There are just three weeks remaining in the regular season. Buffalo's Week 16 game against the Cleveland Browns marks their final road game of the regular season.
Here's five storylines to get you ready for Sunday.
1. Facing a Myles Garrett led defense
The Bills improved their pass game since throughout the season, getting different players involved and focusing on more than one offensive aspect to win games. Even with more success, they face a Cleveland defense on Sunday that is top 10 in seven categories across the NFL. This includes leading the league in pass yards allowed per game (169) and defensive pressure percentage (10.2 percent - per TrueMedia).
The Browns are also the 10th-ranked team in blitzing percentage (30.9 percent) and third in sacks throughout the season (47). Nearly half of these sacks come from defensive end Myles Garrett. Garrett leads the league in sacks with 21.5 and is 1.5 away from setting a single season record in NFL history. Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt are tied in first with 22.5.
"I'm understanding of the huge season he's having," offensive coordinator Joe Brady said. "He's literally the best there is. And it's going to be a huge challenge for us. We're obviously going to sort through that, but it's a great opportunity for our guys."
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year also has 57 tackles, 32 tackles for loss (1st), 35 quarterback hits (2nd) and three forced fumbles on the season. The last time Buffalo faced Cleveland was in 2022. Garrett had three tackles, one sack and one quarterback hit in that game. When the Browns beat the Bills in 2019, he had one tackle and two quarterback hits.
"Every play, there's four hands on [Garrett]. Two sets. Every play. Run, pass, first down, third down, I don't care," ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky said on One Bills Live. "It's a talented defensive unit that has had moments when they've played very high end football. It's not only [Garrett]."
2. Sean McDermott's great record vs. rookie quarterbacks
Bills head coach Sean McDermott knows how to scheme for rookie quarterbacks.
The Bills will face a rookie quarterback on Sunday in Shedeur Sanders. Sanders was drafted by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 2025 draft. McDermott has been successful at throwing different looks and coverages at first-year quarterbacks which makes it harder to identify what's about to happen.
The Bills are 9-3 against rookie quarterbacks since 2019. In those games, Buffalo's allowed an average of just 13.6 points per game and 271.2 total yards per game. They also force an average of two takeaways per game and record almost three sacks a game when facing rookies. The quarterbacks have registered an average completion percentage of just 59.5% and a 65.8 passer rating over those 12 games.
Sanders made his first NFL start for Cleveland's Week 12 matchup against the Raiders. The rookie earned his lone victory then by beating Las Vegas 24-10. He completed 11 of 20 passes (55%) for 209 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski named Sanders the official starter for the remainder of the season on December 8.
In his five appearances, Sanders is 72 of 138 (52%) for 946 passing yards. He has six total touchdowns, six interceptions and 13 sacks. The Browns have struggled offensively this season averaging just 16 points per game (t-29th) and 264.3 total yards per game (30th).
3. Running backs and tight ends leading Buffalo's offense
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady believes in the importance of establishing the run game early, but that's not the only thing he wants to get going from the start of the game. The Bills' pass game continues developing and evolving throughout the season, highlighting two key position groups: the tight ends and running backs.
"You want to be a two-dimensional offense. You want to stretch the field horizontally, stretch it vertically when you can as well. Getting those guys involved. Great, great scheme. Great game plan by the offensive staff," McDermott said. "Last couple of weeks in particular … Josh has been very disciplined in taking what the defense has given him. I think that's been a big part of our success, just holistically. So, like anything else, we're a work in progress as we continue to grow on that side of the ball as well."
Dawson Knox was second in receiving against New England with three receptions, 37 yards and two touchdowns. Dalton Kincaid was right behind him with three receptions for 34 yards. Against Cincinnati, Knox led the team in receiving with six catches for 93 yards. He also caught the successful two-point conversion attempt. Kincaid had four receptions for 41 yards and one touchdown in Week 14.
Though Jackson Hawes is mainly used as a blocker, he gets his moments in the pass game. He had one reception for 13 yards on Sunday, and one touchdown reception against Cincinnati.
Combined, the three tight ends had 18 catches for 217 yards and four touchdowns from Weeks 14 and 15.
Running backs James Cook and Ty Johnson have also been targeted in the passing game during important drives in the last several weeks. On Sunday against the Patriots, Cook had a receiving touchdown in the second quarter. This was the first of five consecutive touchdown-scoring drives and put Buffalo on the board for the first time. Running backs Ty Johnson and Ray Davis also had catches. Johnson went three-for-three on his targets.
The two position groups are first in the NFL with 687 yards after catch and second in the NFL with 1,015 receiving yards since Week 8. The tight ends and running backs are also tied for first in the league with nine touchdown receptions in that same time frame.
4. Ray Davis proves to be a spark for Buffalo
Running back Ray Davis has given Buffalo a big spark this year. The bulk of Davis' work is coming in the return game this season. His shiftiness and ability to see the gaps has helped Buffalo earn great field position throughout the second half of the season.
McDermott is proud of the way Davis has owned this new role.
"He's embraced a role that maybe wasn't his initial goal, perhaps," McDermott said. "And yet at the same time, he saw an opportunity and he took advantage of it, which I think is really, really cool to see. He's taken a lot of pride in doing it well…Ray's mindset has been top shelf."
Davis had a momentum-shifting 58-yard kick return against the Patriots to start their second half comeback. Buffalo punched it in on that drive and did so multiple times after thanks to Davis' help. He averaged a whopping 41 yards per kick return against New England.
The versatile running back is averaging 32.4 yards per kick return this season, the best in the NFL. His average is the highest single season average in team history. Davis ranks third in total kick return yards since Week 9 with 745 yards. He also leads the NFL with six kick returns of at least 40 yards.
5. Final road game of the regular season
The Bills secured their fourth win on the road in 2025 against the Patriots in Week 15, improving their record away from home to 4-3. They beat the Jets, Panthers and Steelers before New England. Buffalo has yet to win two road games in a row.
Heading into Sunday, the Bills take the road one final time in the 2025 regular season. In 2019, the last time they met the Browns in Cleveland, Buffalo lost.
However, a victory in Week 16 is more than winning on the road, it's also preparation for what may come in the playoffs. Buffalo is sixth in the AFC currently. While its probability of making it into the postseason is over 99 percent, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Bills might find themselves in a position where they're on the road.
