The Bills are down to their final two weeks of the regular season. They'll finish it out at home as they welcome the Philadelphia Eagles to Highmark Stadium for a Week 17 matchup.
Here are five storylines to follow ahead of Sunday's game.
1. Facing the Eagles for the first time since 2023
The Bills are facing the Eagles for the first time since 2023 and only the fifth time since 2011. When looking back at the last few matchups, they haven't gone in Buffalo's favor.
In 2023, Buffalo lost a close game to Philadelphia that went into overtime. Eagles kicker Jake Elliott sent it into OT with a 59-yard field goal with just 20 seconds left in the game. In OT, Buffalo answered first with a 40-yard field goal by kicker Tyler Bass. Philadelphia scored on the next drive thanks to a Jalen Hurts rushing touchdown to win it 37-34.
In 2019, Buffalo fell to Philadelphia 31-13. In 2015, the Bills had another game against the Eagles decided by one score (23-20). Buffalo's last win against Philadelphia came in 2011 when they beat the Eagles 31-24. Ryan Fitzpatrick was at the helm for Buffalo, while Michael Vick was the quarterback for the Eagles. Vick threw four interceptions in that game, and one was returned for a touchdown.
This year's version of the Eagles is 10-5 heading into Sunday's game against the Bills. They've won the last two but dropped three in a row before that. The Eagles are averaging 23.3 points per game (t-16th) and 319.6 total yards per game (22nd). On defense they're one of the best, allowing 19.3 points per game (3rd) and 315.7 total yards per game (12th). While Eagles running back Saquon Barkley isn't having a similar year compared to last, he does rank top 10 with 1,072 rushing yards (9th) and seven rushing touchdowns.
"They can throw it, they can run it. They can do it all," defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said of the Eagles. "They have some pretty dang good players over there and we got to get ready to prepare ourselves to play a good game, to make sure we're trying every week to play our best game."
Philadelphia's rushing offense ranks 15th this season averaging 121.7 rushing yards per game. Sunday's game marks just the second time Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will play each other.
2. Takeaways are a big reason behind Buffalo's 4 straight wins
Buffalo's won four games in a row. It ties their four-game win streak to start the season. The difference between those two stretches are the takeaways by the defense. In three of the last four games, the Bills defense has forced multiple turnovers.
In the last four, Buffalo has recorded seven takeaways. That ties for third most in the league over that span. In their first four games, Buffalo recorded just four takeaways. The Bills have scored a whopping 43 points off those seven takeaways since Week 13, which is the most in the league.
Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said one of the reasons behind increase in takeaways is due to always having a mindset for the ball.
"We're constantly talking about it, constantly being about it," defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said of the importance of forcing turnovers.
Through 16 weeks, Buffalo ranks top 10 with 20 takeaways (t-8th). The Bills might have to get creative in terms of forcing turnovers this week because they're getting ready for an Eagles offense that doesn't turn the football over often. Philadelphia is averaging less than a takeaway per game at 14, which is the sixth lowest number in the league.
3. Josh Allen is a TD away from breaking a big record
Bills quarterback Josh Allen is on the brink of making history. The 29-year-old will be the youngest player in NFL history to reach a major milestone with just one touchdown against the Eagles. If he scores on Sunday, Allen will hit the 300 mark in terms of regular season touchdowns.
Not only will he be the youngest player in league history, but he will be the fastest player to do so. Sunday against Philadelphia marks his 127th regular season game. Allen has 220 passing touchdowns, 77 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns in his career (regular season).
Allen previously reached 300 total touchdowns between the regular season and playoffs combined in September. He surpassed quarterback Patrick Mahomes, becoming the fastest player to hit that mark as well in 127 career games.
Through 15 weeks of play, Allen is posting career highs this season. His 69.6% completion percentage (2nd) and average of eight yards per pass attempts (6th) are both the best yet in his eight-year career. Allen's 37 total touchdowns rank second in the NFL. It's also his sixth straight season of scoring at least 35 offensive touchdowns.
What's been noticeable as of late for the MVP is his ability to take what the defense gives him and make big plays when it's needed most.
"That's his greatness," offensive coordinator Joe Brady said of his quarterback. "...I think there's so much power in knowing you can't get all the points in one drive...When you're a leader, don't get me wrong, he's playing at such a high level and that helps. But when your leader just embodies that and is not feeling like he has to do something outside of the system and feel like he has to force a throw or do something, it allows everybody else to play with that freedom as well."
Looking back on his progress and the way he's grown an NFL quarterback since being drafted seventh overall in 2018, Allen said he's done a lot of growing up.
"Envisioning it in 2018, I was just trying to figure out protections and how to throw the ball correctly," Allen recalled. "We've come a long way. Obviously, it's been a small army helping me and there's so many different people in my life that I'm thankful for and owe a lot of credit … [I'm] still continuing trying to work on becoming the best quarterback that I can be and I feel like each week I still find new ways that I can be better."
4. Buffalo's veterans are playing at a high level
As of late, Buffalo's defensive veterans have turned it up a notch. They've made big plays, forced turnovers and showed up when they had to make stops in order to win games.
In the last two weeks, cornerback Tre'Davious White (9th year), safety Jordan Poyer (13th year) and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (12th year) have all recorded interceptions. In addition to that, defensive end Joey Bosa (10th year) and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (11th year) batted passes that led to a couple interceptions in the last three games.
Nine-year veteran linebacker Matt Milano has had his best stretch of games this season over the last three weeks. Milano has recorded 24 tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss and one forced fumble since Week 14.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott joked about the reason behind this play as of late.
"They probably drive down to the Fountain of Youth that's located down there, Lake Erie, and dip their toe in the water I think every week," McDermott said with a laugh. "It's great to see. It really is. Those guys have made a huge impact on our organization for years now.
"…I mean Jordan's interception against Cleveland brought a smile to my face. He works extremely hard."
That interception marked Poyer's 25th career interception but first since 2022.
Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich believes this production is due to the defense getting into a good rhythm.
"Hopefully we can stay in a rhythm and stay available, continue to build that cohesion," Babich said of continuing the streak. "The longer guys play together, the more cohesive you're going to be, the more fluid you're going to be."
5. Last game vs. NFC
The Bills face their final NFC team of the 2025 regular season.
They only dropped one game to a team in that conference out of the four they played. Buffalo beat New Orleans 31-19 in Week 4 at home, the Panthers on the road 40-9 in Week 8 and the Buccaneers at home 44-32 in Week 11. In Week 6 before the bye week, Atlanta defeated the Bills 24-14.
Quarterback Josh Allen is 27-8 against NFC teams all-time in his career, but has yet to log a win against Philadelphia. Sunday is an opportunity to continue the four-game win streak and mark his first win against the Eagles.
If Buffalo wins on Sunday, it enters its final regular season game of 2025 with five consecutive wins. The date and time of its game against the Jets at Highmark Stadium in Week 18 have yet to be determined.
