‘”Oh, for sure, for sure,” safety Micah Hyde, who has been with the team since 2017, told reporters. “I’m proud of what we accomplished this year. I’m proud of the guys in this locker room. The ups and downs of the season, not to mention Covid, just threw a wrench in everything.”‘
Archives for January 25, 2021
Jason Wolf: Allen reflects on game that got away: ‘No doubt in my mind that we will be back’
‘“It’s going to fuel us,” Allen said, echoing his comments after last year’s wild-card playoff loss to the Houston Texans. “I’ve got no doubt in my mind that we will be back. This is a team that fought hard till the end, a team that loves each other. We’re still young. We’re only going to get better. That’s one takeaway I’ve got from this. We’re close. And the results weren’t good tonight, but I’m super proud of how our team fought the entire season and how we bonded together.”’
Analysis: Chiefs use their world-class speed to burn Bills with big plays
‘Kansas City burned the Bills with deception on a 50-yard end around by Hardman early in the second quarter.’
Could AFC title game have been defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier’s last with Bills?
‘The Houston Texans are expected to request second interviews with Frazier and Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, ESPN reported. If Frazier lands the job, it would be his second head coaching stint in the NFL. He was head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2011 to 2013.’
10 observations: Conservative coaching, maddening defensive effort doom Bills in AFC championship loss
‘The Bills got away from what got them to the AFC championship game in the first place, playing a maddening brand of conservative football that was doomed to fail against the high-powered Chiefs. That’s exactly what happened, as the Chiefs took advantage of soft defense by the Bills and baffling decisions by McDermott to settle for field goals. That’s a losing recipe, and it resulted in the Bills’ season coming to a close with a 38-24 loss at Arrowhead Stadium.’
Quarter by quarter: Bills’ offense can’t keep pace with potent Chiefs
‘Through three quarters, Travis Kelce had 11 catches for 101 yards and a TD, which made it 31-15. Kelce moved up to No. 2 on the NFL list for most receptions and TDs in the postseason by a tight end.’
Report Card: Sean McDermott got schooled by his mentor in Bills’ loss
‘Let’s call it like it is: Bills coach Sean McDermott was absolutely schooled by his mentor, Andy Reid.’
There was no doubt about it; Chiefs outclassed Bills in AFC title game
‘The Patriots are old news now, there’s a new standard being set by the Kansas City Chiefs, and if the Bills hope to do anything special in, oh, maybe the next decade or so, it’s Patrick Mahomes who will be the Empire State Building-sized obstacle they’ll have to clear, and that’s not going to be easy.’
Bills report card: Buffalo’s coaching staff has worst performance of year against Chiefs
‘I’m not sure what he was trying to accomplish, especially having seen how futile his defense had been trying to stop Mahomes. Frazier just never dialed up pressure and he allowed Mahomes to play pitch and catch, and just as frustrating was the constant cushions he was allowing the Chiefs receivers.’
Slaughter: Super Bowl so close, yet so far for Bills
‘Coach Sean McDermott’s Bills, however, seemingly reverted to the Bills of yesteryear. You know, the pre-Stefon Diggs offense that used every ounce of energy to score 17 points.’
Observations on Bills’ tough loss against Chiefs
‘And, one thing’s certain, if the Bills hope to get past the AFC Championship Game, they had best find a running game and fast … it’s not fair that Allen has to do both.’
Bass’ 51-yarders Bills’ bright spot
‘Bills rookie kicker Tyler Bass hit two 51-yard field goals, the longest in Arrowhead Stadium’s playoff history. That broke the record of 50 yards by current Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker set a week earlier. Oddly, Bass missed his first extra point attempt, hitting the upright, his third miss in 65 tries this season.’
Bills go conservative in AFC title game; Chiefs win big to advance to Super Bowl (Observations)
‘We’ll cover the red zone issues in a bit, but the conservative approach when a scoring chance presented itself really cost the Bills in this game. They were forced to play from behind after Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs defense got things going and faced two fourth and goals deep in KC territory. Bills coach Sean McDermott elected to kick field goals in both instances and Buffalo went into halftime facing a 21-12 deficit with the Chiefs getting the ball to start the second half. The only team to beat the Chiefs this season when they were playing their starters was the Las Vegas Raiders, and they scored 40 points. It was always going to take a lot of points to win this game. Playing it safe was the wrong call, especially considering what this offense has been able to do all season.’
Sean McDermott: Bills will do everything in offseason knowing Chiefs are ‘measuring stick’
‘The Chiefs potent offense was explosive and unstoppable through all four quarters. Kansas City scored on six of their seven possessions in the game (not counting kneel down at end of first half and game), and its defense continued to have answers for Josh Allen and Buffalo’s offense, dominating the matchup for the second time this season.’
Bills’ Stefon Diggs stays on field after AFC Championship loss until Sean McDermott comes back for No. 1 receiver
‘After the clock hit zero, Diggs decided to stay on the field postgame to watch the Chiefs celebrate their second consecutive trip to the Super Bowl.’