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00:00The Buffalo Bills improved to 5-1 on the season following a 33-30 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
00:10It went about exactly as we all thought it would be.
00:14The offense had a pretty darn good day, the defense not so much, they had a few bright moments,
00:19and it allows for the Bills to walk away with a win.
00:23Welcome in everybody. Following that Bills win, Zach Jones, Derek Kramer,
00:26is the Buffalo football postgame show live on WGR.
00:29It's also streaming live on YouTube where we also are doing our gamecast,
00:33the YouTube channel, WGR Sports Radio 550.
00:36If you want to jump in the chat, give us your thoughts there.
00:38They are more than welcome.
00:39Also, 803-0550 is the number to call if you want to jump in through the phone lines
00:44and give your thoughts.
00:45A lot from this game, a lot of different moments I think you can really point to
00:50as kind of grabbing onto and running with.
00:53I think one I want to go to kind of constantly now is Keon Coleman's career revitalization.
01:00He has another really good game today, four catches, 59 yards, and a touchdown.
01:04James Cook continues to be very, very good on the ground, 22 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown.
01:10Josh Allen looks pretty darn good through the air throughout today,
01:14really taking, I think, the easy stuff but also taking some chances when they were available.
01:19And then defensively, there are big plays in there for them.
01:25It's how some of these games have ended, namely with Greg Rousseau or Deion Walker.
01:28But today we saw Dorian Williams come up with a big interception.
01:32Kilgore had a big pass breakup.
01:33He was involved in the touchdown that ultimately made it 33-34, or 33-30.
01:37But there were some few nice moments there.
01:40I also should mention the cornerbacks.
01:42Davis and I think Benosin had three pass breakups.
01:45Davis and Christian Benford, I thought, had his best game so far this year.
01:49But, Derek, ultimately, I think it looks about the same as a lot of these games have.
01:54But I feel pretty good going into the bye 5-1.
01:57I feel good about the fact that they are indeed 5-1.
02:01What I think needs to be, you know, of course, talked about almost ad nauseum at this point
02:06is, you know, improvements that you can make on the defense.
02:10But especially now because of what happened with C.J. Gardner-Johnson at the end of the first half
02:16and, you know, the fact that he hadn't been all that good to begin with this season.
02:21But this is where they do have a problem.
02:25They are still a very leaky faucet when it comes to their successes, what they can and can't do.
02:33If the Bills are going to be a team that wins in the postseason against better competition,
02:39their defense needs to be playing better.
02:42And I'm still not seeing enough of it on a week-to-week basis where, like, yeah, there's a smattering
02:49of plays.
02:51Because the Rams are kind of proving to be a little weird right now, better on paper than they are
02:56in the standings.
02:57The Chargers became entirely fraudulent.
03:00The Raiders are now back at 3-3.
03:02This quote-unquote hard slate of their schedule kind of turned out to be not as daunting as originally assumed
03:12to be.
03:15Defense needs to play better, overall.
03:18I like that there were some stops.
03:19I do like that there were some three and outs.
03:21They do make the stop that effectively ends the game where their last punt is critical.
03:27They have a face-masking penalty.
03:30The Bills are able to kick the field goal to go up by two scores,
03:32which is ultimately enough of a safety cushion that...
03:35Gets them out of it.
03:36It gets them out of it, and we can all actually kind of relax.
03:40But...
03:40Yeah, a little bit.
03:41But it's just...
03:42There's just not enough there, though.
03:43Because the defense still has to make it dramatic enough.
03:47I think that's the thing, is they make it dramatic enough, namely in the secondary.
03:50Again, the final drive for the Raiders is ultimately just 18 seconds.
03:53But it's them just going goal balls to Trey Tucker or Jalen Naylor.
03:57One of them hits, and it goes for a touchdown.
04:01It's...
04:01The longer we go here, though, the more a trade, I think, has to happen.
04:05And now today, with C.J. Garner-Johnson,
04:07that was the big story of the first half,
04:09if C.J. Garner-Johnson gets ejected from this game for spitting at a player,
04:13that could wind up as a suspension.
04:15We'll find out about that.
04:16Still the dumbest thing that could have happened.
04:18But even before all of that, names you were hearing connected to the Bills,
04:22or not necessarily connected, but fans wanting them to maybe go out and get,
04:25you bring up the Chargers.
04:26They're 0-6 after today.
04:28Derwin James, all pro safety, has been for years.
04:32He's been one of the better safeties in football.
04:34Could be somebody they can go get.
04:35Buda Baker on the Arizona Cardinals.
04:38They won today against the Rams.
04:40They could be thinking longer term, though, about their future.
04:42They don't have their quarterback.
04:43This year is kind of, not necessarily a wash,
04:46but a year where they've got to start thinking maybe long term.
04:49Buda Baker is now 29 or 30 years old.
04:51He could be had.
04:52And with Gardner-Johnson, number one, talent-wise,
04:55not really playing up to snuff,
04:56and now doing dumb things that have gotten him cut before from teams,
05:01I think more than ever that is a conversation people are going to have.
05:05And ultimately it's a three-point loss for the Raiders,
05:09but it's a close game.
05:13And mistakes like that, or mistakes, decisions like that from a guy like,
05:19from a veteran in this league who has a problem sticking on teams,
05:23like you have that reputation already.
05:28That's just inexcusable.
05:30Well, for him, though, you have that perception for a reason.
05:34And that's the thing.
05:36That was a decision.
05:37That's not a mistake.
05:39That is something that will get you flagged every time.
05:43And, look, if you want to talk smack, talk smack.
05:45Talk all of it until you're blue in the face.
05:47Right?
05:49Just don't do the thing that's going to be an automatic.
05:53I don't care if it hit the ground.
05:57It's enough for people to point it out and get a flag thrown.
06:03You haven't played well enough to excuse that.
06:14And if the Bills do release him, that's probably his last play as an NFL player.
06:19He could be getting close to that point.
06:22He really could because he just jumps from team to team to team.
06:25And it just didn't really work out here.
06:27Yeah, he was a bit of a toxic personality around here,
06:30and we just had to move on from him.
06:31I mean, the Texans do it, what, four games into last year?
06:35The Eagles have had him a couple of times.
06:37It started out really well for the Bills.
06:39It hasn't been great so far.
06:41Him and Bishop, I don't think, have worked well at all together.
06:44And so it wouldn't necessarily be a huge loss here.
06:46And it was kind of funny that the Bills' defense got a lot better,
06:50it seemed like, in the third quarter,
06:52the moment Garner-Johnson was not on the field for them.
06:54But then, at the same time, they still allow a deep-bomb touchdown.
06:58They still allow 30 points at the end of the day
07:01after they had given up 13 in the first half.
07:04So they still give up a majority of their points in the second half again.
07:08So it's almost as if it's just somehow, some way,
07:15another safety that can't keep DeMar Hamlin off the field.
07:23The general manager still can't get another safety
07:26to replace the replacement-level player.
07:28They have been at this for a while.
07:30Yeah.
07:31And you took a risk.
07:33It didn't work.
07:34The player has not done enough to outweigh that kind of a moment.
07:40I think he's gone.
07:41And I think that you already needed to address safety before that anyway.
07:44This expedites it.
07:46Right, yeah.
07:47It was already a need.
07:48Now it might be more so.
07:49And the thing, if they made a move at safety,
07:52I don't know if it's Bishop that gets moved down.
07:54It probably is Garner Johnson, who's not on an expensive contract.
07:57He's on a one-year deal.
07:58Yeah, that's a cut-em-loose contract.
07:59And they probably would have either moved him down to third safety,
08:01so maybe that would have actually filled in for Hamlin.
08:04But now it might just be something of, you can't hurt us like that.
08:06It is ultimately a very close game.
08:08That does play a factor in the end result.
08:11It feels like walk away with a win.
08:12They get lucky.
08:12It's only a field goal, as a matter of fact,
08:13because the Raiders actually have a chance at the end zone because of you.
08:17Yeah, so I think the rumblings there are going to get louder for guys like
08:21Derwin James and Buda Baker, really any safety to maybe bring in for the Bills
08:25because they don't make necessarily the biggest splash moves at the deadline.
08:28Those aren't always very often.
08:30I mean, you'll see a sauce Garner going to the Colts every now and then,
08:32but most of the time it is smaller pickups here or there.
08:36I guess Harrison Jr. could be considered the big pickup of the trade season,
08:42and it's well before the trade deadline, which I think is later on in November.
08:46However, 803-0550, the number to call.
08:49We'll get to the stats of the game.
08:50We'll also hear from Bill State coach Joe Brady in a little bit,
08:52but let's go to the phones here as the Bills do improve to 5-1 on the season
08:57following the 33-30 win over the Raiders.
09:00It just, boy, it feels like a lot of these wins all kind of feel the same,
09:02but they definitely all look the same by the end.
09:05Let's go to Mike here first up.
09:07Mike, how are we doing tonight?
09:09Mike, are you with us?
09:12Looks like Mike is not with us.
09:13We'll try him again in just a couple of minutes.
09:18I said it, though, right before we went to him.
09:20It seems like a lot of these games all end up looking the same,
09:23which is why, like I was saying on game night, which is Derek,
09:27our show from 6 to 8 on weekdays, they're going to put up 30-plus points.
09:34Their defense is going to give up around 30-ish,
09:37and a defensive player, probably Greg Roussel, will make a big play,
09:41and that's how they get out of it.
09:43And today it was they forced a punt,
09:49and it allows the Bills to go down the field, kick a field goal,
09:52and get out of there.
09:53And so that's kind of how it all ended up working out.
09:56It wasn't the flashy play like a blocked field goal or a sack,
09:59but it was kind of the same thing.
10:01A couple quarterback hits, he did influence some plays,
10:03but honestly, not enough from the pass rush today.
10:08No, for the most part, no.
10:10The last two weeks.
10:11Last week I would say more so where Stafford was just getting the ball out quickly.
10:14Yeah, I don't really say much on last week.
10:16This week's the one where he could have done a little better.
10:18Yeah.
10:19All right, let's go and try Mike again here.
10:21Mike, are you with us?
10:23Yeah, hey, what's going on, guys?
10:24You hear me all right?
10:25Yep, we got you loud and clear now.
10:27All right.
10:28You know, I believe you guys are right.
10:31Bean has to pick up somebody before the trade deadline on defense.
10:37They can't stop anything right now.
10:40But, you know, going into the bye, what happens if they just say,
10:47you know, Jim Leonard, this isn't working out,
10:50and bring in Jim Schwartz and, you know,
10:54see if he can't get this defense right.
10:56before we waste this season and another unbelievable Bills offense.
11:02Mike, unfortunately, I don't think you can replace an entire system
11:07with an entirely different system in season.
11:09That's not tenable, unfortunately.
11:12I think we're stuck with the defensive coordinator for the year
11:15and stuck with the system for the year.
11:17However, I do – the bye week is going to be important for I need to see
11:21improvements coming out of it.
11:22But you can't just go ahead and replace someone with a brand new system
11:25six weeks in.
11:26It would be like when they fired Ken Dorsey.
11:28You're going to elevate someone from within to keep running the same system
11:31but try to work out some of the kinks to just survive.
11:35It's ultimately what Joe Brady has done when he's brought in for Ken Dorsey is
11:38ultimately he's going to run this system.
11:39Let's just try to get through the year the best that we can
11:42and then go from there.
11:44I also will say about Jim Schwartz, he was on a podcast maybe last week
11:47and even joked that he's not even thinking about a comeback
11:50because he sees these quarterbacks out there and he sees the points
11:52they're putting up and the throws they're making.
11:54He's like, I'd get fired anyway.
11:55I'm kind of good.
11:55I'm all right.
11:57Yeah.
11:58But that's the thing is I understand the frustration when it comes to Leonard
12:02and I'm saying plenty about it too.
12:04But I think for the year, you're absolutely not going to have
12:09an outside person being hired for this sort of thing.
12:13Nate said something last week about John Fox, but I don't think
12:17But he's the one I would kind of think about of internal elevation.
12:21He's in the building.
12:22He also didn't run Leonard's style of defense as a coordinator or head coach.
12:28He ran a traditional four-man front.
12:30Right.
12:30So he is here really more for the Brady side of things
12:34and the head coaching side of things.
12:38I don't think it's going to happen.
12:39I think they're really banking on the buy fixes and stuff.
12:43Ed Oliver's going to get healthy.
12:45I'm kind of banking on it too because that's the only real thing I've got
12:47other than add players at the deadline and hope that it was a talent issue.
12:51Right.
12:51And in some ways, I think it's absolutely a talent issue.
12:55Max Harrison has been a terrible corner for them this year.
12:58The safety room, we've already talked about it, really not good at all
13:01with both Bishop and C.J. Garner-Johnson.
13:03The defensive line has been very good.
13:05And then for the linebackers, also another problem there.
13:08I just don't see it happening.
13:11I think what they're going to try to do is run this down.
13:13However, it's not working by the end of the year.
13:16I won't be surprised if Brady maybe makes a move.
13:19At the end of the year, and it's if nothing changes.
13:21I don't want to make grandiose statements.
13:24Again, they're five and one.
13:25I don't want to make it sound like it's all doom and gloom.
13:26But that's, I think, something, more to Mike's point,
13:29that they would look to at the end of the season.
13:32If they make a trade for a Derwin James and it's still not working,
13:36that there are still fundamental problems.
13:39We talked with Carl Jones a couple of days ago, and he mentioned too,
13:43and maybe this is more concerning, is the fact that it's third and three
13:46and he's setting guys up well off their man.
13:49There are plays coming in where there are ten guys on the field.
13:52They're not even fielding all 11.
13:53And that's maybe the concerns, if you're the Bills, that you really have.
13:58Because you can argue about the talent issue and go, all right,
14:01we kind of knew it was going to be a transition year.
14:03What we didn't know is one, two, three, four, five issues that developed
14:09once the games got going.
14:11I think that's the concern.
14:12Again, there were bright moments for the defense,
14:14but it's another 30 points they do give up,
14:17even if it's somewhat and not really in garbage time,
14:20because they are an onside kick away for making that kind of interesting.
14:23Let's go back to the phones here.
14:24Peter is up next.
14:25Peter, how are we doing tonight?
14:27Not bad.
14:28How are you guys?
14:29Doing very well.
14:29We tour the bus from Kerrigan Airport.
14:32Go to Circus Circus and drop off Gardner Johnson.
14:35He's a clown.
14:36He let those guys down.
14:38He let the whole team down.
14:40I wish there was a prop bet at the beginning of the year
14:43that this wasn't going to work.
14:46We've got to bring in the guys that we used to bring in,
14:48character guys, and this is a disaster.
14:51So hopefully the trade deadline to get somebody.
14:55But again, hopefully the defense improves.
14:58There have been some steady improvements,
14:59but it's still not good enough.
15:01Have a good night, boys.
15:02Enjoy the win.
15:02Peter, thanks for the call.
15:03Thanks, Peter.
15:05Funny enough, there probably should have been a prop bet
15:07of how many games does senior Gardner Johnson last on his new team.
15:10Honestly, there probably should have been, but it didn't happen.
15:14And by the way, he has not officially been caught.
15:16This could be a team that maybe doesn't want to,
15:18but it is, I think the call is right, it is a clown move.
15:23You spit at a player, it's disgusting, it's gross.
15:26I don't care if you hit him or not.
15:27It's more the act.
15:28We've seen this already before with guys like Jalen Carter
15:30where you get kicked out of a game and are suspended another one.
15:34And then it really...
15:35Jamar Chase is suspended for a game.
15:37And then what really does not help Gardner Johnson,
15:40you haven't been playing that well.
15:42Yeah.
15:42You've been kind of bad.
15:44You're part of an awful secondary.
15:45It is something where you can absolutely bank on.
15:48Remember, availability being the best ability.
15:51You are not making yourself available to the next game
15:54because of a dumb thing that you did.
16:00And...
16:01TR bringing it up too.
16:02Differences, Jalen Carter and Chase are dudes.
16:05Yeah, they're dudes.
16:06And unfortunately, that's not how this goes.
16:09It just...
16:12It's very frustrating, you know, to have a player like that
16:16because I was very open to the idea when they signed him
16:19because it's like, okay, he's still got something to him a little bit.
16:22You know...
16:23It was very exciting when he got brought in.
16:25Yeah, very exciting.
16:25And then this is, you know, you haven't done enough on the field
16:30to even come close to worrying less about that
16:36or worrying about you getting suspended
16:38or putting yourself in a position where the Bills can cut ties with you
16:41right now, absolutely.
16:43When Sal said it at halftime, you hurt the team.
16:46You hurt yourself.
16:46Yeah, and the caller brought it up as well.
16:48You hurt your team.
16:49And then you hurt yourself.
16:50You hurt your team.
16:51You hurt yourself because this is an easy opportunity
16:54for a team to move on from you.
16:56It is not a good opportunity
16:59or not a good situation that you put yourself in.
17:01And it's your decision.
17:03You made that decision to do that.
17:04It's not a mistake.
17:06It's not like he accidentally ran into somebody.
17:09It's not even like he...
17:11I dare say, it's not even like he threw a punch at a guy.
17:16I think that would still be worse.
17:18That's more forgivable.
17:18I think that would be worse.
17:20It's worse, but it's also like...
17:23The word disgusting is not being thrown out.
17:27You know?
17:28At least I could say it's just dumb.
17:31Yeah.
17:32Foolish.
17:33I don't know.
17:34I think any of that stuff is just ridiculous at this point.
17:36Honestly, more stomachable than what he did.
17:38Fair.
17:39803-0550, the number to call.
17:41We will be hearing from the head coach and the quarterback
17:43as we roll along here.
17:44The Bills, we were complaining a little bit here,
17:47mainly on the defense.
17:47And it's because they gave up 30 points again.
17:49But the Bills scored 33.
17:51And that moves them to 5-1 on the season.
17:53If you would have asked anybody,
17:55would you take 5-1 going into the bye?
17:57I think 90% of Bills fans would have taken that.
18:00And next up now for the Bills is the bye week.
18:02So they leave the West Coast 2-0.
18:05And for the season, they are 5-1.
18:07Again, the number to call up, 803-0550.
18:09We'll get stats of the game.
18:09Already mentioned, coach and quarterback as well
18:11as we roll along here on a Sunday night.
18:13This is the WGR Post Game Show on WGR.