It was a bitter loss and although it was "one game" it had a lasting effect because the team didn't have any other lopsided loses last season and it was a home playoff game under very high expectations for us and the players.
The fact that they had no other lopsided loses is a good sign.
The loss happened for a variety of reasons-
1) Effort and execution. The Bills had a decline in their emotional effort because of the reality of the events that happened in the previous game with Cincinnati. The game plan was off on both sides of the ball, players were straining for motivation and pressing while the Bengals were cool and calm professionals.
2) Familiarity. If the previous Bengals game had been completed, the Bills could have learned from that game and it would have been much closer. Studying video is one thing but actual game time gets them much more familiar with each other.
3) Roster match ups. Of course out of balance roster match ups in critical positions had a big influence on the outcome. Our OL vs, the Bengals DL is likely the worst case, with our coverage LBs and DBs vs. the Bengals WRs, RBs and TE (they really spread the ball around) was imbalanced as was our DL vs the Bengals OL in run stop and pass pressure. Our defense had their worst game of the year and our run game was non existent.
The Bengals are now the target team to beat, much like the Titans were in '20 and '21 and of course the Chiefs. The Bills responded well to those teams and their off season will now need to focus more on beating them from a roster and game plan perspective. I have confidence they can do it.