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

[Professor Worthington]

4 hours ago, That's No Moon said:

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.

Funny, I was just watching the end of this game yesterday and I agree with you 100% TNM.  The 2024 Bills’ offense was far and away the strength of the team.  They were 2nd in the league in ppg.  They had the NFL MVP under center.  
 

Remember when the playoff rules were changed because Josh and Co. never got an opportunity with the ball after the Chiefs scored in OT?  Well guess what, that opportunity presented itself to the offense in regulation time and they couldn’t deliver.

 

They had the ball at their own 42 with more than 2 minutes left.  Just 20 more yards or so gives Bass a decent shot.  But let’s face it, the Bills needed a back- breaking TD drive to close the game out.  That’s what the offense and the MVP needed to do and honestly, are EXPECTED to do.  This was the moment we fans were all hoping for, and they failed miserably.  Also, not for nothing, but on the 4th and 5 play Shakir runs right pre-snap, then does a 180 out to the left flat, and although I didn’t look at the all-22, the video from the TV broadcast suggests he may be wide open with a lot of green in front of him.  I know Josh was pressured but isn’t that what outlets are for?

 

To blame an above-average defense (and that’s being generous) minus some key starters is asinine.

[Matt_In_NH]

24 minutes ago, HamptonBillsfan said:

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?

It is not semantics you just did not know what you were talking about, your quote was below.  You were being a smartass about something you did not even understand.  Have a great weekend.

 

1 hour ago, HamptonBillsfan said:

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.

 

[90sBills]

6 hours ago, FireChans said:

You need it all though.

 

Dominant DL and a back 7 that can hold up for 2-3 seconds and get him off his first/second read.

 

I know the Eagles had a tremendous defensive line performance, but their DBs and LBs deserve a lot of shine. Baun was an All-Pro all year including in the SB. Dejean and Mitchell were excellent. Their safeties are pretty good.

 

Put it another way, if you exchanged our DL for the Eagles, I don't think we have the same performance. Do we do a bit better? Probably. Does Mahomes still successfully pick on Elam and Bishop and Hamlin all game?  Also, probably.

Agree that it takes all facets. But if a defense can only do one thing well, let it be pressure with the front four. Without pressure any secondary can be had. Especially by improvisation QBs like Mahomes and Allen. 

[SoonerBillsFan]

Weak defense and refs screwed us.

[Einstein]

10 hours ago, Matt_In_NH said:

I am still pissed with the decision made to run the tush push on the 4th down  after all the struggles they were having with it up to that point. 

This is where I am.

I thought Joe Brady called a poor game right after it was over, and I still do.

Never broke tendency, kept calling plays (or variations) that weren't working, left Cook on the sideline far too much, etc.

The defense was not prepared for Mahomes using his legs either. Which was... something.

[Jimmy Harris 69]

McDermott gets out coached by Reid AGAiN. Chiefs outplay Bills in playoff game AGAIN. NFL adds to our pain by allowing their referees to miss spot the ball on consecutive plays creating what appears to be a fixed outcome.

[That's No Moon]

 

[Success]

I'm more over it than I thought I would be.  Right after the loss, I was kind of a lunatic. I really lost my mind.

 

I think it helped that Philly dominated the Chiefs in the SB.  Sports in general are all about match-ups, so just because KC got blown out doesn't mean we would have - but it still felt that game like it was Philly's year, and that they had the strongest & most balanced team. I think we would have had a hard time beating them, and needed some breaks.

 

Still, it's a little hard to get excited about the regular season now.  I feel pretty confident we'll win the division and get a high seed - "the usual."  But none of it matters too much w/ what has become a psychological hurdle not just in the playoffs, but against one team.  I kind of hate that.  

 

[The Firebaugh Kid]

The obsession with the tush push was rather strange in that game. 

But it was weird because it wasn’t working and it literally always works.

 

Dalton should’ve caught that ball I stand firmly behind that. 

Josh got the first down and that was a massive turning point in the game because Buffalo was about to go up by two scores midway through the fourth quarter. 

I didn’t think the Chiefs were very good team and that was proven accurate in the Super Bowl. 
 

I don’t think the Eagles would’ve lost to the bills.

[JerseyBills]

I can't stand this "Bills would've got smoked if they won" narrative 

 

How do you know that? It's such a ridiculous take. It's almost a way for ppl to cope

 

I feel we should be SB champs and again, the ball just didn't bounce our way

[90sBills]

1 hour ago, JerseyBills said:

I can't stand this "Bills would've got smoked if they won" narrative 

 

How do you know that? It's such a ridiculous take. It's almost a way for ppl to cope

 

I feel we should be SB champs and again, the ball just didn't bounce our way

The irony of calling others’ takes ridiculous. 

[loyal2dagame]

I feel the same as when I was sitting in Kansas City watching the confetti come down. 

Disappointed.

And I try to not think about it. Because, hey,  we're only 6 months away from a great regular season of building hope, with another disappointment in the distance.