1. The Unanticipated Conclusion to Buffalo’s Season
Bills Season Halts Abruptly at Home
The Bills’ 2022-23 season, filled with electrifying twists and turns, was brought to an unforeseen and subdued conclusion with a 27-10 defeat at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional round. This marks the second consecutive season the Bills have seen their playoff aspirations quashed at this stage, and only the second time in franchise history they’ve been eliminated at home in the postseason.
A Game Dominated from Start to Finish
From the very beginning, with a six-yard reception by the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati controlled the game, and Buffalo was unable to recover. The Bengals’ game plan was methodically executed, causing Bills QB Josh Allen to acknowledge, “They had a good game plan, we were expecting their best punch, and they came out and they punched us.”
The Bengals’ early lead was established in just six plays with a 28-yard TD by Chase, who managed to get an impressive 8.3 yards of separation on the busted coverage. The situation deteriorated further for the Bills as they trailed throughout the game by increasing margins.
Buffalo’s offensive strategies were unsuccessful, leading to five of the Bills’ eight drives lasting less than two minutes. Coach Sean McDermott reflected on the difficulty in finding rhythm, stating, “They got into a rhythm pretty quickly offensively, and we had a hard time getting them out of that rhythm.”
2. The Battle Up Front: Bengals Dominate
The pregame chatter focused on the Bills’ defensive line versus the Bengals’ offensive line, especially since Cincinnati was missing three starters. However, the Bills were unable to exploit this perceived advantage.
Buffalo’s Ineffectiveness Against Burrow
Despite coming into the game having been sacked at least twice in each of his last four games, Bengals QB Joe Burrow was well-protected by his line, with Buffalo managing only one sack and three QB hits. Cincinnati’s success in neutralizing Buffalo’s pass rush, combined with quick throws and an effective run game, allowed them to jump to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
DT Tim Settle recognized Cincinnati’s control, saying, “They controlled the game, they controlled the possessions, and we just didn’t execute in those areas.” The Bengals continued to exploit Buffalo’s defense, with Joe Mixon churning out 105 yards on the ground and a touchdown.
Allen Under Pressure
Bills’ QB Josh Allen faced significant pressure, including eight hits, leading to a completion rate of less than 60%. Veteran offensive lineman Dion Dawkins explained, “It was just pressure, man. Just a lot of single missiles, man. It’s just guys coming from all different angles.”
Buffalo’s rushing efforts yielded only 3.3 yards per carry, compared to Cincinnati’s 5.1 yards per carry. Coach McDermott summarized the line’s performance, stating, “We didn’t do enough I would say overall at the line of scrimmage tonight. Give the Bengals credit, but you probably saw what I saw.”
3. Key Players Allen and Diggs Contained
Buffalo’s dynamic duo of Allen and WR Stefon Diggs was notably restrained during this pivotal game, contributing to the team’s defeat.
A Rare Quiet Game for Allen
Allen, who has often led his team to recover from early deficits, could not find his usual rhythm against the Bengals. He was held without a touchdown pass at home for the first time this season and has now thrown an interception in four consecutive games. “We just couldn’t find it,” Allen said, emphasizing the stalling drives as a significant problem.
Diggs Struggles to Connect
Despite being targeted early and often, Diggs was unable to make a significant impact. He ended the game with only four catches for 35 yards, reflecting the offense’s overall inability to click. Allen noted Diggs’ competitive spirit and emphasized the need to learn from the missed opportunities.
Conclusion: A Season of Promise Ends in Disappointment
The Bills’ loss to the Bengals in the AFC Divisional Round marks a disappointing end to a season filled with potential. The analysis above provides insights into the key factors that contributed to the loss, from the surprise domination of the Bengals up front to the containment of key players like Allen and Diggs.
While the defeat is undoubtedly a bitter pill for the Bills and their fans, the season’s successes and lessons learned will likely provide valuable experience as they look to rebuild and come back stronger in the next campaign.