SEAN MCDERMOTT

Josh Allen & Co. said this season was Super Bowl or bust. Now what? Can they contend for the title in 2023? Or will they begin to fade?

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple had a couple digs for Buffalo Bills stars Stefon Diggs and Josh Allen on Monday after their win.

"Cancun on 3," Eli Apple tweeted, along with a heart-hands emoji that has been Damar Hamlin's signature. Apple didn't stop there.

The Buffalo Bills showed signs of taking a step back despite a season in which they matched a franchise record with 13 wins and won their third straight AFC East title.

The Buffalo Bills ended a season in which they overcame much adversity by producing a dud in a 27-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and the divisional round of the playoffs.

Adversity finally caught up to the Buffalo Bills, who were left depleted and defeated while closing an emotionally draining season two wins short of their Super Bowl aspirations. Unable to draw on the motivational inspiration of injured teammate Von Miller displaying the Super Bowl trophy he won last year in the locker room this week or injured safety Damar Hamlin’s surprise appearance at the stadium Sunday, the Bills delivered a dud in a 27-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in a divisional playoff game. “Keep their head up,” coach Sean McDermott said he told his players afterward.

After a season of inconsistency on offense, Buffalo's first question of many is whether OC Ken Dorsey is the right coach.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin made his first public appearance Sunday since going into cardiac arrest three weeks ago during a game.

Three weeks after going into cardiac arrest during a game, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is recovering remarkably, but his marketing rep emphasized he still faces a lengthy rehab.

A family spokesman for Damar Hamlin tells The Associated Press the Buffalo Bills safety still faces a long rehabilitation despite enjoying a remarkable recovery some three weeks after having to be resuscitated on the field during a game in Cincinnati.

The Bills and Bengals face each other in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. Here's how we anticipate the matchup looking.

The Bills and Bengals can refocus on their next matchup now that Buffalo's safety Damar Hamlin has shown remarkable signs in his recovery some three weeks after collapsing on the field in Cincinnati.

Warren Sharp looks at what ailed Josh Allen and the Bills offense last weekend and discusses why a healthy Jalen Hurts is key to the Eagles' success.

Buffalo QB Josh Allen threw three TDs and two interceptions in an ugly but exhilarating win over the Dolphins in the wild-card round.

Stay up to date on the latest NFL injury news heading into Super Wild Card Weekend.

If Buffalo is going to win it all this year, the Bills need excellence from these nine members of the team, including players and coaches.

The NFL and ESPN are still at odds over a report about Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals given 5 minutes to warm up to play after Damar Hamlin's medical emergency.

The Bills did something tremendously challenging — they beat a hungry Patriots team despite Buffalo facing tremendous adversity and emotional trauma.

Damar Hamlin's breathing tube was removed, and he's talking, even joining a Buffalo Bills team video meeting.

During one of football's worst weeks, those in the sport showed their best side. As thoughts remain with Damar Hamlin, that is a reason for some cheer.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is breathing on his own and speaking with his teammates, the team said in its latest update on Friday morning.

The Buffalo Bills have received a much-needed jolt of good news.

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott spoke to reporters during a press conference on Thursday following the news that Damar Hamlin is awake and communicating with doctors.

Bills coach Sean McDermott has provided strong leadership for his team in the wake of Damar Hamlin's injury.

In his first comments since Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor praised Bills head coach Sean McDermott for his leadership.

Taylor got wind that Bills coach Sean McDermott needed to talk more about the situation, so he walked over to the Buffalo sideline to discuss. “The first thing he said was, ‘I need to be at the hospital with Damar and I shouldn’t be coaching this game,’” Taylor said. Bills players were on the field and stretching, and so were some Bengals players. Taylor said he had respected McDermott for years despite never sitting down for a meal with the Bills coach. “Just the way that I really felt Sean McDermott led in that moment for his players,” Taylor said.

Buffalo Bills great and NFL Hall of Famer Andre Reed is shocked at what transpired with safety Damar Hamlin Monday. He knows Buffalo will have his back.

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott gathered his team for a group prayer following a terrifying scene that saw safety Damar Hamlin taken off the field in an ambulance following a scary hit.

A case can be made that no NFL team this season has been better than the Buffalo Bills at overcoming myriad on- and off-field challenges and distractions. Whether dealing with weather-related disruptions, shuffling lineups due to injuries, or changing course to address in-game deficiencies, the Sean McDermott-coached Bills (12-3) have proven resourceful in building an AFC-leading record. The Bills have won six straight, a run that began when their “home” game against Cleveland was shifted to Detroit because of a major snowstorm hitting western New York.

Jets rookie Sauce Gardner is already a shutdown corner, so why can't he win DPOY? Plus, the latest on Mac Jones, Josh Allen and Tua Tagovailoa.

Bills LB Von Miller will miss the rest of the season after an exploratory knee surgery revealed he'd torn his ACL.

The Buffalo Bills’ top pass-rusher Von Miller will miss the remainder of the season after having surgery to repair an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

A person with direct knowledge of Von Miller’s injury told The Associated Press that tests showed no tear to the anterior cruciate ligament in the injured right knee of the Buffalo Bills star pass-rusher.

DETROIT -- Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen did some Josh Allen things on Thanksgiving in Detroit, needing only three plays to get into field-goal range after the Lions tied things at 25-25. You know second half, didn’t play great football. That’s a good team playing very well and playing good football right now, and they’re coached extremely well. So credit to them for such a good game plan. We all know how good they are, but losing that close, no one wants to lose, obviously, but that’s a good football team.

Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller injured his right knee in the second quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game against the Detroit Lions.

A heartfelt chat between Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott and Stefon Diggs during Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns was apparently just what the star wideout needed.

Bills coach Sean McDermott is trying to keep things light as a major snowstorm hits Buffalo and disrupts the team's schedule.

The NFL is relocating the Bills' home game against the Cleveland Browns to Detroit on Sunday because of a lake-effect snowstorm set to hit the Buffalo region.

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Josh Allen's situation is "hour to hour" after he hurt his elbow in the final minutes of Sunday's game against the New York Jets.

The decision on whether Josh Allen will play Sunday versus the Vikings is an “hour-to-hour situation,” per Bills coach Sean McDermott.

The decision on whether Josh Allen will play Sunday versus the Vikings is an “hour-to-hour situation,” per Bills coach Sean McDermott.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has tested his sore throwing elbow for the first time this week.

Bills coach Sean McDermott says Josh Allen will miss practice due to an injury to his throwing elbow, but the star quarterback could play against the NFC North-leading Minnesota Vikings this weekend.

Josh Allen's status versus the Vikings is uncertain after he reportedly injured his elbow in the Bills' loss to the Jets.

Josh Allen is nursing a sore right throwing elbow, leaving cause for concern over the Buffalo Bills starter’s status against the NFC North-leading Minnesota Vikings this weekend.

NFL Week 9 is here! Read about how Lamar Jackson shines in prime-time games and the other best betting trends to watch for.

Bills starting safety Jordan Poyer elected to drive to Kansas City for Buffalo's game against the Chiefs because he wasn't medically cleared to fly because of the aftereffects of experiencing a punctured lung.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Chiefs counterpart Patrick Mahomes have one of the best young rivalries in the NFL.

Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey is not going to apologize for the passion he has for football and for his players battling in the 90-plus degree South Florida heat.

The Buffalo Bills have placed starting safety Micah Hyde on season-ending injured reserve because of a neck injury.

Buffalo Bills cornerback Dane Jackson was released from the hospital after tests revealed he sustained no major injury to his neck or spinal cord when he was struck by a teammate.

Buffalo Bills cornerback Dane Jackson suffered a neck injury in a collision with a teammate and was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Von Miller will always carry fond memories of his brief and successful stint with the Los Angeles Rams, where he won his second Super Bowl last season.

San Diego State football coach Brady Hoke says he didn’t know star punter Matt Arazia had been accused of participating in the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at an off-campus party in October until a civil lawsuit was filed last week.

In Buffalo, the focus shifts to why the Bills weren’t aware of the allegations against Araiza when they first selected the San Diego State player.

In the face of a major public backlash and internal questions over the decision to award Matt Araiza the punting job, the Buffalo Bills reversed course by cutting the rookie on Saturday, two days after a lawsuit was filed alleging the player and two college teammates gang-raped a teenager last fall.

In the face of a major public backlash and internal questions over the decision to award Matt Araiza the punting job, the Buffalo Bills reversed course by cutting the rookie on Saturday, two days after a lawsuit was filed alleging the player and two college teammates gang-raped a teenager last fall. The decision to cut ties with their sixth-round draft pick out of San Diego State comes after Buffalo cleared the way for Araiza to take over the punting duties by releasing returning veteran Matt Haack on Monday. The Bills opted then to keep Araiza even while being aware of the allegations made against him since late July.

Dozens of players and staff from professional Buffalo sports teams visited the scene of Saturday's mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket, where they laid flowers, dished out food and handed out groceries.

A year after having to rely solely on virtual visits the NFL returned to a normal spring evaluation process.

NFL owners are set to review proposals that would have both teams get at least one possession in overtime.

Even the winning coach, in this case Andy Reid, is questioning the NFL’s overtime setup.

Josh Allen walked off the field inside Arrowhead Stadium a year ago juggling the disappointment of an AFC tile game loss to the Chiefs with a profound sense of optimism about the future of his up-and-coming Buffalo Bills.

The Buffalo Bills are no longer the Patriots patsy in preparing to host New England in a wild-card playoff game on Saturday night.

The Buffalo Bills clinched their second consecutive AFC East title after Devin Singletary scored twice in the final 8:21 in a 27-10 win over the New York Jets.

NFL coaches are taking precautions beyond the league’s COVID-19 protocols to help ensure players are available for games.

Another 21 NFL players were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, including Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, cornerback Rashad Fenton and tight end Blake Bell.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen is struggling in attempting to assess the inconsistencies which have plagued Buffalo's offense over the past two months.

The Buffalo Bills appear to be in denial identifying their shortcomings and the challenges ahead in staying afloat in the AFC playoff picture. There was coach Sean McDermott suggesting not to give Patriots coach Bill Belichick too much credit in dismissing a question over New England’s run-heavy plan.

The Bills' season is now hanging in the balance after their loss to the Patriots. Here are some observations Sal Maiorana had on what happened Monday.

Reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young suffered a potentially serious right knee injury, putting a damper on Washington’s big win against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry has a simple test for how sore he is after plowing through and over NFL defenders.

Receivers Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis are among four Buffalo Bills players who must spend at least five days away from the team facility after having close contact with a trainer who tested positive.

Wide receiver Cole Beasley continued his crusade against vaccinations and the NFL’s COVID-19 policies as the Buffalo Bills opened training camp, though he attempted to sidestep questions about his stance.

From players getting COVID-19 vaccinations to relaxed coronavirus protocols to lineup issues, particularly at quarterback, the NFL faces a multitude of questions as training camps open.

Washington pass rusher Montez Sweat says he isn't a fan of the team attempting to persuade players to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers passes during the first half of the NFC championship NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Green Bay, Wis., Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. Rodgers received 44 votes, followed by Buffalo’s Josh Allen with four, and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, the 2018 MVP, with two. ___9:52 p.m.For turning around a moribund Cleveland franchise, overcoming injuries and COVID-19 concerns, Kevin Stefanski is The Associated Press 2020 NFL Coach of the Year. Ad___9:20 p.m.Justin Herbert is the latest quarterback to win The Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year award. ___8:08 p.m.Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has won The Associated Press NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award.

FILE - Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo addresses the media during a news conference at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., in this Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, file photo. “That game," Brady said Monday, “is one of my least favorite football memories.”He hopes he can reflect on Sunday with a bit more joy. Brady will once again lead his offense against Spagnuolo's defense, only this time it will be his Tampa Bay Buccaneers facing the defending champion Chiefs in the Super Bowl. It also will be a rematch of a game earlier this season, when once more Spagnuolo kept Brady off balance as Kansas City coasted to a 27-24 victory in Tampa Bay. All traits that Mathieu shares with the entire Chiefs defense.

Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) returns an interception during the second half of an NFL divisional round football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021, in Kansas City. After helping the Chiefs win their first Super Bowl in five decades last season, Mathieu has followed up with what can only be described as the best season of his career. On a quarter of snaps this season, he's lined up in the deep safety spot. You know that if you feed something to Tyrann, he’s going to get it and he’s going to know why,” Spagnuolo said. “I think any position on the field allows you the chance to make plays,” Mathieu said.

But all are credited with providing a steady helping hand, a sturdy shoulder and a willing ear to their team’s current head coach. PETTINEPettine went 10-22 (.313) as head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 2014-15, before joining Matt LaFleur, who was named Packers head coach in 2018 after just two seasons as an offensive coordinator, a year each with the Rams and Titans. Arians brought along Bowles, whom he coached at Temple in the mid-1980s and who had been his defensive coordinator in Arizona from 2013-14. It began with Frazier saying he didn’t want McDermott to make the same mistakes he did as a first-time head coach. It’s a business with a lot of egos, a lot of people concerned with who gets the credit.”SPAGNUOLOSpagnuolo, 61, compiled an 11-41 record (.212) as head coach of the St. Louis Rams from 2009-11 and as interim head coach of the New York Giants in 2017, when he went 1-3.

The Kansas City Chiefs won their first NFL title since 1970 when they beat San Francisco in last year's Super Bowl. What we get Sunday is a matchup of dynamic offenses and overlooked defenses, the top two teams in the conference. Kansas City (15-2) has the confidence of a reigning champion and a charisma few NFL teams can match. That could provide an edge over Bills rookie Tyler Bass — except that Bass has been very reliable all season. Buffalo punter Corey Bojorquez and Kansas City rookie Johnny Townsend were two of the most dependable in the AFC.

Funny thing: Even after firing him, Reid suspected deep down that McDermott was destined for big things. McDermott has the long-suffering Buffalo Bills playing in their first AFC championship game since beating Kansas City on Jan. 23, 1994, when they advanced to their fourth straight Super Bowl. They love football in Buffalo and he's really done a nice job with that whole program.”Not surprisingly, the job McDermott has done with the Bills neatly parallels the job Reid has done in Kansas City. Both have surrounded them with playmakers, such as the Bills' Stefon Diggs and the Chiefs' Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. McDermott never harbored any animosity toward Reid when he was fired from the Eagles on Jan. 15, 2011.

Buffalo Bills' Micah Hyde (23) celebrates with teammates after an NFL divisional round football game against the Baltimore Ravens Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Leslie Frazier’s faith in his Bills defense never wavered even at the lowest point of Buffalo’s season. It was mid-November and the Bills were entering their bye week on the heels of a 32-30 defeat at Arizona. In the NFC, the Packers are allowing an average 306 yards offense over their past seven outings. Here comes Patrick Mahomes, should he clear the NFL’s concussion protocol, and the league’s top-ranked offense.

FILE - Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) talks with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) following a 24-17 Ravens win in an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., in this Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, file photo. It happened in the 2018 season opener, when the then-raw rookie Bills quarterback was shoved into the Ravens' sideline. Much like Jackson, Allen prefers putting the past behind him and focusing on the next challenge. “We’ve had our backs against the wall since the Pittsburgh game,” Harbaugh said. The Bills limited the Ravens to only 118 yards rushing in last year’s meeting, a 24-17 Ravens win.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich on the sidelines in the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Indianapolis, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. So, of course, the Indianapolis Colts coach finds himself rooting for the Bills almost every week — just like his former teammates root for him. No, it's not the first time he's been back — not even the first time as the Colts coach. But when Josh McDaniels backed out of his deal to join the Colts, Reich was perfectly positioned to return to another of his favorite cities, Indianapolis. So as Reich goes back to Buffalo, he's doing his best to focus on the task at hand — breaking the hearts of his former team and teammates in a city he adores.

While the Chiefs get another week’s rest, the six other AFC playoff teams get going this weekend. For just the second time since the 1970 league merger, every team in the AFC playoffs has at least 11 wins. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 54, 31-20 over the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 2, 2020, at Miami. Last Lombardi: Super Bowl 43, 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Feb. 1, 2009, at Tampa, Florida. Their pass rush is nearly nonexistent with 19 sacks, the fewest by a playoff team since Denver had 19 in 1979.

DENVER – Donning gray caps that declared them AFC East champions for the first time since 1995, the Buffalo Bills acted like this was old hat. “To be the team and to be the quarterback on the team that does it, obviously feels really good. “But there’s still a lot on the table.”Buffalo coach Sean McDermott said he received a congratulatory email from Marv Levy, the last Bills coach to win the AFC East. He also missed the 51-yard field goal attempt way to the right on Denver’s opening drive. Broncos: visit the Los Angeles Chargers, who they rallied from a 21-point deficit to beat on Nov. 1 with a touchdown as time ran out.

The NFL's ranks of undefeated teams should thin by one Tuesday night, Oct. 13, 2020, when the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans finally meet in a rescheduled game. (AP Photo/David Berding, File)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The NFL's ranks of undefeated teams should thin by one Tuesday night when the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans finally meet in a rescheduled game. The NFL first postponed, then rescheduled their Oct. 4 game with Pittsburgh to Oct. 25, and their game with the Bills pushed back two days. “As a team that’s off to a good start, we feel like we’ve got a good thing rolling here and we want to play,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said. The Bills will be the first team to play the Titans since the NFL closed Tennessee's facility Sept. 29.

It was just as sizzling along the Gulf Coast in south Alabama and along the Florida Panhandle. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are prime threats during heat waves, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Spartanburg, South Carolina, the Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills practiced together before a preseason NFL game in Charlotte, North Carolina. Over the weekend, Panthers coach Ron Rivera had some fun with Bills coach Sean McDermott, sending a screenshot of the heat index in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Associated Press writers Diana Heidgerd in Dallas; Rebecca Santana in New Orleans; and Steve Reed in Spartanburg, South Carolina, contributed to this report.