A Magical Season ends in heartbreak

Josh Allen walking off the field after the 22-19 OT loss to Houston photo courtesy of The Buffalo News

For the first time since 1999 the Buffalo Bills finished with more than 10 wins! Before the season even started according to bleacher report, they predicted the Bills would win only six games this season. They won almost twice as many as people predicted at the start of the season. Buffalo finished with a 10-6 record and the number five spot in the AFC playoffs coming close to winning the division title after a week 16 match cup with New England.

After losing three of their last four games of the season (one was where they sat many starters in week 17 against the Jets) they headed to Houston with a lot of people picking the Bills in an upset. The biggest key inactive for the Wild Card playoff game was second year cornerback Levi Wallce. First drive of the game for Buffalo they came out not playing afraid and used a trick play with a pass from wide receiver John Brown to Josh Allen for a 16 yard touchdown pass to give the Bills a quick 7-0 lead right out of the gate.

Josh Allen played like he wasn't making his first NFL postseason start coming out on the opening drive and caps it off with their only touchdown of the game. The defense showed that they were one of the best in the NFL holding first team all pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to zero catches in the first half. Buffalo's offense which has shown that it's their weakness the entire season left so many points on the board settling for field goals instead of getting touchdowns. Buffalo was inside the 20-yard line twice, and only put up one touchdown, but were also inside the 22 and 29-yard line three times and came away with field goals. If the Bills had scored at least one more touchdown, instead of it being a 16-0 lead it could've been a 20-0 lead, or even a bigger margin which might've put the game away even with the greatness of Deshaun Watson I feel that the margin would've been too great.

The Bills offense on third down was really good converting 52% of the third downs. If Devin Singletary didn't get hurt early in the season he might be in the talk for offensive rookie of the year. On Saturday Singletary had 134 yards from scrimmage including a big play on third down which led to the game tying field goal. The Bills showed that they were an elite defense sacking Deshaun Watson seven with Jerry Hughes leading the way with three sacks. He also became the first Bills player to record three sacks in a playoff game. He was able to the passer which caused other players to get a crack at Watson, Trent Murphy ended with two big sacks. One of the biggest players on the Bills side would have to be Stephen Hauschka, the kicker made all of his field goals including a 47-yard with five seconds left with the game on the line.

The second half was bad on both sides of the ball. After the first drive of the game, there seemed to be a lot of consernvative play calling, not being aggressive as they were on the first drive of the game. After holding DeAndre Hopkins without a catch, he finished the game with six catches with 90 yards including a 41-yard catch mid-way through the fourth quarter. Also trying to get Watson on the ground was a struggle for the Bills on the play that set up the game winning field goal he was hit twice by Siran Neal, and Matt Milano before spinning away and setting them up inside the 10-yard line. The Bills had many chances to win this game, their first drive in overtime they were set up to have a chance to kick a long field goal but it was called back by an illegal blindside block on Cody Ford. Mike Pereira former vice president of officiating for the NFL, now rules analyst for Fox said on twitter "Enough people have asked about the blindside block that I feel I need to give my opinion. I think the call is incorrect. He doesn't lead with his shoulder or head. He pushes him. It is a bad rule..."

Looking at the positives from this game, Buffalo played a really exciting game, and with a young team that they have don't be surprised to see this team here again. The Bills were in every game this season besides one, they were one win away from winning the AFC East and hosting a playoff game. Along with a young quarterback who is learning, this is a step in the right direction for this team.

Now looking at the off-season the Bills have signed 10 players to reserve/future contracts. Key players that are going to become free agents this offseason, OG Quinton Spain, DE Shaq Lawson, DT Jordan Phillips, as well as EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS Free Agents: WR Robert Foster, and CB Levi Wallace. According to OverTheCap.com, Buffalo has the third-most cap space in the NFL with nearly $89 million to spend. Buffalo will be picking 22 in the NFL Draft. According to cbs sports writer, Ryan Wilson he has Buffalo picking Clemson WR Tee Higgins who can help Josh Allen even more in the passing game and lead him to even better things.