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?
Wild Card Round: Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Buffalo Bills, in the (lately) unusual position of being an NFL Wild Card contestant, traveled to Florida to take on the AFC South champion Jacksonville Jaguars. The two teams traded blows, with seven lead changes during the game. The Jaguars came in focused and shut down Buffalo’s incredible rushing attack. That was nearly enough, but a last-minute (almost literally to the second) touchdown put the Bills ahead and their defense shut the door.
Fourth-down stop (Q2; 11:21)
In a game this close, there’s so many plays where the “what if” can haunt you. For Jacksonville, this might be the one. Though a missed field goal and a handful of other plays could make a case.
Trevor Lawrence scrambles left with the Jaguars going for it. He basically just needs to hit the line of scrimmage and fall forward. He’s centimeters short. Bills’ ball. No points for the Jaguars who were already in field goal range.
Run for no gain (Q2; 8:32)
The Bills have a reputation for running, and James Cook was the 2025 NFL rushing champion. That meant the Jaguars knew what to stop. Keeping the Bills to three yards a carry was huge, and honestly pretty insane. Even more nuts is that there were no tackles for a loss except for a lone sack of Josh Allen. They just did not allow yards on the ground.
Brandin Cooks’ big catch (Q4; 2:26)
The passing game was needed to make up the difference, and did they ever. Allen completed two passes of 36 yards (one earlier to Keon Coleman). Allen had a potent long game, but was also brutally efficient with an 80% completion rate. The pass helped set up the game-winning touchdown.
Josh Allen’s TD (Q4; 1:05)
And here is the game-winning touchdown. Allen had two rushing scores, and only one passing. While the ground game stalled for yards and the passing attack thrived, the scoring opportunities flew in the face of that trend.
Cole Bishop’s INT (Q4; 0:59)
Jacksonville had no timeouts and about a minute to work with, which isn’t wonderful odds. Then again, they only needed a field goal to continue the game. The tipped pass by Tre’Davious White put the football into Cole Bishop’s hand, and Buffalo would advance to the next round.
Which play best defines the Bills’ victory?
