The Buffalo Bills didn’t exactly put on an offensive clinic in Week 13, but they did just enough to grind out a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers - and in December, that’s often what matters most.
This was a slugfest, the kind of game that reminds you playoff football is just around the corner. Buffalo’s offense sputtered early and often, struggling to find rhythm against a scrappy Steelers defense.
But when the Bills needed a spark, they got it from James Cook and the ground game. Cook’s performance was the heartbeat of the offense, giving Buffalo just enough juice to get across the finish line.
On the other side of the ball, the Bills' defense showed up in a big way. Pittsburgh had its own issues moving the chains, and much of that had to do with Buffalo’s ability to control the line of scrimmage and limit big plays. It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective - and in a game where neither offense could get much going, that defensive effort was the difference.
With the win, Buffalo improves to 8-4 and stays in the thick of both the AFC East race and the broader playoff picture. Here's where things stand after Week 13:
AFC East Standings:
New England Patriots (10-2)
2.
Buffalo Bills (8-4)
3.
Miami Dolphins (5-7)
4.
New York Jets (3-9)
The Patriots haven’t played yet this week - they’ve got the Giants on Monday night - but even with a Buffalo win, New England remains out in front. The Bills can’t leapfrog the Pats just yet, but they are inching closer.
That said, the math still isn’t in Buffalo’s favor. New England holds the edge in both the head-to-head matchup (3-0) and division record (also 3-0), while Buffalo sits at 2-2 in the AFC East. So even though the Bills are closing the gap in the standings, the tiebreakers currently tilt heavily toward Foxborough.
The good news? Buffalo gets another crack at New England next week. That matchup will be massive - not just for the division race, but potentially for seeding across the AFC.
AFC Playoff Picture:
Right now, the Bills are just outside the top tier in the conference standings.
The Indianapolis Colts sit one spot ahead, and they’ve got the conference record tiebreaker over Buffalo. That’s a detail that could loom large down the stretch, especially if the wild-card race tightens up.
Bottom line: This wasn’t a statement win for the Bills, but it was a necessary one. They found a way to win ugly on the road, leaned on their defense, and rode a strong rushing effort when the passing game couldn’t get going. It wasn’t perfect, but it was gritty - and with December football heating up, that grit might be what keeps Buffalo in the playoff hunt.