The Bills will welcome the Bengals at home in an NFL Week 14 matchup in Orchard Park for the first time since the two clubs faced off in a November 3rd contest during the 2023 season that Cincy won 24-18.
Buffalo has only won two out of the last eight head-to-head meetings between the two teams going back to 2011.
Advertisement
QB Josh Allen and company have not found winning against their Ohio neighbors to be easy, and they’ll be put to the test Sunday by a team that has had more success against them than vice versa.
Sean McDermott’s club has added some new talent since their last encounter, and the Bills cannot afford to lose any more games if they are to make the postseason and make a run.
It will all start at home in front of Bills fans on Sunday.
With that, here are three keys to a Buffalo Bills victory against the Cincinnati Bengals in NFL Week 14:
1. Attack The Defense
Nov 30, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) warms up before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Bengals enter the matchup at Buffalo with a 4-8 record and one of the worst defenses in the NFL statistically his season. Cincinnati has particularly struggled defending the ball in the air and on the ground, giving up 26 passing touchdowns and 14 rushing touchdowns on the season, as they have had an even worse run defense than Buffalo has this year.
Advertisement
Cincinnati has allowed opposing starting running backs 100 yards per game with 6.0 yards per carry on average over the past 10 weeks. The Bills have one of the top RB1s in the NFL in James Cook, and are 14-2 when he has over 18 rushes in the past three seasons. Attacking areas of weakness in the defense can be key to a Bills win.
2. Stay Well Grounded
Nov 30, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Bills running back James Cook III (4) rushes during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The dynamic threat of Josh Allen, James Cook, Ray Davis, and Ty Johnson, when effective, is a high-octane one. Running the ball and throwing to keep moving the chains and scoring points will run down the clock and keep Joe Burrow and the Bengals receivers off the field if Buffalo wins time of possession.
Advertisement
If Allen can add the threat of his legs, and Davis and Johnson can pull their weight behind another strong performance from Cook, the Buffalo ground attack may prove to be too much for the Bengals’ defense to handle. It can also keep the Cincinnati defenders off-balance to exploit their poor pass-protection as well.
3. Win All Three Phases
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) carries the ball as Buffalo Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau (50) defends in the second quarter during an NFL divisional playoff football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. Cincinnati Bengals At Buffalo Bills Afc Divisional Jan 22 1207
The Bengals got Burrow back from a long stint this season, missing time with an injury. Turnaround was instantaneous in their matchup against the Ravens, who they beat 32-14.
The Bengals may have been overshadowed by the Chiefs as an AFC rival of the Bills in recent seasons, yet they have been successful in the win column against Buffalo as well as Kansas City, often in that span. It would be a nice way to turn the page on the losses in recent memory with a win.
Advertisement
It will be important for the Bills’ offense and special teams to finish drives by putting points on the board at every opportunity to build a strong enough lead. And for the defense and special teams to limit their opponent from doing the same. If the Bills’ secondary can continue to perform at a high level to contain the Bengals’ receiving corps, the pass rush can pressure Burrow, and the defensive line can hold against the run, it will be key to unlocking victory.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 3 keys to a Bills victory against the Bengals in NFL Week 14
Leave a Reply