Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Bills’ 2022 season came to an abrupt halt Sunday evening in a snowy Orchard Park, falling to the Cincinnati Bengals, 27-10, in the AFC Divisional Round.
Here are my Arrows from the final game of the season, starting with the Downs:
ARROW DOWN:
Out-coached/out-intensed
Whether it was on offense or defense, the Bengals just seemed to have a better plan than the Bills, and executed it much more effectively.
It was too easy, at times - especially early in the game - putting the Bills down 14 points in the blink of an eye, and they never recovered. Head coach Sean McDermott said after the game he felt his team's energy was good, but that the Bengals got rolling early and it was tough to get them out of a rhythm.
Linebacker Matt Milano said he felt the team lacked energy.
That's tough to understand in a game, at home, with your season and a trip to the AFC Championship Game on the line.
OC - Ken Dorsey
Dorsey had no answers for some of the different pressures the Bengals were brining, and couldn't figure out a way to get his receivers the ball, especially for, what should have been, some easy dump-offs to stay out of long yardage situations.
DC - Leslie Frazier
Everything came easy for the Bengals, and it just looked like Bills defenders played on their heels all afternoon, focusing too much on getting beaten down the field, creating open spaces underneath all game.
The game plan was too passive, and by the time they tried to be more aggressive, it was too late.
Where were the wideouts?
The Bills' biggest offensive advantage in this game should have been their outside wide receivers against the Bengals cornerbacks. However, they didn’t take advantage of that.
No receiver had more than four catches, and none had more than 40 yards.
Diggs' ineffectiveness
The Bengals usually do a good job of taking away a team's No. 1 wide receiver. They certainly did in this one.
Bills wideout Stefon Diggs was targeted 10 times, but only grabbed four balls for 35 yards. He was visibly upset on the sidelines after a failed fourth down in the fourth quarter.
Running game
The Bills ran the ball 19 times for just 63 yards, averaging just 3.3 yards per-carry.
Coming into the game, their previous lowest output of the season - in any one game - was 90 yards on the ground. Their longest run of the day was for just eight yards.
Run defense
It wasn’t just on the offensive side the Bills had trouble in the run game. The Bengals came into the contest averaging just 95 yards a game and 3.83 a play on the ground.
They beat the Bills up to the tune of 172 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per-run.
No pressure
Cincinnati came into the game down three starting offensive lineman. It was time for the Bills defensive line, with all of the resources they put into it the last few years, to step up and control the game.
They were unable to.
Not only were they run on, but they sacked Joe Burrow only one time.
First down defense
Buffalo just made it easy for Cincinnati on first down, allowing them to routinely be in 2nd- or 3rd-and-short situations. In fact, Cincinnati didn't even face a third down until the eighth play of their second drive, down at the Bills' 33-yard line.
The Bengals just kept moving the chains, and finished with the 30 first downs! That's the highest output of the season against the Bills defense.
DT - Ed Oliver
The day started poorly for Oliver when he ran onto the field without his helmet for the very first play of the game. After realizing it, he ran back to the sidelines and was replaced by Eli Ankou, who gets credit for starting at defensive tackle.
Then Oliver was nowhere to be found during the game. He only registered one assisted tackle on the stat sheet.
Wide-open Bengals pass catchers
It didn’t matter if it was Ja’Marr, Chase, Hayden Hurst, or one of their running backs, too often when they made a catch, there was no Bills defender anywhere near, making it a very easy pitch-and-catch.
CB - Tre’Davious White
White was called for two pass interference penalties, both inside the Bills' five-yard line.
He also gave far too much cushion to Chase on a huge 3rd-and-4 when it was still only a seven-point game. The Bengals converted an easy first down.
Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown
Josh Allen was only sacked one time, but he was under pressure a lot. Too often, it seemed to come off the edge, where both Bills offensive tackles were caught chasing.
Not kicking the field goal
I totally understand why Sean McDermott went for it on 4th-and-6 with 7:32 remaining in the fourth quarter, and trailing by 17 points. However, that could have been an easy field goal, and the Bills needed a field goal (and two touchdowns) along the way if they were to catch up, anyway.
Once they failed, it essentially ended the game.
Third downs
This, again, goes on both sides of the ball. The Bengals converted six of their 10 third down chances (60%), while the Bills only four of their 12 (33.3)%.
Penalties
The Bills were penalized eight times for 60 yards. That just shouldn't happen at home in a playoff game.
Red zone offense
Buffalo was inside the Cincinnati 20-yard line three times, but only came away with one touchdown.
Missed tackles
It’s been an issue all year and was, again, too many times in this one.
The Bills had opportunities to get a ball carrier down, especially in the run game, but failed to do so, leading to extra yards.
The season ending
Only one team is left standing at the end of every season, but that doesn’t make it easier to swallow, especially when this team’s clear goal was to win a Lombardi Trophy. Every move made this past offseason was geared towards that.
They came up short, and it stings badly for them and their fans.
ARROW UP:
TE - Dawson Knox
Knox put in a nice performance, leading the way for the Bills with 65 total receiving yards on five catches.
LB - Matt Milano
Milano was the only Bills player to get a sack, but also had 10 total tackles, including two for loss, and was credited with a quarterback hurry and a pass breakup.
That pass breakup was a terrific play in the back of the end zone to save a touchdown.
Red zone defense
The Bengals were inside the Bills' 20-yard line four times, but only came away with two touchdowns (50%).
The crowd
While the team didn’t seem to bring enough energy, especially early in the game, the Highmark Stadium crowd was terrific, and gave them as much support and energy they could ask for.
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