The Buffalo Bills are chasing a Super Bowl, but their wide receiver group is under intense scrutiny.
Injuries, roster changes, and uneven play have left Josh Allen without consistent weapons, putting the team’s high-powered offense and title hopes at risk.
Buffalo has made multiple additions in recent weeks, including the signing of veteran Brandin Cooks, in an effort to give Allen more weapons in the passing game.
But Buffalo Bills‘ wide receiver group has looked more fragile than ever despite these fresh changes.
Some analysts remain unconvinced that the Bills have the firepower needed to compete with the league’s elite teams.
Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh voiced strong criticism of Buffalo on Tuesday’s episode of the Speakeasy Podcast.
“The Bills don’t have a chance to win a Super Bowl, so it doesn’t matter,” Houshmandzadeh said.
“I have all the respect in the world for Brandon Beane. I have a lot of respect for the guys on their coaching staff and front office. They know this, they aren’t winning a Super Bowl in Buffalo.”
He continued, “They don’t have enough firepower. That’s what you’ve just shown, you’re like, oh, he’s holding the ball. He’s [Josh Allen] holding the ball because he needs somebody to get open. And Brandin Cooks, he’s not making a difference.”
His remarks point to the recurring struggles of the Bills‘ offense, which has failed to reach 20 points in two of their last four games.
When receivers cannot consistently get open, Allen is forced to take on a Superman role, often leading to stalled drives and turnovers.
Offensive and defensive challenges
Coming into 2025, Buffalo tried to patch holes. The front office added veteran outside receiver Joshua Palmer, viewed as a potential boundary weapon, believing he could mesh with Allen‘s downfield style.
Palmer acknowledged the fit: “I take a lot of pride in being able to run the entire route tree […] the ability to go deep and win in different situations. I want to be the best at it to make Josh‘s life a lot easier.”
On paper, the depth chart still looked respectable. Emerging slot star Khalil Shakir returned as the clear leader, flanked by Palmer, second-year Keon Coleman and rotation options such as Curtis Samuel and Elijah Moore.
Once the season began, inconsistency and attrition piled up. Coleman, drafted in 2024, flashed early but was benched for disciplinary reasons and even declared a healthy scratch recently.
Palmer has dealt with ankle issues. Samuel has also missed practice. That leaves Shakir essentially bearing the bulk of the passing load.
The Bills‘ difficulties, however, are not confined to the passing game. Their defense has been far from dominant on the field.
One of the team’s persistent weaknesses is run defense, a problem that has plagued Buffalo for multiple seasons.
Opposing teams have been able to exploit gaps and control the tempo, putting additional pressure on Allen and the offense to compensate.
The combination of an inconsistent passing attack and a vulnerable run defense has exposed gaps that opponents are eager to exploit.
Even with coaching staff adjustments and recent acquisitions, the Bills‘ ability to perform in high-stakes games remains under scrutiny.
The upcoming stretch of games will be a pivotal test for the Bills. If Allen can find reliable targets and the defense can tighten against the run, Buffalo could reassert itself as a legitimate contender.
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