Buffalo Rumblings
As the Buffalo Bills gear up for their Week 16 clash with the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Huntington Bank Field, the team is riding high after a thrilling 35-31 comeback victory over the New England Patriots in Week 15. Trailing 21-0 early, the Bills showcased their resilience, with quarterback Josh Allen orchestrating a second-half surge that included three touchdown passes and a game-winning drive.
The win improved Buffalo’s record to 10-4, keeping them in the hunt for the AFC East crown and a top playoff seed. However, not everything is clicking perfectly as they face a Browns team led by rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who’s desperate to prove his worth.
In this edition of “Heroes and Head-Scratchers,” I break down the top three Bills players trending up and three trending down heading into this matchup. I’ll draw from the season’s overall performance and the Week 15 triumph, incorporating key stats and advanced metrics to highlight why these individuals are surging or stumbling.
No one embodies the Bills’ resilience more than Josh Allen, whose superhero-like performances have defined the 2025 season. In the Week 15 comeback win over the Patriots, Allen threw for 193 yards and three touchdowns on 19-of-28 passing while rushing 11 times for 48 yards, orchestrating five consecutive touchdown drives after a sluggish start. His clutch play included key scrambles and fourth-down conversions in adverse conditions.
Season-wide through Week 15, Allen has been MVP-caliber, leading the league with 424 scramble yards (No. 1 per Pro Football Focus/PFF) and posting elite marks across advanced metrics: a 93.6 PFF rushing grade (league-leading among QBs), 43 big-time throws (most in the NFL), and a career-low 2.6% turnover-worthy play rate. His consistent 90.0+ PFF overall grades in recent seasons (first QB in PFF history to do so five straight years) highlight his dual-threat dominance.
Against a Browns defense ranking near the bottom in points allowed, Allen’s dual-threat ability positions him for another explosive outing. The second consecutive MVP award is still achievable.
Milano’s return to form has been a boon for Buffalo’s defense, particularly in the second half of the 2025 season. In last weekend’s win over the Patriots, Milano delivered a vintage, game-changing performance: a team-high and career-high 10 tackles (including 2 tackles for loss), and two sacks (his first multi-sack game in the NFL).
His relentless pursuit was evident on both sacks — one a nine-yard loss and another a seven-yard take down of quarterback Drake Maye — while playing 87% of defensive snaps. These plays helped shut down New England’s offense in the second half, contributing directly to the rally from a 21-0 deficit.
Advanced metrics from PFF hand Milano a 69.0 pass-rush grade (ranking 27th among qualifying linebackers) and improved tackling efficiency in key moments, helping Buffalo rank respectably against the run during the team’s 10-4 stretch. Milano’s aggressiveness and instincts have re-emerged lately, making him a rising force as the defense...
