Observations: Bills Playoff Hopes On Life Support

If you’re reading this, you already know the Buffalo Bills lost to the Miami Dolphins last night, 22-9 in falling to .500 after 10 games.

We’ll spare you the majority of the details. Instead, here’s eight observations as the Bills playoff hopes officially reached hit life support:

• Any support Doug Marrone had left from the media and fans formally left the building last night.   Down 10 points at the Miami 47 with 9:55 left in the fourth Marrone faced a fourth and sixth. He punted. Punted!  What else is there to say?  Buffalo probably would’ve lost anyway, but it would be nice if just once Marrone did so with guns blazing.  When your general surrenders, the soldiers tend to follow.  After playing inspired, albeit mostly ineffective football for most the evening, the player body language over the final 10 minutes suggested the Bills couldn’t wait to get off the field.  After last week’s loss to Kansas City I partially defended Marrone, but that won’t happen again after another cowardly decision. He has to go—he’s becoming a less likable Dick Jauron.

• I shouldn’t even need to mention Nate Hackett will be gone with Marrone, but I will anyway.  He’s so in over his head with this job it’s not funny.  NFL Network/ Hall of Famer Deion Sanders took a rightful shot in the post-game, labeling their “predictable.”  The Bills have now gone 21 possessions without a touchdown and it was easy to see why.  Sure, Kyle Orton once again missed on key throws (more on that in a minute) but it was painfully obvious to see Hackett had no answer for anything Miami was doing. Third and less than a yard, and instead of pounding Boobie Dixon or Frank Summers up the middle the Bills pitch outside to Bryce Brown, who loses six yards to force a punt.  Great call, Nate.

• I’m not sure what’s happened to Orton, but his play has taken a nose-dive these past two critical games.  Poised and tough his first four Buffalo starts, Orton appears rattled and bailing out of any pressure lately. You’d be accurate in saying Orton was the chief reason the Bills lost to Kansas City (pun intended) and it wasn’t much better in Miami.  He suddenly can’t wait to get rid of the ball, is locked on one receiver too often and perhaps because he’s rattled, too many makeable throws are being missed.  Sounds a lot like the other Buffalo quarterback currently sitting on the bench, doesn’t it? The NFL is a copycat league, so you can bet Orton will see blitzes galore the remainder of the season—or at least however longer he’s starting.

• Wasn’t Robert Woods supposed to be an emerging part of the offense this season? The second-rounder from a year ago has been a total non-factor; dropping a first down pass last week and doing nothing to help the offense in Miami.   He hasn’t had more than 78 yards receiving in a game this entire season and has rarely been on the same page with either quarterback.

• I like Leodis McKelvin and it’s a shame he got hurt, but isn’t it extremely Bills-like for a guy to run his mouth essentially guaranteeing a victory, and then literally get his ankle broken on a run by Lamar Miller.  Sad way to end the season.

• Mario Williams was a bright spot with 3.5 sacks.  His contract makes it impossible to live up to expectations, but this guy has been nothing but good since joining the Bills in 2012.  He’s never missed a game with the Bills, is up to 10 sacks on the season and now has 34 sacks in 42 games with Buffalo.  His cap figure next year is an astounding $19 million, but the Bills would be foolish to cut ties with him.

• Which leads to my biggest point, the Bills have wasted a defense good enough to go deep into the playoffs for a second straight year.  Thought to be in trouble with the departures of Mike Pettine and Jairus Byrd last offseason, Buffalo’s defense leads the NFL in sacks and is second in takeaways.  That should translate to better than a 5-5 record.

• Last and not least, the officiating was deplorable.  I’m not one of those conspiracy theorists suggesting the NFL is trying to prevent Buffalo from winning, but those intentional grounding and pass interference calls against Buffalo were laughable. I’d also suggest---if you can stomach it re-watching the game how much blatant holding the Miami offensive line got away with.  I can’t remember a season where so many calls went against one team.