NFL winners and losers: Poor management will lead to the Bills’ failure

November 10, 2025

The Current State of the Buffalo Bills

During much of Josh Allen’s time leading the Buffalo Bills, the team has faced certain unfortunate circumstances. They’ve been part of a talented group, yet they found themselves overshadowed in the AFC due to the Chiefs’ dominance. It’s reminiscent of the old Peyton Manning days in the Colts versus the Patriots rivalry. Over the years, a lot has felt out of their hands, and all they could do was hope for a chance to break through.

Then came 2025, when expectations were high for the Bills to finally make significant strides. But now, it seems those hopes are fading fast.

It might feel like an overreaction following the tough loss to Miami, but the issue extends beyond just that game. It’s about how the Bills lost. This wasn’t just an off day or the Dolphins having a great game; it’s been part of a troubling trend for Buffalo this season. Their offense hasn’t established a strong vertical game, primarily due to weaknesses at the wide receiver position, compounded by injuries in the secondary that haven’t been addressed.

Last week, discussions circled around the trade deadline. It was puzzling to watch both the Bills and the Chiefs hold back while other AFC teams made strides. Instead of pursuing impactful players, like Sauce Gardner, there were missed opportunities for smaller moves that could have provided some much-needed upgrades and kept competitors from improving.

Wide receiver performance against the Dolphins was particularly concerning. Khalil Shakir isn’t a number one receiver, despite what the team might want. It’s more about filling roles than lacking talent. Shakir excels in the slot, but when he’s forced outside, he struggles against stronger corners. Keon Coleman still has potential, but like many young receivers, he’s having a tough second season. It’s questionable to enter a season relying on Shakir and Coleman as primary weapons, which leaves fans scratching their heads. Why didn’t GM Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott prioritize this need? Allen managed to pass to 11 different receivers on Sunday, showcasing his vision yet also revealing a desperation for someone to step up, which sadly didn’t happen.

Allen’s game showed a level of urgency we don’t usually see. With the running game struggling and the score tilting against them, the need to throw became paramount. Yet when he looked to his receivers for support, there was a notable absence. Bills fans may not want to confront it, but this team misses Stefon Diggs. Not just his presence but his undeniable talent. It’s surprising that a team like the Jaguars would choose to sign Jakobi Meyers instead of Buffalo at the trade deadline.

The secondary was a complete disaster, particularly at the safety position. It’s hard to fathom why a strong team like the Bills would rely on Jordan Poyer. Cole Bishop shows promise, but he’s still young and inconsistent. This creates the weakest safety situation among any AFC contender, yet again, the front office did nothing at the deadline to rectify it.

I can understand Buffalo wanting to be careful with their resources, but this was the year to go all in. The AFC is wide open. It’s practically begging for a team besides the Colts or Patriots to rise up and show intent to win. The Chiefs stumbled early and could struggle to recover. The Bengals are also reeling without Joe Burrow.

This was meant to be the year for the Bills, but after that Sunday, there’s a sense that they may have become overly reliant on Josh Allen to carry the weight with an underwhelming supporting cast. The front office seems to be repeating previous mistakes made during Cam Newton’s time with the Panthers, expecting quarterbacks to compensate for a flawed team. That strategy just doesn’t work.

This week, we’re turning our attention to the other NFL games still to come.

Let’s not mince words: Jonathan Taylor is the MVP of 2025. That title often goes to the best quarterback, though he may never win it.

Meanwhile, Daniel Jones has seen significant action this season as he inches closer to a return, but Taylor has been a key player driving the Colts. They currently lead the AFC South with an impressive 8-2 record. In a game against the Falcons, Jones showcased his abilities, finishing with 244 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

If you’re curious why the Colts are thriving this season, it largely points back to Taylor. Their offensive line is finally finding its rhythm, which has helped Taylor rush for 1,139 yards in just 10 games. At this rate, he could hit the elusive 2,000-yard mark by season’s end.

The matchup between the Buccaneers and Patriots certainly had the potential for ‘Game of the Week’ honors—not just due to both teams being solid, but the quarterback showdown was thrilling. In the end, it turned out to be a heavyweight clash with the younger QB emerging victorious.

I find it tough to fully express how impressed I am with Drake Maye’s performance as a quarterback. He embodies the future of the position in the NFL. With seasoned stars like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson approaching their 30s, Maye represents a young quarterback with immense potential and talent.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a QB exhibit this level of confidence in their deep passing game. Sure, it’s about trusting your receivers, but for Maye, it seems to stem from a firm belief that he can place the ball precisely where only his teammates can make a catch. It’s a cliché at times, but totally fits here. He’s unafraid to go deep, accepting that while he might throw a pick, he’ll just bounce back with two touchdowns.

And that’s exactly how he played.

Mayfield deserves some acknowledgment as well, but ultimately, the Buccaneers faced elimination while the Patriots stood solid at 8-2. It’s time to seriously consider the Patriots as legitimate contenders.

Loser: The Carolina Panthers

Once viewed as the NFL’s surprising team, the Panthers have been a disappointment. They shut out the Falcons one week but lost to the Bills the next. A win against the Packers followed, but then they fell apart against the Saints at home in a crucial game.

This week could very well be the turning point for Carolina’s playoff prospects. Many saw it as an easy week for them to regain momentum, but after a challenging prior match, they missed their chance.

The Panthers certainly have reason to be discouraged. Bryce Young is still not fully recovered from an ankle injury, Rico Doodle is battling a quad issue, and Teitairoa McMillan recently suffered a hamstring injury. Their offensive line is so unstable they’ve had eight different starting units in ten games.

But these can only be excuses for so long. Young needs to elevate his game, while the other running backs must step up too. Jaycee Horn’s performance has been questionable. A mere two touchdowns thrown is unacceptable for someone of his caliber. The team seems trapped in a cycle of alternating between good and bad weekly.

Loser: The Cleveland Browns

This week, they faced a loss against the Jets, right after the Jets traded away two defensive players. Despite the Jets only managing 169 offensive yards, they still managed to win after benefiting from 61 penalty yards from the Browns.

This continued mishandling of the quarterback situation is undermining confidence in Kevin Stefanski. Watching Dillon Gabriel struggle with 150 yards on 30 passes is disappointing. Even if Shedule Sanders isn’t the most popular choice, it’s puzzling for a team with two wins not to explore their options—especially knowing they may need another quarterback in the draft next April.

It’s reasonable to seek clarity on this. Gabriel hasn’t delivered the best performance, and if the Browns are facing the reality of searching for a quarterback yet again, they ought to evaluate their current roster.

Loser: The Jacksonville Jaguars

For a brief moment, it seemed like this team could become a contender. But that hope faded quickly. While the Jaguars still have a 5-4 record and a shot at the playoffs, losing to a Texans team missing CJ Stroud is deeply frustrating.

When a team allows Davis Mills’ squad to score 26 points in the fourth quarter, something is fundamentally wrong. Trevor Lawrence hasn’t fully found his footing yet, but this game was more about a defensive breakdown than his performance. If the Jaguars score 29 points, it’s not too much to expect the defense to hold on for the win.

Instead, they conceded 36 points and allowed 412 yards of offense to a team averaging just 21 points and 256 yards. It showcases a troubling lack of readiness to compete.