Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills are now 11-4, having won a physical, hard-fought game against a Cleveland Browns team intent on making life miserable for Bills Mafia this holiday season. It was a game that strayed from Buffalo’s typical plot in 2025, with the offense coming out firing on all cylinders and refusing to let up through the entire first half. This time, the Bills called on the defense to help lift Buffalo to victory on the road, and they delivered.
Luckily for the Bills, they took a 20-10 lead into halftime — for the Browns adapted well and brought a heck of a defensive effort to bring Buffalo’s offense to a halt in the second half. But not to be outdone on this day, the Bills’ defense dialed up the pressure with great success in the second half.
Most eyes were on quarterback Josh Allen and edge rusher Myles Garrett from the start. In reality, neither star were the focal point for their team in Week 16. It’s clear that offensive coordinator Joe Brady wasn’t going to just let Garrett claim a major NFL record at the expense of Buffalo’s offense. The offensive line got the memo, clear and straight. Allen totaled just 19 pass attempts, completing 12 passes for 130 yards. Allen failed to find the end zone with his arm or legs, though a late toss to the end zone in tight end Dawson Knox’s direction should have landed complete.
The great news is that Allen appears no worse for wear after suffering an apparent ankle injury just before halftime. That situation may have played a role in Allen’s second-half work, but it made for a far closer finish than anyone expected with the Browns shutting down Cook’s productive day after halftime.
The immediate go-to for plenty of analysts will be how the Bills made this game more difficult than necessary, but that’s not giving proper credit to a well-prepared game plan of the Browns. It’s unwise to underestimate any NFL team, which Bills Mafia well-understands after that loss in South Beach against the Miami Dolphins. In the end, Buffalo won and improved their playoff outlook.
Good and otherwise, here are my takeaways from the Bills’ Week 16 road win in Cleveland.
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Real talk: Greg Rousseau was a monster in Week 16. The Bills have been gasping for air in trying to find the sort of production he brought to the fourth quarter in Cleveland. His massive sack late in the fourth to force a field goal try proved huge. That sack told a 3-11 Browns team that little good would come from going for it on 4th & Long — and it very well may have allowed Buffalo to retain its late lead.
Later, his co-sack (with safety Jordan Poyer assisting) again brought the brand of heat so often lacking out of Buffalo’s...
