BILLS LOSE TO RAMS, Even SUPERMAN JOSH ALLEN can’t SAVE BUFFALO FROM BAD DECISIONS

Summary

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Buffalo Plus Podcast Summary

Episode: BILLS LOSE TO RAMS, Even SUPERMAN JOSH ALLEN can’t SAVE BUFFALO FROM BAD DECISIONS
Date: December 9, 2024
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, and Dan Fetes

Episode Overview

This episode is a deep dive and reaction to the Buffalo Bills’ heartbreaking 44–42 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The Buffalo Plus team unpacks a game where Josh Allen put on a historic performance, but critical coaching decisions, defensive lapses, and special teams failures led to a frustrating defeat. The hosts focus on what went wrong, Allen’s brilliance, and what this loss means for the Bills as the playoffs approach.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sean McDermott’s Costly Decisions

• Opening Theme (01:30–02:49):
  • The panel unanimously points to head coach Sean McDermott’s late-game decision-making as the primary culprit in the loss.
    • Running the ball late, taking a timeout needlessly, and poor clock management took away a chance at a comeback with three valuable timeouts.
    • “It is a gift from the gods to still have three timeouts left in the game...they didn't need to use them” – Mike Catalana (02:10)
    • The decision forced them to kick an onside kick instead of possibly regaining possession with better field position and time.

2. Josh Allen’s Historic Performance Amid Chaos

• Allen’s MVP-level Play (03:49–04:21; 19:01–19:40):
  • Despite the loss, Allen set a franchise fantasy football record (51.8 points) and had six total touchdowns (three passing, three rushing).
    • “Josh scored a record for a quarterback in franchise football, fantasy football, 51.8 points. And you still lose.” – Mike Catalana (03:51)
    • “Anyone who doesn’t think Josh Allen is the MVP, don’t take their opinion seriously on anything.” – Dan Fates (19:11)
  • The loss is especially bitter because Allen deserved better from the team around him.

3. Defensive Collapse Against Rams’ Hot Offense

• Pass Defense Breakdown (05:21–07:57):
  • Buffalo’s typically strong pass defense was torched by Matthew Stafford and especially by Puka Nacua (162 yards).
    • “Nakua was great. There are very few people in the world who throw the ball as well as Matthew Stafford.” – Mike Catalana (06:14)
  • Missed tackles (e.g., Matt Milano), loss of one-on-one matchups, and questionable scheming by Bobby Babich and McDermott.
  • The lack of adjustments and failure on third downs stood out.
    • “The worst words they could hear all day was third down.” – Mike Catalana (07:04)

4. Special Teams Catastrophes

• Critical Errors (05:00, 09:48, 10:06–10:18, 18:41):
  • Bills had only nine players on the field on the final punt.
    • “The Bills said, you know what? We’ve got so little practice with punt return. We’re just only going to put nine guys out there. How does that happen?” – Mike Catalana (10:06)
  • Early blocked punt, poor onside kick execution, and game-long issues threaten coaching jobs.
    • “Do you think Smiley’s fired at the end of the year?” – Jenna Cottrell (17:58)
    • “Well, hey, look, everybody’s jobs are up for review. These special teams have not been good, but two major, major issues in this game.” – Mike Catalana (18:18)

5. Offensive Standouts Beyond Allen

• Khalil Shakir’s Emergence (11:14–12:13):

  • Shakir made multiple tough catches, including a 51-yarder, establishing himself as the Bills’ second-best receiver behind only Puka Nacua.
    • “He’s just that dude. Honestly, I am constantly impressed.” – Jenna Cottrell (11:25)

• Other contributors:

  • Mack Hollins scored, Amari Cooper flashed, but the offense felt “disjointed” (12:26).

6. Big Picture: Where Do the Bills Stand?

• Emotional Toll and Playoff Outlook (10:40–11:14, 13:49–14:09, 16:09–17:10):
  • Bills are still in the hunt for AFC East, chase the Chiefs, and have most of their goals ahead.
  • Loss highlights persistent issues that surface in critical games despite regular season success.
    • “Why are these games not equating to wins?” – Jenna Cottrell (11:10)
  • Hosts do not think it’s time to panic.
    • “Do I think the sky is falling? No, I don’t think it’s time to panic.” – Jenna Cottrell (17:06)
    • “It’s the NFL. You’re either humble or about to be humbled.” – Jenna Cottrell (17:10)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Allen’s night

  • “He is the most dynamic player in the league. Did it with his legs, did it with his arm. Tough as nails, all that stuff. He deserved better.” – Mike Catalana (17:33)
  • “He’s so bleeping good.” – Jenna Cottrell (17:25)

• On the emotional impact

  • “I felt like Sean, he was explaining things a lot. And even with the explanations, it still doesn’t add up.” – Jenna Cottrell (16:41)

• On McDermott’s and Babich’s gameplan

  • “I think Bobby Babich, who’s been a really good coordinator, he and McDermott got schooled by McVay. McVay was, as the kids would say, in his bag.” – Mike Catalana (08:43)

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Important Timestamps

• [01:30–03:49] — Breakdown of McDermott’s late-game coaching decisions
• [03:49–04:21] — Josh Allen’s historic box score and MVP discussion
• [05:21–07:57] — Defensive issues and Puka Nacua’s damage
• [09:48–10:18] — Special teams disasters detailed
• [11:14–12:13] — Khalil Shakir praise
• [13:49–14:09] — Rams’ urgency vs. Bills’ lack of edge
• [16:09–17:10] — Standings impact and “reality check” moments
• [17:58–18:53] — Coaching evaluation, special teams coaching jobs questioned
• [19:01–22:04] — Dan Fates’ “from home” analysis segment: Allen’s brilliance, defensive conundrum, McVay’s edge
• [22:14–22:58] — Wrap-up and previewing the next week

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Conclusion

This episode was a therapy session for Bills fans—a cathartic breakdown of a gutting loss in which “Superman” Josh Allen couldn’t overcome coaching and execution failures. The team remains confident about the Bills’ talent level and trajectory but highlights that these types of losses must be learning experiences if the Bills want to advance in the postseason. The episode finishes with hope, humility, and a call for Bills Mafia to weigh in on what needs to change.

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Transcript

[Mike Catalana]

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[Jenna Cottrell]

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[Mike Catalana]

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[Jenna Cottrell]

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[Mike Catalana]

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[Jenna Cottrell]

Now boarding groups one through seven.

[Mike Catalana]

So close. Visit HyundaiUSA.com or call 562-314-4603 for more details. Limited availability pickup through participating Hyundai dealer in select markets. They are a good team and scored 42 points and they lost. Not the way you expect them to lose. But Sean McDermott was having a really good year. This was a really bad day for him. This is the Buffalo plus podcast brought.

[Dan Fates]

To you by Connors and Ferris.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right, welcome Back to the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel, presented by Connors and Ferris. Mike Catalana. I am Jenna Cottrell. I just said my last name wrong and that wouldn't be the most embarrassing thing that happened tonight in Los Angeles. Dan Fates still on papa duty. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share. The Bills losing to the Rams 44 to 42. Josh Allen was phenomenal in this game. We're going to talk about it all. Josh Allen's amazing game, the decision making, Matthew Stafford, Puka Nukua, what went right, what went very, very wrong. We're going to break it all down because there is a lot to talk about in this one.

[Mike Catalana]

There is. And I was thinking, you know, we are going to talk a lot about Josh Allen because in this loss, I think he might have won the MVP.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

We got to start with Sean McDermott. I have stuck up for Sean on a lot of things. I know his decision making in big moments is his weakness.

[Jenna Cottrell]

This was brutal and there's multiple examples I feel like you can take. But let's start with the decision to run the ball late in the game. You know how crucial timeouts are and for you to run the ball, not get in. Need to take a timeout.

[Mike Catalana]

Listen, it is a gift from the gods to still have three timeouts left in the game. They didn't need to use them if they'd had two timeouts. One timeout. Take it, take it. Stop the clock, get the touchdown. You're kicking an onside kick anyhow.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Sitting there thinking, wait a minute, you're going to run it here. I saw Josh run up to the line, you're going to run it here. I'm thinking if he doesn't get in, you can't stop the clock without using a timeout.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And we don't have to tell you guys, you know this. With two timeouts, if there was two and a half minutes to go, different story, different story. Under the two minute warning, it means onside kick, which is I, I'm not saying you or I could field an onside kick, but I think you and I might be able to.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We probably would have the same percentage of getting it done.

[Mike Catalana]

And you go where you take that away. I would have rather seen them scramble, spike the ball, whatever it is. Brutal decision, execution. I talked to Spencer Brown, he's like, we need to get that touchdown. You're right.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Just take one half step back, back, back.

[Mike Catalana]

But that wasn't the issue. The issue was the decision to blow what you had. Jenna, they could have gotten the ball back to win the game with a field goal.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes. And that's why on the sidelines, when they ran up to the line, I was like, oh, that's, that's kind of weird. Like maybe they're going to fake it. I don't know, maybe Josh was going to run to the outside. Maybe afterwards they would spike it. And then just. And Sean McDermott even talked about postgame. It takes a lot of time for you to pick guys up off the pile and all those things. And it was just like, it was so infuriating because you saw the way that Josh played. This team felt like they were on the mat down, what, 17?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, multiple times 17.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Fourth quarter, the Rams led the entire game and you had yourself with a shot and you. It's these self inflicted wounds that I think Bill's fans really struggle with. Because you have such a phenomenal quarterback. Again, I think you talked about it like the mvp, what he was able to do, like the conversation around. Josh scored a record for a quarterback in franchise football, franchise football, fantasy football, 51.8 points. And you still lose.

[Mike Catalana]

Now, the situation at the end, if you keep your three timeouts, let's say, let's say it takes you three passes to score. It took 17 seconds off the clock. You score, you still have your three timeouts. There's like a minute 10.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

When you have three timeouts, they're only using what, six seconds of play.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

So here's the difference. You kick it deep. What does that do? Well, first of all, if you stop them, you have better field position. Two, they won't go for it on fourth down at their own 34 yard line. If you kick an onside kick. You saw at the end, they were even thinking about going for it. Then they punted it. The game was over.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I mean, it didn't help. They had nine players on the field on the last punt. Matthew Smiley. Bad, bad day.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's just so disappointing because you saw what Josh did and. And how phenomenal he was. Six total touchdowns. And then you have horrendous special teams.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And a defense that we are so used to seeing bend and don't break. Bend and don't break. And they. They could. They couldn't catch a cold. They could not get any sort of traction. It felt like they made some stops in the second half to get the Bills back in the game. But when you actually needed something to happen, the Bills defense couldn't come through. And special teams, like I said, was a disaster.

[Mike Catalana]

So I'm going to say this. I do not think. And I'm saying this after they just got torched, I do not think past defense is a bad issue for this team. Long term, they are better, much better than they played tonight. That doesn't happen. Run defense is still an issue. I think this team in multiple. Multiple occasions has been outstanding as a past defense team.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Just the way they play.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I'm concerned about Rasul, though.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. That did not look good.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No.

[Mike Catalana]

And I mean, it was Benford getting torched a lot in this game. Nakua was great. There are very few people in the world who throw the ball as well as Matthew Stafford.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He was pinpointing tonight. Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I will say this. They're all disappointed. You know who's the most disappointed in the way the defense played today? Mike Catalan is disappointed. You know why? Because I made a fool of myself on national tv, saying. When I went national tv.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Good morning football. Overtime.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And they're asking me about this past defense. I'm like, they have issues on the run. They are outstanding in past defense. I talked about Taron Johnson, who admitted after the game, like, that's not him. He did not have a good game. And Christian Benford.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And I'm talking about how that's such a strength of this team and the way they play defense. And today, Janet, third downs, I said the worst words they could hear all day was third down.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It was comical where I'd be like, all right, where's Puka? Nakua on the field. And then I would just see, like, peripheral. Be like, he's there. And then it was just big play after big play from him. And you're right, the Bills have Done a really great job of keeping so many talented receivers in check. How many yards Nikua end up with? 162. That's what I thought. He. He burned them in a way that we really have not seen in quite some time. An opposing team able to do against Buffalo.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, because when they had the play with Collins was the long touchdown. That was against the rookie safety out there in the game. He beats him for the long score, then he left the game. This team doesn't usually give up. I think Garrett Wilson had 100 against them in that game down in New York. That's 100. It wasn't just Nukuha's 162 yards. He did it in every way. Listen, the guy was on it today, too. He's a great player.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He's a great player.

[Mike Catalana]

He taught everything. He went up to get it. Sideline toe taps. They got a pass interference call on Ingram when he came in the game. That was a little tacky tactic. They called it on him.

[Jenna Cottrell]

They missed that fall start.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, that was brutal though. Officials. And by the way, do they have to call pass interference? Both teams, they must have called 10 pass interference calls in this game. How about the one they called it on both players and then he caught the ball. That ended up being a good break for the Bills. So when I say that comment here, if you want. When I say that, I don't think long term, past events, you're right. If Rasul's out, that's a different story. That's an issue. But if he's there, I think they're better than this. I think Bobby Babich, who's been a really good coordinator, he and McDermott got schooled by McVay. McVeigh was, as the kids would say, in his bag. In this one, he everything. That's right. Right.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Okay. Just making sure I left everything he wanted to do. His. The pitch plays, the sweeps, the touchdown. You're right, though. They call that false start. Things are different. By the way, I do agree with McDermott's decision to take the holding penalty, take him back 10 yards. It took him out of field goal range. They then complete the pass back to almost the same spot and go for it on fourth down anyhow and. And convert. But I thought on that last drive, go ahead and take it because they probably would have gone for it. They did. They went for the fourth and five. I think they would have gone for it. What was it? Fourth and six?

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think so. Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And they would have gone for it. Then they ended up converting, but you take them back 10, they're out of field goal range. If they throw an incompletion, they probably have to punt. 4th and 16. They didn't get that play because they didn't make plays.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Sean McVay definitely watched the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel because we talked about how he needed to be aggressive and in this game, not settle for field goals. And they went for quite a bit on fourth down.

[Mike Catalana]

He did early when he went for the field goal. And I'm like, hey, Sean. Because I know. Yeah, you know, I'm an expert. And I said, you can't beat the Bills with field goals. And he's like, you know what, Mike? You're right. I'm going to score a touchdown every time we have the ball.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The Rams punted once.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes. At the end. The end of the game. And the Bill said, you know what? We've got so little practice with punt return. We're just only going to put nine guys out there. How does that happen?

[Jenna Cottrell]

See, I think that's the frustrating thing is because this team is so good and for there to be such catastrophic. Honestly, lapses in decision making in special teams, that has been a theme throughout the collapses that the Bills have had. Look, the Bills have played really well. They've been in great games. This was for their eighth straight win. If they were going to get it done.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes, but.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But it just. It's so frustrating because it's moments like this where it's those critical games and it feels like it's not Josh, it's everybody else around him. And that's the one thing that, like, big picture, the Bills are still AFC east champions. This game would have been for eight in a row. That's a lot. Like, they still have most of what they want in front of them. See what the Chiefs and all that stuff, they're still trying to chase the Chiefs. We'll see about the Steelers. But I think the frustrating thing is you see just how good Josh is, and it's like, why are these games not equating to wins?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, it's a negative pod. It is. Because there's so many negative things outside of Josh Allen. I do want to mention a few positives. Yeah, Khalil Shakir is fantastic.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He's just that dude. Honestly, I. I am constantly impressed. I feel like I've continued to move the goal post back for him this season because of what we've seen in his ability to just make play blaze. And then today, once again, I was like, this dude made some really tough Catches. And then obviously the touchdown, I was just like, what was it, a 51 yarder? I was just like, this is. We don't give him enough credit. And we've talked about how impressed we've been by him this season.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. And I said, you know, if he could try to model his game after Cooper cup, who's still tough and still made a beautiful touchdown catch, had a couple nice plays.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I gotta tell you, Shakir was the second best wide receiver on this field. Puka was the best, but he has the ability like you see him. How in the world he caught the one down near the goal line.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I. I don't know.

[Mike Catalana]

Allen, Mack, Hollins coming through with another touchdown for them. Yeah, they didn't get a lot. I thought Amari Cooper had some nice plays, a couple that didn't work out. They definitely were trying to get the ball down the field to them.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I thought the offense was a little disjointed defensively. There's very few people you can say anything positive. Early in the game. Daquan Jones and Austin Johnson both made some plays and then it was about it. Matt Milano whiffed on a tackle. I mean, what you don't normally see from Milano, I know they're ramping him up. It hasn't been great. He got a little bit better, I think, in his attack mode, a little bit more. Not great. I think his drops in coverage when they've needed him to do that are not what they needed them to be today because. Because obviously they picked. They picked the defense apart.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And McDermott's asked point blank about Ed Oliver. Are you getting enough from Ed Oliver? And Sean, you know, very diplomatically talked about how the entire team needs to be better, but I think for a lot of people, it's like the pass rush really disappears. It feels like in big moments. That's obviously why you have these guys, is to make impactful plays. And I think for a lot of people it just felt like they once again did not rise to the occasion.

[Mike Catalana]

You earn the right to rush the passer. Right is what they say. But get them in pass downs, downs. And when they were in them today, they converted, but they converted both with the run and the pass. They were not great against the run, but honestly, the run wouldn't have killed you today. It was the pass defense. Just brutal special teams, just brutal decision makings making. Brutal.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I do think that this, this is a desperate Rams team. Six and six coming in, still trying to figure out the NFC West. I think this was A kitchen sink kind of game for Sean McVay. But obviously, and Shawn said it after the game, I believe Sean McDermott as well. The Rams played with an urgency that the Bills just did not have in this game.

[Mike Catalana]

So we were asked about all week. We talked about trap game kind of thing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And I do see some of that. No excuse for that, though. They knew you. They know who they're lining up against.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I mean, it's Stafford, it's Nakua, it's Cup. Like they got some boys on this team that can play.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And they were ready. And by the way, Bill's Mafia showed up.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It was loud.

[Mike Catalana]

Loud. There was a ton of Bills fans.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Late in the game. Rams on third down. It was. I had to pull my ear away from the speaker because I was like, wow, it is loud.

[Mike Catalana]

So fans showed up. That was great for them. Real quick, we got a chance to meet Josh's Uncle Steve.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, yeah. And his aunt.

[Mike Catalana]

They were so, so sweet. Awesome, precious people. So proud of him.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Very cute.

[Mike Catalana]

Told us how, you know, awesome of a young man he is.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Show me a picture of Josh's 21st birthday when he Uncle Steve took him to Vegas. That was a cool dude. He's a farmer. He goes, we're farmers. That's our family.

[Dan Fates]

Love this.

[Mike Catalana]

That was the best part of the day.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It was really cool. Well, there was a lot of family here today. There's a lot of family for Josh, obviously, being from California, Alec Anderson, I know, had a bunch of family in town as well. It felt like a lot of people had people come out for this game and it's just. It's upsetting because Bills Mafia, I want to hear, like in the comments, what is your takeaway from this game? Positive and negative. And what do you make of this? Of this loss? Now look, you have the. I think this. How do I want to phrase this? I think a loss always fine tunes and puts into focus some of the things that when you're. Everything's winning, everyone's winning, and it's just all gold. Sometimes there's little details that are just not accounted for. So I think before the playoffs, it's important to. Maybe not in this way, but obviously this is the reality check that the Bills are getting now that maybe in the long run this will turn out to have yield good results down the line. But obviously right now it's. It's incredibly frustrating because Josh, we're recording.

[Mike Catalana]

This late on Sunday night.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

The Chiefs are playing and so we don't know the result of that we know the Steelers won. So, I mean, they're tied with them. Like, there's a. A lot going on now. This game hurts them in the standings. You know, we'll see how it all plays. Plays out. But they did play a good team. You made that point. They are a good team and scored 42 points and they lost. Not the way you expect them to lose. But Sean McDermott was having a really good year. This was a really bad day for him.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It was. And post game, I think. I think reporters kind of put his feet to the fire, which, you know, that's. That's our job to do. And I felt like Sean, he was explaining things a lot. And even with the explanations, it's like it still doesn't add up.

[Mike Catalana]

No, doesn't add up. I just don't think it does. I think you protect those three timeouts. I've said it a million times. So.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, it's. It's frustrating.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Now, do I think the sky is falling? No, I don't think it's time to panic. I do not. But I think that the Bills, what is it, the NFL. You're either humble or about to be humbled. Yeah, it was Snowflake Snow Angels last week. This week it's a little bit of humble.

[Mike Catalana]

That's exactly right. That's the way this league works. But 17 showed again today.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He's so bleeping good.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, he showed. There is no other.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Deserved a win. Like, it's just.

[Mike Catalana]

There's nobody else who does what he does. Stafford was awesome. Throwing the ball. Great. He can throw it. Mahomes is great. All these guys are great. Allen is the most dynamic player in the league. Did it with his legs, did it with his arm. Tough as nails, all that stuff. He deserved better. Rest of the team, coaching staff and defense.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And I mean, really, everybody got to be better. They had no run game today.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Do you think Smiley's fired at the end of the year?

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, end of the year. I mean, like. Yeah. You know, it's funny because somebody was asking about this game. Sean had. I put my opinion. Sean did not have a good game. As we've mentioned. Not a time to fire another coach. Yeah, I don't think you're doing that. But this was.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I agree. That's why I said at the end of the year.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes, I. Well, hey, look, everybody's jobs are up for review. These special teams have not been good, but two major, major issues in this game. The block punt looked like Reed Ferguson got kind of run over on that play, they came at him, though. They had multiple players. They went on a rush. Talked to Sam Martin afterward. He's like, I got to look at it. He goes, they were absolutely rushing. That was a big play early.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Somebody was saying that was the difference in the game. No, no, it happened so early. It was 17 7. They ended up scoring 80. What? 86 points between the two teams.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Hope you hit the over.

[Mike Catalana]

I hope you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You bet the over. Okay, wait. Dan Fates has his take on this game. Dan, take it away.

[Dan Fates]

All right, Dan checking in here from the home studio as dad duty continues with the new family. Just a couple quick takeaways from this game. Josh Allen was just incredible. He was unbelievable. Once again, anybody that thinks Josh Allen is not the mvp, don't take their opinion seriously on anything. Where to eat, what music, to listen to, any of that stuff. Josh Allen for the second week in a row has done something that a quarterback in NFL history has never done. Six total touchdowns, three passing, three rushing. He was spectacular. It was every bit of why a winning and losing should not be solely a quarterback stat. Because Josh Allen once again played a phenomenal game on the other side. I'm torn between whether or not to overreact or how to take the Bill's defensive performance. They've been solid all year. They've been solid of late. So is this just one of those days where you chalk it up and go, nah, they just didn't have it? Maybe. I'm not totally sure about that. This could also be a case of a red hot offense. Matt Stafford was absolutely slanging that thing today. He looked fantastic. He was making throws against good coverage by Taron Johnson, Rasul Douglas and Christian Benford, and they were just making. They were just better throws and better catches against good defense. Sometimes that happens. Good, good offense beats good defense sometimes. And that was the case tonight. I also think it was a little bit of a case of Sean McBay being a veteran offensive guru genius against a young defensive coordinator in Bobby Babbage. This was the first test where the Bills just really didn't have any answers. There was no adjustments to be made. They. They struggled to get off the field on third down, and they got absolutely no pressure. I've watched games for the Rams this season where Matt Stafford has run around for his life on every single drop pack and has gotten hit. The Bills had two hits, I think at Oliver got to Stafford twice. That's not good enough that when you face elite offenses, you have to disrupt the quarterback in the rhythm. Matt Stafford looked Like it was seven on seven. So I'm torn between are there. Is there something that this defense is lacking and that teams are making adjustments to now as we get later in the year, or is this just say, hey, they're a good defensive team and they just ran into a really hot pitcher today. Sometimes that happens. We've seen no hitters by baseball teams. I'll make the baseball analogy of a pitcher who's 6 and 6 with an ERA of over 4, throws a no hitter because that day he just has his stuff. So you can take that side and say, hey, just not our day. The Rams did everything right. We had no answers. Or you can start to sit there and say, man, this defense has. Has some problems. I think it's somewhere in between, as Jenna would probably like to say, but just not good enough. Fun game to watch. Nonetheless, don't overreact too much. I think this was somewhere in between of the Bills having a off day defensively and Matt Stafford and the Rams being really hot. They seemed like the hungrier team, won the line of scrimmage battle, all those kind of things. So. All right, Bill's lost dad duty continues. I'll be back sometime soon. Safe travels, guys.

[Mike Catalana]

Back.

[Dan Fates]

Have a good one. Back to you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Anything else now?

[Mike Catalana]

I'm glad Papa Fates got to. He's been taking care of the family.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Job number one. Great job, Dan.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Itching to be talking football. Thank you, Dan.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Thank you for taking your time because obviously he's got the baby and the other baby and the other baby, but yes, Dan, while playing more coverage as the Bills get ready to take on a Lions team that is feeling really good. If they've been playing very well, that's another game on the road. So we'll see. We'll be back to practice this week. All right. For Mike Catalana, I am Jenna Cottrell. For Dan Fates, please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share. Thank you so much. Let us know how you're feeling. This is a trust tree. Let us know what you're going through. All right. Thanks for watching Buffalo Plus. We'll see you next time. I. Whatever.

[Mike Catalana]

All right, let's. This is the Buffalo plus podcast brought.

[Dan Fates]

To you by Connors and Ferris.