We did have a bad strategy; we should have gone for Epidemius first. Once all the plaguebearers got power weapons there wasn't anything we could do.
By then Typhus had the extra attack and toughness, also had the 3+ FNP from Epidemius and all my dudes were Enfeebled and hit with that other -1S power. Doesn't matter how many PF Veterans or Blood Talon dreads you throw at him that that point.
Jeff did have to bring a force twice the size he was supposed to, and the other stuff (like Helldrake, Great Unclean One) did nothing at all.