WGR

‘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.’

‘Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips and wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie – both missed Sunday’s Wild Card win over the Miami Dolphins – along with cornerback Dane Jackson – injured during the game – and safety Jordan Poyer were all estimated as being limited if it had been a normal practice.’

‘Jackson started the game and played 27 defensive snaps before being injured with 2:20 remaining before halftime. He did not return, and was replaced by rookie cornerback Kaiir Elam, who came up with a game-changing interception in the third quarter.’

‘If the Bills offense would just stop giving the ball to the Dolphins, they would manage to put some touchdown drives together. They did exactly that, but the Bills offense kept both teams in this game due to its mistakes.’

‘The Buffalo Bills are moving on in the 2022 NFL Playoffs by the narrowest of margins.’

‘”I give our guys credit, they hung in there and they figured out a way to get a win, and that’s one of the things I think they’ve been really good at this year. We definitely have a lot to take out of this game and learn from,” said McDermott after Sunday’s win.’