The Buffalo Bills have been through heartbreak before, but what unfolded in Miami on Sunday hit harder. The 30–13 defeat to a two-win Miami wasn’t just another misstep, but was a collapse for a team once celebrated as a Super Bowl favorite. For six years, Buffalo dominated the AFC East, winning 14 of the last 15 meetings, setting the standard for consistency.
Now things seem opposite as their rival, the Dolphins, looked sharper, while the Bills appeared sloppy.
Is Buffalo Bills’ Super Bowl Window Finally Closing After Another Flat, Lifeless Loss?
Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Detailed view of Buffalo Bills helmet on the field prior to the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Detailed view of Buffalo Bills helmet on the field prior to the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Everything that could go wrong, did. The defense, once Buffalo’s X factor, couldn’t contain Miami’s ground game as De’Von Achane ran wild for 174 yards and two touchdowns. The tackling was sloppy, the angles were poor, and the energy was flat. Offensively, the same story continued long drives ending in nothing, receivers struggling to separate, and Josh Allen once again being forced to do too much on his own. He threw for 230 yards and a touchdown, but the spark that defined Buffalo’s attack in recent years was nowhere to be found.
Allen admitted afterward that the team’s energy was lacking, saying,“They came ready to play. They obviously wanted it a little bit more than we did. We’ve got to have better energy. They came out flying, and we didn’t answer the call right away.”
Head coach Sean McDermott didn’t try to mask his frustration either.When asked if the team had taken a step backward after back-to-back wins, his one-word response, “Yes,” cleared everything up about where things stand.
The downfall in Bill’s performance ignited a wave of national criticism. But none harsher than from former Patriots lineman and current ESPN analyst Damien Woody.
Appearing on Get Up!,Woody declared that Buffalo had “royally messed up their window,” arguing that the team had the division “locked down for six years” and had nothing to show for it. “They’ve had their shot,” he said bluntly. “And guess what? Here are the Patriots — they’re back again.”
But while Woody’s take was extreme, analysts who follow Buffalo closely didn’t entirely disagree. Randy Gurziof Sports Illustrated’s Bills Central called Woody’s comments “reactionary,” yet he admitted the cracks are visible. The Bills’ offense has become predictable and relies heavily on short passes. When James Cook is bottled up, as he was on Sunday with 53 yards on 12 carries, everything else falls apart.
The statistics paint an even grimmer picture. According to Next Gen Stats, Allen’s average time to throw against Miami was 3.53 seconds, the longest of his career, underscoring how often he had to extend plays waiting for someone to get open. That’s a sign of a quarterback pressing, not trusting what’s in front of him, not trusting the rhythm that once made Buffalo’s offense lethal.
The Buffs’ defense didn’t seem pumped up before. One main reason is the injuries that continue to pile up at the worst time. To aggravate the situation, cornerback Christian Benford missed the game. He’s been nursing a groin issue, joining a list of sidelined starters that included Taron Johnson, AJ Epenesa, and Shaq Thompson. Rookie Landon Jackson exited early with a knee injury, leaving the unit short-handed against one of the league’s fastest offenses.
HC laterrevealed the team’s crisis, “You always want quality players,” McDermott said postgame. “The more we get into injuries, you go down the depth chart. I appreciate the guys who have stepped in, but we need to figure out why this is happening.”
Still, amid the noise, not everyone believes the Bills’ window is completely closed. As SportsIllustrated argued, Buffalo’s core remains elite. Josh Allen is still the reigning MVP, Joey Bosa has been a spark since arriving from the Chargers with four sacks and four forced fumbles in eight games, and the team’s experience gives them a chance to rebound. Russell Baxter, another analyst at Bills Central, reminded readers that Buffalo has dominated Miami for nearly a decade, winning 16 of the last 18 meetings since 2017, including a playoff victory two seasons ago. Still, CBS Sports said calling it game-over’s a stretch – after all, Buffalo’s got enough star power to stay in the mix this deep into the year’s later stage.
Hope doesn’t help if old problems keep resurfacing – such as sluggish starts, failing near the end zone, or never finding a rhythm on offense. A squad that’s supposed to play hard and sharp now seems shaky, almost unsure what to do next. Even McDermott, who typically stays calm, put it best:“It’s a week-to-week league. You’ve got to bring your A-game every week.”
That’s the truth facing Buffalo now. The talent is still there, but the swagger is gone. Damien Woody’s comments may have felt brutal, but they also served as a warning. The Bills don’t have the luxury of waiting for things to click anymore, not in a conference this loaded, not after another flat, lifeless performance that had fans shaking their heads.
Maybe the window isn’t shut yet. However, if Buffalo continues to play like this, it might close soon.