Are the wheels falling off the Buffalo Bills’ Super Bowl bandwagon?
After making the AFC Championship Game last season, the Bills appeared to be on the path to their first Lombardi Trophy this season. But after consecutive prime-time losses to the Atlanta Falcons (3-2) and New England Patriots (4-2), Buffalo (4-2) looks more like a championship pretender.
With that in mind, here are five reasons the Bills’ Super Bowl chances are fading:
1. Buffalo Bills struggle against the run
In Buffalo’s past two losses, it has surrendered 281 yards rushing. In the 24-14 loss to Atlanta in Week 6, Falcons running back Bijan Robinson ran for a season-high 170 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries.
Robinson may be the best RB in the league, but Buffalo has struggled against the run all season. Through six weeks, the Bills rank 30th in the league in rushing yards allowed (156.3 YPG).
Injuries to the team’s linebacking corps have contributed to the run defense’s woes. Star LB Matt Milano has missed three games because of a nagging pectoral injury. LB Terrel Bernard — who leads the team in tackles (30 in six games) — injured his ankle against Atlanta.
Buffalo needs both of them to recover soon. Otherwise, teams will keep running all over the Bills.
2. Buffalo Bills lack a true No. 1 WR
In April, Bills general manager Brandon Beane defended himself for not doing more to improve their receiving corps in free agency and the NFL Draft. But clearly he should have done much more.
The Bills’ biggest offseason addition at WR was signing Josh Palmer to a three-year, $29M contract in free agency. Through six games, he has 14 receptions for 234 yards and no touchdown catches.
Buffalo was banking on second-year WR Keon Coleman breaking out, but that’s not happening. Instead, the 2024 second-round pick is regressing. Through six games, he’s averaging 39.5 receiving yards per game (237 yards receiving) after logging 42.8 receiving yards per game in 13 regular-season games last season.
The Bills must continue to lean on star running back James Cook, who has the second-most rushing yards in the league (537 in six games). Teams will continue to expose Buffalo’s thin receiving corps if they don’t.
3. Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen’s play is declining slightly
After winning league MVP last season, Allen has been backsliding in 2025.
In his past three starts, Allen has thrown four interceptions, including two against the Falcons. In 17 regular-season starts last season, he tossed a career-low six interceptions.
Allen is also holding on to the ball longer this season. Per Pro Football Focus, he’s averaging 3.03 seconds to throw, his slowest mark since his rookie season in 2018. That’s one key reason he has taken 12 sacks after taking 14 last season.
Following the loss to the Falcons, the QB took blame for these issues and said he must do a better job to regain momentum.
4. Buffalo Bills offensive line isn’t doing Josh Allen many favors
Per Pro Football Focus, Allen has faced pressure on 73 of his 218 dropbacks this season, the 15th most in the NFL. In the past three games, the unit has allowed eight sacks.
“It was too hard — too hard tonight on our quarterback,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Monday after Atlanta sacked Allen four times (h/t The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia). “It doesn’t need to be that hard all the time where he’s having to run out of the pocket.”
Allen can pin the blame on himself, but if the O-line doesn’t do a better job of protecting him, there’s only so much he can do.
5. New England Patriots threaten Buffalo Bills’ AFC East supremacy
The Bills have recently dominated the AFC East, winning five straight division titles. But they finally have legitimate competition in the Patriots.
New England already proved it can beat the Bills in a 23-20 Week 5 upset on the road. The Patriots host Buffalo in Week 15, a matchup that could have major postseason implications.
With second-year QB Drake Maye thriving under new head coach Mike Vrabel, New England should stay on an upward trajectory. Through six starts, the third overall pick of the 2024 draft ranks fifth in the league in passing yards (1,522) and is tied for ninth in passing TDs (10).
Maye’s stellar play has him drawing comparisons to former Patriots star Tom Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion. And that’s trouble for Buffalo.
