The Buffalo Bills lost to the Cincinnati Bengals last season in the Divisional Round of the AFC Playoffs, a loss that included some noticeable sideline friction between wide receiver Stefon Diggs and quarterback Josh Allen. It also led to a highly discussed abrupt locker room exit from Diggs after the game.
The following day, the star receiver did address what transpired in a series of Tweets but it appears the frustration shown during that “snow game” loss to the Bengals hasn’t exactly gone away.
During an appearance on HBO’s The Shop, Diggs offered some candid words of what sounds like sheer disbelief that the Bills haven’t made a deeper run in the playoffs.
“It doesn’t make sense. I’ll rack my brain with this s**t at this point … I think it’s more execution than anything. S**t is small little pieces on why it’s not going right … We’ve got the players. We’ve got the plays. Why s**t ain’t coming together? That’s where you draw some of those questions. I never want to question who I am, I never want to question how I am. I’m giving this s**t everything I’ve got. I’m dying on the hill for that.”
Stefon Diggs on Buffalo Bills’ struggles (Sal Capaccio)
First off, it’s important for Bills fans to understand The Shop is a show where a candid conversation, much like the quote above, is greatly encouraged. It’s kind of the whole point.
But regardless of the platform, it might not be such a bad thing that Diggs is still clearly so bothered by the loss. It’s likely that many members of “Bills Mafia” would appreciate that the fire is still burning for Diggs in March.
There was also no finger-pointing or placing blame on any particular unit of the team.
The words from Stefon Diggs simply came across as complete exasperation to the losses, which really might be an unfair thing to do himself.
While the Buffalo Bills have indeed been bounced from the playoffs in the divisional round for two straight years after reaching the AFC Championship game in 2020, a look back at the opponents is absolutely crucial for context.
We are talking about two losses to the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs along with the aforementioned loss to Joe Burrow’s Bengals this past January. The same Bengals team that took out Mahomes in 2021 to reach the Super Bowl.
These have hardly been playoff losses that anyone could reasonably chalk up to being fluky.
The AFC is flat-out loaded. Getting through that gauntlet come January has been no easy task and that’s unlikely to change when the 2023 season rolls around.
Mahomes and Burrow aren’t going anywhere, anytime soon.
The biggest mistake Diggs could make is to talk himself into thinking another situation other than Buffalo might be better for him, but so far all we’re hearing is frustration about a team he still believes has what it takes.
At 29 years old, there’s still plenty of time on the clock for Diggs and Allen to cook.