ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Forget about the preseason worries that the Buffalo Bills might struggle this year. With Josh Allen leading the offense, the team has shown that they could be a strong contender in the AFC East, despite the division having its weaknesses. Currently sitting at 7-2, the Bills hold a significant four-game lead over their closest competitors, the New York Jets, who sit at 3-6. Buffalo is well-positioned to secure their fifth consecutive AFC East title.
However, questions linger about just how formidable the Bills truly are and how they stack up against the rest of the NFL. The upcoming six weeks should provide more insight into their capabilities as they navigate their schedule, which includes a bye week and critical matchups against rivals New England and the Jets. So far, the Bills have only one win against a team with a winning record (Arizona) and have faced defeats against Baltimore and Houston, both with 6-3 records. As they enter a challenging stretch, they will first visit Indianapolis (4-5) followed by major tests at home against Kansas City and San Francisco, before facing the Rams and Detroit on the road.
While the Bills’ schedule has appeared manageable, their resilience in overcoming injuries and overcoming roster changes after a significant offseason salary cap adjustment cannot be overlooked. General Manager Brandon Beane has successfully infused youthful talent into the lineup, while Coach Sean McDermott has been instrumental in developing this new talent while fostering a collective team culture that had previously been a struggle during the franchise’s earlier years.
Beane and McDermott’s joint vision of cultivating a long-term winning program in Buffalo seems to be unfolding successfully, with the Bills now a dominant force in a division that was once dominated by the Patriots under coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. Nevertheless, playoff success is still a missing piece for this team.
Under McDermott, the Bills have a postseason record of 5-6, with only one appearance in the AFC Championship game, which ended in a 38-24 defeat against the Chiefs during the 2020 season. Buffalo has been eliminated by Kansas City three times within the last four years and faced a playoff defeat against Cincinnati as well. The question remains whether the current roster — featuring 17 players, nine of whom are starters, with less than three full seasons of experience in the NFL — can advance further this year. Moreover, injuries could become a hindrance as key players like Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman contend with wrist issues, rookie defensive tackle DeWayne Carter is out due to surgery, and starting linebacker Matt Milano is not expected to return until December at the earliest.
On the positive side, the Bills demonstrated resilience in their recent victory over Miami, winning 30-27 thanks to Tyler Bass’s franchise-record 61-yard field goal in the waning seconds of the game. “We fundamentally did better than what we showcased today. We still have much to improve,” McDermott stated. “However, we showed persistence.”
When analyzing the Bills’ strengths, limiting turnovers stands out. Allen has accounted for all four giveaways this season — with his two interceptions and lost fumbles — while the team’s defense has successfully forced 15 turnovers, achieving at least one in every game, marking the longest stretch for Buffalo since 2004.
However, the team’s run defense needs improvement. While they managed to shut down Miami’s deep threats, the Dolphins still managed to gain 149 rushing yards, the second-highest total allowed by Buffalo this season. Baltimore remains the only team to rush for more yards against them (271).
Looking at individual performances, Tyler Bass is on the rise after a clutch kick despite previous struggles with extra-point attempts. In contrast, receiver Curtis Samuel’s performance has dipped; after being signed to a three-year deal this offseason, he has only made 12 catches for 92 yards, serving essentially as the No. 5 receiver based on playtime.
In terms of injuries, Coleman is undergoing assessments for a wrist issue, edge rusher Dawuane Smoot sustained a wrist injury and did not return, and edge rusher Casey Toohill is dealing with a knee injury. Additionally, Cooper and starting cornerback Christian Benford were sidelined due to their respective wrist injuries.
A significant milestone was reached by Allen, as he passed Joe Ferguson with 184 touchdown passes, securing the second spot on the franchise’s all-time list behind Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, who leads with 237 touchdowns.
Looking ahead, the Bills need just five total wins — whether from their own victories or combined losses from the Jets — to clinch the AFC East title.