The Buffalo Bills are now 11-5 on the season and are officially out of the race to clinch the AFC East title, a division they have won each year since the 2020 NFL Season. It was a nice five-year run atop the division, but the New England Patriots are now the team to beat.
The Bills have been in the playoffs every year since the 2019 season, the second year of Josh Allen's career. For years now, when the playoffs roll around, Buffalo has no issue advancing to the Divisional Round, but they have continually fallen flat on their faces in the playoffs.
Specifically, this team has simply been unable to get past the Cincinnati Bengals or Kansas City Chiefs. With how wide open the AFC has been this year, though, many have said that this could be the year for Josh Allen and the Bills, as there will be no Joe Burrow or Patrick Mahomes to deal with, but it does feel like the entire operation in Buffalo has taken a noticeable step back in 2025, and this could actually be the hardest year for the team.
The 2025 playoffs could be the hardest for Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills
The first clear indication that 2025 could be harder than previous years is the Wild Card Round - Buffalo is now going to be on the road in the first round of the playoffs, so that could present a challenge. It's not a guarantee which team they face, but there's an added layer here now.
Secondly, the Bills' offense just isn't that special this year. Sure, Josh Allen can carry the team on his back, but the Bills do not have a consistent, go-to weapon to make a splash play when needed. I'd also add this same idea for the defensive side of the ball as well - Buffalo doesn't create consistent pressure, and to add another layer here, the run defense is among the worst in the NFL.
Buffalo has the fourth-worst run defense in the NFL, and it's currently the worst in the league among all playoff teams. Between the team having to now go on the road in the first round of the playoffs, an offensive regression, the lack of go-to weapons, and a downright awful run defense, the Bills are not primed for a playoff run.
Some have even wondered if some coaching changes could be coming if the Bills are again bounced out of the playoffs early? That could be a realistic route for this team to take, as you get the sense that the Sean McDermott era has kind of been maxed out, and I believe 2025 is going to prove that.