Bengals, Bills set for clash
ORCHARD PARK — Joe Mixon and the Cincinnati Bengals feel disrespected. Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills have plenty to motivate them — starting with safety Damar Hamlin’s remarkable recovery — in a season of overcoming adversity.
Teams that bonded three weeks ago in Cincinnati in deciding their since-canceled game could not proceed after Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated on the field have much to prove in an AFC divisional showdown in Buffalo on Sunday.
For the Bills, the mere sight of Hamlin making regular visits to their facility this week was uplifting. What’s more, the Bills believe they’re battle-tested and capable of surmounting any remaining obstacles to achieve their preseason Super Bowl aspirations.
“The more struggle, the more adversity that you can see over the course of the year, it just makes you stronger,” Allen said.
In Cincinnati, Mixon might speak for all the Bengals in expressing his unhappiness over his team getting the short end of the stick from the NFL.
Already annoyed over the Bengals being placed at a disadvantage to finish higher than the AFC’s third seed, Mixon added another chip to his broad shoulders this week once the NFL began selling tickets for a potential Bills-Kansas City Chiefs matchup in the AFC championship game, which would be played in Atlanta.
“To be honest, it’s disrespectful,” Mixon said, after the NFL’s ruling to go to a neutral site kicked in once the Bills (13-3) finished the season a half-game behind Kansas City (14-3). The Bengals (12-4) were left out of the picture even though they defeated the Chiefs this season, and missed out on their opportunity to pass the Bills in the standings once their game was called off.
An AFC championship between the Bengals and Chiefs will instead be played at Kansas City.
As if the Bengals need more to drive them, the Bills are favored.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said, “We know we belong on the field with every team in this league.”
The Bengals have won a franchise-record nine straight games, and haven’t lost since a 32-13 decision at Cleveland on Halloween. Cincinnati’s first three losses were decided by a combined eight points.
The Bills have won eight straight, matching their longest single-season run including playoffs since 2020, and one short of matching their franchise record. Buffalo’s three losses have been decided by a combined eight points.
Burrow’s protection up front will feature three backup linemen after left tackle Jonah Williams dislocated his kneecap last week. Jackson Carman, a backup guard, will likely start for Williams.
Right tackle La’el Collins (torn ACL) was lost for the rest of the season on Dec. 24, with Hakeem Adeniji replacing him. Right guard Alex Cappa (ankle) went out Jan. 8, and replaced by Max Scharping, who was claimed off waivers before the season.