Buffalo Bills vs. Indianapolis Colts: Final Score Prediction

Will the Buffalo Bills win their first home playoff game in over two decades?

The Buffalo Bills have earned the right to host this upcoming Wild Card game against the Indianapolis Colts, but the work does not stop there as the Bills have unfinished business in these playoffs.

Many in the national media have bought the hype of recent Buffalo Bills performances, but not everyone is sold on how the Bills will fare in the playoffs. Last season, the moment was just too big for the Bills, but it seems clear and obvious that this season is different from Bills seasons of the past.

Heading into the playoffs, the Bills are far and away the hotter team when compared to the Colts. The Bills are undefeated since their bye in Week 11 while the Colts are 4-2 in the same time period.

Furthermore, the Bills have won by at least 10 points in each of those last six games. Not only are the Bills winning games, but they are dominating their opponents. With that being said, the playoffs are a different animal and each opponent is going to be more ready than the last.

Coming into this Wild Card matchup against the Colts, the difference in the injury report for both teams is rather marginal. The Bills have six players on their injury report, but only two carrying injury designations.

Unfortunately, Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley are the two players carrying questionable designations for this game. Through the late part of the regular season the Bills carried on quite nicely without John Brown, but to be without Diggs and Beasley would be a huge blow to offensive production. Should either receiver have to miss this game it will likely be Gabriel Davis and Isaiah McKenzie as the next guys up to fill the void left at pass catcher.

As for the Colts, they have a total of eight players on their injury report and three players carrying injury designations heading into the game. Of the three players with injury designations, offensive tackle Will Holden and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin will both be out, and defensive back DeForest Buckner will be questionable.

Fortunately for the Bills, with Ya-Sin out it should help offset the impact on the Bills being without Diggs and/or Beasley. If the Bills are without both pass catchers, the injury to Ya-Sin will be merely a dent in offsetting the impact on the Buffalo passing game.

The most impactful injuries to watch will be that of Buckner and Colts running back Jonathan Taylor as neither player has registered as a full practice participant this week. Buckner is without a doubt the best player on the Colts defensive line and a big reason for their defensive success against opponents in the rushing game.

As for Taylor, the Colts running back has been on a hot streak during the late portion of the regular season, but he’s coming into this game nursing a shoulder injury. Hopefully, the Bills do not have to face Taylor in full form, as run defense is the most obvious weakness for this Buffalo defense.

If the Bills follow my keys to victory for this wildcard matchup, they can avoid having the Colts exploit their weaknesses and instead force the Colts to go up against the strengths of this Buffalo Bills team. Ideally, the Bills will have at least Beasley or Diggs in this game, that way the Bills can attack the Colts secondary where they are weakest.

Regardless of injuries, the Buffalo Bills will finally have fans in the stands for the first time this season, and how fitting that it’s in their first home playoff game since 1996. Ultimately, I don’t think this Bills team has come all this way to finally get fans in the stadium and then let them down in the first round of the playoffs.

My final score prediction for this wildcard matchup is for the Bills to beat the Colts 34-27 and win their first playoff game since 1995.

Prediction: Buffalo Bills win 34-27