3 reasons why the Buffalo Bills overachieved in 2023
By Brandon Ray
It may not feel like it right now, but the Buffalo Bills actually overachived this season. After a disappointing loss to the Kansas City Chiefs that sent them packing, the Bills took a lot of heat from fans and the media about the third consecutive divisional round loss. They were the number two seed in the AFC, winning the AFC East title for the fourth consecutive season and came off a big wild card round win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
From the eye test, the Bills' season looked like the same story as far as coming up short. However, this playoff loss is different than it has been in the last two seasons. In the 2021 season, the Bills convincingly won the division and were 13 seconds away from defeating the Chiefs in Arrowhear. In 2022, the Bills clinched the AFC East once again convincingly at 13-3 after going through a snowstorm that affected their schedule and the Damar Hamlin incident before losing to the Cincinnati Bengals at home in a very disappointing fashion.
This season, the Bills found themselves at 6-6, in 11th place in the AFC and the playoffs seemed like a long shot for them after their loss against the Philadelphia Eagles in a thriller. From there on, they went on a hot streak and managed to take the AFC East away from the Miami Dolphins and clinch the second seed in the playoffs.
Considering what they had to endure this season and the little bit of luck they received, the Bills overachived in the second half of the season.