Archives for January 22, 2024

‘“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.”’

‘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.’

‘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.’

‘“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.”’

‘If not this year, when?

‘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,;

‘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.’

‘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.’