The 2025 Buffalo Bills season has been written, but the book is incomplete. Before we cast our full attention toward the 2026 season, let’s take one last glance back over our shoulder for our annual look at the Plays That Defined the prior campaign.
For any newcomers, first and foremost; Welcome! When it comes to the “rules” of this exercise, we’re not voting for our favorite highlight necessarily, but the one that best captures the essence of the game. Put differently, if you had to choose just one play to show someone to explain as much of the contest as possible, which would you choose?
Week 4; New Orleans Saints at Buffalo Bills
After defeating two division rivals back to back, the Buffalo Bills sat at 3 – 0 and looked to extend their win streak against the 0 – 3 New Orleans Saints. Which they did. The Saints managed to keep it close until the middle of the fourth quarter. Both sides of the Bills closed out strong.
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Buffalo’s last two “not kneeling” drives ended with a score and the final two for the Saints ended with a turnover on downs. Buffalo may have ran away with it sooner if it weren’t for some sloppy play including ELEVEN accepted penalties. The theme of the day was a slalom between explosive and cringe moments.
Josh Allen touchdown (Q3; 6:48)
I had a hard time deciding which touchdown to go with here. Khalil Shakir had a 43-yarder. Dalton Kincaid had another explosive touchdown of 28 yards. James Cook’s one-yarder showed his usual moxie. In the end though, the two teams were pretty in many respects, but only one team had a Josh Allen. This highlights the respect he deserves both running and passing. The camera operators aren’t often fooled by a pump fake and Allen has them bite so hard that some say the camera is still panning around trying to find the play to this very day.
Not enough men on the field (Q3; 2:21)
Did I mention the 11 accepted (12 total) penalties? I was about to do a clip of the Bills flag for too MANY men on the field, but that five yarder barely did anything to help the Saints. Besides, the point I was trying to make with the clip was to show how sloppy Buffalo was much of the day. Then I stumbled on this gem. Up by five after a Saints touchdown, New Orleans was going for two in a critical late game moment. The Bills elected to put only ten players on the field. Sean McDermott, somewhat irately, had to burn a timeout to get the right personnel on the field.
Failed fourth down attempt (Q4; 12:56)
It wasn’t just the defense that was out of sorts at times either. This was still a one-score game. Buffalo was at midfield, and they were in the fourth quarter. I like the aggression to go for it, as I think it shows confidence in your team to close. What I do not like, was the play call.
Joey Bosa strip sack (Q4; 1:51)
With all that said, I return to a highlight. In the end, Buffalo did put up 31 on offense and held the Saints under the league average points scored. The defense shut the door in the fourth quarter. This was the second sack of just this drive and Joey Bosa poking the ball out ended the game.