Buffalo's fourth quarter comeback win against Cincinnati on Sunday unveiled an MVP-level performance from quarterback Josh Allen, a star defensive player in cornerback Christian Benford and a Bills team that's still well-alive in the AFC playoff picture.
Here's what analysts are saying about Buffalo following the 39-34 win over the Bengals:
The importance of Buffalo’s victory ‘cannot be overstated’ | Tyler Sullivan, CBS Sports
Going into Week 14, the Bills were at the edge of the AFC playoff picture as the seventh seed. After beating Cincinnati, Buffalo jumped into the fifth seed. The Bills embodied the "back against the wall mindset," especially lingering in the back of the playoff picture, and came out with a crucial win on Sunday.
Specifically in the AFC East where they remain second to the 11-2 Patriots, Week 14's win kept Buffalo within reach of New England, according to Tyler Sullivan.
"It cannot be overstated how important Buffalo's comeback win over the Bengals was. After erasing the double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit, the Bills improved to 9-4, which keeps them within range of the Patriots in the AFC East, leading up to their showdown in Foxborough next Sunday. The victory also has them with a solid hold on the top wild card spot."
Bills’ defense comes alive thanks to Benford | Manti Te'o, Good Morning Football
While Manti Te'o gave Allen his flowers for doing "Josh Allen things," he said that it was Benford that turned the game around for Buffalo.
"What I thought came alive is the Bills' defense, especially in that fourth quarter with that pick six by Christian Benford. This was the turning table for me … You're talking about 21 points that were scored within a span of four minutes and 30 seconds … That's how you take over a game."
‘An MVP performance from Allen’ | Joe Buscaglia, The Athletic
Allen was determined in the second half, driving his offense down the field and putting three of four touchdowns on the board. Joe Buscaglia nodded to Allen's performance, calling it a "superhero effort."
The first came in the third quarter, opening the half, going 75 yards down the field in nine plays and connecting with tight end Dalton Kincaid to cap the drive off in the end zone.
Answering the Bengals' score in the fourth quarter, Allen moved quickly, picking up 68 yards in just over one minute. This time, he took off himself, brushing past a defender attempting to sack him and running 40 yards into the end zone.
Extending Buffalo's lead, Allen capitalized on the second interception from the Bills and got another tight end in the mix. He connected with Jackson Hawes and the rookie registered his third score of the season.
"With the Bills in need of a superhero effort with an offense that has been perplexing at best all season, reigning NFL MVP Allen took over the game in the second half … Allen put together clutch moments at clutch times and then the game-clinching 17-yard run on third-and-15 to officially put the Bengals away. In his first-ever win over a Burrow-led Bengals team, Allen accounted for 329 total yards and those four touchdowns. And with it, the Bills remain in shouting distance of the AFC East-leading New England Patriots, who are two games ahead with four to play."
Benford drastically improves win probability against Bengals | Alaina Getzenberg, ESPN
On Sunday, Benford had the sole sack against quarterback Joe Burrow for a loss of eight yards, coming at the end of the first half – part of a critical stop for the Bills to pump the brakes on Cincinnati's offense. He also had one quarterback hurry, one tackle for loss and one pass defensed.
His most impactful play, though, came in the fourth quarter when Buffalo needed it most. Benford jumped up, intercepted Burrow's pass, and ran it all the way back for a 63-yard touchdown. This gave the Bills their first lead of the afternoon.
Alaina Getzenberg not only emphasized the importance of this play, but also Benford's performance against wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase as well. He didn't allow Chase to catch one pass all game and became only the third defender to do so in 2025, according to Getzenberg.
"Down three points with 5:35 left Sunday, the Bills had a 16.2% win probability against the Bengals. Cincinnati was driving and answers were in short supply for the Buffalo defense. But then cornerback Christian Benford jumped in front of a Joe Burrow pass and flipped everything. He took it 63 yards to the end zone, jumping that win probability to 77% … It marked the biggest win-probability swing in the NFL on a play outside of the last two minutes since 2016."
Unpacking a wide open AFC | Mike Sando, The Athletic
The Bills won one of the season's most exciting games Sunday, 39-34 over the Bengals. Christian Benford's incredible pick six off the Bengals' Joe Burrow was the difference on a day when both defenses were holding on against dominant quarterbacks. Reigning MVP Josh Allen suddenly leads the league in combined EPA when passing, rushing or scrambling. A few more games like this one, and he might win the award again.
‘Josh Allen is the story of the game’ | Jason Cabinda, CBS Sports
Analysts are going back-and-forth between Allen and Benford as the biggest difference-maker on Sunday for the Bills, but for Jason Cabinda, it's Allen all the way.
"Josh Allen is the story of the game. What he's able to do with his legs, the way he's able to extend plays, he always makes the right plays, he takes care of the football. I mean, he looks like Lebron on the Cavaliers right now with the things that he's doing. He makes everybody around him better."
Allen gives Buffalo ‘a chance to beat anyone’ | Bucky Brooks, FOX Sports
Allen had a 78.6 completion percentage on 22-of-28 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 78 yards and one touchdown on nine attempts. Bucky Brooks also called this a "superhero" performance from the quarterback.
"Josh Allen & Co. can light up the scoreboard with No. 17 jumping into superhero mode when needed. The reigning MVP needs more support from his defense to knock off the league's heavyweights, but the spectacular playmaker gives the Bills a chance to beat anyone."
