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.