ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The preseason expectations couldn't have been higher for the Buffalo Bills. A franchise that has never won a Super Bowl became the favorite to capture the Lombardi trophy after an offseason that included making a splashy free-agent signing in future Hall of Famer Von Miller.
A season unlike any other followed, but the end came abruptly Sunday, as the Cincinnati Bengals came out in their divisional-round meeting looking more prepared and quickly dictated the pace in a game in which the Bills never found their footing.
The disappointment and frustration for the Bills lingered in different ways after the 27-10 loss -- the first home playoff loss under coach Sean McDermott.