The Buffalo Bills improved to 9–4 on the season, remaining two games behind the New England Patriots in the AFC standings. With a victory this Sunday, the Bills could close the gap to just one game as the league enters the final three weeks of the regular season.
Despite falling to 4–9, Cincinnati remains mathematically alive in the playoff race. To keep those hopes intact, the Bengals would need to win their remaining games and receive substantial help, including multiple losses by both the Steelers and Ravens down the stretch.
Game Recap
Joe Burrow and a talented Cincinnati offense came out sharp and aggressive, keeping Buffalo on its heels throughout the first half and controlling the pace of play. Burrow consistently moved the chains and capitalized on key matchups, allowing the Bengals to carry an 18–11 lead into halftime and putting real pressure on the Bills on both sides of the ball.
As has become a recent trend, however, Buffalo’s defense flipped the script after the break. For the second consecutive week, halftime adjustments proved decisive, as the Bills tightened their coverage, generated more pressure up front, and disrupted Burrow’s rhythm. The renewed defensive intensity forced one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks into uncharacteristic mistakes, resulting in two second-half interceptions that swung momentum and helped Buffalo regain control of the game.
My Player of the Game
Maxwell Hairston provided timely impact plays that helped steady the Bills on both sides of the ball, while James Cook continued his strong stretch of performances, flashing his trademark explosiveness and giving Buffalo a consistent spark offensively whenever he touched the ball. Cook’s ability to create chunk gains kept the defense honest and played a key role in sustaining momentum throughout the game.
Still, the standout performance belonged to Christian Benford, who delivered a truly lockdown showing in the secondary. Benford not only swung momentum with a decisive pick-six, but he also erased his assignments in coverage. Targeted just three times all afternoon, two of those throws were intended for elite wideout Ja’Marr Chase, and none resulted in a catch. Benford’s combination of discipline, awareness, and physical coverage effectively shut down one side of the field and underscored his growing reputation as one of Buffalo’s most reliable defensive weapons.
Around The AFC
Sunday was far from calm around the rest of the AFC, as chaos struck several contenders. In Indianapolis, the season took a stunning turn when Daniel Jones suffered a torn ACL, a brutal blow to a Colts team that still had postseason aspirations. Meanwhile, in Kansas City, the slide continued. The Chiefs suffered yet another loss, dropping to 6–7 on the season and watching their playoff hopes fade to a bleak 16% chance of qualifying, an unthinkable scenario for a team that has dominated the conference for years. Adding to the AFC’s unpredictability, the Jaguars somehow find themselves on top of the AFC South, taking advantage of the division’s inconsistency and capitalizing on timely wins.
Despite losing Jones, the Colts are refusing to wave the white flag. In a move that feels straight out of a time capsule, Indianapolis is turning to a familiar face: Philip Rivers. Yes, that Philip Rivers — the 44-year-old veteran quarterback who last suited up in 2020, and did so for the Colts. The decision signals that Indy believes it still has enough around the quarterback position to compete right now, even if that means relying on a seasoned veteran pulled out of retirement in a last-ditch effort to salvage the season and stay alive in a wide-open AFC race.
A Look Ahead
Buffalo’s final four games present a formidable challenge. The Bills begin with a matchup against the current No. 1 seed, the New England Patriots, followed by a meeting with the Cleveland Browns led by rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders. They then face the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles before closing the regular season with a Week 18 divisional showdown against the New York Jets, a team eager to play spoiler.
Check out all of my previous articles alongside all regular season articles available here: 2025 Season Series, and make sure to use code DL10 for 10% off all memberships! Also, tune in on YouTube to view our most recent video, where we discuss week 14!
