The Bills have already matched their loss total from 2024 through 11 games of the 2025 NFL regular season. Buffalo fell to 7-4 after Thursday night's rough 23-19 loss at Houston, a game in which quarterback Josh Allen was sacked eight times and didn't produce a passing or rushing TD.
The Bills' roller-coaster ride continues. They lost at the Dolphins after beating the Chiefs. They lost to the Texans after beating the Buccaneers. The latest defeat is putting a chance at a sixth consecutive AFC East title in serious jeopardy and also making Buffalo's job harder just to earn a wild-card berth.
Here's a look at the impact of the Bills' upset loss:
Bills playoff picture
AFC East
The Bills fell two full games behind the 9-2 Patriots. For now, before the teams meet again in New England in Week 15, the team has the head-to-head tiebreaker from winning at Buffalo in Week 5.
Both teams now are facing six games left to play over the final seven weeks. That's a rather significant lead for the Patriots this late in the season. It will likely require a 12-5 record to win the division. That means the Bills must get hot and stay hot and go 5-1 to close the season -- including a road win over the Patriots -- to keep control of the division title.
AFC wild card
The Bills fell from No. 5 to No. 6 in the wild-card standings. Although they have the same record as the Chargers, who have a Week 12 bye, the Chargers hold the key conference tiebreaker (6-2 vs. 4-3).
Should the Jaguars, who just beat the Chargers in Week 11, beat the Cardinals on Sunday to also improve to 7-4, the Bills would drop again to the No. 7 seed, with only a one-game lead over the Texans. The Ravens and Chiefs can also match the Texans at 6-5 with home wins on Sunday.
Buffalo now have lost a tiebreaker to Houston, so it's good the team already has wins over Baltimore and Kansas City this season to help down the line.
Bills' remaining schedule
- Week 13: at Steelers
- Week 14: vs. Bengals
- Week 15: at Patriots
- Week 16: at Browns
- Week 17: vs. Eagles
- Week 18: vs. Jets
The Steelers, Patriots and Eagles represent three strong first-place teams. The Bengals will be a little trickier with Joe Burrow in action. Winning at either Pittsburgh or New England won't be easy, and Cleveland can be another defensive trap, a la Houston.
Going 3-3 or better would be impressive vs. That brutal stretch. That wouldn't win the AFC East over the Patriots, but 10-7 should be the floor goal to at least earn a wild-card berth.