The Buffalo Bills are wrapping up OTAs and will be turning the page to mandatory offseason mini-camp this coming week. After an offseason that focused on reloading the defensive side of the ball, the Bills face a season as big as any. They were a mere four points away from appearing in the Super Bowl, and will be gunning yet again to capture that elusive Lombardi trophy.
While skill is a major factor in determining which two teams get to the big game every year, luck also plays a role. That is true all season long, in the form of weather that can influence game results, rival teams pulling out close games after close games, and, of course, unfortunate injuries. With that in mind, here are five dream scenarios that would help finally make this the Buffalo Bills' year.
5 dream scenarios for Bills in 2025
Dream Scenario #1: Bills earn the number one seed
Despite a recent feeling over the last few years that the number one seed isn’t that advantageous in the current NFL playoff bracketing, it is, and arguably more so than ever before. The Bills have not been able to earn the number one seed once yet in the Josh Allen era, and it has affected them.
As the top seed, you’re guaranteed home-field advantage in all your games, you get a bye week, and you only have to win two games before the Super Bowl. While one extra game doesn’t seem like a lot in hindsight, it is. It’s an extra game of wear and tear on the players, another game of injury risk to star players, and of course, another chance to be eliminated.
For example, last season, the Chiefs were the number one seed, and as we know, they represented the AFC in the Super Bowl. The Chiefs had a bye week in round one to rest and game plan. They drew what we could call an easier matchup in round two, against a reeling and injury-devastated Houston Texans team. After that win, all they had to do was squeak out one more game, which they did in the AFC Championship, which they also had home-field advantage in. So, just like that, they were back in the Super Bowl.
On the other end, the Bills, as the two seed, played a feisty young Broncos team in round one. In round two, they drew the Ravens and the best offense in the league last year. The Bills had to empty the tank to stop Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson. While no one is making excuses, playing against Henry will take a toll on anyone. The defense already played the best offense in the league, and a very good young offense.
Now, they had to play Patrick Mahomes, the general consensus's best quarterback in the NFL, and one of the greatest offensive minds in league history, Andy Reid. After another injury to Christian Benford, it was clear to see that wear and tear played at least a part in the Chiefs' offense, which had been nowhere near its usual level last season, enjoy one of its best games of the season against Buffalo.
Capturing the number one seed next season would be a dream come true for Buffalo. It could prove to be the missing link that has stopped them from achieving the ultimate goal over the last few years.