Buffalo Bills Reach Sixth Straight Divisional Round
The Buffalo Bills are headed to the divisional round for the sixth year in a row. Josh Allen’s clutch performance in the last three minutes secured a 27-24 win in a game that saw the lead switch hands seven times. It was a real nail-biter until the end. One standout moment was a remarkable QB diving play that converted a crucial 4th-and-1 before Allen made a short run for a touchdown. Now, the Bills will look ahead to the divisional round, where they’ll face one of several potential opponents based on the outcomes of the remaining wild card matches.
Upcoming Playoff Opponent
The Bills will discover who they’ll play in the divisional round after the Chargers-Patriots game tonight or following the wild card game between the Texans and Steelers on Monday. The NFL will adjust the seeding, and based on that, the Bills might play one of four different teams as the No. 6 seed. If the Patriots secure a win over the Chargers, Buffalo will head to Denver next week. However, if the Chargers prevail, they’ll compete against the winner of the Texans-Steelers matchup on Monday.
Historical Context and Possible Opponents
vs. Denver Broncos: 22-17-1 in the regular season, 2-0 in the postseason — The last encounter between the Bills and Broncos was in last year’s AFC Wild Card Round, where the Bills won decisively with a score of 31-7, paving their way to the AFC Championship.
vs. New England Patriots: 51-79-1 in the regular season, 1-1 in the postseason — This year, the Bills and Patriots split their divisional matchups. Historically, each team won their respective games, with New England taking the first meeting 23-20 and Buffalo winning the second 35-31. In the 2022 playoffs, Buffalo came out on top against New England with a convincing 47-17 score.
vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: 12-15 in the regular season, 2-2 in the postseason — Earlier this season, the Bills defeated the Steelers 26-7 in Week 13. Two seasons ago, they faced off in the wild card round, with Buffalo also winning that match 31-17.
vs. Houston Texans: 5-7 in the regular season, 0-1 in the postseason — The Bills played the Texans this season, suffering a 23-19 loss in Week 12. Houston’s defense was dominant, leading to multiple sacks and turnovers against Josh Allen. Their only previous playoff meeting ended in a 22-19 victory for the Texans in 2020.
Buffalo Bills Playoff History
The Bills are making their way back to the divisional round for the sixth consecutive year. Despite clinching their fifth straight district title, they’ve also secured byes during that time. They advanced to the AFC Championship in 2020 and last year, but faced losses in the divisional round in the other three attempts. This upcoming appearance will mark the Bills’ 16th time in the divisional round.
