Niagara Gazette

‘Edmunds and the Bears agreed to a four-year, $72 million contract, which included $50 million guaranteed, according to multiple sources. The contract would make Edmunds the fourth-highest paid linebacker in NFL history.’

‘But Frazier faced scrutiny following the AFC Divisional round loss to the Bengals after 412 yards of total offense in the 27-10 loss. It came one season after the Bills blew a lead in the final 13 seconds against the Chiefs in the playoffs.’

‘Both conference championship games had two defining traits: quarterback play matters and protecting and harassing that quarterback is imperative.’

‘Because the Bills have nine players set to make at least $10 million next year — including Josh Allen’s $39.7 million cap hit — it seems unlikely they will be able to retain Tremaine Edmunds and Jordan Poyer. Edmunds is likely the best option long-term, but he’s going to command significantly more on the open market than Poyer due to age and injury.’

‘The salary cap was $208.2 million this season and the Bills are projected to have nearly $242 million in contracts for 2023, not including players like Tremaine Edmunds and Jordan Poyer, whose contracts expire in the spring.’

‘The Buffalo Bills achieved championships in the middle 1960s, and played in Super Bowls in the early 1990s, so roughly once every 30 years does the team work at an elite level, enough so that everything around here stops to appreciate it. If this pattern keeps up, the ones in the third grade drawing portraits of football players will have children of their own, listening to stories about the Bills of the early 2020s.’

‘Still, the Bills were searching for answers as to how they went from Super Bowl favorites to ending the season with a thud. A team that lost three games by seven points all season was thoroughly beaten and man-handled by what was thought to be an under-manned Bengals team.’

‘After the first six games, the Bills offense declined by 69 yards per game, yards per play dropped by half a yard and third down efficiency also dipped from 52.8% to 48.3%. As Buffalo met with reporters for the final time Monday, it tried to offer explanations for the change.’

‘My feelings today — sadness, disappointment, frustration, uncertainty — is the same as it has been with the Bills seemingly forever.’

‘This is a roster that needs to be infused with more speed, more playmaking ability.’

‘The Bills are 13-6 when Allen runs for 50 or more yards over the last three seasons and he actually averages more yards passing in those games. Buffalo has refrained relying on him heavily to run the ball as of late, but this is the time of the season to unlock all of his talents, while using him on quarterback draws could limit some of the problems with picking up the blitz.’

‘What started as another memorable football outing for Glenn — a diehard Bills fan — and Joe — a lifelong Bengals fan — became one of the most memorable sporting events of their lives for reasons that weren’t in any way related to x’s and o’s.’

‘The Bills defensive line has more depth and talent than it did in the AFC Divisional round last season, but sacks have dipped in Miller’s absence from 2.5 per game to 1.5. But with the Bengals projected to be without three starting offensive linemen and an offense that has shifted to quick throws to alleviate early-season protection issues, pestering Burrow off his spot and forcing him to extend plays may be more important than sacks on Sunday.’

‘Hamlin is not taking part in team meetings and was placed on injured reserve, but his return to the building comes after visiting in-person with teammates for the first time Saturday since his injury.’

‘Through the first 17 minutes of the game, the Bills looked every bit a championship contender and 13.5-point favorites, as Josh Allen was sublime, going 10 of 12 for 155 yards and a touchdown. Then Playoff Josh looked like Midseason Josh, going 6 of 16 for 76 yards, two interceptions and a lost fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Zach Seiler to give Miami a 27-24 lead one minute into the third quarter.’