The Buffalo Bills couldn’t get it done yet again and fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs.
While the Bills had several key injuries on both sides of the ball, there were multiple miscues and opportunities to pull off the win in front of their home crowd — the first time Patrick Mahomes played in an away game during the postseason (other than the Super Bowl which is held on a neutral site).
Many were quick to blame QB Josh Allen on Monday, but it’s hard to fault him for the loss. He connected on a few key deep balls that were dropped, most notably an absolute bomb late in the game that hit StefonDiggs in the hands but the Buffalo Bills No.1 WR couldn’t haul it in.
Diggs had give games with over 100 yards and eight touchdowns early in the season, but since Ken Dorsey was fired in mid-November and replaced with Joe Brady at OC, he didn’t surpass 100 yards in a single game and recorded just one touchdown in that nine-game span, including the playoffs.
Gabe Davis — the No. 2 WR had two games with over 100 yards receiving and two touchdowns — but was limited in four of his six games to close out the season with a PCL strain.
Gabe Davis Expected To Test Free Agency After Hearing Nothing From Bills About Extension
In four seasons in Buffalo, Davis never passed the 1,000 yard-mark but was seen as a valuable No. 2 or No. 3 target who could beat defenders downfield and haul in touchdowns form Josh Allen. He’s had black-to-back seasons with more than 700 yards receiving and finished both 2022 and 2023 with 7 touchdowns.
In is rookie campaign, he found a knack for using his speed to get past defensive backs and capitalized on just 35 receptions for 599 yards and 7 touchdowns.
In his sophomore season in 2021, he had almost identical production to his rookie year catching another 35 passes for 542 yards and 6 touchdowns.
The Buffalo Bills will head into an offseason where they will need to find a way to balance their books. According to Over The Cap, the Bills are over $43 million in the red before the start of the new league in March. The Bills’ cap space could keep them from being able to re-sign their second-leading wide receiver from the 2023 season.
Gabe Davis wants to be paid and is planning on testing the free agency market.
The Bills’ cap situation is likely the primary driver keeping the team from extending Davis. They can’t overspend on homegrown talent when they’re so deep in the red. Allen could lose another reliable target for next season.
The Bills have nine draft picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. That’s where they could find cheaper help for their receiving corps next season.
Davis has earned more money for the 2024 season than what a rookie will offer. He’s going to take that better contract in Buffalo or elsewhere.
Buffalo Bills WR Gabe Davis Has Intense Altercation With His Own Fans While Sitting Out Injured During Chiefs Game
When asked about free agency on the Bills official website as players cleaned out their lockers on Monday , Davis said “of course I’d be open to coming back here, This is the first place I’ve ever played. I figure when it gets closer to March and things start happening that stuff will sort itself out.”
Davis mentioned he “loves Buffalo” and complimented offensive coordinator Joe Brady who took over for Ken Dorsey when was fired after the Broncos loss in Mid-November.
Clearly there was a moment following the loss to the Chiefs where Davis didn’t love the Buffalo Bills or at least some fans following Sunday’s game.
A video captured Davis having a clear confrontation with Bills fans where another player appeared to hold Davis back.
WOW: #Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis GOT INTO A WILD SCREAMING MATCH with #BillsMafia and he had to be held back.
😳😳😳
Davis is an impeding free agent
(Via @RyanBuffalo01)
pic.twitter.com/S3Fs5BTydm— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) January 23, 2024
It felt like there was a small group of Bills fans — likely angry with another playoff loss — that singled out Davis and started screaming expletives his way. And the impending free agent wasn’t in a mood to take it, and appeared to fire several expletives back their way before eventually walking off the field.
At this point, it seems unlikely Davis will be back with Buffalo in 2024, but we will see how it all plays out.