The Buffalo Bills’ late show proves their playoff chops amid turbulent season

In a wild, snowy Sunday clash at Orchard Park, the Buffalo Bills again showed why they should never be counted out – even in one of the messiest AFC playoff pictures in recent memory.

Trailing the Cincinnati Bengals 34-28 deep into the fourth quarter, Buffalo rattled off three touchdowns in 4 minutes and 20 seconds to snatch a 39-34 win, powered by a dazzling display from quarterback Josh Allen and a clutch interception return by cornerback Christian Benford.

Here, we break down how that statement win might prove to be a pivotal moment in an otherwise uneven 2025 NFL season for the Bills.

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Taming the Bengals

Allen was the spearhead of the comeback – completing 22 of 28 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, while also bulldozing through for a 40-yard rushing touchdown that broke his own franchise record for longest run by a Bills quarterback.

When Benford leapt to grab a Joe Burrow lob and tore 63 yards to the end zone for the lead with 5:25 remaining, the tenor of the game shifted on a dime. On the very next series, defensive end AJ Epenesa added another interception, and on fourth-and-goal from the 3, Allen found tight end Jackson Hawes for the go-ahead score, sealing yet another comeback for a team that thrives in chaos.

It is hardly the first time this season that Buffalo have leaned on Allen’s dual-threat brilliance – but it might be the most vivid example yet.

Imperfect, but still a real threat

There’s no sugar-coating it: the Bills remain deeply flawed. Against Cincinnati, their defense allowed the Bengals to convert seven of eight third-down attempts in the first half and a fumble at the goal line nearly blew the game.

Offensively, they’ve shown inconsistency in stretches; their reliance on Allen’s special talents is both a strength and a crutch.

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But at this juncture of the season, what matters most isn’t style or balance – it’s resilience. The ability to close out games, especially under pressure, simply can’t be taught, and it's a major reason why they've risen to No.5 in our latest Week 15 power rankings.

Where do the Bills go from here?

What makes the win over Cincinnati feel different is the broader context. With favourites slipping and chaos reigning across the AFC, the Bills’ experience in tight games matters more than ever.

The win moves the Bills to 9-4 and keeps them firmly in the mix in a congested AFC where perennial contenders such as Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens are wobbling. Kansas City’s loss to the Houston Texans and Baltimore’s recent stumbles have opened a window – and suddenly, Buffalo appear to be the team to beat.

Allen’s late-game heroics, Benford’s opportunism and a defense capable of sudden shifts push Buffalo into the conversation as the team other contenders will look at nervously. For a club that has long lived and died by its unpredictability, that is no small feat.

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The next few weeks will be telling. Can Buffalo build consistency and firm up the weaknesses that nearly cost them against a Bengals team already written off by many? If they can, and if Allen keeps channelling his unique brand of improvisation, the Bills might just be the wild-card that turns into the standard.

For all the upheaval around them, they’ve now proven they’ve got the guts – and the swagger – to survive.