Olean Times Herald

‘That Buffalo didn’t get a possession in OT is a flaw the NFL must address … the result is tilted way too far toward the coin-toss winner in a postseason game. But there’s also a lot to unpack about the Bills’ role in one of the most devastating losses in franchise history.’

‘The Bills seemed to have it won twice in that span, and the Chiefs appeared to have won it once.’

‘Buffalo wide receiver Gabriel Davis wrote his name in the NFL playoff record book, becoming the first player ever to score four receiving touchdowns in a game. Davis scored on passes of 18, 75, 27 and 19 yards and finished with eight receptions for 201 yards. Buffalo needed them as the other wideouts didn’t produce much. Stefon Diggs was invisible (3 catches for 7 yards), Cole Beasley had 6-for-60 and Emmanuel Sanders 1-for-10.’

‘Each team is averaging 28 points a game, tied for third-best in the NFL, hence the oddsmakers’ over/under of 53½ points.

‘Allen produced 42 touchdowns (36 passing, 6 rushing) and 5,170 yards (4,407 passing, 763 rushing, second on the team). Mahomes accounted for 39 touchdowns (37 passing, 2 rushing) and 5,220 yards (4,839 passing, 381 rushing).’

‘But that Allen-to-Doyle connection seemed to be a subtle, almost subliminal message from McDermott to Belichick, the Patriots and the AFC East: “There’s a new sheriff in town …”’

‘Buffalo played, inarguably, its best game in the McDermott era.’

‘The Bills have now won all three home playoff games under coach Sean McDermott — 0-3 on the road.’

‘“They do so many great things, especially on the defensive side of the ball,” Allen said of Belichick’s specialty. “They’ve got a lot of smart, savvy veteran players. They play to their strengths and they’re extremely well-coached. When you have that type of defense, they’re relying on the offense to make mistakes because they’re so sound fundamentally.”’

‘No precipitation is expected, but temperatures will be in the low single digits and even light breezes could drop wind chills to between 5-and-10 below zero.’

‘“We played them toward the end of the season (barely two weeks ago) in a short time frame,” Buffalo’s offensive coordinator Brian Daboll said. “Obviously we’re going to be matched up against them Saturday night so there’s some familiarity with the players and the matchups, but schemes change and each game is its own game particularly against a team like (the Patriots).”’

‘Remember the embarrassment the team and fans felt when the Bills went to Jacksonville and lost to the then 1-6 Jaguars, 9-6 in November? Imagine how the Colts feel.’

‘For the record, with under 8½ minutes to play, New York trailed by a mere 13-10. That seems incongruous as, at game’s end, the Bills had the edge in first downs, 25-4, the latter figure the fewest surrendered in franchise history, plays (79-46), offensive yardage (424-53), rushing yards (170-48), passing yards (254-5, the latter minus the yardage of nine sacks) and 37-22 in time of possession minutes.’

‘With the Bills clinching the AFC East title, their 2022 opponents are locked in. Besides home-and-home with the division foes (Patriots, Jets and Dolphins), visiting Highmark Stadium will be the Steelers, Browns, Titans, Packers and Vikings.’

‘The AFC’s lone first-round playoff bye is out of reach for Buffalo, but of near-equal importance is the reward of a home game.’