As the Buffalo Bills gear up for their Week 16 clash with the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Huntington Bank Field, the team is riding high after a thrilling 35-31 comeback victory over the New England
Patriots in Week 15. Trailing 21-0 early, the Bills showcased their resilience, with quarterback Josh Allen orchestrating a second-half surge that included three touchdown passes and a game-winning drive.
The win improved Buffalo’s record to 10-4, keeping them in the hunt for the AFC East crown and a top playoff seed. However, not everything is clicking perfectly as they face a Browns team led by rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who’s desperate to prove his worth.
In this edition of “Heroes and Head-Scratchers,” I break down the top three Bills players trending up and three trending down heading into this matchup. I’ll draw from the season’s overall performance and the Week 15 triumph, incorporating key stats and advanced metrics to highlight why these individuals are surging or stumbling.
Heroes: Trending Up
1. Josh Allen, QB
No one embodies the Bills’ resilience more than Josh Allen, whose superhero-like performances have defined the 2025 season. In the Week 15 comeback win over the Patriots, Allen threw for 193 yards and three touchdowns on 19-of-28 passing while rushing 11 times for 48 yards, orchestrating five consecutive touchdown drives after a sluggish start. His clutch play included key scrambles and fourth-down conversions in adverse conditions.
Season-wide through Week 15, Allen has been MVP-caliber, leading the league with 424 scramble yards (No. 1 per Pro Football Focus/PFF) and posting elite marks across advanced metrics: a 93.6 PFF rushing grade (league-leading among QBs), 43 big-time throws (most in the NFL), and a career-low 2.6% turnover-worthy play rate. His consistent 90.0+ PFF overall grades in recent seasons (first QB in PFF history to do so five straight years) highlight his dual-threat dominance.
Against a Browns defense ranking near the bottom in points allowed, Allen’s dual-threat ability positions him for another explosive outing. The second consecutive MVP award is still achievable.
2. Matt Milano, LB
Milano’s return to form has been a boon for Buffalo’s defense, particularly in the second half of the 2025 season. In last weekend’s win over the Patriots, Milano delivered a vintage, game-changing performance: a team-high and career-high 10 tackles (including 2 tackles for loss), and two sacks (his first multi-sack game in the NFL).
His relentless pursuit was evident on both sacks — one a nine-yard loss and another a seven-yard take down of quarterback Drake Maye — while playing 87% of defensive snaps. These plays helped shut down New England’s offense in the second half, contributing directly to the rally from a 21-0 deficit.
Advanced metrics from PFF hand Milano a 69.0 pass-rush grade (ranking 27th among qualifying linebackers) and improved tackling efficiency in key moments, helping Buffalo rank respectably against the run during the team’s 10-4 stretch. Milano’s aggressiveness and instincts have re-emerged lately, making him a rising force as the defense tightens for the playoffs.
Against a Browns offense that struggles up front, Milano’s disruptive ability could help him put together another standout game.
3. Tre’Davious White, CB
Tre’Davious White has steadily reclaimed his starter-level form in 2025. Against the Patriots, White delivered a crucial interception off Drake Maye, fighting the bigger Mack Hollins on a downfield route to swing momentum during Buffalo’s rally. His coverage was sticky on key plays, limiting explosive gains downfield in the second half.
Throughout the year, White has brought veteran stability in a revamped secondary, with eight pass breakups, 35 tackles, and four run stuffs. PFF data reflects his zone-coverage strength, with grades in the mid-70s in key games. Next Gen Stats show elite ball skills and route recognition, which has meant opposing quarterbacks must accept lower passer ratings against him.
White’s resurgence allows rookie Max Hairston to continue to be rotated in slowly, offers some depth behind Christian Benford, and bolsters Buffalo’s pass defense — which should be helpful against a Browns offense prone to mistakes downfield.
Trending Down: The Head-Scratchers
1. Javon Solomon, DE
Second-year defensive end Javon Solomon showed promise early in the season, but has cooled off lately. In Week 15, he saw zero defensive snaps against New England’s dominant early run game, with rookie defensive tackle T.J. Sanders instead playing out of position at the defensive end spot.
Season-long, Solomon has five pressures on 103 snaps, with PFF pass-rush win rates dipping below average recently and overall grades in the low-40s. That reflects inconsistent get-off and run defense amid Solomon’s sophomore slump.
With several injuries impacting the defensive line rotation, it’s frustrating that Solomon hasn’t taken advantage of the opportunities to establish himself as a consistent contributor in the team’s pass rush department.
2. Larry Ogunjobi, DT
Veteran defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, signed to bolster the interior, has underwhelmed in 2025. In Week 15, he missed a key sack opportunity, and his effort provided minimal-at-best disruption against the Patriots’ front.
Across the season, Ogunjobi has 11 tackles, four run stuffs, and zero sacks, with PFF overall grades in the low-50s, run-defense marks (His supposed strength) around 41-48, and low interior win rates/tackle efficiency per Next Gen Stats. All of that makes me question the value of his signing, especially with the six-game suspension he served to begin the season.
3. Joshua Palmer, WR
Speaking of questionable signings, wide receiver Joshua Palmer (acquired in free agency to add separation to Buffalo’s passing attack) has struggled to stay healthy and carve out a consistent role in a crowded but very limited receiver room. In the Week 15 win over the Patriots, Palmer drew a costly false-start penalty on a key third down and finished with just one reception for 16 yards on two targets, while playing only 23 out of possible 70 offensive snaps (33%). No other receiver played fewer snaps, and his limited involvement was evident as he was overshadowed by Khalil Shakir, the tight ends, and other options in the comeback.
Through Week 15, Palmer has 19 receptions for 288 yards and no touchdowns, averaging a modest 15.2 yards per catch but with low volume due to inconsistent targets and snap shares often below 50%. Advanced metrics from PFF speak to his inefficiency, including a low yards-after-catch per reception of 2.3 and a passer rating when targeted of 65. He hasn’t been better than wide receivers who joined the team recently in Gabe Davis and Brandin Cooks. That’s unacceptable from one of general manager Brandon Beane’s prized free-agent additions.
Honorable Mentions
Trending Up:
- TE Dawson Knox (3 receptions for 37 yards and 2 touchdowns on 4 targets in Week 15 vs. Patriots)
- RB James Cook (22 carries for 107 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs, plus 2 receptions for 4 yards and 1 receiving TD in Week 15—his first career three-TD game)
- FB Reggie Gilliam (just 8 offensive snaps but elite run-blocking grade in heavy personnel packages throughout 2025; consistent special teams contributor, crucial in recent kickoff return success)
- RB Ray Davis (multiple kickoff returns averaging over 40 yards in Week 15, including a 58-yard return; providing explosive spark in return game)
Trending Down:
- WR Brandin Cooks (the veteran addition had a big-time opportunity early against the Patriots, but dropped it. No catches on 3 targets, 24 snaps)
- WR Keon Coleman (zero stats despite playing 39 snaps. Just 4 receptions for 25 yards and 1 TD over the past three games despite leading WR snaps in stretches)
Catch up on all this and more with the latest edition of Leading the Charge!
