Buffalo Plus Podcast: Bills Beat Packers Postgame (But They Need to Be Better)

Date: October 31, 2022
Hosts: Mike Catalana & Dan Fetes

Episode Overview

In this postgame episode, Mike Catalana and Dan Fetes break down the Buffalo Bills’ 27–17 Sunday Night Football win over the Green Bay Packers. While the team improved to 6–1 and maintained their status as a Super Bowl favorite, both hosts agree the performance left much to be desired—especially in a lackluster second half. They discuss Josh Allen’s mistakes, defensive vulnerabilities, the surprising Green Bay ground attack, and how raised expectations color every Bills victory.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Winning Ugly: The Bills’ Standard

• The hosts repeatedly reference the "high standard" now expected of the Bills:
  • “The standard is high for this team. They just won by double digits against Aaron Rodgers... but they did beat him by 10 points in a game they were really in control of the whole way.” —Mike Catalana (00:44)
• Bills were praised for winning despite an off night but the hosts stress these kind of letdowns can't become a habit for a great team.
• Both express confidence that this was a rare letdown, not a pattern:
  • “I'm not concerned. There's some things I'm concerned about. Josh Allen is not one of them.” —Mike (01:49)
  • “Today was a game where they played their 'C' game. It was probably their second worst game they've played this season, only behind Miami...” —Dan (02:41)

2. Josh Allen’s Bad Decisions

• Allen’s interceptions and red zone mistakes raised eyebrows but aren’t seen as a long-term worry:
  • “[Allen] knows he made some boneheaded decisions... He tried to throw the ball into the dirt, as he says, which is basically throw it into the ground. He threw the interception, but you gotta be smarter than that... Just chuck it out of the end zone and kick the field goal.” —Mike (02:15)
• Dan underscores Allen's self-awareness:
  • “He said it was a crappy taste in his mouth. And I think those words are beautifully picked and very spot on to how it felt.” (01:06)
• The second half offense: Only three points, two Allen picks, and little rhythm.

3. Defensive Vulnerabilities and Injuries

• The Packers were surprisingly effective running the ball, "gouging" the Bills’ defense at times.
• The absence of key safeties (Poyer and Hyde) continues to haunt the Bills:
  • “This is the first time I think Poyer and Hyde combined missed three games coming into this season. And now we have seen...the Jalen Waddle play when Poyer was not in the game in Miami. That was kind of the back breaking play there.” —Dan (05:59)
  • “...that second touchdown pass from Rodgers doesn't happen with Jordan Poyer on the field.” —Dan (06:26)
• Demar Hamlin filled in but, in Mike’s words, “he's not Jordan Poyer, he's not Micah Hyde and he doesn't have either one of those guys next to him at the moment.” (06:31)
• Positive notes: Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmonds both singled out for their performances, as well as Tim Settle and Greg Rousseau on the defensive line.

4. Strange Packers Strategy & Rodgers’ Body Language

• Both hosts agreed that the Packers’ pass-averse game plan was strange and lulled the Bills into a false sense of security:
  • “The Packers gouged them on the ground. I mean, they really did run well. But I do think part of it was the idea that the Bills were sitting there going, why aren't you throwing the ball?” —Mike (04:09)
  • “Even Von [Miller] said he was shocked... They're running by me because I'm just wanting to get after the quarterback because I'm going to. They got Aaron Rodgers. They're going to start throwing it at some point, right? And they really didn't.” —Dan (07:50)
• The hosts perceive Rodgers as ‘bad vibes’:
  • “Rogers has to me, like Jake Cutler vibes. It's weird, isn't it? Like sitting on the bench… just seems annoyed and disinterested…” —Dan (08:43–08:52)
  • “That team has their issues.” —Mike (09:10)

5. Trash Talk & Chippiness

• Notable verbal battles, especially between Stefon Diggs and Jaire Alexander:
  • “Diggs said he's never seen more of it or heard more of it [trash talk]... it was personal...I just thought there was... the Bills are too good for that.” —Mike (09:51, 10:24)
  • “I think this team feeds off to a lot of what Stefan Diggs brings... they were getting into it pre game... it kept going.” —Dan (11:26)
  • Diggs’ level-headed response: “He gave a very thoughtful answer about no disrespect to people in the cubicle...but this is different. And I totally understand that. It's a physical, emotional game.” —Mike (10:24)

6. Offensive Positives: First Half Execution

• Bills ran efficiently in the first half:
  • “They ran the ball well. Singletary did like... it was an offense that was just cutting through the packers defense like, like nothing.”—Dan (13:33)
  • “Getting Isaiah McKenzie in the mix was nice to see. James Cook ran. I said to you this the first time he hasn't looked like a rookie. He looked confident, he looked fast.” —Mike (14:22)
• Rookie development highlighted for James Cook and Greg Rousseau.

7. Missed Opportunity to ‘Bury’ the Packers

• The second half “distorted the memory” of a dominant first half and left fans unsatisfied.
  • “I think the Bills, who normally just bury somebody when they have them down, didn't do it.” —Mike (13:25)
  • “That second half distorts our memory of the first half.” —Dan (13:25)
• Bills failed to put the game out of reach due to sloppiness, penalties, and lost composure. The sentiment: A better opponent might have made them pay.

8. Big Picture & Next Steps

• Bills are now 6–1, two games ahead in their division.
• Upcoming game vs. the Jets will be interesting, especially after Zach Wilson’s struggles.
• The result is a win, but everyone (including McDermott and Allen) agreed it wasn’t up to the "Bills standard":
  • “It was funny listening to Sean McDermott. He almost sounded like it was a loss after the game.” —Dan (16:44)
  • “Josh...had a crappy taste in his mouth. You could tell he was bothered by his performance, calling him, you know, the turnovers stupid.” —Dan (16:51)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Josh Allen’s blunt self-assessment:
  • “He said it was a crappy taste in his mouth.” —Dan (01:06), echoed again (16:51)
• On moving the standards:
  • “The goal posts keep getting moved back…it's a compliment to move the goal post back.” —Dan (02:41)
• On Packers' approach:
  • “When did he [Rodgers] turn into Trent Edwards? …at least Trent Edwards within five yards.” —Dan (04:02)
• On the emotional environment:
  • “The Bills are too good for that [getting chippy].” —Mike (10:24)
• Von Miller wisdom:
  • “That's not how it is in the NFL. And it's, it's hard. You got to enjoy these wins.” —Dan paraphrasing Von (16:52)
• Rodgers critique:
  • “Aaron Rodgers arrived at the stadium today looking like a villain with his slicked back hair, sunglasses and like a black trench coat that went down to his ankles.” —Dan (19:45)

Segment Timestamps

• 00:00–01:49: Opening, game overview, tone-setter
• 01:50–04:58: Josh Allen’s mistakes, team expectations, comparing to previous games
• 04:59–08:21: Defensive discussion, Packers’ game plan, injuries
• 08:22–09:50: Rodgers’ demeanor, Packers’ internal issues
• 09:51–12:28: Trash talking, team composure, Diggs vs. Alexander
• 12:29–14:45: First half execution, RB play, rookie development
• 14:46–16:44: Failing to put Packers away, mindsets post-game
• 16:45–19:45: Big picture—division standings, next week’s Jets matchup, closing thoughts

Takeaways for Non-Listeners

The Bills earned a solid margin of victory but left a ‘crappy taste’ in their mouths—and in that of fans—by stumbling through a dull, mistake-prone second half where they failed to close the door on an inferior Packers team. The hosts are not deeply worried but see it as a crucial teaching moment as expectations for Buffalo get higher by the week. Notable was the team’s heightened emotional response (chippiness), Allen’s rare poor decisions, and continued issues in the secondary due to injuries. Next week’s test against the resurgent Jets could tell more about whether the Bills truly heed the “standard is the standard” mantra.