Niagara Gazette

‘And yet the Bills are a team that has lost 18 games by an average of six points per game over the last three years, with 16 losses by one score. There is no questioning the Bills are close to getting over the edge, but they also can’t deny the shortcomings that have kept them from getting there.’

‘“I thought Joe did a really nice job coming in and building great communication, collaboration, a vibe with Josh,” McDermott said. “And then I think you saw the results of that through the course of I believe it was six games and so I thought he did a very nice job in that regard.”’

‘“Every year when you lose, you wake up the next day and you’re filled with so much frustration because you weren’t able to get it done,” Bills safety Micah Hyde said. “I feel like I could have done more, but this morning I woke up and I’m just like, ‘Wow, like that was a run.’ That was an amazing run we went on and I’m forever grateful for this team, their hard work, the resilience that they showed.”’

‘“People are going to say what they’re going to say,” the Bills tight end said. “People were saying we were 6-6 and had not shot of making the playoffs and here we are in the second round. It’s about proving the naysayers wrong. The ultimate goal is the Super Bowl … but to make it this far, I say it’s a win.”’

‘The Buffalo Bills played a run-first, clock-controlled, mistake-free game. The Bills held the ball for more than 37 minutes, ran 78 plays — a 50-50 split between pass and run — had seven more yards, six more first downs and one fewer turnover. And they still lost.’

‘The Bills dominated the time of possession by 15 minutes, they ran for 182 yards and punted two times. They still lost the game because the Chiefs averaged 7.7 yards per play and only faced five third downs all game.’

‘On Friday, McDermott ruled out cornerback Christian Benford (knee), linebacker Baylon Spector (back) and safety Taylor Rapp (calf) — along with receiver Gabe Davis (knee) — while linebacker Terrel Bernard (ankle) and cornerback Taron Johnson (concussion) are game-time decisions. Meanwhile, cornerback Rasul Douglas (knee) is listed as questionable after practicing in full Friday.’

‘Bills bagels are available before this weekend’s playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs, while supplies last. The eatery is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and is located at 444 Third St.’

‘Edwards was 2 miles from the stadium and 3 miles from the hospital on Abbott Road, thinking he was driving along the right side of the road. The snowbank he crashed into at no more than 10 mph told him otherwise.’

‘With Allen being 27 years old and Mahomes 28, it seems there are more of these matchups to come. But despite combining for 10 Super Bowl appearances in 15 years, Brady and Manning met just five times, meaning a 3-0 Mahomes lead might be too much for Allen to overcome.’

‘Thursday’s full practice will bring more clarity as to who will be available to play against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC divisional playoff game Sunday and that includes Bernard, who recorded a team-high 143 tackles to go along with 6 ½ sacks and three interceptions. Bernard’s injury appeared devastating when he was taken off the field on a cart after making a tackle against the Pittsburgh Steelers Monday.’

‘That idea, though, was built more on myth than any facts to support such a claim. Some of it is an assumption that the Bills are a high-scoring offense centering on the quarterback, so they can’t run the ball, while the Steelers averaged 155.7 yards rushing — on just 4.1 yards per carry — in their three wins to end the regular season and some of it is simply the Steelers logo because of course, they must be a good running team.’

‘If the Bills want to win Round 3 with the Chiefs, putting the ball in Allen’s hands seems to be the most logical solution.’

‘In a press conference with Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Hochul announced Buffalo’s wild-card game has been moved from 1 p.m. Sunday to 4:30 p.m. Monday. The game will still be broadcast on CBS.’

‘“This year we rode a roller coaster a little bit as far as having wins and having losses,” Bills receiver Stefon Diggs said. “I’m not going to say we got hot at the right time, but we start winning at the right time towards that (time) in a year when you start finding yourself, what kind of team you got, the character of your team, too, as far as — when we were losing, nobody really kind of jumped out of the wheelbarrow.”’