On Sunday night, the Buffalo Bills appeared on national television for the second week in a row. The team faced the Pittsburgh Steelers, an elite American Football Conference (AFC) team, who were coming off their first loss of the season. The Bills were able to come away with a signature win by defeating the Steelers 26-15. 

The first half of the game was particularly slow. The Bills failed to move the ball efficiently during the first half. However, a pivotal play made by Bills cornerback Taron Johnson changed the momentum of the game just before halftime. A 51-yard pick-six made by Johnson gave the Buffalo Bills a 9-7 lead over the Steelers; the Bills’ first defensive touchdown since December 2017. 

Despite the slow start of the game, the Bills’ halftime adjustments proved effective in the second half. ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques described the Buffalo Bills as a team who came alive in the third quarter. They put up more yards (144) and points (14) in that quarter than the first two combined. Although the Bills defense struggled throughout the season, they played one of their best games of the season. Buffalo allowed less than 100 rushing yards for the third consecutive game. Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White says the “defense is finally jelling after a truncated offseason and unprecedented regular season, and Sunday night’s results seem to back up that statement.” 

The powerful connection established during this National Football League (NFL) season between quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Stefon Diggs largely contributed to the game’s shift of momentum. After the slow start in the first half, Bills fans knew Diggs would need to be a substantial component to the second half. “All he wants to do is help his team win football games. He’s a competitor and we have very similar mindsets. I love the guy,” Allen explained. Diggs made four receptions for 42 yards on the first drive of the third quarter, along with a 19-yard touchdown reception that put Buffalo up 16-7. Diggs even set a single-season career-high with 1,167 yards, finishing the game with 130 yards on ten receptions and a touchdown. 

The Buffalo Bills, now ranked third in the AFC, are not far behind the 12-1 Kansas City Chiefs, the number one team to beat in the AFC. With three more games left in the regular season, the Bills have joined the AFC’s elite tier of teams and are hungry to clinch their spot in the playoffs.