WGR

‘But all they have to show for it, playoff-wise, is three frustrating and deflating endings. Because of the manner in which they lost Sunday to Cincinnati and the difficult challenges they face roster-wise, we’ve arrived, perhaps, at the start of a new chapter in their story.’

‘“It was emotionally draining,” guard Roger Saffold said of the season on Monday, as players cleaned out their lockers and said goodbye to one another. “I kind of feel like we were tired. Guys were exhausted during the week, and our coaches did the best they could at trying to modify the week to get us back to snuff.”’

‘“We don’t think an operation is necessary at this time,” Allen said. “Rest and recovery is going to be really good for it.”’

‘Among the notable names signed by the Bills on Monday include veteran quarterback Matt Barkley, defensive tackle Brandin Bryant, defensive end Kingsley Jonathan and offensive lineman Greg Mancz.’

‘If this was a boxing match, the referee would have stopped it and given the Bengals a technical knockout long before the final round. The way the Bills offense and defense looked, the game felt like it was over at the end of the first quarter when the Bills trailed 14-0.’

‘Cincinnati controlled the game right from the start, and managed to hold the Bills to just 325 yards of total offense. Up next for the Bengals will be a rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday evening in the AFC Championship Game.’

‘”They got into a rhythm pretty quickly offensively, and we had a hard time getting them out of that rhythm.” said McDermott after the loss. “I thought the guys came out with the proper amount of energy, but when they’re in the rhythm offensively and you can’t get off the field, that can tend to zap your energy a little bit. I thought the guys’ effort was there, we just didn’t do enough to win.”‘

‘”I couldn’t tell you exactly, watch the film and maybe I could answer that a little bit better. We just couldn’t find it,” said Allen following the loss. “I thought we moved the ball when we had some of our possessions, but the two early three-and-outs and stalling throughout the game, you can’t win football games that way.”‘

‘Linebacker Matt Milano said he felt the team lacked energy. That’s tough to understand in a game, at home, with your season and a trip to the AFC Championship Game on the line.’

‘During the CBS pregame telecast of Sunday’s playoff matchup, it showed the second-year safety entering the Buffalo locker room, shortly followed by his mom, dad and younger brother, Damir.’

‘The Bengals offensive line is very banged up. They will be starting three players who are normally backups at left tackle, right tackle, and right guard. The Bills have spent plenty of resources to improve their defensive line over the last several years, including high draft picks Gregory Rousseau, Ed Oliver, AJ Epenesa, and Boogie Basham, plus free agent money on Jordan Phillips, Shaq Lawson, Tim Settle, and DaQuan Jones. Now is the time for those players to show why the organization made a heavy investment in them. They need to dominate a depleted Bengals offensive line and control the game.’

‘The Bills have officially listed defensive tackles Jordan Phillips and DaQuan Jones as “questionable” to play Sunday’s game. All other players on the active roster are available and expected to play.’

‘“It normally is where you try and celebrate the things that were to our standard, and try to correct, address, and adjust the things that weren’t to our standard,” said McDermott during his weekly appearance on the “Extra Point Show” on WGR.’

‘Cornerback Dane Jackson was upgraded from an estimated limited participant at Wednesday’s walk-thru to a full participant on Thursday.’

‘The NFL announced on Thursday its plans for international games during the 2023 season, with the Bills being one of five teams to host a game in Europe. Buffalo will be playing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, home of Tottenham Hotspur F.C. of the English Premier League.’