Sean McDermott asks us to "respect the process". I know I do. And most Bills fans probably do too. The next logical incremental step in the "process" for the Buffalo Bills, it seems to me, would have been to win their wildcard playoff game in Houston on Saturday and then see what would have happened in the divisional round against either the Chiefs or Ravens (since the Titans won, it would have been the Chiefs). In his first year as Bills head coach in 2017, McDermott managed to wrestle the playoff drought monkey off the back of Bills nation (thanks in large part to Andy Dalton's 4th and 12 miracle in Baltimore) with a 9-7 record and a sub-optimal quarterback in Tyrod Taylor. Last season, with a rookie quarterback and virtually no offensive play makers, he somehow squeezed out six wins in a full rebuilding year. This season, with an improved second-year quarterback, new weapons for him to throw to and a re-built offensive line (not to mention a continued outstanding defence), a win two days ago in Houston was, if not expected, clearly the next step for the team to take. But it wasn't to be. Like any close NFL game, we could point to as many as 10 plays which, had they turned out differently, would have changed the result. But at least the Patriots lost.
And I mention the Patriots loss not to gloat. As a sports fan, I pride myself on not being a negative fan - as in, I generally don't cheer against teams, no matter how tempting, unless it's based on a tangible and specific rooting interest I have for my own team. I don't hope that the Boston Bruins lose in the playoffs unless they're playing the Leafs and I don't hope for Yankee or Red Sox losses unless they're playing the Jays. When I say "at least the Patriots lost", I say it only in the context of the Bills inching closer to winning the AFC East division one day and the reaping the reward of the home playoff game which goes with it. Saturday's Patriots home playoff loss to the Titans obviously came too late to have any direct impact on the Bills but it does signal perhaps the beginning of the end of their amazing run and sets up what appears to be a realistic shot at the division title for Buffalo in 2020. Tom Brady may return to New England next season and he may not. And the Patriots will probably still be good in 2020 and beyond but the Bills will have a better chance of de-throning them next season than they have had at any time in the last 20 years. And the loss to the Texans on Saturday is probably irrelevant in this regard.
The game had its share of bizarre plays - none more than the phantom touchdown which was awarded to the Bills - then reversed - on the opening kick-off the second half. Texans returner DeAndre Carter was, upon further discussion among the officials, determined to have "given himself up" after referee Tony Corrente initially ruled that when Carter failed to take a knee and then flipped the ball in Corrente's general direction, it was still live and after the Bills recovered in the endzone, a touchdown was signaled. Callers to talk radio complained after the game that the Bills were robbed of a touchdown under a strict interpretation of the rules. If the touchdown had stood and the Bills had gone up 20-0 and gone on to win the game by less than a touchdown, the controversy would have rivaled the uncalled pass interference in last year's NFC Championship game. The league needs to clarify the rule and returners need to follow it but I, even as a Bills fan, am glad that the touchdown did not stand. DeAndre Carter for some reason didn't follow the letter of the rule, but the spirit of it was correctly enforced in the end - as it should have been.
There was, however, a clear and important missed call in the overtime period. With the Texans lined up at their own 19 yard line for a 3rd and 18 attempt, the play clock ticked down to zero where it remained for what seemed like a full second before the ball was snapped. A delay of game penalty should have been called and was not. It would have brought up 3rd down and 23 for the Texans from their own 14 yard line. Instead, receiver Duke Johnson was able to gain exactly 18 yards on the 3rd and 18 play to extend what would become the game-winning drive.
Did Josh Allen's mistakes and questionable judgment in a couple of situations cost the Bills the game? The answer is probably yes. But I don't see the point in hanging the loss entirely on him. If Siron Neal and/or Matt Milano had sacked DeShaun Watson on the play which ended up going for 34 yards to the Bills 10 yard line in overtime, maybe the Texans drive would have stalled, giving the Bills the ball back. If Cody Ford hadn't felt the need to dish out a blind-side hit and cost his team 15 yards on the previous series, maybe Steven Hauschka kicks the game-winning field goal and the Bills are preparing for the Chiefs this morning.
Stepping back and looking at the "process" of Josh Allen's growth from the turnover-prone wild-throwing rookie he was in 2018 to the more polished and accurate quarterback he showed himself to be as this past season unfolded, he remains a work in progress but still one with considerable upside. I predict that he will continue to improve at reading defences, not taking sacks and with general ball security. His arm strength and deceptive speed will remain his best weapons and he will learn, through more reps, more games and more big situations to be a formidable NFL quarterback. As a famous Canadian politician said more than 40 years ago, the world is unfolding as it should. But it still sucks to lose a playoff game in overtime after leading 16-0.
