Gut-check time for Bills' defense: Which version will show up in the playoffs?
"We know we’re a good defense," Bills edge rusher Greg Rousseau said. "We don’t need anyone else to think we’re a good defense. We just have to put the product on display on Sunday. We’re all just so excited and so hyped. We’re ready to get out there."
Ed Oliver ripping the football out of Derrick Henry's left hand fueled the Buffalo Bills' second-half comeback in their season-opening game against the Baltimore Ravens four months ago and served as a seminal moment for their defense's tumultuous 17-game journey to the playoffs.
Multiple key players, Oliver included, were lost to injury for most of the regular season. The Bills used an NFL-high 16 different starting lineups on defense. Six times, Buffalo allowed at least 175 rushing yards. Five times, it gave up at least 30 points. Sixty-five times, an opponent ran for 10-plus yards.
The Buffalo Bills' defense has held opponents to 19.4 points per game since Week 12.
Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
The mistakes never caused the Bills to quit. Across the past four months, they have chiseled an identity that has inspired confidence among players that they are reaching their potential as the playoffs begin Sunday with a game against the third-seeded Jacksonville Jaguars.
"We know we’re a good defense," edge rusher Greg Rousseau said. "We don’t need anyone else to think we’re a good defense. We just have to put the product on display on Sunday. We’re all just so excited and so hyped. We’re ready to get out there."
Which version of the Bills' defense will show up to EverBank Stadium and, if they are victorious, the rest of the playoffs? Since Week 12, Buffalo ranks second in yards allowed per game (251), ninth in points allowed per game (19.4), second in passing yards allowed per game (139), 10th in rushing yards allowed per game (112) and first in completion percentage allowed (56.8%).
Bills defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi tackles Eagles running back Saquon Barkley on Dec. 28, 2025, at Highmark Stadium.
The Bills' run defense has improved as the season progressed. Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
Over the past seven games, Buffalo has forced 13 turnovers. Its run defense surrendered 100 yards just twice in the final six games. The group started slow too often this season. The Bills' opponent scored first in eight consecutive games prior to the regular-season finale. But, through halftime adjustments and reflection, they've transformed in the third and fourth quarters into a stout group that can give its offense an opportunity to complete comebacks.
The Bills would not have rallied from double-digit second-half deficits against the Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and New England Patriots if coach Sean McDermott's defense did not shut down those opponents when its offense desperately needed the ball back.
In 11 games since the Bills' bye, they've allowed 80 fewer points in the second half (147 to 67) than in the first. The statistical splits are also significant in the first half, compared to the second: 1,494 rushing yards to 821; 1,564 passing yards to 1,330; and four interceptions to nine.
"Everybody is just taking responsibility for doing their job, being in their gap and limiting those explosives," linebacker Dorian Williams said. "Everybody knows why one of those happened. You look at it, and it’s one little thing on those plays. Somebody didn’t do their job. It’s one little key that led to those big plays. You’ll see everybody in practices and walk-throughs being very intentional with their keys and focusing in on what they need to do."
Through game-changing plays such as Oliver's forced fumble in Week 1 and brutal mistakes inside their worst games, the Bills' defense has developed a resilience that has helped them find solutions. There is more behind the improvement than play-calling − few defenses have shown more creativity with their blitzes this season than Buffalo − and intentionality.
Important young players have improved since the season began, and several veterans are healthy when the games matter the most.
Cole Bishop, a second-year safety, used the experience he has gained as a starter to become a reliable member of an underrated secondary. Bishop also has benefited from playing next to veteran safety Jordan Poyer. The Bills' top boundary cornerback, Christian Benford, got healthy and excelled at shutting down opponents' top wide receivers. Two other defensive backs, Tre'Davious White and Taron Johnson, are much better now than they were at the start of the season. Over time, linebacker Matt Milano recovered from a pectoral injury to prove that he is one of the most important players on the defense.
Young players such as rookie defensive tackle Deone Walker and third-year linebacker Dorian Williams have excelled. There was also a philosophical shift by McDermott, as the Bills' ninth-year coach moved away from using nickel personnel − five defensive backs with two linebackers and four defensive linemen − as the foundation of the defense. There are more base sets with three linebackers, and there is more creativity with types of blitzes they are using to make quarterbacks uncomfortable.
In the second half of Weeks 15 and 17, the Bills held Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Patriots quarterback Drake Maye to a combined 5 of 24 for 47 yards. Shutting them down helped Buffalo enter the playoffs with the NFL's top-ranked pass defense (156.9) and, despite the inconsistent execution against the run, the Bills are 12th in points allowed per game (21.5).
"Going through the game, you start to see, ‘Oh, they’re doing this, they’re doing that,’ " Rousseau explained. "They may get us for a play or two, but in the second half, it’s, ‘All right, let’s buckle up and play some good football.’ The way we’ve played in the second half, we want to be like that the whole game or play that way for more of the first half. Hopefully we do that moving forward."
Several areas of the Bills' performance need to improve if this defense is going to make enough stops during the playoffs.
First, they need to get off the field so their exceptional quarterback, Josh Allen, can put up points. The Bills ranked 24th in third-down conversion rate allowed during the regular season. Second, the defensive line needs to get to the quarterback more often. Buffalo had multiple sacks just three times in its last 10 games. It ranked 20th in sacks (36) and, according to Next Gen Stats, 12th in pressure rate while blitzing at the 12th lowest rate. Third, the explosive runs need to stop.
If the Bills are going to win three road games in the playoffs, they can't allow their opponent to control the clock with long run after long run. The tackling has improved recently. But the individual mistakes have led to devastating lead changes, such as TreVeyon Henderson's 65-yard fourth-quarter run that nearly spoiled Buffalo's comeback in a 34-31 victory over the Patriots on Dec. 14. There have been few complete performances by the Bills' defense this season.
Opponents' 5.1 yards per carry represented the worst mark in Bills history, and they gave up the 11th most rushing yards (2,315) since the team's inception. But they allowed three fewer points than 2024, when the team won 13 regular-season games, and 10 fewer points than 2020. Buffalo made it to the AFC championship game in both of those seasons.
"I think we're just getting into a groove a little bit," Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said. "Now, as I always say, like the past whatever weeks have nothing to do – and this is playoff football – with what we're going to do moving forward. But it is important that we are, hopefully, peaking at the right time. I've talked about that the whole year – make sure we're peaking at the right time. We've got a lot of work ahead of us."
Losses in the past six postseason appearances cannot be pinned on Allen. In 13 career playoff games, the NFL's reigning MVP completed 65.7% of his passes for 3,359 yards. He had 32 total touchdowns (25 passing) and four interceptions. The defense, however, has not come through in big moments of the biggest games.
In four playoff defeats to Kansas City, the Bills allowed an average of 34.75 points and 381.7 yards. They forced three turnovers and sacked Mahomes five times. The shortcomings influenced general manager Brandon Beane's plan to provide McDermott with different types of players who can contribute in the playoffs.
At cornerback, the Bills used a first-round pick on Maxwell Hairston, who is injured to begin the postseason. At edge rusher, Joey Bosa signed a one-year contract. For the spine of its defense, Buffalo selected Walker and fellow defensive tackle T.J. Sanders. Another prominent acquisition, Michael Hoecht, is out for the season with an Achilles injury. To provide leadership to a younger group, Buffalo brought back Poyer, White and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips.
Each move was made with the goal to position the defense to keep points off the scoreboard in the playoffs. The improvement was noticeable during the second half of the season. But the postseason, beginning Sunday against an opponent on an eight-game win streak, is what matters most.
"We're always going to believe in ourselves, regardless of whatever the media is talking about or whatever people are saying," Bills linebacker Shaq Thompson said. "It don't matter. I know when we lock in, this defense is crazy. It's hard to beat. We're at the top of the league against the pass, and we're doing better against the run game. We know who we are."