Not long ago, christening the Buffalo Bills with the ballyhooed "Team Nobody Wants to Play" label would've seemed laughable.
As recently as Nov. 26, the Bills were 6-6 and their first playoff-free season since 2018 looked likely. Since then, though, Buffalo has caught fire. Quarterback Josh Allen and company ripped off five straight wins in December and January—topping the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins in the process.
Fresh off an AFC East championship, the Bills have attracted the attention of the football world—including Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, who praised them on ESPN's This is Football with Kevin Clark.
"I'm not sure anybody wants really to play the Bills right now because they're not sure what they're going to get. They are hoping to get the inconsistent. If they get hot Josh Allen, look out," Manning said.
I asked Peyton Manning if this version of Josh Allen can win a Super Bowl.
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) January 10, 2024
"I'm not sure anybody wants really to play the Bills right now because they're not sure what they're going to get. They are hoping to get the inconsistent. If they get hot Josh Allen, look out." pic.twitter.com/w45kmtoE3Q
Allen, Buffalo's highest-performing presence under center since Jim Kelly, has with the exception of his rookie season led the Bills to the playoffs every year he's been their starter. The hard part, as Manning discussed, is avoiding mistakes for a quarterback who threw 18 picks this season.
"He's going to need to be more consistent. Josh knows that," Manning said. "The Bills know that. But still... that's all you need, a good second half going into the playoffs, and now you have a home game."
Buffalo will welcome the Pittsburgh Steelers for just that on Sunday afternoon.
