The Buffalo Bills and quarterback Josh Allen are once again among the top favourites for the upcoming playoffs. Unlike previous years, however, the franchise must live up to expectations this time around. Because the time for excuses is over – a commentary.

“Win or go home”. With these words, Bills quarterback Josh Allen addressed the press in a combative manner before the duel against the Miami Dolphins in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

The playmaker is on fire. The team is strong, highly motivated and hungry for the Super Bowl. The ultimate goal that the franchise, despite its status as co-favourites, has let slip through its fingers time and again in recent seasons.

Buffalo has only made it past the Divisional Round once in the past three seasons – simply not enough.

This is a bitter pill to swallow within the franchise, and this season they must focus everything on the point of not missing the final percentages in the final spurt this time in the duel with the competition.

Buffalo Bills: Pressure on reaching the Super Bowl is growing

The pressure is on, the team elite at many positions. It has become more and more experienced over the years and further improved in both width and top.

For this season, therefore, one thing is clear: the Super Bowl may simply be the only acceptable target for the postseason.

Under franchise player Allen, reaching the AFC Championship Game once has been the maximum so far. Buffalo is more in debt than ever to make the “Bills Mafia” jump through every available folding table in the country in a frenzy of joy – even beyond the January dates.

In a possible reunion with the Kansas City Chiefs in the Championship Game, the Bills will simply have to hold their nerve this time and get the numerous horsepower on the field by the time the clock runs out.

But if they do, their knees are likely to shake again.

Because of one name: Patrick Mahomes.

Allen’s old nemesis, who is likely to haunt the Bills quarterback into his sleep, especially in the crucial weeks of the season. This trauma must now be overcome, because excuses are no longer allowed in Buffalo. No matter what form they take.

Buffalo Bills: The omens don’t get any better than this

Because the NFL also did what it could and changed the overtime rule in the postseason especially for the Bills after their preseason experience.

And it didn’t stop there. After the cancellation of the game due to the cardiac arrest of safety Damar Hamlin and the duel with the Cincinnati Bengals that was subsequently not made up, a possible championship game against the Chiefs will also be played in Atlanta – i.e. at a neutral venue – for reasons of fairness.

So the omens are friendlier than ever, even away from the truth on the field. The result, however, inevitably raises the expectations of the team, which can no longer be blinded by its role as title favourites.

No more excuses. The Bills have to deliver now.

For themselves. For the fans. And for Hamlin, too.