For the last five seasons, the Buffalo Bills have made some great memories for Bills Mafia as they have won in dominating fashion, as well as games that have come down to the wire. However, we have also seen the Bills get blown out and lose in close games. Any kind of win is great, and any kind of loss is heartbreaking.
While these last five seasons have brought a lot of joy to Bills fans, there has always been one game (ironically against an NFC opponent) where the Bills fall short in what could be considered the game of the year. Buffalo has been in some great games but they came up just one play short and ended up on the losing side.
Bills have to overcome recurring nightmare they've been in since 2020
We take a look at the five games over the past five seasons that the Bills have been in that have created a nightmare for them (and it could continue in 2025).
2020-2021: Loss against Cardinals on a "Hail Murray"
Back in the 2020-2021 season, the Bills went to Arizona to take on Kyler Murray and the Cardinals, who had formed a great duo with wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. At one point, the Bills were up 23-9 but the Cardinals came roaring back and eventually scored 17 unanswered points to take a 26-23 lead.
Very late in the 4th quarter, Josh Allen connected with Stefon Diggs for a 21-yard pass with 34 seconds left in regulation to take a 30-26 lead. However, that turned out to be enough time for Murray to connect with Hopkins on a 43-yard “Hail Murray” pass over three Bills defenders that resulted in a marvelous touchdown for the Cardinals. Arizona ended up winning 32-30. That was the last loss the Bills had that year up until the AFC championship game.
2021-2022: Loss against Buccaneers in OT despite late comeback
Of course the last time that the Bills would face off against Tom Brady, it would end in a heartbreak for Buffalo. In the middle of December down in Tampa Bay, the Bills saw themselves down 24-3 at one point against the Bucs. No shot for Buffalo to make a comeback, right? Actually, that was wrong.
After a rough first-half start, the Bills made a great comeback against the Bucs in the second half to force a 27-27 game that eventually went into overtime. Maybe the Bills would finally get a lot of joy of taking down Brady, after he dominated them back when he was the Patriots. Instead, Brady connected with wideout Breshad Perriman down the sideline for a 58-yard touchdown pass in overtime to give Tampa the win.
2022-2023: OT thriller loss to Vikings
For the first time since he was traded from the Vikings to the Bills, Stefon Diggs was going to take on his former team in what would be a thrilling game that yet again, put the Bills on the losing side despite the overall excitement. Late in the third quarter, the Bills were up 27-10 on Minnesota, but then an 81-yard touchdown run by Dalvin Cook right before the 4th quarter quietly sparked a comeback for the Vikings.
Buffalo had a 27-23 lead over the Vikings with less than two minutes left and all that they needed to do was protect the ball and get a first down. Well, Buffalo was backed up on their own one yard line and Allen fumbled the snap that was recovered by the Vikings in the endzone for a touchdown to give Minnesota a 30-27 lead with less than a minute left.
Luckily, the Bills offense managed to get into field goal range to set up Tyler Bass for a 29-yard game-tying field goal to force overtime. After the Vikings kicked a field goal to take a 33-30 lead, Allen the offense had the chance to either tie or win the game. Instead, Allen was picked off by Patrick Peterson deep in Vikings’ territory and Buffalo would lose in front of the home crowd.
2023-2024: Bills lose high-scoring OT thriller to Eagles
In what would be Buffalo’s last loss of the regular season in 2023, the Bills traveled to Philadelphia to take Jalen Hurts and the Eagles in front of a rowdy Eagles fanbase. The biggest lead of the game was by ten points (twice by the Bills), yet it was the Eagles that were celebrating in overtime with a win.
After the Eagles took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, the Bills scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter to take the lead going into the second half. After that, it was back-and-forth between both of these teams and the Eagles took their second lead of the game in the 4th quarter, leading 28-24.
With less than two minutes left in regulation, Josh Allen connected with Gabe Davis for the go-ahead touchdown but there was still 1:52 left on the clock. All that Buffalo’s defense needed to do was get a stop as they were up 31-28. Instead, Hurts and the Eagles’ offense pushed around Buffalo’s defense to give Jake Elliott a chance to tie the game late in the 4th quarter. Elliott made a 59-yard field goal with 20 seconds left in regulation and overtime was coming at 31-31.
The Bills managed to kick a field goal in overtime to take a 34-31 lead, but the Eagles had the last laugh as Jalen Hurts scored a 12-yard touchdown run to give the Eagles a 37-34 win over the Bills.
2024-2025: Bills lose to Rams despite scoring 42 points
In a game where Buffalo’s defense was horrendous, the Los Angeles Rams had a lot of fun putting points up on the board. At one point in the third quarter, the Rams were up 31-14 against the Bills. Now surely, the Bills wouldn’t be able to make a little bit of a comeback against them, right? Well, wrong again.
Going into the 4th quarter, the Rams had a 38-21 lead on Buffalo but Josh Allen put the team on his back for three 4th quarter touchdowns that helped the Bills put up 42 total points for the game. However, the Rams managed to get just one touchdown late in the 4th quarter to put themselves at 44 points.
Josh Allen had six total touchdowns (three in the air and three on the ground) and 424 total yards, yet the Bills came out as losers in this game. This was definitely a tough game for Bills fans to accept just because of how awesome Allen was and how bad the defense was.
Going into the 2025 season, here are the NFC opponents the Bills will face:
Week 4: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 6: @ Atlanta Falcons (MNF)
Week 8: @ Carolina Panthers
Week 11: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 17: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Bills have to do whatever it takes to avoid this recurring nightmare from happening. It would be a painful sight to see the Bills go down to the wire with an NFC opponent just for them to come out on the losing side in a game that could be a candidate for the game of the year.