The Bills host their first playoff game in a generation when the Indianapolis Colts come to Bills Stadium on Saturday for an AFC wild-card game. Here is what you need to know to be ready for kickoff.
Take Five: Bills should have more composed Josh Allen in this playoff game
Here are my five takes on the Buffalo Bills’ AFC wild-card playoff game Saturday at 1:05 p.m. against the Indianapolis Colts at Bills Stadium.
1. This time, Josh Allen keeps his poise from start to finish.
As Buffalo rides a wave of momentum heading into the NFL playoffs' first round against the Indianapolis Colts, The News takes a look back at the Bills' last five playoff results, beginning with last year's overtime loss to the Houston Texans.
Scouting report: Look for Bills to continue their pass-happy ways against Colts
When the Bills throw: Josh Allen got them to this point, and there’s no reason to think the team will stop throwing it now. The Colts’ secondary will be without cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (concussion). Even with receivers Stefon Diggs (oblique) and Cole Beasley (knee) listed as questionable, the Bills have enough talent at receiver to stress the Colts’ defense by spreading it out. Excluding last week against the weak Jacksonville passing attack, Indianapolis had allowed 23 completions of at least 15 air yards in the previous four weeks. Those completions went for 614 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. That’s bad news for the Colts, because Allen is on an absolute heater right now. His 32-yard touchdown to John Brown in Week 17 had just a 19.5% chance of being completed, according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats, making it the second-most improbable completion of the season for Allen. He finished the year with a completion percentage over expected of 4.6%, which ranked second in the NFL. He is making throws that maybe only one or two other quarterbacks in the NFL can make. EDGE: Bills.
When the Bills run: Don’t expect the Bills to place a heavy emphasis on this against the Colts. Indianapolis ranked second in the NFL against the run in the regular season, allowing just 90.5 yards per game. The Colts’ best defensive player is linebacker Darius Leonard. He finished with 132 tackles, which ranked eighth in the NFL. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who is listed as questionable, is a close second. He is an elite pass rusher (team-leading 9.5 sacks), but can also stop the run. Colts safety Khari Willis had 37 tackles in run support, which was just one behind Leonard for the team lead. The Bills finished 20th in the league in rushing. EDGE: Colts.
Why is Colts legend Dwight Freeney rooting for the Bills? Mario Addison and Jerry Hughes
Dwight Freeney is rooting for the Buffalo Bills to win the Super Bowl, even though that means defeating the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the NFL playoffs on Saturday in Orchard Park.
The reason? His friendship with Mario Addison and Jerry Hughes.
As Buffalo rides a wave of momentum heading into the NFL playoffs' first round against the Indianapolis Colts, The News takes a look back at the Bills' last five playoff results, beginning with last year's overtime loss to the Houston Texans.
Bills Mailbag: So, who won the Stefon Diggs trade?
Welcome to a playoff edition of the Bills Mailbag. Let’s get right to it …
Bob Rajczak asks:Stefon Diggs had a great year on a passing team, but Justin Jefferson (his replacement in Minnesota) set rookie records on a running team. So, who won the trade? Especially considering that the Vikings got more draft picks in addition to the No. 1 they used for Jefferson?
As Buffalo rides a wave of momentum heading into the NFL playoffs' first round against the Indianapolis Colts, The News takes a look back at the Bills' last five playoff results, beginning with last year's overtime loss to the Houston Texans.
Inside the Bills: How the deal for Stefon Diggs ranks among top trades in team history
Stefon Diggs doesn’t come across as someone who gets nervous easily.
To borrow a line from Outkast, the Buffalo Bills’ star receiver looks cooler than a polar bear’s toenails at pretty much all times. Heck, in a 2017 interview with The Undefeated, he said he wouldn’t even be nervous meeting Halle Berry.
The Bills captured their first divisional crown since 1995 with a Week 15 win over the Denver Broncos. See a game-by-game look at how Buffalo stole AFC East royalties from perennial champs New England. Josh Allen, Cole Beasley, Stefon Diggs, Tre White and Jerry Hughes all star in this slideshow.
Handing out the hardware: Bills MVP, Rookie of the Year and more awards
The Buffalo Bills’ regular season was one for the record book.
Numerous franchise and individual records were tied or set, including victories (13), points scored (501) and AFC East record (a perfect 6-0 for the first time).
The Buffalo Bills started their run of four-straight Super Bowl appearances with a clash against the New York Giants. Thirty years later, here's a look back at the heartbreaking defeat in the game's final seconds. From Leon Seals' bone-crunching hit of Jeff Hostetler to Thurman Thomas' key fourth-quarter TD run, several memorable scenes appear in this slideshow.
The Bills captured their first divisional crown since 1995 with a Week 15 win over the Denver Broncos. See a game-by-game look at how Buffalo stole AFC East royalties from perennial champs New England. Josh Allen, Cole Beasley, Stefon Diggs, Tre White and Jerry Hughes all star in this slideshow.
Josh Allen (17) of the Buffalo Bills dives with the ball for a touchdown in the first quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sept. 23, 2018, in Minneapolis, Minn.
Getty Images
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) rushes for a first down over Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Kiko Alonso (47) in the first quarter at New Era Field on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018.
James P. McCoy/Buffalo News
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) dives in for the first down after recovering his on fumble in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen walks off the field after Houston Texans beat the Buffalo Bills 22-19 in overtime of the AFC wild-card playoff game at NRG Stadium on Jan. 4, 2020.
James P. McCoy/Buffalo News
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As Buffalo rides a wave of momentum heading into the NFL playoffs' first round against the Indianapolis Colts, The News takes a look back at the Bills' last five playoff results, beginning with last year's overtime loss to the Houston Texans.
Three matchups to watch when the Buffalo Bills take on the Indianapolis Colts in Saturday’s wild-card game:
DeForest Buckner vs. Bills’ guards. Look for the Bills to try to use a lot of double-team blocks on Buckner, whose massive length is hard for any guard to handle. The 6-foot-7 Buckner has an 82-inch wingspan, and his hands (11 3/4 inches) are the largest ever measured at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Bills’ Ike Boettger actually has good size for a guard, at 6-6, with an 80 3/4-inch wingspan and 9 3/4 inch hands. Buckner has great power moves with his long arms, but he’s also light enough on his feet to get quick penetration.
Stefon Diggs lone Bills player named first-team All-Pro
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs was the only Buffalo Bills player named first-team All-Pro, while four of his teammates received second-team honors, the Associated Press announced Friday.
It's the first time that Diggs, who received 48 (third-highest) of a possible 50 votes from the media selection panel, has been named All-Pro in his NFL career. He spent the previous five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, from whom the Bills acquired Diggs in a trade last March.
The Bills captured their first divisional crown since 1995 with a Week 15 win over the Denver Broncos. See a game-by-game look at how Buffalo stole AFC East royalties from perennial champs New England. Josh Allen, Cole Beasley, Stefon Diggs, Tre White and Jerry Hughes all star in this slideshow.
Bills' receivers Cole Beasley, Stefon Diggs questionable for AFC wild-card game
Wide receivers Cole Beasley and Stefon Diggs are listed as questionable for the Buffalo Bills' AFC wild-card playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts Saturday at Bills Stadium.
Beasley has a knee injury, suffered against New England on Dec. 28, that kept him out of last Sunday's regular-season-finale against the Miami Dolphins. After not practicing Tuesday or Wednesday, he was listed as a limited participant in Thursday's session.
Vic Carucci: Pressuring Philip Rivers should provide key path to Bills’ wild-card win
He’s 39, which is on the higher end of the age scale for an NFL player. He has shown signs of lost arm strength. His mobility, never a strength, has steadily become a glaring liability.
As Buffalo rides a wave of momentum heading into the NFL playoffs' first round against the Indianapolis Colts, The News takes a look back at the Bills' last five playoff results, beginning with last year's overtime loss to the Houston Texans.
Putting in the work: How Bills' Josh Allen improved his accuracy
Accurate passing can’t be coached. Either you have it or you don’t. And if you weren’t an accurate passer in college, you aren’t going to become one in the NFL.
How often have we heard that since the runup to the 2018 NFL draft?
The Bills captured their first divisional crown since 1995 with a Week 15 win over the Denver Broncos. See a game-by-game look at how Buffalo stole AFC East royalties from perennial champs New England. Josh Allen, Cole Beasley, Stefon Diggs, Tre White and Jerry Hughes all star in this slideshow.
The Buffalo Bills started their run of four-straight Super Bowl appearances with a clash against the New York Giants. Thirty years later, here's a look back at the heartbreaking defeat in the game's final seconds. From Leon Seals' bone-crunching hit of Jeff Hostetler to Thurman Thomas' key fourth-quarter TD run, several memorable scenes appear in this slideshow.
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) and quarterback Josh Allen (17) loosen up before the game at Bills Stadium in Orchard Park on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020.
Beasley was listed as a limited participant in Thursday's session. Diggs, who has an oblique injury, also was limited in practice Thursday after sitting out Tuesday and Wednesday.
View from Vegas: Despite the 7-point spread, expect Bills-Colts to be close
The Bills are the NFL's hot iron right now, having swept their AFC East foes for the first time in franchise history – while also setting a team record with 501 points this season.
Quarterback Josh Allen has come into his own, completing more than 69% of his passes for 4,544 yards, 37 passing TDs and 10 INTs, good for a 107.2 passer rating (behind only Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes).
As Buffalo rides a wave of momentum heading into the NFL playoffs' first round against the Indianapolis Colts, The News takes a look back at the Bills' last five playoff results, beginning with last year's overtime loss to the Houston Texans.
Bettors are confident in Bills covering the spread against the Colts
The Bills were 11-5 against the spread in the regular season, tied with Miami for the best mark in the league. The Colts were 8-8 against the spread.
Here is a rundown of where the betting public stands Saturday morning for Saturday's AFC wild-card game at Bills Stadium, via the Action Network's Darren Rovell.
