Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘“It was awesome, I’m not going to lie,” Kroft said. “It’s been a marathon this year, getting hurt, ending my season last year and then getting hurt in OTAs and working my way back. We preach having a mentally strong team here. I think we do. It was awesome.”’

‘Beane’s face lit up with a smile, and then he broke into a laugh when one wise guy — OK, yours truly – quipped that Phillips, an impending free agent, was sure a guy who knows how to ask for a new contract.’

‘“Oh man, glory to God, great to be here,” McDermott said after the pulsating victory that wasn’t secure until his prideful and stout defense turned away two Steelers’ drives into Buffalo territory in the final two minutes. “What more can I say about the guys in the locker room? Just unbelievable resilience, unbelievable character, heart.”’

‘Punching their playoff ticket for just the second time in two decades, but second in three years under coach Sean McDermott, who won not just a battle of Xs and Os against Mike Tomlin, but a battle of emotions facing his highly accomplished former college teammate, friend and mentor.’

‘All season the cry has been for the Bills to create more turnovers. In the biggest game of the year, they came in the form of an avalanche as there were four interceptions of overmatched Steelers QB Devlin Hodges plus a huge fumble recovery inside their own 10-yard line.’

‘If Buffalo does not win the AFC East, it will be the No. 5 seed and play the AFC divisional winner with the worst record, which is currently the Houston Texans at 9-5.

‘“Man, that’s amazing, just to be part of that history, it speaks for itself and we’re very blessed for the opportunity,’’ Tremaine Edmunds said. “There’s really no other way you could really want it. It’s a dream come true for all of us and this will be a moment we cherish and will always remember.’’’

‘Steelers 13, Bills 10.’

‘Do they really want to go into New England (10-3) or (gulp) needing to beat a resurgent New York Jets (5-9) squad on the final day of the regular season to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl tournament? If that Jets’ scenario materializes, the Bills will be on a three-game losing streak and frantically loosening their top collar buttons.’

‘They better learn quickly because Sunday night the Bills are taking on a Pittsburgh defense that will be in attack mode from start to finish. The Steelers don’t blitz as often as the Ravens, but you can bet they’ve studied the tape of Buffalo’s losses to New England, Philadelphia and Baltimore and know how much the Bills have struggled against extra rushers.’

‘Having a stud running back is a nice luxury, but it continues to be proven time and again in this new era of quarterback-driven, pass-heavy offensive football that you don’t need a first-round running back to succeed.’

‘“At the end of the day we didn’t make enough plays,” said quarterback Josh Allen, who struggled mightily from start to finish. “We have to be better in that aspect.”’

‘The way the Bills contained Lamar Jackson — if allowing him to throw three TD passes can be considered contained — they very well could have pulled off an upset had they gotten anything from Allen and the rest of his pals on offense. If the Bills contained Jackson, the Ravens suffocated Allen.’

‘After pondering how his team gave the Ravens two short fields to score touchdowns after an Allen fumble and a 29-yard Corey Bojorquez punt, how too many passes were dropped, how Allen was sacked six times and hit 12 other times, McDermott wanted no part of having his feelings massaged.’

‘It wasn’t a brilliant performance at New Era Field for Jackson, a credit to a swarming Bills defense, but as he’s done all season Jackson made the plays when it counted.’