Bills defensive lineman focused on 'hitting on all cylinders for 60 minutes' against the Denver Broncos

Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Ed Oliver discussed the team's mindset for Sunday's AFC wild-card game against the Denver Broncos.

Anthony Miller | 0 Minutes Ago

Dec 29, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91) celebrates a sack. / Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

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Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Ed Oliver put some perspective on what is going on inside the minds of the players going into their AFC wild-card showdown with the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

While speaking with the media on Thursday, Oliver said the team is not focused on correcting past mistakes, but rather focused on Sunday's matchup.

"We can't worry about years past, Oliver said. "We can't worry about the outside noise. All we can worry about right now and it's not about last year. It's not about the yards you gave up in big games before. It's none of that. It's being your best self for 60 minutes or until the game is over and if we do that one game at a time, the sky's the limit."

Jan 21, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) reacts. / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Bills have gone six straight seasons winning 10 or more games in the regular season. It's also been three straight seasons of Buffalo getting knocked out in the divisional round of the playoffs. The Kansas City Chiefs have been the kryptonite of the Bills in the postseason as the Chiefs have ended their season three of the last four postseasons.

Oliver couldn't deny not being aware of the past, but knows the team has to press forward with the 2025 postseason.

"I'm not gonna let that define how I'm going to play this game. Yeah you're cognizant of it, but don't let your past define you. So we're gonna go about business as business."
- Bills DT Ed Oliver

Nov 17, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is pressured by Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91) / Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Cornerback Rasul Douglas talked about how the team in the past "peaked too early," which resulted in not-so-desirable ends to their seasons Oliver believes that this season the team has, at times, played their best, but the team must sustain and improve throughout each week in the playoffs.

"I think we're dangerous when we're hitting on all cylinders and have we hit on all cylinders? At times of the year yeah, but I think we could do it more often. I think the playoffs would be a good time to start hitting on all cylinders for 60 minutes."

Buffalo had the second-best record in the AFC this season, with a 13-4 record, and it won the AFC East for the fifth straight year. The Bills defense was ranked 17th overall allowing 341 yards per game. Surprisingly, the run defense ranked better then the pass defense: the Bills were 12th in rushing yards per game allowed with 115.5 and 17th in passing yards allowed with 226.1. The Bills Achilles heel was their inability to stop teams on third down, ranking 28th out of 32 teams.

Dec 29, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91) celebrates a sack against the New York Jets / Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Oliver pressed on the most important lesson for the Bills: it's not about what the team did in the regular season or even what the Broncos are capable of, rather its about the Bills defense playing focused for 60 minutes of playoff football on Sunday against the Broncos.

"That's why the playoffs are exciting ... It's about 60 minutes of going to play football. I don't wanna talk about them. It's not about them. It's about 60 minutes of doing your business, being your best for 60 minutes. It's not about last year or whatever have you years past. It's not about that. I don't want to talk about that. That's not where my mind is at. My mind is on Sunday...the task at hand. That's what it's all about."

This year, Oliver began playing his best football late in the season. Expect Oliver to make an significant impact this Sunday as the Bills look to take advantage of an inexperienced Broncos rookie quarterback and advance to the Divisional round of the playoffs.