Are the Bills beginning to choke? The Buffalo Bills have been dominating the field and steadily progressing this football season. Kicking off with a 41-40 win against the Baltimore Ravens, the Bills were on a winning streak until week five, when they lost back-to-back games against the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons.
Despite the surprising losses, balance was restored when Patrick Mahomes’ last-second Hail Mary attempt fell incomplete, sealing the Bills’ victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. That win seemed to reignite the Bills’ momentum, but the optimism was short-lived. On Sunday, Nov. 9, the Miami Dolphins crushed the Bills with a 30-13 blowout.
The Bills hadn’t lost to Miami in three years and had already beat them in week 3, 31-21. After being defeated by a team that should’ve been an easy win, the real question is: are the Bills starting to crumble under pressure—and could this slump jeopardize their climb to the playoffs?
“They obviously wanted it a little more than us. I’ve got to be better,” said Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen after the game.
The Bills’ defense struggled to put pressure on the Dolphins, allowing a staggering 174 rushing yards that contributed to Miami’s undeniable victory. On the other side of the ball, Buffalo’s offense couldn’t find its rhythm. They made costly mistakes, including several turnovers, and an unaccusable fumble and interception from Allen. To make matters worse, the multiple injured key players only cemented the Bills’ defeat.
The Bills struggle to counteract teams that run the ball, which is exactly what Miami did. Their losses this season are not due to a lack of talent but rather an absent mindset and lack of focus. It is crucial for any team to show up and play every game like it is their last. The Bills underestimated the Dolphins — especially coming off their win against the Kansas City Chiefs, who have been the Bills' roadblock to the Super Bowl for the past several years. The Bills assumed Miami would be a cakewalk; they didn’t have a winning mindset, which is obvious in their plays and game-ending score.
Despite recent setbacks, Buffalo remains in playoff contention at 6-3, sitting second in the American Football Conference (AFC) East behind New England. To stay ahead, the Bills need to refocus on fundamentals and bring the same intensity to every game — not just the ones they think matter.
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