The Buffalo Bills got out to a rocky start to the season and sat at 5-5 through their first 10 games, leading many to wonder whether the franchise would even make the NFL playoffs. After rattling off wins in five of their last six games, including Sunday’s 27-21 victory over the New England Patriots, Buffalo is right in the thick of things entering Week 18.
Buffalo Bills Earn Shot at AFC East Title
Buffalo did not turn in its prettiest performance of the season against New England, but it did just enough to get a much-needed win.
Josh Allen completed 15 of 30 passes for 169 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception and ran for 44 yards and two scores. Rasul Douglas intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown, and Tyler Bass knocked through a pair of field-goal attempts to give the Bills all the points they needed on the day.
Those contributions helped Buffalo overcome a rough start, as its opening kickoff was returned 98 yards for a touchdown by New England’s Jalen Reagor to put it ahead 7-0.
The Bills scored 20 unanswered points from there, forcing four Patriots turnovers through the first 18 minutes of game time. Bailey Zappe threw three interceptions in that span, one of which was returned for a touchdown, while Pharaoh Brown lost a fumble to kill another drive.
New England cut the deficit to just 27-21 with 11:01 to play after a six-yard touchdown run by Ezekiel Elliott, but neither side could muster any more points from then on out.
It all amounted to Buffalo (10-6) winning its fourth straight game after a bumpy 6-6 start to the season. Bills offensive lineman Mitch Morse said after the game that the team rattling off such a win streak after its early struggles demonstrates its resiliency.
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“I think it’s just a testament to the resiliency of this locker room,” Morse told reporters. “It’s easier said than done, but I think, for the most part, everyone just kind of focused on what that moment and what the current day brought. You compound those, and it gives you an opportunity to have success on Sundays, but it doesn’t guarantee you anything.
“We’re very fortunate and understand we’re still fighting for what we want. We’ll enjoy this and then look forward to the opportunity that presents itself next weekend.”
With Buffalo’s win and the Miami Dolphins’ 56-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, the Bills and Dolphins will now square off in Week 18 with the AFC East championship on the line. The winner will take home the divisional crown and earn a top-four seed for the playoffs.
Miami already has a playoff spot secured, while Buffalo will need other results to go its way later on Sunday to enter the final week with a postseason berth already clinched. The Bills can put all other scenarios to rest with a win over the Dolphins, though.
Allen knows his team will need to be at its best entering that crucial clash with Miami.
“The division’s on the line. We need to be on top of our game,” Allen told reporters. “Obviously would love to get in and have a home game in the playoffs.”
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