ChasBB

Yeah, I agree - Bills should be okay. Hope to see the Bills' pass rush get to him very early in the game so that he never gets an opportunity to develop any confidence.

Looking at Thompson's Kansas State highlights ... he looks evasive in the pocket in a style similar to Allen. He still looks to throw while escaping the pass rush Seems to have a decent arm and is a strong runner, too. This guy is no slouch, but he's still a rookie in the NFL in his first playoff game, so Bills ought to be able to handle him, hopefully. https://www.kstatesports.com/sports/football/roster/skylar-thompson/7990

Cap should increase by approximately $20 million, give or take a few million, in 2023, so that offers at least a little more flexibility (for all teams, of course).

I fixed the title to specify happened to the Bills. I was only referring to Buffalo Bills history - not league history. Hope that clarifies.

If Bills & Chiefs meet in Atlanta it will have a SB atmosphere.

This is an extremely competitive team. Not since 1964 has the team had no double-digit losses. In fact, 2 of the 4 seasons where there was only 1 double-digit loss have been under Sean McDermott! This team is special! Go Bills!

All scenarios below assume Buffalo advances ...

Agree with OP. And credit to the Pegulas, too, for giving the front office the latitude to do what they think is best for the team w/o excessive meddling. Bills are arguably just three plays away from being undefeated. I don't recall a season where there wasn't at least one lopsided loss and that didn't happen this season. The team is extremely competitive every week and that's a real credit to how the team has been managed and coached. There will never be a state of "perfection". It will always be a work-in-progress. There will always be injuries, holes to fill, etc. But the depth and overall talent on the roster is markedly improved from a couple of years ago and the team culture is where it needs to be to compete for a championship. Have to like how the team is trending, overall, and think the future should remain bright - especially with Josh Allen on the roster for many years to come.

All scenarios below assume Buffalo advances ...

Maybe it's time to be like the NHL .. "upper body injury" or "lower body injury" so opponents don't target weakness. Only kidding, of course, but it is interesting how they get away with these vague descriptions in hockey, but in football we know almost everything about the injury.

Despite all the adversity, the Bills are arguably just 3 plays away from an undefeated season. It is easy to find JUST ONE PLAY in each of the 3 losses that, had it gone differently, would have given Buffalo the victory in each of those 3 games. Collectively, the 3 losses were by only 8 points (2 pts / 3 pts / 3 pts). I don't recall a season where the Bills didn't lose at least one game by a lopsided score throughout the course of the season. This, in itself, seems like a first. There's been one or two more games they could have easily lost, too, but this team hangs in for the full 60 minutes. The Bills could very easily be 15-0 right now. However you look at them, this is one VERY competitive team!

I forgot about this ... Dean Marlowe recovers Cam Newton fumble (forced by Justin Zimmer) to seal the victory against New England in Wk 8 2020. Two un-drafted free agents seal the victory breaking 7-game losing streak to Patriots ... https://youtu.be/d4ylpTS_0Xs More Dean Marlowe highlights ... Video from when Buffalo signed Marlowe after he was released by Panthers (tore BOTH hamstrings separately during his 2 years with Panthers - rough time for him) ...

You make good points.

Not disagreeing, but it all revolves around "where a game cannot complete", I believe. It appears that the Bengals felt they could have completed the game on Tuesday, but Buffalo's actions (which, again, I'm okay with) didn't permit this to possibly happen.

I also thought the team might stay the night in Cincinnati for potential resumption on Tuesday, but the Bills leaving town essentially took that option off-the-table - an option the Bengals were willing to pursue. I have no problem with what McD did, but in all fairness to the Bengals, the Bills should have taken the 'L' via a forfeit instead of the NFL having to change playoff seeding rules and game locations, on-the-fly. Unprecedented situation. The NFL wasn't prepared for this is the bottom line and so this is what happens. And the Bengals are kind of getting screwed. As for the Bills, I'm not gonna say McD "lost the season" - he may have saved it.

Agree

Each player on the team is probably asking themself this question: "If it was me this happened to, how would I want my teammates to respond?" If a poll were taken of players asking themself this question, I'd bet most, if not all, would want to see their teammates complete a run for the Lombardi Trophy. It's so soon for the players to already have to focus on the next game, but that's the tough nature of the NFL schedule.

I'd opt for pushing playoffs back 1 week and playing the game on Thursday of next week. This leaves more than a full week if playing wild card weekend and leaves over 2 weeks if get #1 seed. Most teams might welcome a bye week to start the playoffs (probably ought to be that way, anyhow, jmo).

That 1980 Bills team was a legit Super Bowl contender. The 20-14 loss to the Chargers in the divisional round was tough because I believe Bills would have advanced to the SB if they just could have gotten past this game.

On the assumption that Frazier lands a HC job somewhere, do this Bills promote Eric Washington to DC? He was DC in Carolina for a couple of seasons, so it wouldn't be his first go at it. Seems he commands a lot of respect from the players and might be a solid candidate for a potential DC opening.

Patriots cannot be overlooked even if Bills take Cincy. I think Bills need to win out because does not look like the Chiefs will stumble (but I think Vegas may give them a harder time than some may think). Cincy could easily lose to Ravens final week, but the Bills control their destiny is the bottom line, so just keep winning and everything else resolves itself.

Haha - I just discovered it myself - know what you mean! Agree - both games last year winnable.

... and Mahomes has a Lombardi - that's the stark reality.

Josh is 3-3 all-time on MNF ... 2020: 2-1 2021: 0-2 2022: 1-0 Here's his stats on MNF ... https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/josh-allen-monday-night-football

Like that one, too. A variation might be "Gift Six"