The BILLS Pro Bowl SNUBS, potential PLAYOFF MATCHUPS and the day 'THE DROUGHT' DIED

Summary

Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills Podcast

Episode: "The BILLS Pro Bowl SNUBS, potential PLAYOFF MATCHUPS and the day 'THE DROUGHT' DIED"

Date: January 3, 2025
Host(s): Mike Catalana, Dan Fates (Jenna Cottrell mentioned)

---

Episode Overview

This episode dives into three core themes:

• The controversy (and emotion) around the Buffalo Bills' Pro Bowl selections and snubs, with special focus on James Cook and Dion Dawkins.
• A forward look at potential first-round playoff matchups, assessing which opponent would be best for the Bills.
• A heartfelt, in-depth reflection on the anniversary of "The Drought" ending—when the Bills clinched their first playoff berth in 17 years.

Throughout, the hosts blend insider insights, honest player and coach quotes, humor, and their distinctive “Buffalo Plus” energy with fan-oriented discussion.

---

[00:00–09:03] Pro Bowl Selections & Notable SNUBS

Why Pro Bowl Still Matters

• Mike: “A lot of people will right away say it doesn't matter. It matters to the players. Yeah, they want to make it right. And you could talk about the way the voting is.” (01:27)
• Both hosts agree: being selected, not as an alternate but as an original Pro Bowl starter, is a significant mark of respect among peers.

Critique of the Process: Popularity & Politics

• Discuss how player and coach votes are often driven by “popularity, tradition, or friendship,” leading to perennial inclusions regardless of merit. (02:12)
  • Mike: “You’re voting this guy in because he makes it every year, or you're voting this guy in because he's your buddy…”

James Cook “Snub”

• Dan: “James Cook’s an alternate. He’ll probably get in anyway when somebody drops out. That’s besides the point.” (03:29)
• Mike: “It’s about getting voted in. To some players, that’s part of the deal. You have to get voted in. It’s not like your eighth alternate.” (03:48)
• Dan: “I thought Mina Kimes had a good tweet. She said to her, the one that stood out was Mixon over Cook. Cook is better at Mixon in every [category]… Cook is actually second in rushing DVOA leaguewide, only behind Henry.” (05:11)

All-Pro vs. Pro Bowl Clarified

• All-Pro is a much higher standard, less prone to popularity bias. James Cook’s realistic ceiling this year was Pro Bowl, not All-Pro. (04:30–05:07)

Who Else Was Overlooked?

• Christian Benford (cornerback) wasn’t even a fifth alternate, highlighting oddities in the selection process. (05:59–06:09)

Dion Dawkins on Self-Promotion and Recognition

• Dion Dawkins:
  “You have to be your own billboard. Wear my own shirts. I usually wear my own hats. … You have to not be afraid to speak about yourself…maybe you missed this. Let me show you. … Yes, I do feel like I’m getting my flowers. I’m honored, too. I’m thankful, you know, and I just try to be Deion Dawkins every day. … If it took eight years, I’m thankful that it took eight and not nine.” (07:09–08:00)
• Dan: Compliments Dawkins' outspoken, self-branding nature, and notes the Pro Bowl’s ongoing importance to players. (08:00–09:03)

---

[09:03–14:30] MVP Talk & Josh Allen’s Value

MVP Voting and Narrative

• Comparison between Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen’s supporting casts.
  • Mike: “Josh has two guys in the Pro Bowl. Lamar has nine. … Josh has one guy on offense … Lamar has a guy who’s top five MVP.” (09:03)
• Discussion about “narrative creation”—the preseason “Bills will stink” talk, contrasted against how Allen’s performance has elevated an underrated roster. (09:59–10:25)

Stats vs. Impact

• Critiqued common MVP arguments that focus only on TDs, picks, or "home runs and RBIs," rather than advanced stats or value-above-replacement (“WAR” style). (11:05–11:45)

---

[12:01–15:42] Injury Updates & Playoff Preparation

Josh Allen’s Consecutive Starts

• Josh Allen:
  “If you want to birdie them all, you gotta birdie the first. … It means a lot to me, just making sure that I’ve been available, playing through things … I’m glad I get to start.” (12:32)
• Hosts note Allen is genuinely healthy, and the “consecutive starts” streak is meaningful to both team and QB. (12:59–13:37)

Week 18 & Playing Out the String

• The Bills can rest most key starters with playoff seed locked up: “For all intents and purposes, yes, a bye.” (13:56)
• On resting players:
  Dan: “Bills don’t need to win. Patriots don’t really want to win. … There’s no tanking in football … It’s your career. It’s your pride.” (14:30)

Injury Watch

• Tre’Davious (Terrell) Bernard: Quad injury, described as “somewhere between day-to-day and week-to-week,” but not deemed serious—would play if needed. (16:13)
• Chance for backup LB Joe Andreessen to get valuable snaps. (16:49–17:42)

---

[18:00–22:29] Potential Playoff Matchups: Who Do the Bills Want?

The Scenarios

• Potential opponents: Bengals, Dolphins, Broncos (depending on this weekend’s results). (18:00)
• Assessment of team strengths and fears:
  • Mike: “Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase … are good enough to beat people. That would worry me … Joe Burrow isn’t intimidated coming into Orchard Park.” (18:32)
  • Miami's familiarity is regarded as both a plus and a risk, though the panel favors Buffalo’s matchup history.
  • Denver’s strengths: “They’re pretty good ... but would a rookie QB [Bo Nix] win a playoff game?” (19:41–21:46)

Hosts' Matchup Preferences

• Mike: “Denver, then Miami, and certainly Cincinnati last. Strictly [because of] Burrow and Chase.” (19:57)
• Dan: “I’m Miami, Denver, Bengals … I still always love the Bills. Just McDermott’s dominance over McDaniel.” (20:11, 20:49)

---

[22:44–31:28] Remembering “The Drought” Ending (2017 Playoff Berth)

Emotional Reflection from Sean McDermott

• Sean McDermott:
  “Just sitting back watching it again last night, man, I started tearing up. I tried not let my wife see me, but I had like a tear running down my eye, my cheek here. When’s the last time you’ve seen a locker room react like that? I don’t think it’s … I don’t think I’ve seen it since then, quite honestly.” (00:09, repeated at 23:12 and 26:16)
• McDermott recounts minute details—the grit of Deontay Thompson, Kyle Williams’ emotional moment, watching the Bengals’ game on locker room TVs, Bills Mafia’s celebrations. (23:12–26:16)
• Dan: “Comment in where you were. I know a lot of people … vivid memories.” (28:22)

First-Hand Memories from the Hosts

• Both hosts share their experiences covering the Miami game, relaying the suspense and celebration that followed. (26:41–27:42)
• Mike highlights how ending the drought reshaped the franchise’s direction and patience from ownership:
  • “It freed them up to redo the roster … The Bills realized this was great. Drought over. … The end of it was spectacular. The next week was awful. Boring game they lost in Jacksonville. No one cares.” (29:18–30:18)

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Mike Catalana (on Pro Bowl process):
  “You’re voting this guy in because he makes it every year, or you're voting this guy in because he's your buddy...” (02:12)
• Dan Fates (on James Cook ):
  “James Cook is actually second in rushing DVOA leaguewide. He’s only behind Henry. … He should have been a Pro Bowler.” (05:11)
• Dion Dawkins (on self-promotion):
  “You have to be your own billboard. … You have to not be afraid to speak about yourself … it’s not cocky. It’s just, hey, maybe you missed this. Let me show you.” (07:09)
• Josh Allen (on consecutive starts):
  “It means a lot to me … just making sure that I’ve been available, playing through things…” (12:32)
• Sean McDermott (on the drought ending):
  “Just sitting back watching it again last night, man, I started tearing up. I tried not let my wife see me, but I had like a tear running down my eye, my cheek here. When’s the last time you’ve seen a locker room react like that?” (23:12 & 00:09)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Pro Bowl snubs & voting process — 01:27–07:00
• James Cook snub & stats — 03:27–05:59
• Dion Dawkins quote on recognitions — 07:09–08:00
• MVP narrative & supporting casts — 09:03–10:55
• Josh Allen on consecutive starts — 12:32
• Injury updates & importance of resting — 13:56–17:42
• Playoff matchup scenarios breakdown — 18:00–21:46
• Sean McDermott's recollection of the drought ending — 23:12–26:16

---

Conclusion

This episode offers Bills fans insightful and honest talk on the ongoing impact of Pro Bowl voting, the pride and politics behind player honors, and a clear-eyed look at playoff seeding scenarios. The reflective segment on breaking the playoff drought stands out for its emotion and storytelling, offering both nostalgia and gratitude for how far the franchise has come. For any listener, it’s a mix of sharp analysis, insider quotes, and the lived emotional journey of modern Bills fandom.

Transcript

[Dan Fates]

Hey Mike, if you were, if you were annoyed by the MVP discussion, just wait until we start talking about who got stubbed for the Pro Bowl.

[Sean McDermott]

Just sitting back watching it again last night, man, I started tearing up. I tried not let my wife see me, but I had like a tear running down my eye, my cheek here. When's the last time you've seen a locker room react like that? I don't think it's. I don't think I've seen it since then, quite honestly.

[Dan Fates]

This is the Buffalo plus podcast brought to you by Connors and Farris. Hey everyone. Welcome back to another episode of the Buffalo plus podcast presented by Connors and Ferris. He's Mike Catalana. I'm Dan Fates. Jenna Cottrell getting to spend some time with family down already getting ready in the Boston area. She will be at the game on Sunday along with Mike. Before we get started, as always, the housekeeping. Please be sure to like comment and subscribe. We appreciate it as always. Closing in on 36,000 views and subscribers. We really appreciate it as always today. Some Pro bowl stuff, some matchup stuff. Remembering the drought a little bit too because I think that got, that got brought up this week. I thought was really cool to hear Sean McDermott talk about that. So let's start right off, Mike, if you were annoyed by the MVP discussion, just wait until we start talking about who got stubbed for the Pro Bowl.

[Mike Catalana]

So this is the way I look at the Pro Bowl. A lot of people will right away say it doesn't matter. It matters to the players. Yeah, they want to make it right. And you could talk about the way the voting is. It's funny you talk about snubs. There are snubs sometimes because you say, well it's pretty clearly this player seemed to be better than that player.

[Dan Fates]

Correct.

[Mike Catalana]

But there are certain positions as we it look in bigger picture. I would say this. I think we're all usually very positive about the player that Patrick Mahomes is one of the all time greats.

[Dan Fates]

That is correct.

[Mike Catalana]

He did not make the Pro bowl this year because they picked three quarterbacks in the afc, right?

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson. They all have better years than Mahomes.

[Dan Fates]

That is correct.

[Mike Catalana]

That's not a snub. You could put Mahomes in the game. Of course he's a Pro bowl all pro level player. But he's not. So sometimes you see snubs. Then there's other positions where like dude, do you guys even, especially even the players, do you, do you Ever look at either the numbers or the tape and see who deserves it? And then you can really say where a player is. I mean, come on, you're voting this guy in because he makes it every year, or you're voting this guy in because he's your buddy, or you're voting against another player so that your buddy on your team gets in. And that brings me to James Cook.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. So the Bills have two Pro bowl starters and Josh Allen and Dion Dawkins. They then have seven alternates. Eight alternates. Connor McGovern, James Cook, Demar Hamlin, Trail Bernard, Reggie Gilliam, Ed Oliver, Spencer Brown, and Dalton Kincaid.

[Mike Catalana]

God bless Reggie.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Hats off to Reggie.

[Mike Catalana]

Fullbacks as a fullback.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Who plays special teams and.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Tight end.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, but I'm just trying to think. He plays 15 of the snaps, max. Yeah, but hats off.

[Mike Catalana]

And he's not a fullback.

[Dan Fates]

No, but. Yeah, so.

[Mike Catalana]

But he's a Pro bowl alternate fullback.

[Dan Fates]

And it is. It is annoying, I think, sometimes where some people will say, like, oh, for everybody that's outside of Buffalo. Oh, like, what's the matter? James Cook's an alternate. He'll probably get in anyway when somebody drops out. That's besides the point.

[Mike Catalana]

There is no game. It's about going to play flag football.

[Dan Fates]

Whatever tug of war.

[Mike Catalana]

It's about getting voted in.

[Dan Fates]

It's about.

[Mike Catalana]

To some players, that's part of the deal. You have to get voted in. It's not like your eighth alternate.

[Dan Fates]

Correct. Like Tyler Huntley, like Mac Jones. They all have Pro bowl next to their name. But that's because of process of elimination. It's different to be named the starter of a Pro Bowl. It's different. So to sit there and say, well, James Cook, because he's the first alternate, he'll probably get there. That, to me, is. Is irrelevant.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

So that's the one that really stood out to me because I think that his. I had joked around and tweets sometimes like, oh, do I think, you know, James Cook is All Pro, and he's probably not All Pro because of Henry and Barkley.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, people know the differences. There's. There's two in All Pro, and it's a different vote, and it's not a popularity contest. It's you, you know, you don't make All Pro. I mean, I guess on occasion there's probably been somebody. But for the most part, if you make All Pro, you are one of the top two or three players. Usually top two. I guess it would be depending on the position in the league. It's not popularity. You don't see guys who missed eight games with injury like you see sometimes in the Pro Bowl.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Getting there. But to your point, James Cook. No, he wasn't. He would not be considered all pro this year.

[Dan Fates]

Correct. Because Henry. Yeah, Henry and Bar.

[Mike Catalana]

4,000 yards between the two guys.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. I thought Mina Kimes had a good tweet. She said, obviously everybody gets outraged over these takes, but she said to her, the one that stood out was mixing over Cook.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Cook is better at mixing in every. We, we'll, we'll quote G. Nerd nerd numbers about that. Cook is actually second in rushing dvoa leaguewide. He's only behind Henry. So it's that expected yards. It's expected yards per carry, all of those things. So it's not a perfect metric, as Giardi likes to say. There's a lot of nerd numbers and stuff that goes into it, but you can't diminish what Cook has been mixing on a bad team. I, I, I don't know. I, I thought, I thought Cook should have been a Pro Bowler.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. So did I. And I. But that is when you look at the difference between being an alternate and getting voted in.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

As a starter on the Pro Bowl. Then there's other guys. I look, I go all the way to the other side. I kept looking. I'm like, where's Christian Benford?

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. That's the other one.

[Mike Catalana]

How is he not even an fifth alternate?

[Dan Fates]

And that's where. And I think you've been around the league.

[Mike Catalana]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

For a little while.

[Mike Catalana]

Times. Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

There were a couple of guys that they get Pro bowl bids and because they throw good parties or that they were just cool guys to hang around with, like, well past their actual Pro bowl worthiness. They would get invited to be in the Pro bowl because they were cool dudes and they got around.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. Because the Pro bowl was a party.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And. And there was a game. I mean, for a while, it was almost looked like a game.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And then it got a little silly. And then it got really silly. And now they just literally play.

[Dan Fates]

The days of Sean Taylor laying out Brian Mormon are long gone.

[Mike Catalana]

I know. I thought it was interesting what Dion said about being the Pro Bowler since he's. He and Josh are the only ones.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Dion Dawkins was asked about that on Thursday, about the recognition of earning it, especially at offensive line. And here's what he had to say.

[Dion Dawkins]

To say it in a sense like this, like, you have to be your own billboard.

[Mike Catalana]

Right.

[Dion Dawkins]

Like, wear My own shirts.

[Dan Fates]

Right.

[Dion Dawkins]

I usually wear my own hats. I usually talk about my own stuff. You know, you have to not be afraid to speak about yourself and to promote yourself and to do it in a way that, you know, it's not cocky. It's just, hey, maybe you missed this. Let me show you. And that's where, in a sense, where I'm at in the clarity of who I am, you know? But, yes, I do feel like I'm getting my flowers. I'm honored, too. I'm thankful, you know, and I just try to be Deion Dawkins every day. You know, I just try to be the same person every day. I've been this guy since I've got here. I've been the same guy. So, you know, if it took eight years, I'm thankful that it took eight and not nine.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, I love that from Dion. And he has been outspoken in his. Whether it's his memes about beating up jets players in wrestling videos, things like that. He has done a good job of branding himself to get that recognition, and guy like Brian Baldinger does a really good job at it. You know, shows the. The. The videos of. Look at this guy. Look at this, look at this. All this stuff as he's going through all the tape. But. But it's really cool to see Dion, his fourth Pro bowl nomination selection. I think it's. It's cool. And again, to put that in perspective, he said that they find out a little bit sooner than the media. And so he said that Josh called them, and he was in line at Tim Hortons, and he said, like, hey, by the way, congrats. And he's like, oh, but we got. He goes, it is something. And that's to your point where somebody's like, oh, who cares? It's the Pro Bowl. Dion Dawkins, Josh Allen, those guys know, like, this is something. It's something small, but it's still meaningful. There's bigger things, more important things. No doubt. But this Pro bowl is. Is part of it. And then next, obviously, will be All Pro nominations coming out later in the year.

[Mike Catalana]

So I want to. Since we've talked about this too much, I want to say we are going to take 30 seconds to talk about the MVP. Okay, ready? Here we go. Josh has two guys in the Pro Bowl. Lamar has nine.

[Dan Fates]

Is that more?

[Mike Catalana]

Josh has one guy on offense, his left tackle. He doesn't even have a. You know, Lamar has a guy who's top five mvp. It helps. Josh Allen absolutely stinks for the Bills players now. When I say on the offensive side, Pro bowl, maybe McGovern, I don't think any of the receivers would make it.

[Dan Fates]

Nope.

[Mike Catalana]

But it's nice to have the defensive guys, too. When you talk about the overall team. Done talking about it. But that's a. That's a plus for Josh.

[Dan Fates]

I want my part two is I know we've talked about the narrative and everybody's like, well, because Lamar got it last year, Josh should get it when Josh didn't. You know, things like that. And it is a lot of narrative that goes into it.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

But the one narrative that the narrative creators built was that this team would stink. And they don't stink. That's not our words. That's not Josh. That's. That is really what Bills were saying. You look around, they're all over social media right now. It is great. But them saying the Bills will stink. They have nobody. Their window is closed. They will finish third in the division. They don't. They're great because they have the most valuable player on their team who is elevating their guys around them.

[Mike Catalana]

Emmanuel Acho, who's on the show with LeSean McCoy.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Is a voter. He talked openly about.

[Dan Fates]

He votes yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Preseason. He destroyed the Bills. They're going to be terrible.

[Dan Fates]

The wall was drywalled. The window is closed. We drywalled it.

[Mike Catalana]

So that's a plus now because if he's going to look at. And I sounded like he. I did hear him a little bit sound like he's coming around team Josh Allen here. But you basically buried them before the year, and now here they are with who knows how many wins they'll end up with.

[Dan Fates]

And the other one I saw was somebody was. Was breaking down on Tik Tok or social media. And it was the comparison that you see all the time. Right. It's the passing yards, the total touchdowns and the interception.

[Mike Catalana]

It's mvp. That's home runs and rbis.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And baseball.

[Dan Fates]

And it's not the WAR wins above replacement, which is what everybody really compares it to. And I really liked how the video talked about how it just shows interceptions, which Josh has more interceptions than Lamar. But when it comes to actual turnovers or negative plays, Josh has fewer, has scored more points with fewer Pro Bowlers around him. All of those things factor into before it was, Josh is too crazy. There's too many negative plays. He takes too many sacks. Oh, but now we don't talk about any of that stuff because that doesn't help Lamar's case. So there's our MVP talk yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And that was a little over 30.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. And this video, sorry for anybody that wanted to come here for Patriots breakdown of week 18. This is not that video.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

There's not a whole bunch to talk about.

[Mike Catalana]

Patriots have done already broken down.

[Dan Fates]

Yes, yes.

[Mike Catalana]

They don't need anymore.

[Dan Fates]

So who knows if Drake may plays. We know Josh will continue his consecutive starts. He will make his 115th consecutive start really cool for him. It's the longest active streak in the NFL. Brett Favre has like 315 or 16. That's the record. Josh was asked about it this week and obviously you care about individual stuff.

[Mike Catalana]

Right, Right.

[Dan Fates]

But Josh was asked about it this week, being able to continue it and then looking ahead at what the all.

[Josh Allen]

Time record is, we're not close to anywhere near that record. It's a long ways away, but kind of the old adage about golf, like if you want to birdie them all, you got to birdie the first. Right. So I don't know. It's something that means a lot to me of just making sure that I've been available, playing through things throughout the year and throughout the years. I should say. So, yeah. It means a lot to me. So I'm glad I get to get to start.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, I love that. I love the comparison too, of you can't birdie them all if you don't birdie the first few. Yeah. So again, I think that's cool. I also think it's a testament to Sean of. Of reading the room. Get rewarding your players and your guys for something little. But that means a lot to him. I think it's cool.

[Mike Catalana]

And I'm sure there's someone out there who's saying it like, he's not really playing in the game because people like to complain about everything. He is fully healthy. If this game mattered at all, he would be playing. It's not like the guy's got a bum knee and he wouldn't play in the game.

[Dan Fates]

Correct.

[Mike Catalana]

And he's faking his way through to start the game.

[Dan Fates]

Yes, that's a good point.

[Mike Catalana]

And to continue his streak, if they.

[Dan Fates]

Were not wheeling him out there like this is. Yes, he.

[Mike Catalana]

He is the healthy starter. They're not playing him because it's what's best for the team.

[Dan Fates]

And it's great. They don't have a buy because they're not the number one seed, but they can because they clinch so early and clinch the two seed.

[Mike Catalana]

They can.

[Dan Fates]

They can. This is for all intents, for all.

[Mike Catalana]

All intents and purposes, yes, a buy yeah. And especially when, you know, the other teams need to play.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

Because sometimes it ends up being. I mean, I've seen some of the other teams in the playoffs in the NFC side where they don't seem to care as much about the seed, whether they're third or fourth. I know, the Rams and whatever. No, in this case, the teams the Bills could possibly play are all playing and playing to win.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

So, hey, it's a plus to have the players sit out for the week. No question. There will be no rust. They'll be ready.

[Dan Fates]

Bills don't need to win. Patriots don't really want to win. Is a. Again, there's no tanking in football. Like their management can tank, but the players on the field are playing for something. You saw it last week with the jets or the Giants. Yeah. Like, oh, they lost their shot at the number one pick. The Giants don't care at all. They want to go out there and play. It's too physical of a sport. It's too investing. It's your career. It's your pride. It's a lot tougher to tank. You can't just jump off sides 15 times.

[Mike Catalana]

Right. You can manipulate your roster to make.

[Dan Fates]

It less likely to win.

[Mike Catalana]

Cleveland Browns right now, I mean, they.

[Dan Fates]

Just, they did that before the season.

[Mike Catalana]

But if Jameis isn't playing.

[Dan Fates]

Correct.

[Mike Catalana]

You're really out. But I do think sometimes it's. It's like somebody was like, the Giants prove they're still playing. Whatever. They just lost 10 in a row.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, they were. They said they were trying to win the previous 10 as well.

[Mike Catalana]

Well, that's why I'm saying is the Patriots don't have to try to lose.

[Dan Fates]

They just do it now.

[Mike Catalana]

They. They gave the Bills a real battle.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And then they played the Chargers and they went to sleep. So we'll see what this actual game is. But for the Bills, anybody who needs to is going to be sitting out this game.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Sean McDermott said his two goal in.

[Mike Giardi]

The time it takes you to actually board that flight from Group 8.

[Mike Catalana]

Now boarding Premier Altitude Elite club members.

[Mike Giardi]

You could have bought a Hyundai on Amazon. Yes, that Amazon where you buy everything else.

[Mike Catalana]

Mid tier Altitude Elite. Feel free to board now.

[Mike Giardi]

So while you're waiting for them to make up new boarding groups, you can order your dream car and the dealer will have it ready in no time.

[Mike Catalana]

Now boarding groups one through seven. So close.

[Mike Giardi]

Visit Hyundai USA.com or call 562-314-4603 for more details. Limited availability pickup through participating Hyundai dealer.

[Dan Fates]

In select markets goals for this week are to win and to be as fresh as possible for the postseason. One of the injuries that the Bills are dealing with that has popped up is Trell Bernard with a quad like injury. Now, when Sean talked on Wednesday, it was a team walkthrough and he said it's somewhere between day to day and week to week. He was kind of pressed out and said, well, it's probably more towards day to day with not a doctor kind of thing. He did practice on Thursday looked great. I don't think there's any real concern. It almost had the vibe of he would probably play this week if he had to.

[Mike Catalana]

Right.

[Dan Fates]

But because he doesn't have to, we're not going to. It does give Buffalo Joe a chance to play.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah, I think that'll be great, too. I'm going to see him get some snaps and run around the field. And, you know, he was talking this week about what it's been like to watch a guy like Terrell Bernard. You know what I love that he said is Bernard basically put himself in Joe's shoes and said, like, when I was a rookie, I was running around lost even last year trying to figure some of the stuff out. And I think if you're a guy like Joe Andreessen, you're going to. Okay. Like, it's not just me.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

A guy who plays as well as Terrell Bernard plays was lost a little bit. And games like this are invaluable to a player to get up and he'll get a bunch of snaps.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

And he's going to make mistakes, he's going to run around, he's going to go the wrong way and. But he'll make some plays, too.

[Dan Fates]

Andreessen led the Bills and tackles against the Jets. Yeah, he had eight tackles, which was the most for the team because of just how bad the jets were in the amount of time.

[Mike Catalana]

I promise I'm not going to talk about that guy who quarterbacks for them because people get mad, they think I don't like them. They would be right. But I don't want to talk about him anymore.

[Dan Fates]

And obviously we don't know who the Bills will play. That depends on this weekend. It could be the Bengals, it could be the Dolphins. It is more than likely going to be the Denver Broncos. If Denver wins or ties the Chiefs, they are in. Miami needs to win and have Denver lose. The Bengals need to win and have the other two teams lose to get their G. Mike, what is your. What would. Who would you like to play and Also comment in below your thoughts on who you want the Bills to face as the seven seed in the conference.

[Mike Catalana]

I think Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase and T. Higgins, I guess if he's healthy, are good enough to beat people.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

That would worry me. Just because their defense stinks. They have not been a good team, but all of a sudden they woke up and you catch him getting in the playoffs. And Joe Burrow isn't intimidated coming into Orchard Park. He's played in super bowl, so in one in Kansas City. So that would concern me because he's the best. He'd be. He'd be right there with the best quarterback on the field. And that doesn't happen very often.

[Dan Fates]

Correct.

[Mike Catalana]

The downside of the Dolphins is they do know each other. They play here all the time. I always love the Bills against the Dolphins, always. But Miami played them tough the last time. I Tua's not playing right. Or they don't believe he's playing.

[Dan Fates]

I don't know what is going on.

[Mike Catalana]

So whatever it is happening with him. Look, if they made it and Tua wasn't playing, you know, because as much as we like to say the Bills own Tua, he certainly gave him a run the last time and he's done that before. And I look at Denver and I go, they're just. They're good enough that nobody's going to bypass him. I'm not a big Sean Payton fan, but I know the guy can coach.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I like Bo Nix a lot. I think he's like Baker Jr. To me.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And he's got some ability now. Can he go into Buffalo as a rookie and win in a playoff game? I don't know. But they're pretty good. They're a pretty good team.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

But I would say that's a perfect.

[Dan Fates]

Way to put it.

[Mike Catalana]

They're pretty good. But I would say my order would probably be. I always want to say Miami just because I know the Bills will beat Miami. But I'll say Denver than Miami and certainly Cincinnati last. Strictly Burrow and Chase.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, I'm Miami, Denver, Bengals. And I'm. I went from at one point and I think a lot of people maybe will. Will agree with this. Like scared. And I was saying it on this pod a month ago like, don't let the Bengals get hot because they're not dead yet. They're. Until they're. They're buried. I'm nervous about them. Their defense is they embarrassingly bad.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Like Josh May could and maybe have to put up 60 on them. And I think he could 60, like that is where I see that team. So I still always love the Bills. Just McDermot's dominance over McDaniel.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh, yeah. And then rookie quarterback.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. And rookie quarterback. So, like either or there with Miami or Denver. I just know that Josh has dominated Miami, like every single stat. We talk about that plenty of. That's why I think I would want to play Miami first. Getting them outside in the cold, all of those things that. That's the thing. The interesting thing I wanted to say about Denver is I like their defense. They got some. They got some dudes. Yeah, they got some dudes. Right. But the fact that Patrick Certain may be one of the best corners in the league doesn't seem to bother me one bit, because who does he take away from the Bills? Like, are you sitting there and going, they're going to put certain on Mack Hollins because he leads the Bills in receiving touchdowns.

[Mike Catalana]

Or Amari Cooper because he has 10,000 yards, or shakir. No, I. Look, you always want to have a great corner, but the Bills don't have.

[Dan Fates]

A wonder one guy. Right. So I think Denver's O line is questionable. I think the Bills could actually generate pressure against Denver's offensive line. So I would say Dolphins, Denver, Bengals.

[Mike Catalana]

To me, there's all narratives of those games. I mean, Bengals, because watch out, why not us? We don't care. We were in, lost. Everybody thought we were done. Miami, because in their minds, and rightfully so, it would make up for about 6 of those losses.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

If they came in and beat the Bills, Denver, I, I, while they are good and I think they have the potential to down the line, be a team that challenges Kansas City in that division.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

I think they'd be happy to be in the playoffs.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Not that they wouldn't play well and come in and you never know what happens. But that's the only thing I think about that team. At least Miami has played and lost in the playoffs.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

In that way. Yeah, they've been there.

[Dan Fates]

I think. I think the Bengals, though, would be very upset knowing that whoever they play, if they were to make the playoffs, obviously the Bills, that they had already been selling tickets.

[Mike Catalana]

Tickets.

[Dan Fates]

They don't like that they've already been selling the tickets.

[Mike Catalana]

They don't like them.

[Dan Fates]

The dumbest thing of all time. Yeah. Okay. And I just wanted one last thing before we wrap up. New year's Eve was seven years ago of breaking the drought.

[Mike Catalana]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

Sean McDermott was asked this week about reliving that moment. It's A long answer. I want to put the whole bite in, but just really cool to see the perspective. And Sean McDermott reflecting back as to when the Bills broke the drought back in 2017.

[Sean McDermott]

My wife showed me the video last night again of Cal's touchdown and then the celebration. And I had forgotten, not forgotten all of it, but just little kind of the little threads that happened that day. I remember Deontay Thompson was not sure if we were sure if he was going to play. So I go to the stadium early to kind of help him work out or watch him and evaluate. And then he tough his nails and he was the one that helped us win the snow game against the Colts earlier that year. And he's yelling to me, he's yelling, palm trees. Coaches before the Colts game, because we had talked about the palm trees that grow around here. Maybe you guys don't see them, but they're. But they're all over the place. And so he plays in that game, which is a true sign of grit and toughness. And you know, we get up early. Kyle has that, you know, first I think Nick o' Leary had the first touchdown maybe and Kyle had the second perhaps there. And then it got, it got tight at the end and I think it was Jordan Poyer made the maybe game ceiling interception. And during the game I was getting updates from Matt Worswick who's. Who's one of my assistants and who does a phenomenal job. And he was. Because I think we needed. I couldn't remember last night I was going back with my wife and saying, hey, I know we needed Cincinnati to win, but there was another team that we were hoping and it was. I think one of the two would have gotten us in if we won. And during the game, I think both were going in our favor. And then all of a sudden the one changed and then we were down to Cincinnati in the Baltimore game there. So we win the game against Miami. We get in the locker room and I knew there was a couple minutes left and so we turned the TV on, on and you know, just sitting back watching it again last night, man, I started tearing up. I tried not let my wife see me, but I had like a tear running down my eye, my cheek here. And I mean you. When's the last time you've seen a locker room react like that? I don't think it's. I don't think I've seen it since then, quite honestly. And then she was just telling me how the fans were up trying to. That were there were trying to get up into the suites to watch the televisions in the suites and to watch that reaction. And I remember hearing there was video of Kyle Williams wife and kids and then the locker room shot with Kyle and his kids. And I had one with my son in the locker room who came in afterwards and just giving him a big hug and getting off the plane. Right. My first introduction to really, you know, being, you know, down and deep with, With Bill's mafia and that type of celebration and Deion's coming off the plane his first year here as well. And it's just been an amazing. That was an amazing first year. And then. And then where we've come since then is. Is also been significant. I would say. So. Real, real happy and real, real grateful for it.

[Mike Catalana]

The best part of that is it's New Year's Eve and Sean and his wife are talking about the details.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Of seven years ago. I. I find that to be kind of cool.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Shout out to Mrs. McDermott.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Well, she's the one that he said. She said she was replaying me some of the clips.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

I thought that was really cool. Obviously, going back to it, we were both there.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

In Miami. Yep. And I was, you know, doing it for the, for the TV show, for the newscast here. And I remember, I remember exactly where I was. I was on the sidelines. And I remember as soon as the game was over because players and personnel weren't allowed to have electronic devices on the field.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Because that was all the talk leading up to it was, how are you guys going to keep track? And how are you guys gonna. There were a couple of updates on the scoreboard. Like, you know, this is around out of town scores.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

But as soon as the game was over, I just remember all the players coming up to me and going like, hey, what's the score? And like taking my phone and being like, oh, wow, it's close. Hey, we gotta get in the locker room. Yeah. And then we're waiting outside the locker.

[Mike Catalana]

Room because there was another game and it went south for the Bills. I remember which one it was. And it was like, okay, we need you, Bengals.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

And the Bengals came through. So you could almost. It's not quite the same, but you could almost make the argument that the. At least position wise, it's the Bengals sitting there needing help.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

The last day if in terms of this year. But that has never been anything like it. Sean's right. And he's been a lot of locker rooms. He's been locker rooms of teams in Philly and Carolina that went to the super bowl, like all those times to celebrate. And he said he's never been in anything like it. And we walked in after the initial celebration and it was crazy.

[Dan Fates]

I mean, it was still crazy.

[Mike Catalana]

You see players, you know, we talk a lot about Kyle Williams and he said that about Kyle with tears in his eyes there with his sons and. And other players just losing it. Watching that game with no control. They're like absolutely like fans. Fans because they got no control. They're just watching somebody else.

[Dan Fates]

It was wild comment in where you were. I know a lot of people. It's just vivid memories. And I just. The one that always sticks out to me was my. What My. My wife. She was. We were dating at the time and she had a wedding. It was in a wedding. And I couldn't go to it because how often did week 17 matter to Buffalo? And I was like, okay, I'll go to this game. Ends up being just unbelievable. Jay Cutler started that game and then.

[Mike Catalana]

Went out and I can't even.

[Dan Fates]

And it ended up coming down to an onside kick.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Bills had to recover an onsite.

[Mike Catalana]

Screwed up. Gave up a score because Kyle Williams scored in that game.

[Dan Fates]

Scott scored. I'll never forget breaking the huddle. And I was like having a camera being like, something's up. Something's up. Why is Kyle on the field?

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Tyrod had a pass to Nick. No Gloves o'. Leary. Just a wild game.

[Mike Catalana]

Grandson. Nicholas's grandson.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

But yeah, just wild. It was just again to. To get McDermott to open up like that was. It's always cool to get to see.

[Mike Catalana]

Yeah. And it's. And you think about. That was a. That's such an important game in the history of this franchise.

[Dan Fates]

Massive.

[Mike Catalana]

Because it freed them up to redo the roster. If you're a New York Giants fan, you know what your team did not do after making the playoffs and they've regretted it. The Bills realized this was great. Drought over.

[Dan Fates]

That's exactly. And bought them time.

[Mike Catalana]

Take a step back. The one time they took a step back.

[Dan Fates]

Yep.

[Mike Catalana]

So the drought to me in total is just bad topic of conversation. Not just because it was long. Because it was mostly just mediocre football with a few Ryan Fitzpatricks sipped in there. But the end of it was spectacular. The next week was awful. Boring game they lost in Jacksonville. No one cares. Nobody that they. The fact that they got in and then two years later back in again and then have been a prominent team now trying to get to the super bowl. Was great.

[Dan Fates]

And what gets lost, obviously you have that game. But if you look back on the season, because you can always play that what if game. That's the game. That's the season that McDermott first year head coach benches Tyrod to put Peterman in. Peterman is a, as you know, an utter joke. And to sit there and go, you missed out on the playoffs by a game because you benched your starting quarterback for Nathan Peterman, who was right now.

[Mike Catalana]

He was terrible through five interceptions in the half.

[Dan Fates]

Yes.

[Mike Catalana]

I don't know if they were going to win that game anyhow.

[Dan Fates]

Correct.

[Mike Catalana]

And they had had some bad games.

[Dan Fates]

New Orleans rock though. Mark Ingram.

[Mike Catalana]

Oh. So that that team was wobbling. But then to his credit, they went right back. Okay, Tyrod, you're back.

[Dan Fates]

And that was the snow seat. That was the. The snow game when Deontay Hardy. But Deontay Thompson catches a ball thrown from Joe Webb in six feet of snow.

[Mike Catalana]

So Shady closes it out in overtime and then that team wins and they make the playoffs. And it set the course for the trades to move up and to get Josh Allen. Pretty cool. Yeah. Good stuff.

[Dan Fates]

All right, that'll do it for us. On this episode of the Buffalo plus podcast, presented by Connors and Ferris. Mike and Jenna will be in Foxborough for the game. There's another conversation that we have with Mike Giardi from the Boston Sports Journal. Less about bashing New England for 30 minutes. I think we only did it for about 17 minutes.

[Mike Catalana]

Or the cool thing about Giardi is he knows the NFL and he certainly knows the division. He's covered a ton of Bills games. He knows where they are. So that's where a lot of the topic goes. So I think you'll enjoy that too.

[Dan Fates]

So play more coverage. As always, be sure to like, comment and subscribe. From Mike Catalana, I'm Dan Fates. We'll catch you next time here on the Buffalo plus channel, presented by Connors and Ferris.