I would if situation was similar. Their offense had much better field position and capitalize on their third series. While our offense pretty much went fetal position their first two series after tied game. Then went 4 and out their last one when they actually had room, after the kickoff. Our offense generated a total of 13yards on 10 downs, 3 series. Not a single first down. Now looking at it, that first CJ penalty killed us and just gave the bills better field position the rest of way. That Blue penalty on our punt also spot them near mid-field, which we held them. But they pinned us back deep again.
The point is that a football game is 60 minutes long. If the defense did their job "when it mattered most" how do you explain the TD in the last two minutes of a tied game?
Field position and repeated opportunities for the #1 big play offense in the league. How it needs to work is defense gives the ball back and offense at least churn out some yards so you actually punt the ball where the opponent O is at a neutral or advantageous field position for our defense. That didn't happen. Our team was basically one dimensional in that last 9 minutes. Offense and ST sucked and made it extremely hard on the defense, on a day where they were playing good not great. Like i said, in a kubiak or at least an adequate offense, we would be able to move the ball even within our terriority... and either run our to clock while working our way to game winning FG or TD. Or, again, move the ball enough so Lechler can actually punt it far enough. Offense incompentent eventually led to defense incompetent. Offense was the root of the problem. It doesn't matter that our strength is defense, that's not how this gane is played and won. Nothing will work if the offense isn't good enough. Seahawks in '13, Ravens in '00, etc.
Couldn't it be said that the defensive incompetence in the first half led to the offensive incompetence?