A loss to the Bears, a win over the Steelers, and a loss to Panthers ... put the Bills’ 23-16 loss to the Patriots Sunday right in that box of 2024 preseason outcomes. That’s where it belongs.
Sunday’s matchup in Foxborough had no drama, no suspense, no outstanding performers for Buffalo other than the bus drivers and airline pilots. The Bills were back in Buffalo by 7:30 p.m.
For that matter, put Denver’s season-ending 38-0 shellacking of Kansas City in the same box. It mattered to Denver but not to the Chiefs, who played like it.
So, the Broncos will be in Orchard Park at 1 p.m. Sunday for their first playoff game since 2015, when they won the Super Bowl. The Bills are in their 12th postseason game since Sean McDermott got it started in 2017.
This time, however, the Bills and their fans are thinking Super Bowl. You can’t blame them.
This season featured 13 wins and 10 in an 11-game stretch, including wins over the top seeds in each conference, the Chiefs and Lions. The Bills tied an NFL record with just 8 turnovers. They had 28 last year.
They went 8-0 at home, where they’ll play again in the Divisional Round if they beat Denver. Fifteen different Bills have scored touchdowns this year. They’re near the league lead with 32 takeaways.
And they have Josh.
Incredible as it may seem, the Bills quarterback got better this year and played smarter. He doesn’t take unnecessary risks and has full command of Joe Brady’s offense.
Why was it important for him to start the game and get one-play to keep his streak of games started alive at 115? Who knows. But he’s got it. And he should have the NFL MVP locked up also.
But the playoffs are a different story.
The Broncos won 10 games this year but were only 2-5 against playoff teams (including the win over the Chiefs). Their best win was their first -- a 26-7 win at Tampa Bay way back in September. They feasted on NFL-lesser lights with wins over the Raiders, Carolina, the Browns and Colts.
They do have Bo Nix at quarterback. He completed his first 18 passes Sunday and thew four touchdowns. He finished the year with 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Nix was the 12th pick in the first round of the draft last year. He gives up 3-inches and 20-pounds to Josh Allen, but he can spin it.
The Broncos also have a top-level pass defense. Linebackers Nik Bonitto, Jonathan Cooper and DE Zach Allen have combined for 32.5 sacks. Four-year veteran Patrick Surtain II has four interceptions, one of them he returned 100 yards for a touchdown.
Their defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach is former Bills safety Jim Leonhard in his first year. He’ll have Denver’s pass defense ready to play.
The Broncos have head coach Sean Payton in his 17th season. He won the Super Bowl in New Orleans 16 years ago.
Denver is where the Bills were 3-4 years ago -- pretty good, getting better, and with a good quarterback. Expect a tough battle with the Broncos.
John Murphy, the longtime Voice of the Bills, is writing columns for WIVB.com this season. Find more of his work here.
