Pick a synonym for sad, discouraged, angry, frustrated. Honestly, any adjective will do.
It’s how everyone feels after yet ANOTHER loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game, a 32-29 loss on the doorstep to the Super Bowl.
Is it possible to hurt anymore? Or are we just numb to the idea that Buffalo has a fantastic regular season team but just doesn’t have what it takes in the playoffs? Or are we always second fiddle to truly historic teams?
As always, there are injuries to review and discuss from the loss. Read below for analysis and final thoughts.
In-Game Injuries
CB Christian Benford (Concussion)
After suffering a concussion on the onside kick against the Baltimore Ravens last week, Benford was placed into concussion protocol. He was able to clear protocol in time to play on Sunday after this being his first publicly reported concussion.
Unfortunately, Benford took another shot late in the first quarter when he collided with teammate Damar Hamlin and was quickly assessed by trainers. From the layman’s eye, Benford looked punch drunk as the training staff had to place him in the front seat of a cart and buckle him in before quickly being ruled out with a concussion.
On the surface, this isn’t a great look for the NFL or Bills staff. Some could argue that there are still flaws in the concussion protocol and ways to beat the testing. There may be. Should a player be playing one week after suffering a diagnosed concussion? According to the rules, yes, if they clear protocol. Did the Bills or Benford himself rush back? These players want to play, and an independent doctor signed off on his ability to play.
Under the current NFL rules and regulations, Christian Benford was medically cleared to play in the AFC Championship game. However, he suffered a second concussion, knocking him out of the game. Looking back at all the injury data dating back to 2017, this is the first Bills player to have suffered two concussions within the same season.
Had the Bills won on Sunday, it was highly unlikely that Benford would have been available for the Super Bowl. Not impossible, but highly unlikely. Same year repeat concussions saw players miss an average of 12 days. Concussions in back-to-back weeks would certainly skew that timeline longer though out of an abundance of concern for the player.
We have seen players miss multiple weeks after suffering their second concussion of the season or multiple ones in their career. This would have been no different. Two recent examples of players with concussion histories show how the league handles repeated concussion.
New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave suffered a concussion in Week 6, missed the following game, and returned to play. He then suffered another concussion in Week 9 that saw him get placed on injured reserve. He was able to return to practice later this season but did not play, missing eight games.
And then there is Tua Tagovailoa. He suffered yet another concussion in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills and was immediately placed on injured reserve for four games considering his history. He didn’t have another concussion this season but teams are being more cautious in not rushing guys back with histories. There are many other examples that would require additional research, but you get the point.
Boiling it down, Benford was cleared to play by someone not directly affiliated with the team. There were multiple checks and balances to ensure his safe return. No one should be at fault for the decision, but it is easy to try and assign blame for an undesired outcome. If this was the regular season, would he have played? Possibly, but the idea is that you take the same approach towards the injuries no matter the time of year. I hope he has an uncomplicated recovery this offseason.
RB James Cook (Undisclosed)
Cook briefly required an assessment by the training staff as seen by the tweets above and the play below. He missed five minutes of real time and was not out on the field for the failed fourth and one conversion.
Whatever the injury was, it appeared to be minor and he was able to return and finish the game.
Update: On Tuesday, we got a little more information when there was video made available of Cook on the sidelines appearing to limp on the left side. It’s not clear when he suffered the injury, the play above was the last play before he went out and the trainer tweets went out.
He played sparingly during the fourth quarter but never got an injury diagnosis during the game.
Several people later had said that Cook was hit on the left side/abdomen area during the touchdown which looking back, makes sense why he would have been limping.
Final Thoughts
Here we are at another season ending not how we want. This team was supposed to regress but marched all the way to the AFC Championship game and playing anyone else, probably wins it. Expectations were adjusted as they continued to win, securing the division, and winning playoff games.
Maybe it’s too soon but there is just such a rawness to all of this that can’t be fully articulated into words. Life isn’t fair and this is just another example of that.
Locker clean out and exit physicals will occur this week as players get set to go on vacation or simply begin their offseason. Surgeries will be scheduled, free agency decisions will begin to take shape, and the focus will shift towards the draft.
A huge shout out to the Bills doctors, athletic trainers, physical therapists, strength and conditioning, massage therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, equipment staff, dietary, psychologists, and anyone else helping to get these guys ready to play every week this season. They never get enough recognition for what they do. They don’t do it for the attention but deserve to be acknowledged for the work they do.
Make sure to come back for the latest injury news detailing the surgeries, the revealing of the injuries the players were playing through, and general updates as they come along.
Thank you for reading and following along this season. Go Bills.
Top Photo Credit: Screengrab via X/@Rate_the_Refs
Discover more from Banged Up Bills
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.