The Buffalo Bills did what it took Sunday to keep their season alive, which means they get to travel to Denver to take on the AFC's 1-seed, the Broncos.
It's unlikely the Bills will be viewed as too heavy of underdogs in that one, but it's still a road trip to the top seed, so Buffalo will need things to go well to have a good chance of winning.
They also have a bizarre, tongue-in-cheek thing working in their favor.
The Broncos' defense is helmed by superstar cornerback Pat Surtain, who basically allows No. 1 WRs to do anything.
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But guess what the Bills lack? A true top receiver.
This is what Bills writer Aaron Quinn posted on X about it:
Patrick Surtain is an eraser. He eliminates teams #1 WRs weekly.
— Aaron Quinn (@AaronQuinn716) January 12, 2026
Luckily for Buffalo, Brandon Beane is playing 4d Chess and the Bills don't have a #1 WR to eliminate!
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The Bills' best receiver is Khalil Shakir, but he plays out of the slot, and it's unlikely Surtain follows him inside, even after Shakir caught all 12 of the targets thrown his way in Jacksonville.
The Broncos usually can design a defensive plan around knowing Surtain will basically lock down one side of the field.
In this one, they might have to get a little more creative to ensure that Surtain's talents are utilized effectively.
In the meantime, the Bills will try to keep proving they can win even with a wide receiver group as underwhelming as this one.
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