Olean Times Herald

‘“Last year the players were frustrated that they are made to sit in the smaller seats during travel while the coaches and auxiliary staff sit in first class,” the team overview on the NFLPA website reads. “The players’ dissatisfaction with this issue has grown, with 65% of players saying they have insufficient space or discomfort when traveling to away games, up from 55% last year.”’

‘The Bills need to gear their defense toward making sure Mahomes’ ‘next time’ isn’t 12 months from now. “Get pressure with four” is such common, simple analysis it’s practically a cliche. But against the great QBs, it’s the simplest recipe to a win.’

‘It was a fitting end to a night when the Bills got very little from their recent first-round draft picks. Josh Allen threw 34 passes Sunday evening and eight of them targeted the Bills’ last two top picks: the second-year tight end Kincaid and rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman. Those passes amounted to just three catches for 25 yards. Coleman had another catch that didn’t count after an accepted defensive penalty, but the point stands. It was hardly the kind of playoff output any Bills fan hoped for back when this roster came together in the offseason and you wondered how this revamped group of pass-catchers would fit.’

‘Once again, the Buffalo defense had very few answers for Mahomes and Kansas City. It was KC’s defense, instead, that made what might’ve been the game-deciding play on fourth-and-five just after the two-minute warning at midfield. KC defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo took a big risk, sending a blitz at Allen and forcing him into a desperate deep shot, unable to see Khalil Shakir open on the opposite side.’

‘The Times Herald sought some reactions from fans, hoping to gauge the mood of Bills backers with connections to Olean and the surrounding area after Sunday’s crushing defeat. Among other things, the OTH asked if fans can keep coming back with the same zeal and look positively to another new season after so much disappointment and dashing of the hope that this was to be “the year” superstar QB Josh Allen and the Bills would break through.’

‘Peyton Manning didn’t beat Tom Brady in the playoffs until his third chance, winning the AFC Championship in 2007 on the way to Super Bowl XLI. Can Allen beat Mahomes in his fourth chance? The Chiefs, aiming for the first-ever Super Bowl three-peat, have seamlessly assumed the same dynastic, love-them-or-hate-them role of those Patriots. The Pistons bounced Michael Jordan from the playoffs three times before he and the Bulls overcame their boogeyman en route to winning the 1991 NBA title.’

‘“It is incredible to see that level of support and compassion. And we so appreciate the fundraiser for doing this. It’s incredible,” she added. “I know that must have been a very difficult situation, but I hope (Andrews) sees the good in that too. And we cannot thank him enough for how he has been such a strong supporter of our organization.”’

‘“We’re having success in the running game,” Allen told reporters in the Bills’ media room. “Obviously, when your defense forces turnovers like they did tonight, it puts you in (a) favorable position where you don’t have to throw all that much. Again we’re just relying on our back. (We) relied on our O-line, they did a heck of a job.”’

‘For all the hype about MVP candidate quarterbacks Jackson and Josh Allen facing off, the Bills’ defense had a significant say in the game’s outcome.’

‘But the Bills’ offense also looks in a much better state this time of year, from a rushing attack led by James Cook that pushed around the Broncos, to a more-developed group of receiving options, including veteran Amari Cooper, acquired three weeks after that Baltimore game.’

‘To date, she said, 400 tons of steel fabricated into 86 parts for the roof structure have been shipped. “If people look up there, they will see these. It’s at the very top.”’

‘At least a dozen of those Cook yards probably deserve an “assist” credited to Dion Dawkins and the rest of the offensive line. In the first quarter, on Buffalo’s first touchdown drive, Cook’s first-down carry looked to be about finished after a four or five-yard gain, wrapped up by safety Brandon Jones. Then came Dawkins, who grabbed on to the running back, and his linemates joined him to keep the push going for a 16-yard gain.’

‘In a massive swing play, the Bills faced fourth and one at the Denver 24-yard line in the third quarter Sunday, looking to add to a one-score lead. But rather than sending Josh Allen up the middle for a QB sneak to push for that extra yard, Buffalo went shotgun, but all of Allen’s receiving options were blanketed, long enough for the pass rush to close in on him. But he scrambled to the right and kept looking downfield and took a shot to running back Ty Johnson, cutting across the back of the end zone.’

‘“I’ve been watching him for a long time and he just does a lot of crazy stuff that only he can do,” defensive end A.J. Epenesa told the Times Herald after the home regular season finale against the Jets. “And just watching him this year, I don’t understand how it’s even a question. He’s set records for the program, he’s set records for the NFL, he’s set records for just the Bills overall. And he’s doing it without a star on his side, you know what I mean? I don’t even think it’s a debate. I watch him play each and every week and I’m amazed every single time and I watch plenty of other football, I see what other guys are doing, obviously they’re doing well but I think Josh has skyrocketed past them.”’

‘For the Bills, draft position is meaningless. They hope to be picking as close to 32nd as possible. If the 1 p.m. games had no suspense for Bills fans, the 4:25 slate barely had any more. The Denver Broncos, needing a win over Kansas City to fend off the late-charging Bengals for the No. 7 playoff seed, crushed the backup-laiden Chiefs, 38-0. Denver went up 14-0 in just over 10 minutes and 24-0 at halftime. Kansas City had no qualms, clearly, about letting a division rival into the playoffs, and now Sean Payton’s team, led by rookie QB Bo Nix, is Buffalo’s problem.’