The Buffalo Bills faced many hurdles on their path to victory, including injuries, red zone difficulties, and wasted chances to secure a lead over the Miami Dolphins in a battle for the AFC East crown.
Despite these challenges, the Bills relied on their experience in closely contested games from throughout the year. Each of their six losses this season were decided by a single score, the latest being a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in an overtime battle in Week 12. Post their Week 13 bye, the Bills had a 6-6 record, with a mere 21% possibility of entering the playoffs and only a 4% likelihood of claiming the division title, according to ESPN Analytics.
The Bills managed to reverse this trend post their bye week, securing victories in three out of four one-score matches prior to Sunday's game.
Fighting for the No. 2 seed, the Bills ignited a comeback at a crucial juncture to once again master a nail-biting game, clinching a 21-14 victory over the Dolphins after a weak performance of seven points in the first three quarters. They subsequently moved from the 4% chance to a triumphant 100%, clinching the AFC East title for the fourth consecutive season.
Having secured the 2nd seed in the AFC, the Bills will welcome the 7th-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers to Orchard Park this Sunday.
The Bills started their comeback in the game when wide receiver Deonte Harty navigating through opposing players to dart into the end zone. His record-breaking 96-yard punt return, a first since 2019, marked the longest in Bills history.
The Bills' defense was stout and had Miami struggling the entire second half. The possession following the punt return Buffalo forced a three and out for Miami, paving the way for the Bills offense to craft a huge eight-play, 74-yard drive, concluding with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Allen to Dawson Knox.
The formidable Bills' defense held the Dolphins to just four plays or fewer across five second-half possessions. They conceded a meager 57 net yards in the second half, the lowest since Week 18 of the 2021 season. Allen concluded the game with 30-of-38 passing for 359 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran for 67 yards and extended his personal record of successive games with two or more passing touchdowns against a single adversary.