Bills Face Their Biggest Test Yet: Can Buffalo’s Defense Contain a Red-Hot Joe Burrow?
If you’re the Buffalo Bills, this isn’t the week you want to see Joe Burrow coming around the corner.
Fresh off a confidence-boosting win over the Steelers in Week 13, the Bills are trying to build some late-season momentum. But now they’re staring down a Bengals team that’s suddenly flipped the switch-and looks every bit the contender people expected back in September.
At the heart of it all is Burrow, who has re-energized Cincinnati’s offense in a way few quarterbacks can. After missing time earlier in the year, his return has been a game-changer.
On Thanksgiving, he didn’t just beat the Ravens-he carved them up. And he did it without his top wideout.
That’s the kind of performance that doesn’t just win games-it sends a message.
Now, with Ja'Marr Chase back in the mix, the Bills are preparing to face one of the most dangerous QB-WR duos in the league. And with playoff positioning on the line, this game carries real weight.
A Different Animal Than Pittsburgh
Buffalo’s defense looked dominant last week. They held the Steelers to just 166 total yards, and their front seven-led by Joey Bosa-was disruptive all game long. They made life miserable for Aaron Rodgers, collapsing the pocket and closing down running lanes.
But let’s be clear: this Bengals offense is a different challenge entirely.
Burrow has a knack for making quick reads, extending plays, and finding his weapons in space. When he and Chase are locked in, they’re nearly impossible to stop.
We saw that stretch last season when Burrow flirted with MVP-level production, even as Cincinnati missed the playoffs. Chase was putting up league-leading numbers, and the two of them looked like they were playing their own version of the game.
If last week was any indication, that connection is heating up again.
Where the Matchup Gets Tricky
For Buffalo, the concern lies in the back end of their defense. Injuries and inconsistent play have left the secondary vulnerable, and linebacker depth has been tested all season. That’s not the kind of setup you want when facing an elite passing attack.
The Bills’ pass rush has been their saving grace, and it’ll need to be again. If Bosa and company can’t consistently get to Burrow, he’ll have time to pick apart the coverage. And when Burrow has time, he usually finds a way to make defenses pay.
Sean McDermott’s defensive scheme will need to be sharp. Expect him to mix up coverages, send pressure from different angles, and try to keep Burrow guessing.
But that’s easier said than done. Burrow has seen just about every look a defense can throw at him-and he’s gotten better at countering all of them.
Can Buffalo Keep Pace?
The good news for the Bills? Cincinnati’s defense hasn’t exactly been a brick wall this season.
There are opportunities to move the ball, and Josh Allen has the tools to do it. If this turns into a shootout, Buffalo has the firepower to hang.
But this isn’t just about scoring points. It’s about making a statement.
A win over the Bengals wouldn’t just help the Bills in the standings-it would validate what they’ve been trying to prove all season: that this defense can rise to the occasion against top-tier offenses. That when the lights are bright and the stakes are high, they can stand tall.
Because make no mistake, the stakes are high. A loss here would all but eliminate Buffalo’s shot at catching the Patriots atop the AFC East. A win, on the other hand, keeps them in the hunt-not just for the division, but potentially for homefield advantage come January.
The Bottom Line
This is one of the most important games on Buffalo’s schedule-and not just because of playoff math. It’s a measuring stick. A chance to show they belong in the conversation with the league’s elite.
But to do that, they’ll have to slow down Joe Burrow. And right now, that’s looking like one of the toughest tasks in football.