Bills season ends. Who is to blame?

Summary

Buffalo Plus Podcast: Bills Season Ends. Who Is to Blame?

Date: January 23, 2023
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes

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Episode Overview

This post-mortem episode dives into the Buffalo Bills’ season-ending 27-10 home playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Jenna, Mike, and Dan analyze the big-picture issues that resurfaced, assess coaching and player accountability, and explore who or what is to blame for the defeat. They candidly discuss the lack of identity, in-game adjustments, roster construction, and emotional and leadership dynamics—offering insights and memorable moments for Bills fans processing a disappointing finish.

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Key Themes & Discussion Points

1. Recurring Issues Resurface in Biggest Moment

• Problems all season, haunting in the playoffs:
  • Mike: "All the problems they had during the year came back to haunt them in the biggest game of the year." (00:59)
  • Offensive and defensive line struggles, lack of in-game adjustments, and uninspiring play-calling were cited as chronic issues that peaked at the worst time.
  • "It was 27-10, Dan. It wasn't even that close." – Mike (01:17)
  • "They got away with it against teams they were better than, and the Bengals were a better team." – Dan (01:39)

2. Lack of Energy and Identity

• Uncharacteristically flat performance:
  • Jenna: "My thing I'm surprised by was just the energy level, how flat it was in that game." (02:24)
• Defeatist body language and missing response:
  • Mike: "You never looked like you were in the game for about two minutes... then they just laid there while Cincinnati went down the field and scored. No responses. Nobody stepped up." (03:24)
• Over-reliance on Josh Allen:
  • "If you live the whole time by just saying, well, Josh will bail us out... it catches up with you." – Mike (03:43)
  • "The Bill's game plan at times is third and Josh Allen—third and be a hero. And that's not a recipe to live by." – Dan (03:50)

3. Creativity Gaps and Play-Calling Critique

• Comparison to other top offenses:
  • Mike highlights the contrast with KC, SF, Philly, and even Cincinnati:
    • "All those teams are super creative. The Bills… I don't think Cincinnati is the craziest, most inventive offense, but they have a super calm quarterback, great receivers, methodical. They are well coached and efficient." (04:31–05:15)
    • "There is no pre-snap motion. It's a whole lot of hoping that Josh makes a superhuman play." – Dan (09:09)
  • Diminished offensive identity and predictability were cited as serious flaws.

4. Leadership and Emotional Fallout: The Diggs Incident

• Stefon Diggs’ outburst and its fallout:
  • "I've loved Diggs since he's been there. I think he's an awesome player... but in the biggest game, you're on the sidelines yelling at your quarterback... I just think it's weak..." – Mike (06:18, 06:53)
  • Dan agreed it was "bad optics," but not a sign Diggs is a bad teammate. (07:14)
  • As Jenna points out, the team "has stuck together through a lot," making this discord notable.

5. Roster Construction & Talent Gaps

• Skill position and O-line questions:
  • "Weapon-wise, they don't have anybody outside of Diggs that you count on week in, week out... Dawson Knox is a nice player... but that's it." – Mike (10:36)
  • "If you went through every team that made the playoffs this year, I think the only one that has worse skill guys is the Giants." – Mike (16:11)
  • "Every single position group needs to be addressed." – Jenna (15:44)
• Draft and talent evaluation:
  • "Brandon Bean hasn't drafted a Pro Bowler the last four years on this good of a team." – Dan (17:45)

6. Coaching: Dorsey & Frazier Under Fire

• Ken Dorsey’s future in question:
  • "I don't think he is [back]. That's just my personal opinion." – Jenna (11:45)
  • "Do you have time for the growing pain? You have a window." – Mike & Jenna (12:29–12:30)
  • "This offense needs to be challenged... the message has gone stale... there are other voices that can come in, fresh voices that have not been a part of the organization." – Dan (13:36)
• Defensive context:
  • Mike notes Frazier's unit's injuries (Hyde, Miller, Poyer, White) and roster limitations, lessening the case for major coaching changes on defense (14:25).

7. Bengals’ Poise and the AFC Landscape

• Burrow vs. Allen and shifting AFC power
  • "Joe Burrow... puts the ball in the right place at the right time. His decision making, his poise... phenomenal. Yeah, he's a problem." – Dan (19:53)
  • "It was Mahomes and Allen. It's Burrow and Mahomes now. Until Josh [challenges]." – Mike (22:30)
• Buffalo’s window now in jeopardy:
  • "It does change the window... they have to make substantial moves to open that window wide open." – Mike (20:39)

8. Emotional and Physical Toll of the Season

• Team simply ran out of gas:
  • "It felt like slowly, this team had been losing air all season long, and then yesterday, it just..." – Jenna (25:34)
  • Matt Milano (as relayed by Dan): "There was no juice, there was no energy, there was no momentum... to say it in the divisional round is just very surprising to me." – (23:23)

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Notable Quotes & Highlights by Timestamp

• On Recurring Problems:

  • "All the problems they had during the year came back to haunt them in the biggest game of the year." – Mike (00:59)
  • "They got away with it against teams they were better than, and the Bengals were a better team." – Dan (01:39)

• On Lack of Creative Offense:

  • "Their gameplan at times is third and Josh Allen—third and be a hero. That's not a formula to win." – Dan (03:50)
  • "[Other top teams have] multiple ways, creative ways [to win]. All those teams are super creative. The Bills aren’t." – Mike (04:53)

• On the Diggs Incident:

  • "In the biggest game, you're on the sidelines yelling at your quarterback... I just think it's weak because our job is to ask questions and we ask people about those [outbursts], it's almost unfair..." – Mike (06:53)

• On Skill Players:

  • "If you went through every team that made the playoffs this year, I think the only one that has worse skill guys is the Giants." – Mike (16:11)

• On Coaching Staleness:

  • "[The message] has gone stale... this offense has plateaued and is lacking creativity. Other voices can come in—fresh voices." – Dan (13:36)

• On AFC Playoff Picture:

  • "It was Mahomes and Allen. It’s Burrow and Mahomes now. Until Josh [challenges]." – Mike (22:30)
  • "He’s (Allen) lost in the playoffs to Mahomes twice and Burrow once. He’s 0-3 against those two." – Mike (22:48)

• On Season’s Emotional Toll:

  • "It felt like slowly, this team had been losing air all season long, and then yesterday, it just..." – Jenna (25:34)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:36 – Episode begins, post-game breakdown starts
• 00:59 – Mike identifies recurring season-long issues
• 03:50 – Dan and Mike debate lack of offensive identity
• 06:18 – Diggs’ frustration and team leadership discussion
• 09:09 – Comparing Dorsey era play-calling to the Dabol years
• 10:36 – Roster shortcomings and skill position critique
• 11:45-13:36 – Ken Dorsey’s future and coaching staff evaluation
• 16:11 – Bills' skill positions compared to the rest of the playoff teams
• 17:45 – Drafting and lack of Pro Bowl talent
• 19:53 – Joe Burrow’s performance and AFC hierarchy
• 20:39 – Bills’ championship window remains, but is narrower
• 23:23 – Matt Milano’s postgame comments on energy and momentum
• 25:34 – Jenna’s analogy: team ran out of air through the season

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Memorable Metaphors & Analogies

• "It felt like slowly, this team had been losing air all season long, and then yesterday, it just..." – Jenna (25:34)
• "There were holes in the tire, and you kept filling it up and patching them, and you hit a really big pothole in the Bengals." – Dan (25:42)

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Conclusion

The hosts offer a comprehensive, at times raw, diagnosis: the Bills' playoff exit was not about one thing, but a convergence of familiar weaknesses—lack of offensive ingenuity, incomplete roster building, insufficient adjustments, and, ultimately, a failure of the team’s energy and leadership at the crucial moment. This loss prompts hard questions for the coaches, front office, and core players. Listeners are left with a call to expect and demand significant offseason change if the Bills hope to keep their championship window open.

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For deeper insight and more Buffalo Bills coverage, subscribe to Buffalo Plus and tune in for offseason updates.

Transcript

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[Mike Catalana]

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[Jenna Cottrell]

Welcome to the Buffalo plus podcast. Dan Fates, Jenna Cottrell, Mike Catalana with me as well. We're gonna break down the Bills season ending loss to the Bengals 27 to 10. Buffalo falling at home in Orchard Park. Mike, tough loss, last loss. This game decided the bill season. What is your biggest takeaway from this game?

[Mike Catalana]

That all the problems they had during the year came back to haunt them in the biggest game of the year. And in the past they found a way to work around those things. It was Josh saving them, Jordan Poyer making an interception in the end zone, Von Miller with a sack. Like whatever it was, they found a way to overcome it. Well, this one was, it all came together, both lines of scrimmage, play calling, defensive play calling, schemes, adjustments, bad timeouts. I mean everything came together in one day and, and it showed. It was 2710, Dan. It wasn't even that close.

[Dan Fates]

No. And remember we talked about at the end, you know, a week ago. Oh like you know, they had the turnovers, they stalled against Miami, but they, you know, found a way to win but they got to clean things up. And Josh with the turnovers, all those things and I, I remember us saying like that's who this team is. And they got away it against teams they were better than and the Bengals were a better team. And that is what happens when you get dominated on both line scrimmage. The offense wasn't creative, the defense couldn't get any pressure. Like all of those things. Like Matt Milano said it after the game, we didn't execute offensively, defensively, special teams, and that's a recipe for a disaster. And Mike, you're right, it was more of a disaster than a 27 to 10 loss.

[Jenna Cottrell]

My thing I'm surprised by was just the energy level, how flat was in that game. I mean the opening drive, Bengals walk down the field, score the touchdown and you're like, all right, let's see what the Bills can do. Three and out from Buffalo. But Mike, it just felt like the Bills got themselves into a Hole. And it was just. They. They had nothing.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. And. And look, I know the demar Hamlin thing was very impactful, but it's been an awesome story since that happened. And the team has had moments. I. I don't think any of them used that or said that. I know it's been emotional for them, but let's be honest. I mean, DeMar is. It was a crazy circumstance. He's doing well. I don't think that's got anything to do with it. And I wouldn't expect anybody to say anything now. The overall impact of this whole season, which has been crazy. Maybe. But come on, it's a home playoff game against the Bengals. You might lose because Cincinnati's good, well coached. How many in a row have they won now? Is that 10? 10 in a row?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

But all of that being said, you never looked like you were. They were in the game for about two minutes after Josh got the touchdown and make it 14 7. And then they just laid there while, you know, Cincinnati went down the field and scored. No responses. Nobody stepped up. And you know, Dan, if you live the whole time by just saying, well, Josh will bail us out. Yeah, yeah, it catches up with you.

[Dan Fates]

And I know we have plenty of time through this off season to address big issues and there needs to be issues that will be addressed. But this was an example of no offensive identity, no in game adjustments, no creativity. It was a lackluster performance. And again, we've talked about it before. I know Dan Orlovsky's talked about it. That the Bill's game plan at times is third in Josh Allen. Like third and be a hero. And that's not a recipe to live by. It's not a formula to win. Turning the ball over, all of those things didn't turn it over today. They didn't generate anything.

[Mike Catalana]

You know, it was funny you say that. Jenny, think about this. We watch the other teams play. Kansas City has made plays. They always make plays. What's their go to? They're going to Kelsey. He's getting them a first down or Mahomes makes a play or they are not a great running team, but they can run it. You watch the 49ers multiple ways to beat you running the ball.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Purdy just puts it on the money. They have wide receivers who will catch the ball, go distances and they've got. Obviously they got Kittle. You watch the Eagles, they can run the ball numerous ways. Hurts, can beat you with his legs. Great offensive line, like multiple ways, creative ways. All those teams are super creative.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

The Bills, look, I don't think Cincinnati is the craziest, most inventive offense, but they have a super calm quarterback, great receivers, methodical. Methodical. They are well coached and efficient, and they got the perfect guy leading it. Now, do I think Josh Allen is as talented? Probably is more talented.

[Dan Fates]

Correct.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

But I think. I think there's better coaching and a better plan for Joe Burrow than there is for Josh Allen.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Let's be real, though. There was better execution as well, but all of those things go into how prepared you are for a game. And it felt like. I agree. I didn't. Didn't seem like there was any creativity. And then you saw the frustration from Stefan Diggs, and we can talk about that as well. Of. You know, we talked this season about, like, you want to see them force the ball to digs if they need to, because he has been so dependable this season. He's had big numbers, he's come up in big moments, and then to see kind of the way things went down, the stretch, the frustrations after the game.

[Mike Catalana]

I don't mean I'm disappointed in Diggs and he didn't hang around. And Josh has to answer for him. Sean McDermott's got to answer for him. I'm not saying that Diggs doesn't have a point sometimes to just get me the ball, but you do that, then you leave and you don't talk. I've loved Diggs since he's been there. I think he's an awesome player. He's been a leader. He's been great with his teammates. But in the biggest moment, in the biggest game, you're on the sidelines yelling at your quarterback. And I'm not talking about in the second quarter when you can do something about it. I'm talking about you're yelling at him when the game's over. Right. The game was over after that incompletion.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I just think it's weak because our job is to go in and ask questions and we ask people about those. It's almost unfair to ask. Not Josh, obviously, or not McDermott, but other guys, because they got it. You got to answer for somebody else. And I thought maybe it's just a bad moment and hopefully it'll be fine, but that's not a way to go out of a season.

[Dan Fates]

No, it's bad optics. I don't think this means. I know you said weak, and I can see it's a weak moment. I agree. Because again, like you said, everybody else has to talk For Diggs or about Diggs, but I don't think it makes Diggs a bad teammate. Sean McDermott said he's a competitor. All those things we know that it's just not a good look. That that's all like. Like when the season's crumbling and things are going bad, like, I didn't love seeing that.

[Mike Catalana]

I'm gonna just slightly. Maybe it's semantics. The season wasn't crumbling. It had crumbled. The game was over. It wasn't like, I'm gonna scream at you and we're gonna make something happen.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

No, the game, they were done. And I just think it was bad.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Now, look, it was very reactionary.

[Mike Catalana]

It was. And I don't know, I just think that's not that a team sticks together. They've stuck together through a lot of stuff.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Didn was really. You put it all together, like terrible offense, terrible defense, coaching problems, everything.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's probably the worst we've seen the Bills play in a while. I would say.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. We said since. I said since Jacksonville when they. They were so lackluster and discombobulated in Jacksonville.

[Mike Catalana]

That was in Jacksonville against a bad team on the road during the season. It's a home playoff game to go to the AFC title game.

[Dan Fates]

The one thing I just want to finish on is that we talk about creativity and we had done a podcast earlier in the week or before the playoffs talking about the moments that stuck out to us the most about the Bills and the playoffs. And Mike, yours was John Brown throwing the touchdown pass on the opening drive against the Texans in the 2019 playoffs.

[Mike Catalana]

Josh Allen's first playoff drive.

[Dan Fates]

Yep. And I think about Dawson Knox and the two point conversion last year in Nashville when he threw that with the broken hand at the time.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Or I think about Cole Beasley throwing a touchdown pass. I can't remember who it was too, but like those creative plays that Brian Dabel brought and pushed the envelope, kept defenses on their toes and confused them. And it doesn't even need to be a lot of confusion. It just needs to be make them think and then don't let them react. And that has been very frustrating for me this year where there is no pre step motion. There is no look this way so I can go that way. It's a whole lot of hoping that Josh makes a superhuman play.

[Jenna Cottrell]

There are times where when I'm on the field, it just. It feels like it's just a series. Everything is a slog where you're like every yard. I feel like for the last if.

[Dan Fates]

You look at the statistics, Josh Allen is playing the same way that he did the year before, you know, last year.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, it feels different.

[Mike Catalana]

Box score, scouting.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, all that is, it feels really different. And that's. Those are big things that they have to address in the off season. And there are probably, I would imagine a lot of changes coming. But that being said, like, I, I mean I think this was just the Bill's worst possible game. Like I think they are. They can be an incredibly efficient and high powered offense, all these things. But it was Mike. My thing was it was just interesting to see everything fall apart kind of simultaneously.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I think it's a combination. Look, Brandon Beane deserves blame. I mean, the offensive line, they've spent money, they've spent picks, but not to the extent that they did on the D line. The offensive lines let them down. There's no question. You know, they went out and got Roger Saffold. They, you know, Spencer Brown has not been what they hoped he would be. Deion Dawkins by the end of the year was struggling. Teams were. And I don't know if Deion's 100% healthy. I know he's been going through some things during the year. But seriously, like that line is not, it's certainly on a good day as average. Right. That's all they are. They don't have a great identity, they're not a power line, they're not a great athletic line like you know, and they don't have that. And you know, weapon wise, they don't have anybody outside of Diggs that you count on week in, week out. Dawson Knox is a nice player. I think he's in some ways their second most dependable pass catcher.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, agree. Especially during, during the last part of the season.

[Mike Catalana]

I think I'm aggressive in the off season if I'm being, I'm helping Josh Allen and maybe starting with. I asked you guys now, is Dorsey back next year?

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't think he is. That's just my personal opinion. I feel like, and maybe this is just, you know, me looking too far into it. But in terms of, in terms of the vibes, guys, it just doesn't feel the same from, I mean Dable and Josh seemed like they were best buds and I feel like there's been a lot of frustration with Ken Dorsey and just like we talked about some of the play calling and I think it's just, I don't know where you go because you know, people have talked about Joe Brady, the Bills quarterbacks coach, but obviously he would be taking over offensive coordinator duties and he would be in a first year role, like that type of thing. But Dorsey, I just think there's growing pains with anyone. But I don't know.

[Mike Catalana]

Do you have time for the growing pain?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Exactly. Like you have a window?

[Dan Fates]

No. And that's what it is. I know I went in before the game, I was sitting in the press box and I talked to a bunch of people. I said, I got a hot take reflex.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, you had a hot take.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, rare. And I said, is Ken Dorsey coaching for his job today? I said that before the game.

[Mike Catalana]

Wow, look at you.

[Dan Fates]

I said that before. And I don't know if I necessarily believed it, but we saw that the offense sputtered and stalled against Miami and the turnovers have been an issue all year and all of these things. I, I think it's probably more likely he stays, but I wouldn't not, I would not be surprised in the slightest if he didn't, if he left, if he was fired. I think the Bills would love for him to somehow land a head coaching job. Whether it was Carolina and they could shake hands and not kick him out the door, but close the door behind him because I think this offense needs to be challenged. I think these, this the message that has gone stale and it's over a whole year. This isn't just a two game sample size where they've struggled like they, this offense has plateaued and it's lacking, like we just mentioned creativity. And I just think that there are other voices that can come in, fresh voices that have not been a part of the organization. Don't just give Ken Dorsey the job or because Josh Allen likes him or that he's familiar with the organization. Get somebody that can take this offense to another level.

[Mike Catalana]

I'm with you. Yeah, I mean, I'm with you. And I think there's pressure on Sean McDermott. Not necessarily. You know, look, it's easy to just always go to the head coach and all. He can make changes in his coordinator. He had Dabel there a long time. He said Leslie there. We haven't talked about Leslie Frazier. I don't think Leslie Frazier is going anywhere.

[Dan Fates]

Agreed.

[Mike Catalana]

I think Sean McDermott has a. Certainly a hand in the defense. I mean, let's, let's also be honest. The defense was missing Hyde, missing Von Miller, missing Hoyer a good chunk of the time. Playing hurt Tray White is not himself. They like Christian Benford. He didn't get back on the field like there was a lot missing Dquan Jones today. Not in the game, at least there you had some reasons, not excuses. Right. That the defense wasn't what it was. I'm worried about the secondary, no doubt.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And you know, you don't know what they're going to do with linebacker, you know what they're going to do with Tremaine. But there's a lot of questions about that. But I don't think Leslie Frazier's. I know a lot of people get mad at Frazier, let's be honest. They give up the two scores early. They got pushed around, there's no doubt about it. But I don't think it's the same thing as having Josh Allen as your quarterback and not being able to make it work.

[Dan Fates]

We went into the season talking about, man, those 53 man roster, so talented. I think right now, after seeing this season in the entirety, not just. This isn't a, a reaction to just one game. You can throw a dart and hit a position group, not the quarterback. That needs to be upgraded. Every single position group, I think, needs to be addressed.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think. I think every single position group needs to be addressed.

[Dan Fates]

That's crazy.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But like, yes, like, I can't believe.

[Dan Fates]

I'm saying that after this season.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Well, I did a radio interview. They're like, we're going to talk about something that's concerning us of the position groups. And I was like, I don't know which. Which position group they're going to choose. Is it going to be secondary? Is it going to be offensive line? Is it going to be skill position guys? Like, yeah, it. There's. There are a lot of questions.

[Mike Catalana]

You know, it's.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And that's a lot of work, too.

[Mike Catalana]

Jenna. I was going to say, if you went through every team that made the playoffs this year, I think the only one that has worse skill guys is the Giants.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Wow.

[Dan Fates]

And they took one of the Bills practice squad players and made them pretty good.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. Dallas is not great. I mean, if you look at what.

[Dan Fates]

Their skill CD and Pollard.

[Mike Catalana]

Pollard is good. Pollard is good, is really good. They're missing that other guy. They'll probably go out and get that. San Francisco no doubt. Has those guys at wide receiver and running back.

[Dan Fates]

Eagles any good?

[Mike Catalana]

Eagles, yeah, the Eagles have the guys. Minnesota's got those guys. I mean, like, if you go around, like, I don't, I don't think the Bills even remotely match up and that's not even going with the offensive line. Look at the offensive lines that are left. Kansas City, Philly, Washington and Cincinnati with their backups dominated the Bills. I'm not I don't think they have a great line but they make up for it with scheme a quarterback and weapons. Yeah So I don't know am I missing somebody that where the Bills would rank with weapons? No I mean Miami's got better weapons.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I was to say I think that's.

[Mike Catalana]

Fair and they didn't make the playoffs.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Jacksonville, Miami, well they got a better.

[Mike Catalana]

I like Jacksonville's, Jacksonville's weapons ATN Zay Somebody laughed at me one day I said I'd take Zay Jones on this team in a minute 100%. I'm like Zay Jones is playing great.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He is.

[Mike Catalana]

They got Christian Kirk. They have some and they got Ingram the tight end making plays down the field they, they've got good players they're lacking it's on beam this is a tough off season for him. He's got a lot of moves to make.

[Dan Fates]

Shout out Benjamin Solak talked about pointed out that Brandon Bean hasn't drafted a Pro Bowler the last four years on this good of a team. That's interesting and I will also admit that pro bowling is stupid. Matt Milano's not a pro Bowler but he's a first team all pro.

[Mike Catalana]

You could even make that argument and say all pro Pro Bowler or even a player that deserved to get it.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. A snub.

[Dan Fates]

I mean they're in Amber add maybe last year when he had a. Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

But even that it's not like some guaranteed guy. I mean look who they've taken in the high rounds. You know A.J. apanessa, Greg Russo.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You know I think Kair could have potential.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah he's he's got ability but I mean pro you know.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And Pro Bowl.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Yeah. There's a huge jug and I know.

[Mike Catalana]

You'Re even that you're drafting late in the first round but teams draft guys that are Pro Bowlers. Second, third, third, fourth round. I mean it happens. So yeah Bean's got pressure on him. Not losing your job pressure but like.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Come on like well it's disappointing too to see like today how much they've invested in the defensive line through free agency, through the draft, all these things and like there was the opportunity to capitalize considering the Bengals are so beaten up on their offensive line and it was like I mean Joe Burrow. It felt like they did a good job of scheming around that but at the same point there just felt like there was no pressure up on bur like it just it yeah it was really upsetting to see knowing how much money they've Spent and invested to see kind of a performance like that today. And honestly, without Von Miller, it's. It's. It's been like that.

[Mike Catalana]

And Von is Von. But he's a year older. Next year, too. Like, you were getting a great year out of him.

[Dan Fates]

Coming off a second acl.

[Mike Catalana]

That did take a lot out of him, I thought. You know, I mean, out of them, without him. Yeah, but. And by the way, I'm not giving Leslie Frazier a pass today. I didn't like the scheme. I figure if you're going to be aggressive, be aggressive. Get the corners up, try to take away. They went underneath a lot in this game.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, they did.

[Mike Catalana]

And guys were open all the time. Guys were open, open. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I had nightmare, like, nightmare flashbacks of Joe Burrow just looking surgical, like Tom Brady did in Orchard park for two decades. That was. That was the precision. Like you talked about, Mike. But he doesn't have the talent that Allen has. He doesn't have the arm, the running ability. He doesn't have. He doesn't have the big arm like. Like Mahomes. Right. Or even Herbert. But, man, does he put the ball in the right place at the right time. His decision making, his poise in the pocket is just phenomenal. Yeah, he's a problem.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He really was gonna be a problem in Buffalo. He really was Joe Cool.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Like, he was calm cool.

[Dan Fates]

We talked about all the Bills, how they match up with the Chiefs. Like, now they got problems.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Because the Bengals ain't going anywhere.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. It goes fast. What do they say the NFL stands for? Not for long. And you get your window there. You know, Sean was asked, is your window closing? That's a bit strong because you still got Josh Allen. But it does change the window. Like, they have to make substantial moves, I think, to open that window wide open. And I have to say, you look around the division and you say, I don't love New England at all. But with better coaching, which is funny to say that about them, they'll be competitive. I mean, their offensive coaching was abysmal. Their weapons were abysmal. I think they'll be better. Miami's got a good roster, and if tua's healthy, they're a problem. And the jets have a great defense with. I mean, they have to figure out what they're doing. So they all have issues, but the conference itself is strong. And, you know, you still got the Chargers, you got even. You know, Pittsburgh's coming up with a young quarterback. It's like, it gets harder.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. It's I feel like it's setting. Setting in now that there's winning cures all. And I feel like with the Bills when they kept winning, you're like, yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

There'S problems, but, you know, the great deodorant is winning.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. And then now the season ending loss, especially in a way like that, it just. It feels like there are a lot of.

[Dan Fates]

I hate it when Nick Wright and Colin Coward are right.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Ugh.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, Nick Wright is dunk. And you know what? I usually try to make fun of him, take a little troll shot at him sometimes. Nothing to say. He's tweeting in capital letters. And you could be mad, but I mean. And they're playing Burrow and it's. That's the two in the AFC now. Allen's not part of that.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, it's bur. It was Mahomes and Allen. It's Burrow and Mahomes now. Until Josh Chase.

[Dan Fates]

For the second straight year, it's Chiefs and Bengals in the afc.

[Mike Catalana]

And it's not all on Josh because he was great last year in that game and this game was whatever. But he's lost in the playoffs to Mahomes twice and Burrow once. Once.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

He's 0 for 3 against those two.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. It's just.

[Mike Catalana]

And it's not. I know before you say it's not all on him, but. Yeah, that's the way it goes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Also. Just losing a playoff game at home in the way that you did. Yeah. It's just. It's. It's.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. But they need to build a dome.

[Dan Fates]

Build a dome.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I mean, I selfishly wish they would, but that's because I don't want to be outside. We always talk about the press box, the food.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And I want to do that, but. But I wanted to make sure we wrapped up what you guys were thinking about.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Today was a sad trombone.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

That was. I had a much more graphic description of the game earlier, but we'll. We'll just go with the sad trombone noise because it was just one of those every single time. And like Mike, you asked the best question I thought to. To Matt Milano. Just saying it. Was it uncommon game, the way that this. The way the defense played and all of those things. And did you sense that was what your question was to Milano, who again, I tweeted out the video and somebody responded with I did not know that's what Matt Milano sounded like, which I thought was very. Was a perfect tweet because we don't. He's a very soft spoken Guy doesn't talk a lot, usually doesn't say much. And he said, yeah, there was no juice, there was no energy, there was no momentum. Usually it's the offense scores, and then we can feed off that, or. Or the defense gets a turnover, and the offense responds, and he goes, there was none of that today. And to think about saying those words, if you said that week 12 against, you know, the Steelers, I'd be like, all right, yeah, that makes sense. But to say it in the divisional round of the playoffs at home is just very surprising to me. And that's just kind of how I felt about this game, was the lack of energy. Again, I didn't know if it was just the emotional toll that this season has taken on them, but it just was. They were flat.

[Mike Catalana]

By the way, do you think the Bengals played with any edge from feeling like they got cheated out of the home game? And then all the talk about the Bills and Chiefs.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I do.

[Mike Catalana]

A little bit. Right.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I think they definitely. They took it personally.

[Mike Catalana]

I would say, okay, Michael Jordan and I took it personally.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And I took that personally. It did.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, it was.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It did. Being on the sidelines of that game, the fourth quarter, I was like, oh, it's like, man, this is. And just being around the team, like, seeing them hanging their heads, normally, that's like. I heard Tremaine Edmonds yelling in the fourth quarter, like, come on, let's fight. Let's fight. But it just. The reaction was just. It was weird.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It felt like slowly, this team had been losing air all season long, and then yesterday, it just.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, it's like there. You know, there were holes in the tire, and you kept filling it up and patching them, and you hit a really big pothole in the Bengals.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, no, it's true.

[Dan Fates]

And the car crumbled.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, that sounds bad.

[Mike Catalana]

So do you want to talk about food?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Jenna, what was the food like on the field?

[Jenna Cottrell]

I did not.

[Dan Fates]

Okay. Also, let's not, like, cry a sob story. Jenna was up in the press box pre game. She got to eat up there.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That was so defensive of you.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, because I knew we'd get the flack of, like, oh, Darren's up in the press box. Jenna doesn't have to. Doesn't get to eat.

[Mike Catalana]

Wait a minute. You go up there one game, and you're fighting back on the narrative that you're in the press box.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, my God. Relax.

[Mike Catalana]

You're clearly triggered. Every week I hear it and I go, go, oh, that's terrible. I'm going up in the press box now. Yeah. By the way, those pastries look like they're plastic.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Butter.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The butter block.

[Dan Fates]

The butter block. Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

They don't look real. And one had bacon in it.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, it was one I had. It was a bacon donut wrapped around a bacon. Yeah, it's good.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Don't.

[Mike Catalana]

I don't want bacon in a pastry.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't mind that. I didn't have it. I had the beef on weck. Macaroni and cheese, which is.

[Dan Fates]

Oh.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So we had nice meal, which had beef stroganoff vibes ribs. And then I had the chicken wings, which were really good.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Lenova.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. And then I had a. A bowl of M M's and gummy bears.

[Dan Fates]

Pre game feel at halftime, like that. That Buffalo chicken wing dip.

[Mike Catalana]

Very smooth.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, it was like pureed buffalo chicken wing.

[Mike Catalana]

It was like. It came out of it. Just a big.

[Dan Fates]

Somebody in line goes, are those sweet potatoes? Because that was the consistency.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What do you mean?

[Dan Fates]

Well, so imagine sweet potatoes.

[Mike Catalana]

It usually has some. Some chunks. Chunks in there.

[Dan Fates]

You know what I'm saying?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, like mashed sweet potatoes.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, okay. Well, you can. You can prepare sweet potatoes in other ways.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Like, that was the. Like, the consistency of what?

[Jenna Cottrell]

It looked so weird.

[Dan Fates]

It was accurate. It was good. Don't get me wrong, it was good. We had some brisket. That was good. And that was so.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay.

[Dan Fates]

Didn't have much of an appetite.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Well, what was your experience like?

[Mike Catalana]

Weird.

[Dan Fates]

Felt like a fish out of water.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Right. I feel like I didn't have any friends when I was up.

[Mike Catalana]

Wherever he goes, he's never a fish out of water. He's over there holding court with.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Didn't you feel like you weren't working?

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Like, because even when I met the station games, I'm like, cutting video, tweeting from there. Like, it just was like, you're sitting. I don't know. It's different.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. You're just like.

[Dan Fates]

It's not my first time in the press box of probably only my fifth or sixth time, but it's. I don't feel like I belong.

[Mike Catalana]

Weren't we all. Were we all in the press box the same? No, you weren't up there. Channel 8 never let you go, did they?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, that was funny. I remember when Jenna came and broke all the rules when she was working in Elmyra.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. I was next to.

[Mike Catalana]

She was in the press box.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, Dan, we were there that day. Yeah. So we actually technically all were in the press box. I remember we Dan. So Dan and I worked together in Elmyra. Dan Cottrell and I worked together in Elmyrates. And no, Renee. Your wife would. Not your sister. But we were. I was what, 22 at the time. I was the sports director, so I had, like, Mike's job. But in Elmyra.

[Mike Catalana]

No, you didn't.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And Elmyra, it doesn't count. But essentially we missed a game and we didn't tell them we weren't coming. We lost our credential.

[Dan Fates]

Chris Pinelli. Oh, guys, you didn't show up.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

So tell us. So you guys can't come anymore. We're like, yeah, fair enough. Touche, man. Had no idea what we were doing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I. Yeah, no, that's why Mike handles.

[Dan Fates]

All the logistical stuff.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, Mike makes it seem like he does.

[Mike Catalana]

I take care of for you guys. I make sure you're all set.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You do book the flights?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Man, I wish we were going to Atlanta.

[Mike Catalana]

More flights, though.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I know.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh, we got London. All right. Anything else, Bueller?

[Dan Fates]

I'm good.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, we're. We don't have post game podcasts, but we will be doing podcasts.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Yeah. Still say subscribe because we're. We're gonna keep putting out content, of course. And I. We have a lot to talk about as the offse season begins and there are big decisions to be made and obviously plenty of upgrades in terms of what the Bills want to do and just decisions along the way. So be sure to keep it here and subscribe as well as if you could rate the podcast. Comments are always appreciated and if you could share it if you like this podcast and want to send it to some other Bills fans. Yeah. For Mike and Dan. Dan is yawning, so I feel like that's the cue. All good. All right. For Mike and Dan, I'm Jenna. We will catch you next time here on Buffalo Plus. Thanks for listening and be sure to rate, comment and subscribe.