What went so wrong for the Buffalo Bills? 5 reasons their season ended vs. the Bengals

Bengals vs. Bills

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) takes a hit from Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai (58) during the second quarter of an NFL division round football game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The play was ruled an incomplete pass. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)AP

Orchard Park, N.Y. — The Cincinnati Bengals declared themselves the kings of the AFC earlier this month.

It’s hard to argue with that now.

The Bengals came out determined to attack a Buffalo Bills defense Sunday afternoon at Orchard Park. The Bills couldn’t slow down Joe Burrow & Co. during a game-cut-short three weeks ago, and that trend continued Sunday. The Bengals won the game, 27-10.

The Bengals’ defense shut down the high-powered Buffalo offense and Burrow was cool as ever, throwing a pair of touchdowns and rushing for one more in a blowout road win over Buffalo.

With Sunday’s win, the Bengals became the first team to win a playoff game at Highmark Stadium against the Bills in the Sean McDermott era. Last year, they took down Kansas City in the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium.

Kings of the AFC indeed.

Here are five reasons the Bills’ season ended on Sunday.

1. The Bills’ pass rush was M.I.A

The Bengals were missing three starting offensive linemen, but that seemed not to matter. The Bills were without defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, who is a big part of what they do against the pass and the run. But the Bengals are playing guys below the starter level in the league.

The only sack in the game came on a Matt Milano blitz and Burrow only sustained three quarterback hits in the entire game. Bills general manager Brandon Beane spent a first-round pick and two second-rounders in the 2020 and 2021 drafts at the edge rusher position. Greg Rousseau, Boogie Basham and A.J. Epenesa combined for one quarterback hit and zero sacks.

2. Bills’ defensive gameplan stunk

With no reliable pass rush, Joe Burrow was able to sit back and carve up the Bills’ secondary. They sat in their zone defense for most of the game and made multiple mistakes that led to touchdowns. Safeties Dean Marlowe and Jordan Poyer appeared to both be out of position on the Bengals’ first two touchdowns. The game was basically over at that point.

The blitzes the Bills did send left receivers wide open in space, and the Bengals have the best trio of pass catchers in the NFL.

3. Bills’ offensive line is a mess

Whether the Bengals were blitzing or just rushing four, the Bills’ offensive line barely was able to hold up to allow Allen time to make plays in the passing game. In the run game, there was virtually no push up front, and the Bills averaged just 3.2 yards per carry between Devin Singletary and James Cook.

A big part of the blame falls on Beane for not finding more answers on the offensive line. Rodger Saffold has been a problem all year long and young players like Spencer Brown and Ryan Bates were inconsistent. Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey also owns some blame. He failed to scheme for ways to get backs in a position to help block. Dorsey’s offensive plan overall failed to put any pressure on the Bengals’ secondary, the alleged weakness of their defense.

4. Josh Allen still asked to do it all

The biggest problem the Bills continue to face is how much they ask of Josh Allen. He has to be a superhero for them to consistently move the ball and execute in the red zone.

Allen looked exhausted in the fourth quarter playing behind arguably the worst offensive line of the remaining teams in the playoffs. The Ravens had more success on offense last week against the Bengals with backup quarterback Tyler Huntley in for Lamar Jackson. After a first-series interception, the Ravens scored two touchdowns and a field goal in their next four series. The Bills punted three times on their first five drives with a touchdown and field goal sprinkled in.

5. No Von Miller

The biggest problem area for a Bills team that took the Chiefs to the limit last season was the pass rush. Von Miller was electric before suffering a season-ending knee injury. The Bills needed him in this game to help create problems for Burrow. The Bills had no answers for what the Bengals did in the passing game or the run game. Now it’s another long offseason filled with more questions about a roster that’s going to look a lot different next season.

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