The BILLS are AFC Championship BOUND: JOSH ALLEN and the DEFENSE BEAT Lamar Jackson. Chiefs NEXT.

Summary

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Buffalo Plus: The BILLS are AFC Championship BOUND – Josh Allen and the Defense Beat Lamar Jackson. Chiefs NEXT.

Episode Air Date: January 20, 2025
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fates
Key Theme: The Buffalo Bills’ gritty 27-25 win over the Baltimore Ravens, securing a spot in the AFC Championship, with analysis on Josh Allen, the defense, coaching, and what’s next in Kansas City.

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Episode Overview

This episode celebrates the Buffalo Bills' hard-fought victory over the Ravens to advance to the AFC Championship game. The Buffalo Plus team dissects the team’s resilience, the defense’s pivotal plays, crucial coaching decisions, and the growing belief in the Bills' ability to overcome adversity. They reflect on how the team has grown since previous playoff appearances and preview the monumental matchup awaiting in Kansas City.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A Different Bills Team: Growth Since 2020

• The hosts note how this trip to the AFC Championship feels unlike 2020 or other recent playoff letdowns.
  • “They’ve been there before, right? In 2020 with this group. It just feels so different. That was before they really should have been here. And they’ve had failures… This is a major step, major progress for them." — Jenna Cottrell (01:01)
• Celebrating progress for head coach Sean McDermott and Josh Allen.

2. Overcoming Doubt and ‘Blocking Out the Noise’

• The Bills were underdogs, doubted for their strength and talent all week.
  • “Our guys heard it all. They heard it all week long. We’re not good. We’re not big enough, we’re not strong enough, not talented enough…they heard it.” — Josh Allen (03:59)
  • “We don’t listen to the outside noise…but everyone was saying this and that about us…We love each other and I think you saw how much we played for each other there.” — Sean McDermott (04:12)
• The media panel laughs about how, despite claims to the contrary, the team does hear and use the criticism as motivation.

3. Defensive Playmaking: Key Turnovers & Crucial Stops

• The defense forced three turnovers—critical given Baltimore’s offensive firepower.
  • “They were able to hold things down enough for the Bills offense.” — Dan Fates (02:46)
• Huge momentum swings came from:
  • Taylor Rapp’s timely plays (02:46)
  • Demar Hamlin’s forced fumble: “To hang onto his ankle and then, yeah, Lamar kind of drops it, but he’s still hanging onto his ankle and pulling him away, separating for the ball. That may be Trell Bernard’s biggest play of his career. In that moment.” — Mike Catalana (05:24)
• Red zone defense saved the day: after a 46-yard pass, Bills hold Ravens to a field goal. “That’s a four point swing. You won by two.” — Mike Catalana (08:50)

4. Sean McDermott’s Coaching Decisions

• Panels discuss his fourth down call and sticking with kicker Tyler Bass under pressure.
  • “If it was one yard, we were going. If it was two yards, we had a decision. Three yards was too far…It was the right call.” — Jenna Cottrell (06:45)
  • “That stopped the bleeding…just to get points.” — Mike Catalana (07:25)

5. Offense: Ground Game First, Trust in Key Players

• The offense’s conservative approach in the first half saw the run game dominate.
  • “The Bills ran 20 run plays, seven passes and were up by 11 points. And I thought, man, this is great.” — Mike Catalana (11:27)
• Later struggles and debates over play calling:
  • “You’re getting too cute. Don’t overthink it that much.” — Dan Fates (10:32)
• Surprising trust in rookie WR Keon Coleman in late-game moments: “That was an odd amount of trust…But he did. He made the catch.” — Jenna Cottrell (11:13)
• Offensive line and James Cook (plus backup RB Ray Davis) earn praise as unsung heroes (21:32).

6. Special Teams and ‘Hidden Points’

• The significance of Matt Milano’s defense on two-point conversions: “He moved to one side. Lamar had open in the end zone and Milano comes back and tips the pass…That’s four points right there.” — Jenna Cottrell (09:31)
• Pressure moments for Tyler Bass, and him coming through after a rocky prior season.

7. Officiating Controversies & Taking Advantage

• Frustration at pass interference and holding calls, jokes about how the Chiefs always get the breaks.
  • “The Chiefs get breaks, but what do the Chiefs do? They take advantage. And that’s what the Bills did. Josh Allen bulldozed his way into the end zone…” — Jenna Cottrell (15:07)

8. The Baltimore Perspective & Future MVP Debates

• Brief critique of John Harbaugh’s postseason record vs. McDermott’s current triumph (17:10).
• Contrast between Lamar Jackson’s regular-season brilliance and playoff turnovers: “Lamar may very well have three [MVPs], but it just highlights what a great regular season player is. He made some really nice plays, but he gave the ball up. And like we said, that was the difference in the game.” — Jenna Cottrell (17:41)

9. Emotional Highs and the Home Field Advantage

• Panel highlights the atmosphere in Orchard Park; the home crowd, the cold, and the feeling of a team and city on the rise.
  • “The Bills going 10 at home this season. That is awesome. City of winners.” — Jenna Cottrell & Mike Catalana (20:00–20:03)
  • “Don’t you talk all my city losers. We’re winners. Well, they’re winners tonight.” — Jenna Cottrell (20:13)

10. Outlook: Kansas City and Beyond

• Excitement and nerves about facing the Chiefs again.
  • “Listen, we’re going to Kansas City. It’s going to be a tremendous game…And it’s going to be, I think, a classic.” — Jenna Cottrell (20:13)
  • “Not to get sentimental, but I just was not ready for the season to be over. I’m glad we get to continue to build this bandwagon.” — Dan Fates (20:39)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the defensive stands:
  “You got to get some breaks, you also have to create some of your own breaks.” — Mike Catalana (05:24)
• On pressure moments:
  “[Matt Milano] was flying around. He hit some people… He moved to one side, Lamar had open in the end zone and Milano comes back and tips the pass. I don’t think he had any chance to see him.” — Jenna Cottrell (09:23)
• On stats vs. heart:
  “Stats are for the losers. Bills won and they’re going to Kansas City.” — Jenna Cottrell (23:22)
• On surviving the Ravens’ late push:
  “Sometimes it is just good to be lucky a little bit lucky in some of those circumstances.” — Dan Fates (15:31)
• On the unusual trust in late-game throws:
  “Earlier this year it hit Keon in the back of the head and another time it went right through Keon’s hands. Those are massive. And it’s so late. That was an odd amount of trust that he had in him at that point…But he did. He made the catch, so that was big.” — Jenna Cottrell (11:04–11:21)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening/previous playoff heartbreak: 01:01
• Allen & McDermott on hearing the doubters: 03:59–04:12
• Terrell Bernard, Demar Hamlin fumble, momentum shift: 05:04–06:26
• Sean McDermott’s fourth-down decision/Bass’s kick: 06:45–07:25
• Red zone stand after Ravens huge play: 08:09–08:52
• Matt Milano’s two-point conversion defense: 09:13–09:31
• Bills’ offensive strategy—first half run-heavy: 11:27
• Late-game trust in young WRs: 11:04–11:21
• Controversial penalties and taking advantage: 14:03–15:14
• Postgame feelings, KC preview, city pride: 20:00–20:13
• Unsung heroes and O-line recognition: 21:32

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Unsung Heroes

• Offensive Line: For steady run-blocking, especially in the first half (21:32).
• Demar Hamlin: Forced crucial fumble, active in the backfield (22:04).
• Sean McDermott: For navigated game management and defensive tweaks (22:35).

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Overall Tone & Takeaways

The hosts are jubilant but grounded, relishing in the victory’s significance without overlooking flaws or toughness required. They balance Buffalo fan pride, analytical insight, and authentic post-game emotion.

The victory is described not as a perfect game, but as a statement of heart and resilience, overcoming doubts both internal and from outside. The anticipation for Kansas City is palpable—setting up a highly anticipated AFC title clash.

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Transcript

[Josh Allen]

Well, our guys heard it all. They heard it all week long. We're not big enough. We're not strong enough.

[Sean McDermott]

Everyone was saying this and that about us, and we didn't have enough talent, weren't good enough to be in these positions.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, Mar throws that pass as it's leaving. It's thrown in our direction right over there. And I instantly grab Mike and go ball. This is the Buffalo plus podcast, brought to you by Connors and Ferris.

[Dan Fates]

All right, welcome back to the Buffalo plus channel, presented by Connors and Ferris, Mike Catalana, Dan Fates. I am Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to like, comment, subscribe and share as we all now head to Kansas City for the AFC Championship game as the Bills beating the Baltimore Ravens 27 to 25. It was a thrilling game here in Orchard park, and Mike, the Buffalo Bills are headed back to the AFC Championship.

[Jenna Cottrell]

They've been there before, right? In 2020 with this group. It just feels so different. That was early. That was before. They really should have been here. And they've had failures. Yeah, we've been standing here the last two years after losses to the Bengals, that was brutal. And then that loss to the Chiefs, that was, oh, so close. And everything's closing up. Oh, they're closing this place up now because we're going to Kansas City and then have a chance to be going to New Orleans for the Super Bowl. So I don't think this is the end for them. I think they have a great shot next week, but this is a major step, a major progress for them. For Sean McDermott, for Josh Allen, for everybody in this organization.

[Mike Catalana]

Never a doubt. Never a doubt. And I hope this is one of those games that you put some respect. And for the people that aren't big Fans of Sean McDermott, I thought this was a masterclass in the sense of rallying your team to play up to this level and this environment. I didn't think it was pretty the second half. Jenna, you said it before we started rolling. A lot of people clenching their cheeks watching, watching the second half of this game. But when it comes down to it, I said we were talking the whole week leading up to it. It was going to come down to a couple stops, whether it was a couple punts or a couple turnovers. They got those in the first half. Those were huge. They got a big one in the second half from Trail Bernard. But it was the fact of they got. Maybe not exactly when they needed them, but they got them enough to give them the lead, to hang on at the end.

[Dan Fates]

It Was such a wild game because at moments it's like, all right, the Bills will put them away here. The Bills will put them away here. And every time it just felt like things would fall apart, Mike. And then the defense, we know the defense has struggled throughout the season, but the three turnovers on the day, they were able to force and they. They were able to hold things down enough for the Bills offense.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, making those plays and getting those turnovers was huge, even though the one that Taylor Rapp had didn't ret result in any points. Then demar makes that play and grabs a hold of his leg, ball comes out. There's Vaughn running down the field like big plays like that. Listen, Lamar made some great plays like he did, but he also gave the Football Playoff Lamar and that was the difference in this game. As good as he is, he did not kill the Bills in this game. Neither did Derrick Henry. Did not kill them. That was the thing. Right? And I will tell you this, it wasn't a great thing. It wasn't a pretty game. It wasn't those things. This is not a great matchup for this Bill.

[Mike Catalana]

Not at all.

[Jenna Cottrell]

They are built to try to beat the Kansas City Chiefs. That's what their task is next week. Yeah, this Baltimore team is different, and they got a lot different when they got Henry and they hung in there. They changed some things. They fought, they spied a little bit on Lamar. They did all those things and they found a way to get it done.

[Mike Catalana]

You talk about the matchup, it's the reason that going back in week four, I picked the Ravens because I didn't like this matchup. And if you thought you didn't like the matchup Sean McDermott and Josh Allen talked about while they block out the noise, they heard everything that went on this week.

[Josh Allen]

Well, our guys heard it all. They heard it all week long. We're not good. We're not big enough, we're not strong enough, not talented enough, not fat. Whatever it is, they heard it. I don't do the social media thing things, but I think most of those guys do.

[Sean McDermott]

You know, we don't listen to the outside noise, but everyone was saying this and that about us and didn't have enough talent, weren't good enough to be in these positions. And our guys just continue to work hard and we're internally driven. We love each other and I think you saw how much we played for each other there.

[Mike Catalana]

I just love it. We always talk about how Josh is not online, but he hears everything that goes on around it. Just perfect. We don't hear the noise. But we heard it all.

[Dan Fates]

We all heard the noise.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But he says that he'll be like, we don't listen to it. And then we heard it say all the things that were said and it was said about them. Now that's specifically to this Ravens team. Sean talked about that, you know, like you said, about being tough enough at all. But this was the step back year for the Bills, right. This was sort of. They were going to rebuild a little bit or retool a little bit, and here they are going farther than they have in the last few years.

[Dan Fates]

It really was incredible. And I think of some of the plays and specifically Terrell Bernard, we talked about him a little bit in the very quick teaser video we did right after the game ended. But Dan, I mean, the plays that he is able to make and the momentum shifts throughout various games this season, but coming up in a game like this, massive.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

To make that play and you got to get some breaks, you also have to create some of your own breaks and to punch that ball out in that spot to then fall on the ball like just one of those. I think earlier we talked about, Mike, when you're in the press box, that was Demar Hamlin's biggest play of his career. To have that play to, you know, many people have Lamar Jackson puts on skates one on one and Demar not only to. To hang onto his ankle and then, yeah, Lamar kind of drops it, but he's still hanging onto his ankle and pulling the ball, pulling him away, separating for the ball. That may be Trell Bernard's biggest play of his career. In that moment. The team needing something. I was joking around, tweet. I was like, they need Mr. Brightside to play now. Like they need some kind of energy because it just felt like you were waiting for the shoe to drop. And instead it was trail Bernard who completely flipped the momentum back.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I said that in this place when we talked a little bit beforehand, that that's where Taron Johnson made his play of his career. The interception against Lamar for the touchdown. It's not as dramatic as that.

[Mike Catalana]

Correct.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But it was massive. They are driving to take the lead in the game. It's a 19 yard catch. Lamar has got it going. Henry was running well. Next thing you know, the Bills have the football and then they drive down and they take the eight point lead at that point, which. Which was a big deal.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Jenna Cottrell]

We knew it was going to come down at some point to a Sean McDermott decision. And I Think I asked him about it afterward and he basically said. What did he say? If it was one yard, we were going. If it was two yards, we had a decision. Three yards was too far. And you guys know when you watch like three yards is a lot in this field on fourth down when you're up by five. And that was the key thing, I think. And it was the right call. They survived it, but I think it was still the right call.

[Dan Fates]

That was also big for Bass in that moment because pressure's on. We know what happened last year, all these things. And for Sean McDermott to have confidence in Bass, that was huge as well.

[Mike Catalana]

That stopped the bleeding.

[Guest Analyst]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

I didn't know for how long it was going to stop the bleeding, but that was massive. Just to get points.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And just the confidence, though, that this team has had in Bass, even when we have question five from 50, is he really your guy to see him also come through?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Now Lamar made those plays and drove down and could have had it tied. Probably deserved to have it tied. Andrew's dropped the ball or had a chance at the end.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

If this is next week against Mahomes, does he go for a touchdown? That's what I was thinking of.

[Dan Fates]

Situational, though.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, that's a good question. Because I'm trying to think that's also the Ravens defense. Right. But it was also third and two or it was third and three. Or on the third and two before Josh got stuck, lost a yard.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

I think when you see that, you get a little bit like, oh. Like hey. Because a lot of times we joke around on third and short, we're like two Josh Helen runs. That's it. Hit the button once, hit it again. Because Josh on the one play early on should have given it to Ty Johnson on an RPO and didn't and got tackled for a loss. They went right back to it. On the next play, it's like, Josh ain't going to get stopped twice. That was huge. You talk about the defensive plays and the turnovers are massive. But another play that may not seem or maybe a series of that gets overlooked after the interception, Lamar hits Bateman on like a 46 yarder. Perfect pass over Demar to. They get tackled at the 1. The Bills hold them to a field goal. Yeah, that's a four point swing.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

You won by two.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Like those plays are massive in that spot. The Bills have been a really good red goal line or red zone defense. Joked around about it earlier in the year that Sean McDermott says it's because the defensive coordinator is a lot better this year. I thought it was a phenomenal job of bearing down, knowing that every single point in this game was going to. Was going to be crucial. And it was.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What was crucial with two point conversions, Obviously the last one they didn't get and the one earlier after they had scored. Matt Milano made a great play.

[Dan Fates]

Silent Assassin.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He was. Well, he was flying around. He hit some people.

[Dan Fates]

Holy cow.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He was.

[Dan Fates]

He's got some flow too.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. After he talked so much trash down.

[Mike Catalana]

In Baltimore, you had to back it up.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He'll probably go back on that channel at some point tomorrow. But that play, he was. He moved to one side. Lamar had open in the end zone and Milano comes back and tips the pass. I don't think he had any chance to see him. That is two. That's four points right there, obviously. And the two would have tied the game at the end. So there was enough guys who made plays even though they gave up. 25. Okay, 25. It's to Baltimore in the Bills, you know, that was. That was what they needed him to have. I thought the defense made a lot of plays.

[Mike Catalana]

I think the defense like one game.

[Dan Fates]

I, Yeah, I, I agree.

[Mike Catalana]

Like, what were your guys thoughts on Joe Brady's game plan? Because I was a little bit confused at their plan of attack.

[Dan Fates]

I think that's fair. I also some of the. Look, I think sometimes it's like play calls. It's very easy to be results based in your decision of like. Well, I hated that. That was stupid. But I'm seeing, you know, a screen to Dawson Knox.

[Mike Catalana]

Stupid.

[Dan Fates]

You're getting too cute. Like, don't overthink it that much. Where you're going too far one way. It's like, do what you got. What. Do what got you here. And there were just questions I had where I was like, I don't love that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I thought it was interesting that the Bills played with only one wide receiver in this game.

[Mike Catalana]

Khalil Shakir.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, my dude.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The other guys were Curtis Samuel. Curtis Samuel made a couple plays.

[Mike Catalana]

2. 2 conversions.

[Dan Fates]

Matt Collins.

[Jenna Cottrell]

How about Josh throwing to Keon on that slant late in the game on a run play.

[Mike Catalana]

That's a designed run play that Josh has the option to hit Keon on a slant. Earlier this year it hit Keon in the back of the head and another time it went right through Keon's hands. Those are massive.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Those are possible interceptions. And it's so late. That was an odd amount of trust that he had in him at that point.

[Dan Fates]

Agreed.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But he did. He made the catch, so that was big.

[Dan Fates]

How many targets did Amari Cooper end up with? Just the one.

[Mike Catalana]

Jenna, to your point, you talk about results based. The way that you view things is so results based. Oriented. Right. The first half, The Bills ran 20 run plays, seven passes and were up by 11 points. And I thought, man, this is great. Right? Nobody was in my mentions. Nobody was dming me. And then all of a sudden when they stuck to it, they obviously believe in this offensive line. It is what has gotten them to this point. It is what his head Josh upright so far so much this entire season. It's what's given James Cook 1,000 yards. They were able to run the ball effectively in the first half. It didn't work in the second half. And all of a sudden Joe Brady's a bad play caller. That's not it. I think what happened was they had to make some adjustments. I didn't like the Dawson knock screen pass, right. But this wasn't something where I felt like the Bills. I know a bunch of people were saying they took their foot off the gas. I don't know as much as that is. The Ravens made adjustments, but the Bills came into this game with the. With the. Clearly the mindset of we can run the ball, we're going to run the ball down their throat. And for the first half, for 30 minutes, it worked. The third quarter, utter disaster. Three and out. Three and out. Not good. But they made adjustments towards the end. And like I said, that drive after the Terrell Bernard forced the fumble, they got some other guys involved.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Matt Hollins made a catch.

[Mike Catalana]

Matt Hollins made a catch. That was another. That was the Keon play in there. Ty Johnson again in the flat. Like, it started to look like that creative offense, Joe Brady got back into that bag of his when he needed to get creative and gain some first downs.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, no, it. There were moments, though, where I was like, wow. Like, this is not good in terms of, like, what is happening to that screen. What are we doing? What are we doing? Where I was, you know, we come out of the half and I'm like, all right, the Bill scored. You have the ball back. You know, move the ball down the field, kick your field, get points, get something, get a touchdown. And then for them to go three and out, it was like there was a little bit of blood in the water in me. It was a little bit of like, don't play with your food here.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And the way Baltimore came out in the third quarter took you back because Henry got running People over. He had a great drive. They went down the field. They score after they had kicked the field goal. Then they score and they go for the two and they don't get it. But it felt like Baltimore was taking control. And then it led to the Terrell Bernard play, which was, you know, which was, like we said, that was an incredible one for them. But another key play in this game was in the first half. And I'm going to do this since I haven't done it for a while, was right there. And Keon Coleman got a call. That was a lousy call.

[Mike Catalana]

Trey.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I mean, Trey White, God bless him, you guys, he dapped you guys up before the game. Good man. Great man back here. He was playing tight coverage. That is not pass interference.

[Mike Catalana]

No. But Keon did enough to fight through it, to draw enough. It wasn't a good call. The refs were bad. The call on Deion Dawkins on the third drive was horrendous. Deion has been doing that all season long of snatching the defender down. We've seen player after media member Brian Baldinger and all these guys and Jeff Schwartz and all these guys.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Ross Tucker said, that is textbook. That's what they teach an offensive lineman to do.

[Mike Catalana]

And it killed the drive and Deion was pissed. And he rightfully is so. And no matter who says anything, it's the wrong call.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

The reason that was bigger was, first of all, it was Keon and it was Trey White, which is fascinating that he's back here in these circumstances. But then what I always say to you guys, because I complain about how the Chiefs get breaks. The Chiefs get breaks, The Chiefs get breaks. But what do the Chiefs do? They get a break and then they take advantage of it.

[Guest Analyst]

Yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And that's what the Bills did. Josh Allen bulldozed his way into the end zone and it's 21:10 at the half.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And yeah, they only scored six points in the second half. Would have been nice to get more, but it ended up being.

[Dan Fates]

It was enough. Josh Allen said that before going into the game, we just have to figure out a way to score one more point. They scored two.

[Mike Catalana]

Mark Andrews. Appreciate it, man.

[Dan Fates]

I will. We were talking on the sidelines. Sometimes it is just good to be lucky a little bit lucky in some of those circumstances. I. That that two point conversion that would have tied the game was right in front of me and I saw it happen.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I'm like, did you yell at him?

[Guest Analyst]

No.

[Dan Fates]

Ball? No.

[Mike Catalana]

So I yelled in the press box twice.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So, hey, the old Man.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, you yelled for that, too?

[Mike Catalana]

No, not there.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No. But the old man gets in trouble for talking too much in the press box.

[Guest Analyst]

Box.

[Dan Fates]

It's just constant.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So Dan is.

[Mike Catalana]

Hey, Jenna, are you seeing this? No.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Hey, by the way, I wasn't talking that much.

[Mike Catalana]

You were better.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I was better.

[Dan Fates]

And then Dan had him out on pitch count.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Dan just yells ball. Like they teach you in football.

[Dan Fates]

Is pigs out.

[Mike Catalana]

Ravens go down the field, score. Bill's answer, score. Lamar throws that pass, and as it's leaving, it's thrown in our direction right over there. And I step into, like, grab Mike and go ball. Cause I'm seeing the trajectory going. That's right. To rap. Like, there's no way that's anywhere near Bateman. They got the interception. And then when Vaughn picked the ball up, I grabbed Mike. It just. It was one of those.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So keep this in mind. This is him. I know.

[Dan Fates]

I know.

[Jenna Cottrell]

This is not me.

[Dan Fates]

I've never been in the press box with Dan. Cause one of us.

[Jenna Cottrell]

What an adventure.

[Mike Catalana]

I'm just like everybody else, by the way.

[Dan Fates]

So what did you say when Mark Andrews dropped it?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Whoa.

[Mike Catalana]

No, we were downstairs.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, we were in the other room. But they say no cheering in the press box. But I. I don't know if you're allowed to yell ball.

[Dan Fates]

Ball.

[Jenna Cottrell]

So good. It was pretty funny.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, my gosh.

[Mike Catalana]

Shout out Sean McDermott. And when are people gonna start criticizing John Harbaugh for not being able to.

[Jenna Cottrell]

To win a big game because he's won a Super Bowl.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

It erases everything.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It does.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And listen, was that 10 years ago?

[Dan Fates]

It's called concealers 2012.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And that Super bowl was in New.

[Mike Catalana]

Orleans 12 years ago. 12 years ago.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. 13, I guess.

[Dan Fates]

Joe Flacco.

[Mike Catalana]

Flacco.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And they won.

[Mike Catalana]

And poor Stavi.

[Dan Fates]

I was thinking of Stavi.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Now, I will tell you when we get to. If.

[Mike Catalana]

You know.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You know, if they get to New Orleans and they're playing at the super bowl that week and the MVP is announced, you know, there's a possibility that it flips a little bit from what the AP thing is. But regardless of that, Josh has this, and he has a. Maybe he's going to New Orleans, maybe that, and then you'd love to see him win a Super bowl and love to see him win an mvp. Lamar may very well have three, but it just highlights what a great regular season player is. He made some really nice plays, but he gave the ball up. And like we said, that was the difference in the game. Josh did not. Josh made the plays he needed to make and his team got the win.

[Mike Catalana]

Sean preached it. He said it multiple times. Post game fundamentals. The Bills were the more fundamentally sound team. They held Derrick Henry in the first half to eight rushes for 21 yards. That was great. They were able to cause the turnovers. Luck helps. But I was just impressed by the ability to control the momentum swings for the most part and hang on.

[Dan Fates]

That's what they did. And they made enough plays where when the momentum was starting to swell, Terrell Bernard makes his play. Like, there were just moments where you felt like. I felt like the crowd got quiet at moments, but it was never like, the sky is falling. It was like, woo. Like, let's see where this goes.

[Guest Analyst]

But.

[Dan Fates]

And I think that does say a lot about this team, though, and the composure that they have had throughout the season.

[Mike Catalana]

Giving up an opening drive. Touchdown. Answered right back.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Answered right back. And got points. By the way, you mentioned the crowd. You tweeted outfits.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, my. Incredible. Incredible. Well, it was funny. One of the photographers next to me was like, you should ask him. Make sure he takes off his shirt when he does the. Where else would you rather be? And I was like, I'm not gonna do that. I don't know. I don't know him. That's weird. But I was like, oh, he's got a lot of layers on. I don't think he would. And then as soon as I saw him go like this, I was like, oh, yeah, it's going down. That was electric, though. And to hear how loud the stadium got. Yeah. And the weather, like, it was cold. It was really fine. I mean, this is the most. I feel like it was snowing all day.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Look how cool it looks in this place.

[Dan Fates]

It looks incredible. The bill's going 10 at home this season.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's. That is awesome. Yeah, that is really something.

[Mike Catalana]

City of winners.

[Dan Fates]

Oh, yes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

John said that he was there. He was. He was. He was fired up.

[Dan Fates]

Doing.

[Mike Catalana]

He was fired up.

[Dan Fates]

The dad move of, like, banging the table.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Don't you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Don't you talk. All my city losers. We're winners. Well, they're winners tonight. And this is. This is huge for them. And listen, we're going to Kansas City. It's going to be a tremendous game. Everybody's watching. That's every Bills game. Right? It feels like everybody's watching. And it's going to be. I think it's going to be a classic. Very memorable Sunday night in Kansas City.

[Mike Catalana]

Agreed.

[Dan Fates]

I. I agree. And of course, we'll get you ready as The Bills head down to Kansas City in the AFC Championship game. Guys, not to get sentimental, but I just was not ready for the season to be over. I'm glad we get to continue to build this bandwagon.

[Mike Catalana]

It'll be bourbon drink in Kansas City one way or another.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Thank you to the Bills for bringing us along. And then maybe they take us to New Orleans.

[Dan Fates]

Okay.

[Mike Catalana]

What was that, just like cannons or something?

[Dan Fates]

Okay. Desk.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It's just cannons.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Okay. He's making fun of me. Like, how am I supposed to know what a cannon sounds like? By the way, I don't like that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

There'S other people here. Usually it's just us at the end.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Get out.

[Dan Fates]

They not like us.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't know.

[Dan Fates]

All right.

[Guest Analyst]

Okay.

[Mike Catalana]

Plenty more content.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All week long. Who?

[Mike Catalana]

We're not leaving.

[Dan Fates]

Who was your unsung guy of the night?

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't know if it's unsung. Well, first of all, I would just say. I would say the offensive line. I mean, I think they ran the ball. We didn't really talk that much about it, but when you said, when they stuck with it in the first half, like, James Cook was running well and, you know, Ray Davis.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And I think the confidence that they had in being able to do that, even though it wasn't pretty, like you said, I think that group brought the toughness there and then, you know, so many players on defense making plays.

[Mike Catalana]

Demar.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Demar. I was going to say.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Demar was. Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Had tackles in the backfield, flying all over the place. We don't know about. Taylor Rapp didn't look good. Hip injury carted off full dish up. You're up.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

By the way, Demar also had one. It ended up being a touchdown. They drove down and scored, but he tripped up Henry. Henry on his way to the end zone. So he got Lamar and Henry.

[Mike Catalana]

Yep.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I know a lot of you don't either like the way he plays or think he'd be replaced, but without him out on the field today, I don't think they win.

[Mike Catalana]

I'm Colt.

[Guest Analyst]

Okay.

[Dan Fates]

Wow. I'm not my own son. Guy. Well, we talked about him, but Sean McDermott.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

People are not going to give him the credit because the Bills win in advance and all things kind of be. Are erased when you win. But made some big decisions in big moments. In a close game, the Bills come out on top of the cannons.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Cannons again. And as Dan said, Deskpop, he had his team ready and he had made some adjustments, and they didn't get pushed around by the Ravens. Still pushed a little, but the Bills pushed back.

[Mike Catalana]

It's crazy that if I would have told you before this game, if we would have came here and said the Ravens are going to have 400 yards of total offense, Josh is only going to have 150 yards passing. You said there's no way they win.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Complete total game.

[Guest Analyst]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Team effort. Sean McDermott. Classic.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Stats are for the losers. Bills won and they're going to Kansas City.

[Dan Fates]

All right, well, plenty of coverage, baby. For Mike Catalana and Dan Fates, I'm Jenna Castle. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share. Send all your Bills friends. Wow, you're really cold.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I'm really cool.

[Dan Fates]

Thank you for joining us here on Buffalo Plus. We'll catch you next time. As it was over there. We'll catch you next time here on Buffalo plus, presented by Connors and Ferris. Thanks, everyone.

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[Dan Fates]

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