ESPN

‘”To … get a ‘C’ on your chest when there’s only two given out and you’re in just your third season as a pro, I think really speaks volumes about who he is and how his teammates view him,” coach Sean McDermott said of Bernard at the NFL scouting combine, adding that there were times this past season when he thought the linebacker was trying to do too much but improved.”‘

‘Trading that first-round pick would open up options as the draft gets closer and as the team builds out the 2025 roster. The Bills need to clear under $8 million in cap space to be compliant before the start of the league year next Wednesday. Unlike last year, getting there will not require as many significant cuts, but can be done in a variety of ways — including either releasing or negotiating a pay cut with pass rusher Von Miller.’

‘”We put a lot of our players up [in first or business class] on the outbound [flights], we don’t put as many on the return, because depending on when we get back, some of the coaches are up there working on breaking down this film, getting ready for the next week,” Beane said. “So, if anyone’s complaining about not being up there, it couldn’t be on the outbound and maybe would be more on the return.”‘

‘”He’s Mr. Dependable, and when the ball’s thrown his way, he usually comes down with it. I’m sure everyone on our team that’s coming back will be excited to have Khalil knowing … and we’re going to count on him even more, not only on the field but his leadership going forward.”‘

‘”You never want to build your team to beat one team. In fairness to the Chiefs, you never really know it’s going to be them every year. Although it has been them,” McDermott said. “I look at it like, how do we put a team together against whoever it is every year. Whatever team shows up in these rounds, and coach at a level and have the personnel at a level, all of us, starting with me, to be at a level that we can beat them — whoever it is.”‘

‘Smiley held the role with the Bills for three seasons. He previously was the team’s assistant special teams coach for five seasons, on staff for the entirety of McDermott’s tenure with the Bills beginning in 2017.’

‘Allen is the first player in 21 seasons to win MVP without being selected first-team All-Pro. Since MVP was first handed out in 1957, the only other players to win the award despite not being a first-team All-Pro were Broncos quarterback John Elway (1987, when Joe Montana was first-team All-Pro) and Titans quarterback Steve McNair (2003, Peyton Manning).’

‘”… We’re going to continue to turn over every rock, every stone. But again, the last five years, this team, counting playoffs, has averaged 13 to 14 wins. So, I do want to make sure we balance the scale here, even though we have not gotten to the big game yet. We’re going to keep fighting, and I’m determined we’ll get there.”‘

‘”I got to be better for him. I didn’t feel like I put him in enough good situations this year, ball-placement-wise,” Allen said. “… He can sit there and think about that play over and over, but I got to be better for him. That’s what it comes down to, and get him more involved. I know he’s been battling throughout the entire year, bumps and bruises and probably games that he shouldn’t have played he was in, but he’s a tough sucker, and I got nothing but love for him, how he’s approached this year. He’s going to be so much better next year. Let his body heal up, and I’m going to be better, better for him, and I can promise you that.”‘

‘Benford was injured as he went to tackle Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy; Bills safety Damar Hamlin made contact with Benford’s helmet as he also went to make the tackle. After the hit, Benford went to the ground and tried to get up and return to the field. He was stopped from doing so by his teammates, including fellow cornerback and close friend Rasul Douglas.’

‘As red and gold confetti littered the hallways just a bit away from the visitor locker room and the cheers echoed throughout the stadium, a quiet Bills team was left to pack up their belongings, and process getting so close yet again. Allen returned from his press conference to sit in his locker in full uniform and look ahead and down as he does after the toughest of losses.’

‘The Bills tied the game at 29. But ultimately, the defense was unable to get off the field or limit Mahomes when it needed to. A short-handed secondary — with starting cornerback Christian Benford leaving in the first quarter due to a concussion and safety Taylor Rapp not playing (hip/back) — didn’t not help.’

‘Brady, 35, is in his first full season running Buffalo’s offense after taking over the role in an interim capacity during the 2023 season when Ken Dorsey was fired. Brady was hired as the Bills’ quarterbacks coach in 2022. He also served as the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator in 2020 and in 2021, before being fired midseason.’

‘”Yeah, it’s high,” McDermott said of his confidence in Bishop. “He’s a young player, but at the same time, he’s grown. He went through an injury in training camp, missed a lot of time — that set him back, set his growth back, delayed it at least — and then came in, and he’s grown through each experience, and confident he’ll continue to do that moving forward.”‘

‘The two-time All-Pro has approached being a franchise quarterback by making an effort to become more consistent and vocal as the team around him has evolved. He now heads to his second AFC Championship Game on Sunday (6:30 p.m. EST, CBS) with a chance to play in his first Super Bowl.’