffalo podcast. We're sending you love wherever you are. Go Bills. Go Savers. Let's Go Buffalo.