Getty Bills head coach Sean McDermott on the field before Week 11.
The Buffalo Bills‘ Week 11 game against the Indianapolis Colts was expected to be a physical battle, however, Frank Reich’s team was so dominant, a segment of Bills Mafia filled Twitter with their outrage toward head coach Sean McDermott.
The Bills, who were downed by a final score of 41-15, couldn’t get anything done on offense, tallying 307 total yards and a measly 5.3 yards per pass.
But the top-rated defense also fell apart, allowing Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor to score five touchdowns before the fourth quarter even started. Taylor finished the day with 204 scrimmage yards, with 185 coming on the ground.
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Especially vexing for fans was McDermott’s decision to keep going for field goals while the team was already down by multiple scores. Making matters even worse, kicker Tyler Bass, who entered Week 11 having connected on 19 of 20 fields goals this season, missed his only two attempts.
“There is no reason to kick there. That’s horrible and cowardly from McDermott,” one fan tweeted, while another wrote, “I’m glad he missed it- I hate when McDermott plays for field goals in these situations. Im hoping one of these times he will regret it enough to stop doing it.”
I know it’s been a rough game so far, but…
Another Bills fan also exclaimed McDermott was “still coaching like a coward.”
McDermott still coaching like a coward. Why is he going for all those FGs in Colts territory in the rain?! Bills deserve the L bc their coach has regressed to Dick Jauron levels.
One even hypothesized that the head coach “has clearly been adducted by aliens and this is a look alike droid” after Buffalo’s third loss in five weeks.
Sean McDermott has clearly been abducted by aliens and this is a look alike droid. Only explanation for kicking a 49 yd field goal, down 3 scores in windy/rainy weather. 🤬
“McDermott needs to get heat for not having this team ready several weeks now,” another fan commented.
With its next three games against the contending New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, another Bills fan wrote “season on the brink.”
Sickening. McDermott better get absolutely grilled after this one. Season on the brink.
As for the defense, their No. 1 job was to shut down Taylor, something for which safety Jordan Poyer said he was preparing to do all week.
In the week leading up to the game, Poyer said that Taylor is on a similar level to Tennessee Titans star Derrick Henry, believed to be one of the most physically dominant rushers in the NFL.
“Derrick Henry’s a big, big guy,” said Poyer during his November 18 press conference. “Not saying that Jonathan Taylor isn’t, but Jonathan Taylor is a little bit faster. I think a little bit more center of gravity. I’d say he breaks a lot of tackles, not that Derrick Henry doesn’t. They do some things similar, but Jonathan Taylor’s still a very good running back and like I said, we’re going to have to play well.”
Derrick Henry vs. #Bills
2020: 19/57/2
2021: 20/143/3
Jonathan Taylor vs. Bills
2020: 21/78/1
Today: 22/138/3… and counting
2 of top backs in NFL really turned it around in this year’s match-up vs. BUF
During his postgame news conference, McDermott took the blame for his part in the team’s 41-15 loss.
“It wasn’t good enough at all today and it starts with me. Winning at point of attack, taking care of football, penalties, none of it was good enough and it makes it hard to win,” per One Bills Live reporter Chris Brown.
Analysts Also Call Out McDermott for Questionable Decisions
WGR55 reporter Nate Geary did not like what he was seeing on Sunday, and like fans on Twitter, ripped McDermott for his questionable playcalling.
Geary tweeted, “What has happened to Sean McDermott? You can’t stop Jonathan Taylor and you’re settling for FGs in a rain storm. I’m at a total loss. It’s one thing to get beat, it’s another one to beat yourself with bad coaching decisions, penalties and turnovers.”
Some Bills fans also didn’t stop with McDermott, with one fan calling for defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier to get fired. Tempers were running high amid such a blowout, and viewers continued to take their anger out on Twitter.
Leslie Frazier should be fired on the spot. This is EMBARRASSING.
Result of Bills-Colts Could Shake Up AFC Playoff Picture
A rematch of last season’s AFC Wild Card game. Who takes it?
📺 : #INDvsBUF — Sunday 1pm ET on CBS
📱 : NFL app
The last time the Bills faced the Colts was during the playoffs last season. On January 9, Buffalo narrowly beat Indianapolis 27-24 to win the AFC East Wild Card matchup. However, the Bills could’ve lost late in the fourth quarter when Colts’ then-quarterback Phillip Rivers threw a Hail Mary pass in hopes of a game-winning catch, but it was thankfully deflected by Hyde.
Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton wrote on November 17 that despite the Colts being +6000 odds to win Super Bowl 56, quarterback Carson Wentz’s bounce back, he’s thrown 17 touchdowns and just three interceptions, along with the inimitable force of running back Jonathon Allen, they could usurp the AFC competition.
No stopping Jonathon Taylor 💪
“The Colts have won four of their last five games,” Moton wrote. “They don’t have a victory against an opponent with a winning record, but that could soon change with the Buffalo Bills (Week 11) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 12) coming up on the schedule. If Indianapolis knocks off one of the two division leaders, we would have to look at this team as a serious contender.”
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