Once facing serious questions about the future, the Buffalo Bills have managed to turn things completely around
BUFFALO, NY– The Buffalo Bills like to use the word “resilience” to describe why they’ve been able to come back from a lost season to looking dead center at the second seed in the AFC playoff race.
“We lost the opener to the Jets and there was a lot coming at us,” said safety Micah Hyde, who returned to the lineup Sunday after missing time with a neck injury. “We were 6-6, and there was a lot coming at us.
“I don’t want to say ‘I told you so.’ But we always kept our head high around here and leaned on each other, and that’s where we are.”
The Bills were stuck at .500 not too long ago, 6-6 and a playoff berth in serious jeopardy. Now the team has won four straight, and Sunday’s 27-21 over a division rival in the Patriots sets the team up to clinch the AFC East with a win over the Dolphins in primetime on Sunday Night. It wasn’t easy by any stretch of means, Miami and the AFC playoff hunt in general have been seriously tough foes. For weeks, the Bills had to fight through a crowded playoff waiting list and enter the gauntlet to win over Dallas and Kansas City.
“You couldn’t ask for a better situation, you know what I mean?” linebacker Tyler Matakevich said via The Buffalo News. “To have the opportunity to go down there and beat Miami and win the division, when I’m pretty sure people probably didn’t think that was possible.
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“We never lost hope. We just kept coming in day in and day out and just working, grinding. The team has been doing a great job thus far.”
The Bills can end up heading in either direction when it comes to their Week 18 matchup in Miami. Win, and they’re the AFC East champions and will end up with the number two seed in the playoffs. Lose, and there’s a scenario where the Buffalo Bills can miss the postseason entirely. Still, the fact they’ve made it this far is a testament to how steadfast this team has remained despite heartbreaking losses.
“I think it’s a testament to our character as a team,” Jones said. “Went through a couple hardships as far as losing games. I think over that time, over that struggle, we kind of figured out who we are and developed as individuals and as a team. I think it’s paying off right now in the long run. Today wasn’t pretty on either side, really. Wish we had a couple more opportunities to have some plays, but I think we can build off it, learn off it and we’ll be fine for next week.”
Josh Allen has began to play a lot better, and the defense has stepped up in order to give the offense a true chance at success. The most they gave up at any point throughout their four game win streak was 22 points, holding even the red-hot Dallas offense to only 10. If the Bills can manage to keep this up, they might be a force to reckon with throughout the postseason.
It’s still important to note that this has only been possible due to the faltering of the Miami Dolphins. Without it, we’d still be talking about Buffalo in a wild card slot instead of the number two seed. But at the end of the day, it’s not how you get there, it’s just that you’re there.
