‘“I mean, you put so much time into this, you put so much time into a season, let alone this game and the preparation for it, and to come out and to not perform the way I’d hoped we would have, it’s extremely disappointing and frustrating,” McDermott said. “It’s the type of situation in our business where you got to spend the whole offseason thinking about it. But it drives you harder, if that’s even possible to drive someone harder. Drives you harder to come back next season and continue to work at it. There’s only one team at the end of all this that’s happy. I can tell you that. I’ve been to two Super Bowls and there’s only one team that’s happy. It’s that type of business and you keep working at it.”’
Archives for January 22, 2024
Ryan O’Halloran: For Bills quarterback Josh Allen, another premature ending that stings
‘So let me say it for you, Josh: Your best throw of the game was dropped 55 yards downfield by receiver Stefon Diggs. In a playoff game, you were again the Bills’ best running back, gaining 72 yards and scoring two touchdowns.’
‘Ultimately, they made one more play than us’: Battered Bills defense falters in loss
‘The defense was working through a number of injuries, but players all pointed to their next-man-up mentality, despite thin numbers. They entered the game with linebacker Terrel Bernard, cornerback Christian Benford, safety Taylor Rapp and linebacker Baylon Spector all inactive. They were of course without linebacker Matt Milano and cornerback Tre’Davious White, as they have been for the majority of the season. The Bills dressed just four linebackers and then A.J. Klein and Tyrel Dodson both were injured during the game, though able to return. Klein missed just one play.’
Bills’ fake punt didn’t work even with Kansas City a player short
‘“It was called from the sideline and they gave us the look we wanted,” long snapper Reid Ferguson told the Buffalo News after the Chiefs’ 27-24 AFC divisional round win. “We just have to execute it better.”’
Three questions: No end in sight to Patrick Mahomes’ reign over Bills
‘If not this year, when?
How it happened: Top plays, standout players from Bills’ loss to Chiefs
‘The Bills drove to the Chiefs’ 26-yard line, but Allen threw consecutive incompletions and Bass’ 44-yard field goal was wide right with 1:43 remaining,;
Plays that shaped the game: Chiefs’ tight ends exploit Bills’ defense
‘Depleted by injury at linebacker, the Bills were in no position to try to match Kansas City’s big personnel with three linebackers on the field. When Kansas City wasn’t throwing to the tight ends, it was gashing the Bills with the ground game.’
Report Card: Defense, coaching, special teams all fail the Bills in loss to Chiefs
‘Just a nightmare finish to what was a miserable season. Tyler Bass really struggled in the postseason, and his 44-yard miss wide right that would have tied the game late in the fourth quarter will be added to the list of infamous losses. The struggles went far beyond just Bass, though. The fake punt call in the fourth quarter was a disaster almost from the moment the ball was snapped, while it was clear that punter Sam Martin was in no condition to be on the field. His two punts went a combined 79 yards and averaged just 32.0 net yards. About the only thing that went right for the special teams is Bass kicking four touchbacks.’
Wide right again: Missed field goal, 3 other reasons Bills playoff run ends with loss to Chiefs
‘This was supposed to be different from 2020 when the Bills were blown out 38-24 in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium. It was supposed to be different than 2021 when the Bills couldn’t find a way to play 13 more seconds of regulation and wound up losing in epic and heartbreaking fashion, 42-36 in overtime at Arrowhead in the divisional round.’
Bills report card: Buffalo defense, special teams falter again as season halted by nemesis Chiefs
‘All the talk about how Patrick Mahomes wasn’t at his best this year, primarily because he lacked talent around him, proved to be meaningless drivel at least as it pertained to this game. It was true that the Chiefs did not function like they had in his first five seasons as the starter, but when it mattered most – in the playoffs last week against Miami and then against Buffalo – the Chiefs did what they always do. They made the big plays in the key moments.’
Another loss feels far too familiar to Bills
‘It’s not Groundhog Day, though it may feel like it to Bills fans.’
Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes trolls Buffalo Bills offensive tackle following 27-24 win
‘In a post on Instagram, Mahomes added a few pictures from the game along with the caption, “Good luck.”’
NFL script writers are sadists: What they’re saying following Bills’ playoff loss to Chiefs
‘Bass will take a lot of heat for the loss, but he was not the only problem for Buffalo in the divisional round. Sean McDermott and the Bills defense had few answers for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense. Buffalo’s defense was dealing with their fair share of injuries, but the team’s lack of answers and adjustments were nothing short of frustrating.’
How special teams woes and a kicker’s struggle mounted in Bills loss to Chiefs: ‘I feel terrible’
‘Bass finishes the 2023 season — his fourth with the Bills — with an 82.8% field goal percentage but just a 40% one in the postseason. He went 2-of-5 in the Bills’ two playoff games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and then the Chiefs, both at home.’
Bills lose to Chiefs – again – in playoff heartbreaker as tying kick goes wide right (Observations)
‘Buffalo was down multiple starters on defense, including middle linebacker Terrel Bernard and cornerback Christian Benford — and it showed. The Chiefs couldn’t be stopped, scoring on five of their first six possessions. The only time they were stopped was when they got the ball back with just 20 seconds left in the first half.’