AFC Championship Game- How do you feel now about it?

[schoolhouserock]

My dislike of the Chefs has reached the same level as my dislike for the Patriots***. 

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

  On 3/21/2025 at 4:51 PM, That's No Moon said:

If you choose to believe that was the end you go ahead. You're one of the people who probably lays the previous year on Bass as well.

 

They had the ball at midfield with time and couldn't convert. That KC then finished running out the clock in a game they were already winning is irrelevant. The offense needed to score, had time, and field position and didn't. Again.

 

This matters to me because if you asked me which part of the team I had the most faith in I would have said the offense. Hands down. Get them the ball and they can make it happen. Well, this is two years in a row that side of the ball came up short in the biggest moment. My faith has not been justified.

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It's not irrelevant though. There was 1:54 left and we had all 3 timeouts. If we had forced a 3 and out (assuming 3 run plays) the offense would have 1:40 left to try and score. 

 

Instead the DEF folded like a cheap suit (again) and allowed 2 first downs. Only THEN was the game over and KC could kill the clock. 

 

We've set expectations so low on the DEF side of the ball in playoff games that nobody cares when they fail. It's fully expected.

 

If I'm assigning blame for the last 2 losses to the Chiefs I'd say

2023:

90% DEF

5% Bass

5% OFF

 

2024:

90% DEF

10% OFF

 

The Offense hasn't been perfect in the last 2 losses and they did fail to score on their last possession. However, they put together very strong games against a top defense. The DEF has gotten absolutely trounced by a very mediocre Chiefs offense. 

[That's No Moon]

  On 3/21/2025 at 6:29 PM, DabillsDaBillsDaBills said:

 

It's not irrelevant though. There was 1:54 left and we had all 3 timeouts. If we had forced a 3 and out (assuming 3 run plays) the offense would have 1:40 left to try and score. 

 

Instead the DEF folded like a cheap suit (again) and allowed 2 first downs. Only THEN was the game over and KC could kill the clock. 

 

We've set expectations so low on the DEF side of the ball in playoff games that nobody cares when they fail. It's fully expected.

 

If I'm assigning blame for the last 2 losses to the Chiefs I'd say

2023:

90% DEF

5% Bass

5% OFF

 

2024:

90% DEF

10% OFF

 

The Offense hasn't been perfect in the last 2 losses and they did fail to score on their last possession. However, they put together very strong games against a top defense. The DEF has gotten absolutely trounced by a very mediocre Chiefs offense. 

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You can feel however you want. The strength of the team is the offense. It needs to act like it. 30 points a game until it matters most.

[Gunsgoodtime]

Angry.

[mcjeff215]

Quite honestly, I remember wondering whether they spent the night before hitting the sauce. From the first drive, I was apprehensive. That might be unfair of me, but they seem to show up entirely different when playing on the edge of where they’ve been before. 
 

Still happy with the ride and looking forward to it all again. I have no reason to believe this season won’t be as successful.
 

 

[HappyDays]

I remain discouraged that Andy Reid treats our defense like a scout team in every single playoff matchup. They spent the entire 1st half marching up and down the field uncontested, which is pretty much what they've done every other time. I see no practical reason to be optimistic that this outcome is ever going to change under McDermott, but I have no choice but to wait and see what happens.

[ShakAttack]

I don't think about it much anymore, but when I do, it still hurts as a huge missed opportunity.

 

It really all comes down to, by the time Josh Allen retired, will that have been the closest we ever got to a Super Bowl?

 

Hopefully not, but if it is, then yeah, it'll still suck to think about 10+ years later imo.

[DapperCam]

I still feel the same way as the day after it happened.

 

Proud of our offense for putting up the most points against the Chiefs of any team for the past 2 seasons.*
 

Disappointed in our defense for allowing the most points to the Chiefs of any team all year.*

 

It was a resounding success on offense and a total failure on defense. Simple as that.

 

* Not counting week 17 vs Broncos where they played all backups. Eagles scored more in the Super Bowl, but it hadn’t happened yet.

[Gregg]

  On 3/21/2025 at 6:50 PM, ShakAttack said:

I don't think about it much anymore, but when I do, it still hurts as a huge missed opportunity.

 

It really all comes down to, by the time Josh Allen retired, will that have been the closest we ever got to a Super Bowl?

 

Hopefully not, but if it is, then yeah, it'll still suck to think about 10+ years later imo.

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Maybe Terry will get tired of falling short in the playoffs and decide to clean house. I am not saying after this season but if 2 or 3 years go by and now Allen is in his early thirties and still no Super Bowl appearance/championship then maybe then. I know the pitchforks and knives will be out in full force for both Beane and McDermott to be replaced if that is the case.

[Matt_In_NH]

  On 3/21/2025 at 3:50 PM, HamptonBillsfan said:

Why would you say that it was so close

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Very simple, because it was

  On 3/21/2025 at 3:50 PM, HamptonBillsfan said:

The NFL is finally changing the way ball placement is implemented using technology as opposed to elderly, out of shape officials running in from 20 yds away to place a ball that was obscured by 6 or 8 giant humans.

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No they are not

[HappyDays]

  On 3/21/2025 at 11:51 AM, ProcessTruster said:

did not get the breaks that the winner of the tournament typically gets.   

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We recovered every single fumble and Mahomes randomly dropped the ball as an unforced error. Bass made all his kicks. How many breaks do you expect us to get?

[Orlando Buffalo]

Two points- the Bills were a much better matchup for Eagles than Chiefs because our Oline is very good. second - the "missed" first down I have watched at least 50 times since that day and to miss it initially was terrible, literally top 5 worst calls ever, but to miss it on review tells me the officials are not  primarily interested in calling games properly.

[Royale with Cheese]

The one "positive" that I can take from this is our defense wasn't good enough to slow down the Eagles much.

I think they would have controlled the ball the whole game and a 5th Super Bowl loss without 1 win would be worse than losing to the Chiefs in the playoffs IMO.

 

We weren't built to stop the Eagles either.

[HamptonBillsfan]

  On 3/21/2025 at 7:13 PM, Matt_In_NH said:

Very simple, because it was

No they are not

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You can hold onto the idea of it being a good placement if you wish or being to close to complain about but you’d be in the vast minority. Every Sports talk host nationally complained about the bungled call. Why don’t you smarten up and ask google or The NY Times if the NFL is changing the ball placement operation to incorporate technology. Surprised you missed that. You sound like a disgruntled Pats fan.

[DapperCam]

  On 3/21/2025 at 8:12 PM, Royale with Cheese said:

The one "positive" that I can take from this is our defense wasn't good enough to slow down the Eagles much.

I think they would have controlled the ball the whole game and a 5th Super Bowl loss without 1 win would be worse than losing to the Chiefs in the playoffs IMO.

 

We weren't built to stop the Eagles either.

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Our defense wasn't built to stop anybody. But our offense was really good with a great offensive line. I bet a Bills - Eagles SB would have been a one score game, unlike the cathartic beatdown we witnessed.

[Jrb1979]

  On 3/21/2025 at 6:48 PM, HappyDays said:

I remain discouraged that Andy Reid treats our defense like a scout team in every single playoff matchup. They spent the entire 1st half marching up and down the field uncontested, which is pretty much what they've done every other time. I see no practical reason to be optimistic that this outcome is ever going to change under McDermott, but I have no choice but to wait and see what happens.

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Agreed. My biggest issue is how there isn't much difference in what the Bills do on offense or defense during the regular season and the playoffs.  You look at the Chiefs and how they dial up some unexpected plays for the playoffs. 

 

My other issue is the idea that cause they only lost by 3 points that just a few player upgrades, some luck and some calls go there way is all that's needed to make a Super Bowl. I can't get there, cause I'm of the belief you need more that just an elite QB to not only get it a Super Bowl but win one.  The fact they have been very reluctant to mortgage the future to get some of those elite playmakers doesn't give me much hope that the outcome will change. 

[Doc Brown]

  On 3/21/2025 at 12:23 PM, SoCal Deek said:

I still say Kincaid just had to catch the damn ball. 

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Kind of a microcosm of the season.  Outperform expectations just to get to a spot where we lose to the Chiefs again in nearly the exact same way we lost at least the last two Chief playoff games.  A heck of an athlete play by Kincaid to stop on a dime and adjust to the ball just to have it go through his hands.  Lake Erie curse.

[Matt_In_NH]

  On 3/21/2025 at 8:18 PM, HamptonBillsfan said:

You can hold onto the idea of it being a good placement if you wish or being to close to complain about but you’d be in the vast minority. Every Sports talk host nationally complained about the bungled call. Why don’t you smarten up and ask google or The NY Times if the NFL is changing the ball placement operation to incorporate technology. Surprised you missed that. You sound like a disgruntled Pats fan.

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Go back and read what I wrote please. Did I not say I think he got it?   
 

They are not using technology to spot the ball. They are using it instead of chains to determine line of gain.   There is a difference. 

 

Here is what Google said, smart guy:  "The NFL will use technology for virtual line-to-gain measurements next season, but officials will continue to spot the ball".  Next time get a clue before you blast off

Edited March 21 by Matt_In_NH

[Pecker]

Refs screwed us.

 

coaching was bush league

 

allen didn’t play his best

 

no talent around Allen hurts.

[HamptonBillsfan]

  On 3/21/2025 at 9:13 PM, Matt_In_NH said:

Go back and read what I wrote please. Did I not say I think he got it?   
 

They are not using technology to spot the ball. They are using it instead of chains to determine line of gain.   There is a difference. 

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Semantics, if they’re using technology to determine line to gain, it’s because officials are not doing it correctly and game changing screw ups are compromising results. You made it sound like since it was so close Bills fans shouldn’t use it as an excuse. If officials didn’t butcher the call do you think the NFL would have announced the change before even proposing it in front of the competition committee?