In addition to returning to the playoffs for the third time in four years after previously going 17 consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance, the team won the AFC East division title for the first time since 1995 (during the Marv Levy/Jim Kelly era) after a 48–19 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 15, becoming only the second team other than the 2008 Miami Dolphins to win the division over the New England Patriots since 2003.[1] They also qualified for the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 1998 and 1999 (during the Wade Phillips/Doug Flutie era), which was also the last time the Bills had back-to-back double-digit-win seasons.
The Bills began their playoff run in the Wild Card Round against the Indianapolis Colts winning 27–24 to win their first playoff game since 1995.
^ abcdThe Bills traded their first-, fifth- and sixth-round selections and 2021 fourth-round selection to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for Minnesota's seventh-round selection (CB Dane Jackson) and WR Stefon Diggs.[2]
^ abThe Bills traded a 2021 seventh-round selection and G Wyatt Teller to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Cleveland's fifth- and sixth-round selections (155th and 188th overall).[3]
Buffalo handily won after racing to a 21–0 second quarter lead. Quarterback Josh Allen surpassed 300 passing yards for the first time in his career-- throwing for 312, to be exact-- and rushed 14 times for 57 yards as newly acquired receiver Stefon Diggs made his debut with the team, while the defense largely shut down the Jets' offense aside from a field goal, a 69-yard touchdown pass from Sam Darnold to Jamison Crowder and a garbage-time touchdown in the fourth quarter, though rookie kicker Tyler Bass struggled in his debut, missing two of his four field goal attempts.[9]
Week 2: at Miami Dolphins
Week 2: Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
In a back-and-forth affair against the rival Dolphins and former Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh Allen sealed the game for the Bills with two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to rookie Gabriel Davis and John Brown, respectively, as the defense was playing without starting linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano. Stefon Diggs also caught his first touchdown as a Buffalo Bill, which occurred during a power outage at Hard Rock Stadium in the second quarter that temporarily prevented CBS from airing the game. With the win, Buffalo improved to 2–0, as Allen threw for 415 yards.[10]
Week 3: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 3: Los Angeles Rams at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Buffalo raced to a 28–3 lead in the middle of the third quarter, but after a pass from Josh Allen to TE Tyler Kroft was controversially ruled an interception for Los Angeles as Rams DB John Johnson III grabbed the ball moments after Kroft caught it, the Rams erased the deficit and took over the lead in the fourth quarter.[11] Allen would nonetheless lead a game-winning drive in the final four minutes of the game, including three crucial passes to WR Cole Beasley, capping it off with a touchdown pass to Kroft following a defensive pass interference call on Darious Williams on 4th and 9.[12] With the win, not only did Buffalo start 3-0 start for the second year in a row, but for the third week in a row, Allen threw for over 300 yards.
Week 4: at Las Vegas Raiders
Week 4: Buffalo Bills at Las Vegas Raiders – Game summary
Buffalo scored first on the opening drive of the game when Josh Allen found a wide open Gabriel Davis for a 26-yard TD. The Bills would not lose the lead for the remainder of the game, with Allen continuing his hot start to the season. Late in the second quarter, Allen scrambled and found Stefon Diggs for a 9-yard gain, taking a big hit from Raiders DE Arden Key, resulting in an injury to the left shoulder. He would return later in the game and score a 1-yard quarterback sneak, along with 136 yards passing in the second half, with his longest being a 49-yard throw to Diggs. Buffalo would win and go to 4–0 for the first time since 2008 (the team started 4-0 that season before losing nine of their final 12 games).[13]
Week 5: at Tennessee Titans
Week 5: Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Titans organization, the game was at first postponed from Sunday to the following Tuesday.[14] This was also the NFL's first time since 2010 a regular season game is played on a Tuesday.[15] In a battle of unbeaten teams, the Bills, missing starters such as Matt Milano, John Brown, Quinton Spain and Tre'Davious White, were unable to contain Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who scored four overall touchdowns on the Bills defense. To make matters worse, three turnovers by Buffalo allowed for short fields and quick touchdowns for the Titans.[16] With their first loss of the season and first loss to Tennessee since 2012, the Bills fell to 4-1.
Week 6: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 6: Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Despite holding the high-powered Kansas City offense to 13 points in the first half of a rain-soaked game postponed from the previous Thursday due to the Titans game being pushed back to the previous Tuesday, the Bills defense was not able to contain Chiefs rookie RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who led Kansas City to 245 rushing yards, while the Bills offense was bottled up for the most part, despite numerous pass-interference penalties called on the Chiefs secondary and two Josh Allen TD passes to Diggs and Beasley. With the loss, Buffalo fell to 4-2.[17]
Week 7: at New York Jets
Week 7: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets – Game summary
In a rematch from Week 1, New York jumped to an early 10–0 lead following a strip-sack of Allen by Jets linebacker Tarell Basham, but the Bills would score 18 unanswered points, all field goals by Tyler Bass, to win an ugly game, moving the ball well outside the red zone and never being forced to punt during the game. Despite early struggles in the first half, Buffalo's defense allowed just 4 total yards by the Jets offense in the second half. Buffalo improved to 5–2 with the win, snapping a two-game losing streak and sweeping the Jets for the first time since 2015 (former head coach Rex Ryan's first season with Buffalo after six seasons with the Jets; the Bills won both meetings that year 22-17, with the latter meeting eliminating the Jets from the playoffs and sending the Pittsburgh Steelers into the postseason).[18] The Bills also became the first team since 1941 to not only not score a touchdown, but also not punt in a game.
Week 8: vs. New England Patriots
Week 8: New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
In a windy game, both the Bills and Patriots opted for run-heavy offensive attacks, with both teams nearing 200 overall rushing yards apiece, as Bills rookie RB Zack Moss rushed for the first two touchdowns of his career. Played down to the wire, the game was decided when DT Justin Zimmer forced Patriots QB Cam Newton to fumble in the red zone as New England was driving to either tie the game or take the lead on its final drive. With the win, not only did Buffalo improve to 6-2 with a 1.5-game lead over Miami for the division lead, but achieved its first win over the Patriots since 2016 and first at home since 2011.[19]
Week 9: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 9: Seattle Seahawks at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Thanks to an emotionally charged performance from Josh Allen, whose grandmother, Patricia, passed away the previous night, not only did the Bills improve to 7-2 on the season, their strongest record after nine regular season games since 1993, but the team also notched their first victory over the Seahawks since 2008, their first win over a Pete Carroll-coached team since 1999 (when Carroll coached the New England Patriots before being replaced by Bill Belichick the following season) and the most points scored by the Bills in a game since defeating the San Francisco 49ers 45–16 in 2016.
ARI – DeAndre Hopkins – 7 receptions, 127 yards, TD
In a back-and forth game, the Bills would go down the field to score with 0:34 remaining on a 21-yard Stefon Diggs touchdown pass from Josh Allen, taking a late 30-26 lead. However, the Cardinals would go down and respond with a score of their own, a 43-yard pass Hail Mary touchdown with Kyler Murray connecting with DeAndre Hopkins with just 0:02 remaining to give the Cardinals the 32-30 win, dropping the Bills to 7-3 heading into the bye week (it would be the team's last regular-season loss).[20]
Week 12: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Week 12: Los Angeles Chargers at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Chargers
6
0
8
3
17
Bills
7
10
7
3
27
at Bills Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Date: November 29
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: Sunny, 48 °F (9 °C)
Game attendance: 0
Referee: Alex Kemp
TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Rich Gannon and Jay Feely
Despite suffering three turnovers (each in the fourth quarter) and a knee injury Josh Allen sustained in the second quarter, the Bills held on to win, stifling rookie QB Justin Herbert and the Chargers' offense for much of the game. With the win, Buffalo improved to 8–3 and handed Los Angeles its first loss all season by more than a touchdown. This was also the Bills' first win over the Chargers since 2008 and their first win over the Chargers as a Los Angeles-based team since 1960, in addition to being the first Bills–Chargers matchup since 2002 without QB Philip Rivers on the Chargers' roster (Rivers joined the Indianapolis Colts roster in the offseason).[21]
Week 13: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 13: Buffalo Bills at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Josh Allen and Cole Beasley led the Bills offense in an effective showing, while the defense kept a stout 49ers rushing offense in check for the most part with linebacker Matt Milano returning from injured reserve. With the win, not only did Buffalo improve to 9–3, but the team also earned its first win on Monday Night Football since 1999.[C] The team also clinched its second winning season in a row, the first time since 1998-1999.[22]
Week 14: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 14: Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Steelers
0
7
0
8
15
Bills
0
9
14
3
26
at Bills Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Date: December 13
Game time: 8:20 p.m. EST
Game weather: Cloudy with snow flurries, 35 °F (2 °C)
After a scoreless first quarter, Pittsburgh scored first with Ben Roethlisberger completing a 19-yard TD pass to James Washington in the second quarter. However, the Bills then scored 23 unanswered points en route to a 26–15 victory, never relinquishing the lead after a 51-yard pick six of Roethlisberger by Taron Johnson prior to halftime. With the win, not only did the Bills match their win total from the previous season, defeat the Steelers at home for the first time since 1999 and start 10–3 for the first time since 1991, but Josh Allen also passed Jim Kelly for most total touchdowns in a single season in team history, while Stefon Diggs tied Eric Moulds' record of 100 receptions in a single season.[23]
Let them do all the talking, all the (expletive) dancing. We (expletive) work.
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Week 15: at Denver Broncos
Week 15: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos – Game summary
A 48–19 blowout victory in Denver was the Bills' first by more than two scores since Week 12 of 2019 (incidentally also against the Broncos). Their 48 points scored was the greatest number of points scored by the Bills since scoring 49 against the Bengals in Week 11 of 2010. It was also their first road win over the Broncos since 2008. With the dominant win, the Bills not only clinched their third playoff berth in four seasons after having previously missed the playoffs for 17 consecutive seasons, but also won the AFC East division for the first time since 1995. Josh Allen joined Drew Bledsoe in 2002 as the only quarterbacks in franchise history to surpass 4,000 passing yards in a season.[24][25]
Week 16: at New England Patriots
Week 16: Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots – Game summary
After a close first quarter, in which the Bills were leading 10–9 following a 9-yard Cam Newton touchdown run, the Bills offense scored 28 unanswered points en route to a 38–9 blowout victory on the final Monday Night Football game of the season, sweeping the Patriots for the first time since 1999 and clinching their first 12-win season since 1993. Josh Allen passed Jim Kelly's franchise record for most passing touchdowns in a single season with 34, while Stefon Diggs surpassed Eric Moulds for the franchise single-season receiving yards record.[26]
Week 17: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 17: Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
In a rematch from Week 2, the Bills closed out the regular season hosting the Dolphins, who were forced to start rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa, as Ryan Fitzpatrick tested positive for COVID-19. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, Tagovailoa had his worst performance of the season, as he had three interceptions, one of which was returned for a TD by CB Josh Norman. QB Josh Allen threw for 224 yards, three TDs and a first quarter interception, with two of those TDs going to WR Isaiah McKenzie, who also returned a punt 84 yards for a TD in the second quarter. Despite being replaced in the second half by Matt Barkley, Allen still broke the single season record for most passing yards by a QB in franchise history and, despite a scoreless first quarter, the Bills continued their dominating performance of the previous five weeks by scoring a season-high 56 points the rest of the game, not only improving to 13–3 with the 56–26 victory, scoring the second-most points against a single opponent in franchise history (they scored 58 against the Miami Dolphins), but they finished 13–3 for the franchise's best season since 1991 and swept all three divisional opponents for the first time in franchise history.
^ abTennessee finished ahead of Indianapolis based on division record.
^ abBaltimore finished ahead of Indianapolis based on head-to-head victory. Division tiebreaker used to eliminate Cleveland (see below).
^ abBaltimore finished ahead of Cleveland based on head-to-head sweep.
^ abCleveland finished ahead of Indianapolis based on head-to-head victory.
^ abNew England finished ahead of the LA Chargers based on head-to-head victory.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
The Bills won their first playoff game since 1995. Josh Allen threw for 2 touchdowns and 324 passing yards, including rushing for a touchdown. Dawson Knox and Stefon Diggs caught a touchdown each. Tyler Bass kicked a 54-yard field goal, a new rookie playoff record. Allen became the first QB in NFL history to throw for 300+ yards, run for 50+ yards and complete at least 70% of his passes in a playoff game.
AFC Divisional Playoff Game summary
AFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. (5) Baltimore Ravens
AFC Divisional Playoffs: (5) Baltimore Ravens at (2) Buffalo Bills – Game summary
^ abDue to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Tennessee Titans' organization, the Bills-Titans game during Week 5 was re-scheduled from October 11 to October 13, contingent on no more positive COVID-19 tests from the Titans. As a result, the Bills' Week 6 game vs. the Kansas City Chiefs, originally scheduled for October 15 (Thursday), was moved to October 19 (Monday).[7]
^In 2014, the Bills' Week 12 matchup against the New York Jets, which was played in Detroit's Ford Field due to weather conditions and won by Buffalo 38–3, was postponed to Monday, November 24, but was not a prime time game.