Entering the week, the Buffalo Bills understood that their playoff path hinged on more than just their own performance. While a victory was essential, Buffalo also needed help elsewhere around the league—specifically, a loss by either the Houston Texans or the Indianapolis Colts—to clinch a postseason berth. Those hopes took an early hit when the Texans handled the Las Vegas Raiders, eliminating one of the key scenarios the Bills were relying on.
As a result, attention quickly shifted to Monday Night Football, where Bills fans across the country tuned in with renewed interest. The outcome of that game carried significant playoff implications for Buffalo, as a Colts loss would still allow the Bills to secure a playoff spot this week without needing to wait until the final stretch of the season. With postseason stakes on the line, Monday night effectively became must-watch television for the Bills Mafia, as the final pieces of the playoff picture continued to take shape.
Game Recap
The Buffalo Bills firmly controlled the pace of play this past Sunday, leaning on a balanced and disciplined game plan highlighted by another dominant performance from running back James Cook. Cook consistently found running lanes behind Buffalo’s offensive line, wearing down the defense and keeping the Browns’ offense on the sideline for extended stretches. With his latest outing, Cook now sits atop the NFL rushing leaderboard, putting him on the verge of making franchise history. If he finishes the season as the league’s leading rusher, Cook would become the first Bills running back to accomplish that feat since O.J. Simpson did so more than five decades ago in 1970—an achievement that underscores just how special his season has been.
On the other side of the ball, the Cleveland Browns continued to experience growing pains at quarterback. Rookie Shedeur Sanders struggled to find consistency against Buffalo’s defense, throwing two interceptions in Sunday’s contest. That brings his total to five interceptions over his last two games, as the Bills’ pass rush and coverage units consistently pressured him into difficult throws and forced mistakes at critical moments.
The matchup also drew significant national and international attention due to the potential for a historic defensive performance. Browns star pass rusher Myles Garrett entered the game just one sack shy of tying the NFL’s single-season sack record, and fans around the world tuned in to see if the milestone would fall. While Garrett was held largely in check, he managed to register half a sack, leaving him one sack short of owning the record outright. With two games remaining in the regular season, Garrett remains within striking distance of etching his name alone at the top of the NFL record books.
Playoff Picture
The Bills are currently 2nd in the AFC East, just one game behind the New England Patriots. Buffalo can still become the #1 seed, but it requires the following to happen:
- Bills win out (vs PHI, vs NYJ)
- 1 Denver loss (@KC, vs LAC)
- 1 New England loss (@NYJ, vs MIA)
- 1 Jacksonville loss (@IND, vs TEN)
- 1 LA Chargers loss (vs HOU, @ DEN)
A Look Ahead
If the Bills fail to win the division, it likely means the final two games at Highmark Stadium are upon us as Buffalo hosts the reigning Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, followed by the New York Jets in week 18.
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 16!
