The Philadelphia Eagles' path to defending their Super Bowl title will feature several high-stakes matchups, but none loom larger than their road showdown against a Buffalo Bills team that believes they were the rightful challengers for the Lombardi Trophy.
After falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, the Bills have made it clear they believe they could have handled the Eagles in the Super Bowl better than Patrick Mahomes and company did. Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins even stated that Buffalo would have had "a better chance" of beating Philadelphia on football’s biggest stage.
For the Eagles, this matchup is about more than just defending their championship. It’s an opportunity to reassert their dominance against a team that has consistently fallen short in the postseason despite winning five straight AFC East titles.
Philadelphia has excelled in these types of games. Since the start of 2022, the Eagles have amassed a league-best 16-5 record against teams that made the playoffs. That elite consistency powered their Super Bowl run and continues to set the standard for the league.
For Buffalo, the Eagles game is a chance to prove they belong among the NFL’s elite. Quarterback Josh Allen leads a talented roster still seeking its first Super Bowl title, and a win over the defending champs would solidify their contender status.
Analyst Kyle Soppe of Pro Football Network has already labeled this as Buffalo’s most crucial game of the 2025 season, noting that how they perform against the Eagles will serve as a barometer for their January prospects.
The Eagles will enter Highmark Stadium with a target on their backs, and the Bills will bring everything they have to prove they deserved that Super Bowl shot.