Olean Times Herald

‘Bills fans probably don’t want to hear this, but it’s entirely possible Buffalo will be improved in 2020 and not get to 10 wins or return to the playoffs. This coming year’s schedule is as daunting as last season’s was soft.’

‘But he also admitted, “I don’t think we’re looking at an overhaul. Last year, offensively, was an overhaul. We’re going to look under every rock to find competition and upgrades where we can. But my philosophy hasn’t changed, we’ve got to draft, develop and sign our guys. Now we’re getting into the area where guys who have been here for three years are up for contracts. All those discussions will commence real soon — the guys who are potential free agents — whether we want them back and can we work it out with them?”’

‘“I get emotional because I feel bad for them that we didn’t win that game. You go back to Nashville (Titans), Miami (Dolphins), Houston (Texans). (At) Nashville, that was like a bowl game — their team does something good and you hear that side of the stadium, our team does something good (you hear our side), it was truly like a neutral field. To have the Bills Mafia, Bills Nation, support us that way all season long is unmatched. (Myself), our players, our entire building (are appreciative).”’

‘“Execution,” McDermott said when explaining the offense’s problem. “It doesn’t matter, regardless of what you do or who you have, at the end of the day you have to execute better than the defense executes to score points … we’ve got to score more points. Everybody knows that.”’

‘“It’s been a painful couple of days for all of us. My hope is, in time, if it’s handled the right way, the pain will turn into strength and that strength will turn into growth. That’s what really separates the winning organizations.”’

‘Oh, there were the obligatory “You need to retire” and “What are YOU watching?” emails, and that’s fine; part of the fun of sports is disagreeing. The bothersome comments were that I had something against Josh or held him responsible for the playoff loss in Houston. I don’t and I didn’t.’

‘Buffalo needed a “franchise quarterback” and, after two seasons, we have no idea whether Allen is it. Indeed, following his incredibly uneven performance on Saturday, the answer could well be “He isn’t.”’

‘Bills quarterback Josh Allen, on the game’s first series, had a 42-yard run, the longest rush for Buffalo this season and the longest by a QB in Buffalo playoff history.’

‘What do the Bills have to do to win today? Score at least 20 points.’

‘“Knowing a few weeks ahead that we made the playoffs is probably the biggest thing,” he said of clinching in Week 15. “Other than that, it’s preparation as normal. We understand we’re playing one game seasons at this point. As a staff, obviously, this is our third year together, for the most part, so that experience is good for us.”‘

‘The positive, as it relates to turnovers, is that after being intercepted 19 times in his first 17 games, he’s been picked off only twice in the last 11 starts.’

‘When it was over, Buffalo (10-6) with a playoff berth already locked up, fell 13-6 to New York (7-9) in a sloppy spectacle that won’t cause the Pro Football Hall of Fame to clamor for the tape.’

‘The Bills have only five cornerbacks – White, Wallace, Taron Johnson, Siran Neal and Kevin Johnson – but with White inactive and the two injuries, only Kevin Johnson – who was eventually taken from the game to protect him – and Neal were available, forcing McKenzie into an unfamiliar role when New York was in a passing situation.’

‘He added, “As a dad I was like, ‘Don’t forget the words … don’t forget the words.’ All the guys were very impressed and I know she brought some of the guys to tears.”’

‘“That’s the journey of a team and how fast sometimes the season goes by, the highs and lows, the ebbs and flows, the challenges and things you’ve gone through as a team,” McDermott said. “It’s not often that you play a team in Week 1 and then again in week 17.”’