Everyone counted the Buffalo Bills out even before they stepped foot on the field.
But, they proved everyone wrong with their performance on Sunday night, defeating the Baltimore Ravens to advance to the AFC Championship.
And after the game, head coach Sean McDermott and Josh Allen sent a strong message to all the critics.
Specifically, McDermott brought up how a Baltimore radio personality called Buffalo a “city of losers.” He and the rest of the team took that one personality.
“This is a city of winners,” McDermott said after the game. “These people in this town are winners. And I’ve been here just eight years, but I consider this my hometown. This place is different and the people here are different. They deserve more than whoever said that.”
McDermott is right. Plus, they got their revenge with this win.
And on top of this, people all week were saying that the Bills defense had no chance of stopping Derrick Henry.
“Our guys heard it all week long,” McDermott said. “We’re not big enough. We’re not fast enough. We’re not strong enough. We’re not talented enough.”
Henry was held to just 16 carries for 84 rushing yards and one touchdown, which given his production all season, is an incredible look for the Bills defense.
Going into this game, the team knew that they were the underdogs. And in ways they thrived off that. But they also didn’t pay attention to what everyone else was saying.
“A lot of pride in that locker room. We don’t listen to the outside noise,” quarterback Josh Allen said. “Everyone was saying this and that about us. Our guys continue to work hard. We are internally driven.”
And because of that, their season continues while the Ravens go home empty handed.