We all saw what happened, so I won’t bore you guys with the repetition of the Patriots victory over the Bills. Let’s breakdown a few things that I felt had HUGE implications on the outcome of the game, and why it’s time to come together, if there ever was.

Tre White Being Out Didn’t Lose This Game

The high-school-state-champ-style of execution that was present in the NE offensive line was impressive. Despite the “rotate” front 4 approach installed in this teams DNA in the offseason, NE was able to run the ball for 4 quarters. Damien Harris was in rhythm all night long, until a hammy injury slowed him down.

Repetitively, the Patriots attacked weaknesses they had found on film. The overload of the DE by N’Keal Harry on a crack down block to set the edge was repeated until the Bills finally adjusted. Patriots players knew the assignment, and executed that assignment.

It was a little league offense

If you felt like you were watching a little league or pop warner game, you were. The Patriots didn’t do anything fancy from a ballcarrier or QB standpoint, they just knew that the way to beat Buffalo was in the front 7. The usage of various blocking schemes and attention to the Run game was demonstrative in the 46 attempts. When you know the other team isn’t going to pass and you still can’t stop them, it’s going to take a toll on your mind.

Allen Bad Habits

I didn’t think Allen played an awful game. I thought he played about a B, B-. Though he did flail the ball around a bit, the Patriots played cat and mouse with him in the pocket all night, and on the final drive, Allen showed a bad habit that I have mentioned here at BLEUMAFIA.

He needs to get back to the tower of power in the pocket, standing tall and eyes down field. I know he will, once he feels like he can. He took some absolute killshots in this game, and you can say whatever you want about him, but don’t challenge his toughness.

Leadership Style Interesting

I wasn’t disappointed to see Sean McDermott blowing his top on the sideline of this game. I actually enjoyed seeing the fire and the crazy in his eyes. I wish however, the crazy in the eyes was directed toward the players losing the game over and over and not only the referees and the media. When will this team step up as men and leaders?

Sanders is a great guy, good player, but he hasn’t been around for “the process” as I’ve stated before. That move undermined the “process.” of sticking it out with a shit franchise until we were good. Is it fair to say that this team is great at being an underdog but horrible at being the favorite? Josh Allen is 25, but who’s going to mentor him into the unknown? Brian Daboll? Who will it be that emerges as the leader in the face of darkness right now?

It Ain’t Over

Whether you wake up this morning hungover or happy to go to work, this isn’t over yet. Despite the chagrin of Micah Hyde in the postgame presser, this team is spoiled. You can go back to a young bloggers take on Jerry Sullivan and Bucky Gleason to hear my take on what they do for Buffalo media, this very brand began from the annals of negative sports media. Regardless of how toxic of a question Sullivan had to ask, the question was a good one. So i’ll answer it, because I’ve been pointing to issues all year long.

Is it embarrassing?

What’s more embarrassing is a coach so afraid to let down his own ego that he can’t admit that Bill Bellichick had anything to do with the absolute EXPOSURE of the Buffalo Bills on primetime. Proving you don’t even NEED to pass to beat the BIlls.

What’s embarrassing is the team that thinks they deserve Super Bowl respect ALL YEAR LONG has repetitively disappointed from a mindset standpoint in WINABLE games. Losing Steelers, Titans, Jags, Pats games has them in 7th, where they belong based on their record.

What’s embarrassing is when the MVP candidate and guy you pay $150 million guaranteed looks at the floor and does a 720 in the pocket when #14 is standing in the middle of the field. He also missed Beasley on 4th and game. I don’t feel bad for QB17, he has been head in clouds all year long.

It’s embarrassing when the OC who was “HC candidate” disappears from the public eye when things are bad, but is a HC candidate when things are good. Daboll is responsible for the play-calling, execution, gameplan, and top to bottom effort and energy on the Offense and at best it has been sloppy, hollow, and weak all year long.

It’s not embarrassing to say I still love this team though.

I love the tenacity of the Head Coach. The Hunger.

I love the competitive spirit of the QB. The Fight.

I love the relentlessness of the D. The Never Say Die Attitude.

I love this team, and I’m proud of the way they fought last night. Win or Lose. GO BILLS.