‘Season over, the instant analysis being the Bills are further away from winning a championship than they were two years ago, when they lost the conference title game at Kansas City, and certainly last year, when they lost a second-round overtime game to the Chiefs.’
Archives for January 2023
Three questions: Bills’ defensive front ends with whimper vs. Bengals’ banged up O-line
‘Greg Rousseau had an excellent second season, with eight sacks. It’s hard to knock him. But the Bills needed more in this game from defensive tackle Ed Oliver and defensive ends A.J. Epenesa and Boogie Basham. Oliver wasn’t bad this year, but he wasn’t dominant enough Sunday. The Bills needed better from him against Cordell Volson and backup Max Scharping. Meanwhile, Epenesa and Basham, former second-round picks, haven’t shown enough pass rush. Epenesa had 6.5 sacks this year, but he has not yet shown he’s a quality No. 3 edge rusher.’
How it happened: Top plays (few), standout players (fewer) from Bills’ 27-10 playoff loss to Cincinnati
‘A season that began with the sky-high expectations ended with a thud Sunday as the Bills never led and never threatened the Cincinnati Bengals, falling 27-10 in an AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium.’
Plays that shaped the game: Pressure, coverage both lacking for BIlls’ defense
‘“Our main thing going into the game was they would pass the ball more than run the ball,” said Bills safety Dean Marlowe. “But I think with the weather it kind of made them – hey, we’ve got to run the ball a little bit more. They were successful at it. They kept going and they were two-dimensional. They were able to do run the ball and hit checkdowns and find little holes in the defense. They did a good job.”’
Report Card: Buffalo Bills’ worst loss of the season equals worst grades of the season
‘There is no other way to put this: Sean McDermott, Ken Dorsey and Leslie Frazier all got schooled.’
Damar Hamlin attends Buffalo Bills’ playoff game against Cincinnati Bengals
‘”The game wasn’t trending the way we wanted it to,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said. “But when they put (the Hamlin family) on the big screen, and just a great moment, keep in perspective, of course on where he was just a few weeks ago. So super happy for him and thankful that his health is returning. And I know he’ll continue to take it one day at a time.”‘
Ahead of meeting Monday, state releases more details on Bills stadium deal, community benefits agreement
‘The community benefits agreement would create a Community Benefit Oversight Committee, made up of representatives appointed by Erie County, Erie County Stadium Corp. and the Bills that “will be tasked with monitoring, oversight and accountability with respect to the commitments made by the Bills contained in the CBA.”‘
The Editorial Board: Progress, but residents still in the dark on crucial stadium details
‘But as far as how their investment will benefit Erie County other than keeping the team here, the information has been less than sketchy. This is concerning because one thing seems certain: Once these negotiations are finalized, the County Legislature votes them up or down. It will not have the ability to renegotiate the terms. They will have to be satisfied with the deal and so will the public.’
Bills a complete no-show against Bengals, fail to make AFC Championship again
‘The expectations for Sean McDermott’s team were enormous, but here’s the thing about betting odds and expectations: They don’t actually mean a thing. Results are all that matter, and in the game that mattered the most, Sunday afternoon at snowy Highmark Stadium, all those expectations were blown away by a crushingly lousy performance.’
Bills Report Card: Buffalo manhandled, pushed around, outcoached by Bengals
‘Rare is the time when McDermott’s staff gets completely out-coached, but this was one of those games. The Bills’ plan on both sides of the ball was faulty, and the Bengals had all the answers while Buffalo had none.’
What went so wrong for the Buffalo Bills? 5 reasons their season ended vs. the Bengals
‘The only sack in the game came on a Matt Milano blitz and Burrow only sustained three quarterback hits in the entire game. Bills general manager Brandon Beane spent a first-round pick and two second-rounders in the 2020 and 2021 drafts at the edge rusher position. Greg Rousseau, Boogie Basham and A.J. Epenesa combined for one quarterback hit and zero sacks.’
Is Stefon Diggs mad at Josh Allen? Bills WR storms out of locker room after loss to Bengals
‘Diggs looked like he was upset. It wasn’t a shocking development because he’s seemed frustrated for months.’
Watch: Stefon Diggs chirps at Josh Allen on sidelines of Bills’ blowout playoff loss to Bengals
‘With just under seven minutes remaining in the game, CBS showed Diggs approaching Josh Allen on the sidelines. Diggs threw his hands up in the air as he said something to Allen. Allen did not look up during the interaction, but the frustration was apparent on Diggs.’
A beating on the lines: Bengals embarrass no-show Bills in ugly game in Buffalo (Report card)
‘Buffalo signed Von Miller to be a difference maker in big games. Of course, Miller was lost for the season on Thanksgiving. Without Miller on Sunday, no Bills defensive linemen stepped up. Joe Burrow was able to pick the defense apart while Joe Mixon found big lanes to run through.’
Bills outplayed by Bengals in one-sided Divisional Round matchup; Cincinnati to face Kansas City in AFCCG
‘The Bills’ defense had no answers for Burrow and the high-powered Bengals’ attack, which ran and passed at will for all four quarters, driving up and down the field, punting just twice. Burrow finished the game with 23-of-36 passing for 242 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 101.9. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase finished as the Bengals’ leading receiver with five receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown. The Cincinnati running game was also productive, with running back Joe Mixon recording 105 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. The Bills were without defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (calf), while Cincinnati was missing three offensive linemen, but it was the Bengals who won the battle up front, controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball throughout the playoff win.’