ClutchPoints
Here comes another turning point in the Buffalo Bills’ never-ending chase. The Bills have lived on the edge of contention for so long that “another playoff exit” almost feels routine. 2025, though, was different. This wasn’t just a loss but a reckoning. A Divisional Round flameout, a coaching dismissal, and a philosophical pivot all arrived at once. These have forced Buffalo to admit that continuity still matters, even during change.
As the franchise hands the keys to Joe Brady and prepares for a new stadium era, the most important decisions won’t come in splashy free-agent pursuits. They’ll come from choosing which veterans are essential to keeping Josh Allen’s championship window alive.
Statistically, the 2025 Bills were dominant. They finished 12-5, powered by a rushing renaissance that reshaped the offense’s identity. James Cook’s historic 1,621-yard season made Buffalo the league’s most productive ground attack. That eased pressure on Allen while adding a physical edge the team had lacked in recent years.
Despite finishing second in the AFC East behind New England, Buffalo entered the playoffs confident and battle-tested. Their 27-24 Wild Card win over Jacksonville was marked by resilience and poise. It delivered the franchise’s first road playoff victory since 1992 and felt like the prelude to something bigger.
Then came Denver. A 33-30 overtime loss in the Divisional Round reopened old wounds. Five turnovers undermined an otherwise strong performance. The defense bent at the worst moments. The offense couldn’t protect the ball when it mattered most.
The fallout was swift. Erstwhile head coach Sean McDermott was dismissed just two days later. That ended a nine-year run defined by consistency but haunted by postseason frustration. Brady’s promotion signaled a new direction guided by more aggression, more speed, and fewer compromises.
The Bills enter 2026 with needs everywhere. Allen needs a true No. 1 receiver. That was something glaringly absent in the Denver loss. The interior offensive line faces instability with multiple starters hitting free agency. That threatens the very run game that carried the offense.
Defensively, the secondary and linebacker corps are both dangerously thin. At the same time, the interior defensive line lacks a true anchor. Buffalo can’t fix everything at once, though. This is why retaining the right veterans is essential. These three players, in particular, stabilize multiple pressure points at once.
Key stats: 15 starts, 5.0 sacks, franchise-record 5 forced fumbles
The Joey Bosa gamble worked in Buffalo. Sure, his box-score sack numbers were modest. Still, his impact was undeniable. Bosa consistently forced hurried throws and elevated the entire defensive front during the first half of the season. Even as a late-season hamstring injury slowed him, Bosa remained one of Buffalo’s highest-graded edge defenders by PFF.
Brady’s vision demands a defense that can pressure quarterbacks without constant blitzing. Greg Rousseau needs a reliable counterpart. Bosa remains the best available answer. Letting him walk would create an immediate pass-rush void that Buffalo simply doesn’t...
