Lance Lysowski: Bills may be the best team in a conference filled with flawed contenders
Buckle up, Bills fans. There may not be anymore football played at Highmark Stadium, but the fun is about to begin. There's nothing better than the postseason and Buffalo has a legitimate chance to emerged from this conference filled with flawed contenders, Lance Lysowski writes.
Speakers inside Highmark Stadium blared "Iris," by the Buffalo's beloved alternative rock band, Goo Goo Dolls, as the Bills and New York Jets walked toward the tunnel in the east end zone Sunday night.
You're the closest to Heaven that I'll ever be / And I don't wanna go home right now
Fans take a selfie after the Buffalo Bills' 35-8 victory over the New York Jets in the final regular-season game at Highmark Stadium on Sunday in Orchard Park.
Derek Gee, Buffalo News
Bills long snapper Reid Ferguson, the team's longest-tenured player, stopped near midfield and turned to the lower bowl for one last look at the thousands of fans who stuck around to watch the final moments of the final game in the 53-history of the team's home. Tre'Davious White, a veteran cornerback who returned this season for a second stint in Buffalo, watched from the end zone as the team played a commemorative video.
"We wanted to send it out the right way, and we did," Ferguson said after the Bills finished their regular season with a 35-8 win over the New York Jets.
The party on Abbott Road continued into the night, on the tailgate lots surrounding the stadium and bars across Western New York. The celebration could not last long for any of the Bills, though.
Sean McDermott, their coach, explained to players why the home finale was so important to the franchise. The equipment staff helped McDermott procure a ballcap that resembled one worn by Marv Levy. But McDermott's focus had to shift to the playoffs as soon as he reached his office postgame.
The Bills (12-5) clinched the sixth seed in the AFC, which sets up a matchup on the road with the third-seeded Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4) on at 1 p.m. Sunday. Buffalo reached 12 wins for the third time in five seasons and finished the regular season with a 7-2 record at home.
"We’re going to have to be a tough football team," McDermott said. "That’s where it starts, and you can’t beat yourself. There’s more to it than that, but it’s an important week for us, obviously, and we have a lot of work to do.
Josh Allen didn't need to throw a pass for the Bills to embarrass the floundering Jets. James Cook only ran the ball twice for 15 yards, creating enough of a cushion for him to become the first Buffalo player to win the NFL's rushing title since 1976. Four of the Bills' five starting offensive linemen sat out as a precaution. Several other prominent players watched from the sideline, resting for the playoffs.
The gap between one of the NFL's basement-dwellers and a perennial contender could not have been wider. The Bills totaled 470 yards, 30 first downs and averaged 6.5 yards per play while holding the Jets (3-14) to 122 yards.
There are no more easy matchups, though.
The degree of difficulty will soon increase exponentially. The Bills know what to expect. This is their seventh consecutive trip to the postseason. But this team comes with some notable questions as it prepares to hit the road.
Will the injury to Allen's right foot heal completely by kickoff in Jacksonville? How will the Bills respond if they can't run the ball? Can the run defense improve? Are their second-half defensive adjustments going to turn into complete performances? Can they trust their kicking game with Matt Prater injured again? Is there enough depth at cornerback, now that Maxwell Hairston has an ankle injury? And above all, can the Bills win on the road?
Bills coach Sean McDermott walks off the field after his team's 35-8 victory over the Jets on Sunday.
The Bills earned the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoffs and will face the third-seeded Jacksonville Jaguars in the wild-card round. Derek Gee, Buffalo News
They have not won a road playoff game in McDermott's nine seasons. Three of Buffalo's five losses this season happened away from Orchard Park, and ultimately, they cost the Bills a chance to prolong the farewell to Highmark Stadium. They have won five of their last six games, with the exception a 13-12 loss at home to the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
"It’s a surreal feeling," right guard O'Cyrus Torrence said. "We practice all year, since fall camp, to be in this situation where we’re in the playoffs and we’re here now. It’s a good feeling, but it’s a surge of urgency, too. We know it’s play for keeps now."
The Bills were initially a 1½-point road favorite against the Jaguars, but Jacksonville will be a popular upset pick this week. Jacksonville won eight games in a row to capture the AFC South title. During that span, the Jaguars had a plus-153 point differential, and their quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, threw 19 touchdowns with five interceptions. Their run defense is the best in the NFL. They are a talented team that should not be underestimated.
Experience matters in the playoffs, though. Two years ago, Jaguars first-year coach Liam Coen was offensive coordinator at the University of Kentucky. One year ago, Jacksonville lost 13 games. The franchise orchestrated a remarkable turnaround by hiring the right people, Coen included, and replenishing the roster with smart offseason additions. But Jacksonville has reached the playoffs once since 2018.
How will the Jaguars' players respond when they turn the ball over or fall behind in a close game? We've seen the Bills' resilience throughout this season. No quarterback is better in the fourth quarter than Allen. Buffalo overcame multi-touchdown deficits to beat the Ravens, Patriots and Bengals. The Bills' defense has bent – including Joe Burrow's four touchdown passes during Buffalo's win over Cincinnati – but McDermott's players have, for the most part, shown an attention to detail during the most important moments of games.
Self-inflicted mistakes cost the Bills in each of their losses. Allen has lost 162 yards on 19 third-down sacks. We all know he can make a perfect throw in nearly impossible circumstances, but he has hurt his team by not playing it safe. Protecting the football will also be paramount if Buffalo is going to emerge from an AFC field that does not include the Kansas City Chiefs.
"That's where my head is already right now, is ready to put in the work to get ourselves ready to go to play our best football," McDermott said. "This time of year, that is what it takes. You can't beat yourself. You've got to play good, solid football, and we'll have a big challenge ahead of us here."
Bills tight end Dawson Knox celebrates his 17-yard first-quarter touchdown against the Jets on Sunday at Highmark Stadium.
Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
The Jaguars have scored 103 points off their 31 takeaways this season, and the Bills were 2-4 when they turned over the ball at least twice. Allen doesn't need to be Superman. He was at his best this season when he simply took what the defense gave him, rather than chasing a big play.
It's OK to be disappointed with the Bills' regular season. They hurt themselves with losses to the Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons. A higher seed could have meant at least one more game in Highmark Stadium. And the problems on offense and defense have fans concerned that Buffalo may not last long in the playoffs.
Look around the AFC, though. There is no powerhouse team. No squad has a better quarterback, running back or group of tight ends than Buffalo. The Bills have one of the league's best offensive lines and a top-ranked pass defense that held the Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts to no second-half completions in Week 17.
"When it comes down to it, we've got to make the plays," White said. "And I just feel like we have the group to do that. We’ve been clicking on all cylinders here. So I just feel like going to the playoffs, we've got some momentum going for us."
The top-seeded Denver Broncos went 13-3, but their young quarterback, Bo Nix, is inconsistent and their defense allowed at least 25 points in three of the past four games. The second-seeded New England Patriots have inadequate depth because of failed draft picks in past years. The Bills beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 26-7, when Cook ran for 144 yards on Nov. 30. Houston sacked Allen eight times when the Texans won 23-19 without their starting quarterback, C.J. Stroud, but they can't run the ball and their offensive line is vulnerable.
Why can't the Bills make it to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California?
There may not be anymore football at Highmark Stadium, but the fun is about to begin. There's nothing better than the postseason, and Buffalo has a legitimate chance to emerge from this conference filled with flawed contenders.
Buckle up.