The Buffalo Bills might have had their hopes of winning the Super Bowl ended because of the loss of Von Miller, claims Rob Ninkovich.

The Buffalo Bills entered the year in a lot of people’s minds as the team to beat in the NFL, not just within the AFC. Having made the playoffs in each of the past three seasons under head coach Sean McDermott and quarterback Josh Allen, their seasons have always ended in heartbreak

In 2019 they lost to the Houston Texans in overtime, in 2020 it was to the Kansas City Chiefs by 38-24 in the AFC Championship game, and last year it was another loss to the Chiefs that ended their campaign, another overtime loss in one of the craziest finishes in NFL history. 

But having added to the team this season, most people believed that now they had the pieces to make it over the top and finally make it to, and even win, the Super Bowl. But sadly one of those pieces, pass rusher Von Miller, has had his season ended with an ACL injury that he suffered on Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions.

Buffalo Bills Mafia missing their main man in Miller

Miller’s importance cannot be understated when it comes to this team. He showed exactly what he can bring to the table last season as the Los Angeles Rams brought in the Super Bowl 50 MVP to help get them over the top, with nine sacks for them in the latter part of the season and across the playoffs to help win them the Super Bowl.

And the Bills were feeling some of that too this year as he was able to deliver for them eight sacks and twelve QB hits (both of which lead the team) and play a massive role in keeping Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes in check during their win over them in Week 6. 

And Rob Ninkovich thinks that the difference that is now missing for the Bills is going to cost them this season. Speaking on ESPN’s Get Up (starting at 0:55) he talked about what he brings to the table and what he has subsequently taken away from them with his injury: 

I think that you brought him in for a reason, that was to get to the quarterback. And listen, your margin for error in the playoff is razor thin. So when you bring in a player like Von Miller, you're trying to gain a play, you're trying to gain one possession, to where it puts you over the top. 

And last year, you saw that against the Chiefs. They needed one play and they weren't able to do it, that's why they went out and got Von Miller, that's why he's been able to close out games and get sack fumbles, get the ball off teams and give his offence another opportunity. So I think that that not having him in the playoffs is going to be a really big factor in them creating turnovers.

It does make you wonder if the Bills are somewhat cursed when it comes to winning it all, because for them to have got everything together this year, and to be back in the #1 spot in the AFC, to get this news really is a kick in the teeth. 

But more importantly, are any of his teammates going to be able to step up and make the same kind of impact that Miller could make, because if not, then it really does look like an uphill battle to make it to the Super Bowl from here.