The Cincinnati Bengals limp into Buffalo on a desperate mission to salvage their fading playoff dreams, fresh off a gritty Thanksgiving win over the Ravens that snapped a five-game skid—but their defense remains the NFL’s punching bag, ranking dead last in points (31.2/g) and yards allowed (410/g). The Bills, clinging to the AFC’s No. 7 wild-card spot and trailing the surging Patriots by two games in the East, rebounded from a Houston heartbreaker with a dominant 26-7 road thumping of the Steelers. This rematch of recent playoff foes (Bengals won the last two meetings) pits Joe Burrow’s surgical return against Josh Allen’s MVP-caliber arm, but Buffalo’s elite secondary and home-field edge in frigid conditions could stifle Cincy’s air raid while their ground game exploits the Bengals’ leaky front.
Venue and Game Details
Location: Highmark Stadium, 1 Bills Drive, Orchard Park, NY 14127. The open-air fortress seats 71,608 and is infamous for its raucous Bills Mafia tailgates and brutal December weather, with the field turf notorious for contributing to injuries.
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET.
Broadcast: FOX: Joe Davis, Greg Olsen, Pam Oliver (field reporter)
Local radio on WCKY 1530 (CIN) and WGR 550 (BUF).
Weather: Chilly and dicey—cloudy skies with a 40% chance of light snow showers, temperatures hovering in the low 20s°F (high 24°F, low 18°F). Winds 10-15 mph from the northwest could gust to 20 mph, impacting deep passes and punts; expect a slick field if flurries accumulate (under 1 inch forecast).
Injury Report
Injuries ravage both lines, but Buffalo’s depth mitigates theirs more effectively. Cincy’s pass rush is gutted without Hendrickson, while the Bills’ O-line questions could expose Allen to Burrow-lite pressure. Latest from Tuesday, December 2 practice reports (game status due Friday):
| Team | Player | Position | Injury | Practice Status | Est. Game Status |
| Bengals | Tee Higgins | WR | Concussion | Limited (Mon/Tue) | Questionable; progressing in protocol after Week 12 hit—key for Burrow’s WR2 role (45 rec, 656 yds, 5 TD). |
| Trey Hendrickson | DE | Hip/Pelvis | DNP (Mon/Tue) | Doubtful; “week-to-week” per Taylor, out 5 straight—huge loss (7 sacks, Bengals’ only consistent pressure). | |
| Cam Sample | DE | Oblique | Limited (Tue) | Questionable; backup edge depth strained. | |
| Jermaine Burton | WR | Ankle | Limited | Questionable; rotational piece behind Chase. | |
| Tahj Brooks | RB | Undisclosed | DNP | Out; minor depth hit. | |
| Bills | Dion Dawkins | LT | Concussion | Limited (Tue; DNP Mon) | Questionable; missed Week 13, critical blindside protector (Pro Bowl LT). |
| Spencer Brown | RT | Shoulder | Limited (Tue) | Questionable; inactive Week 13, Allen’s pocket vulnerable if out. | |
| Dalton Kincaid | TE | Hamstring | Full (Tue) | Probable; two limited practices trending up—missed 3 games, big red-zone weapon (42 rec, 492 yds). | |
| Joey Bosa | DE | Hamstring | Limited | Questionable; exited vs. PIT, 41 pressures this year (PFF). | |
| Terrel Bernard | LB | Elbow | Limited | Questionable; tackling machine (65 tackles) if sidelined. |
Bengals’ D-line thins further without Hendrickson; Bills’ O-line woes could lead to 3+ sacks if both tackles sit.
Key Player Matchups
Buffalo’s No. 1-ranked pass defense (163.2 yds/g allowed) meets Burrow’s precision, but Cincy’s 32nd-ranked rush D (5.1 ypc allowed) invites James Cook’s explosiveness. Snow could force run-heavy schemes.
Joe Burrow (CIN QB) vs. Bills Secondary (Benford/Hairston)
Burrow’s back (261 yds, 2 TD in return vs. BAL) with 68% comp., but Buffalo’s CBs suffocate: Benford blanked Metcalf last week; rookie Hairston allows 6 rec on 13 targets since return. Bengals avg. 224.8 pass yds/g—expect checkdowns if pressured.
Josh Allen (BUF QB) vs. Bengals Front Seven (minus Hendrickson)
Allen (2,832 yds, 19 TD, 99.8 rating) feasts on Cincy’s last-ranked pass D (256.8 yds/g allowed, 294 to Maye last week). Without Hendrickson, Allen’s mobility (155.7 rush yds) projects 250+ pass yds, 1+ TD.
Ja’Marr Chase (CIN WR) vs. Christian Benford (BUF CB)
Chase (league-high 1,112 yds, 9 TD) vs. Benford’s lockdown (59.5% comp. allowed league-low). Chase torched BAL for 112 yds post-bye; if Higgins out, targets spike to 12+.
James Cook (BUF RB) vs. Bengals Run D
Cook (1,868 rush yds, 11 TD, 5.0 ypc) vs. CIN’s nightmare stop unit (bottom-5 metrics). Bengals allowed 142 rush yds to BAL; Cook’s 216-yd Week 8 explosion repeats in snow.
Tee Higgins (CIN WR, if active) vs. Maxwell Hairston (BUF CB)
Higgins (656 yds) in protocol vs. Hairston’s coverage (PFF 85+ grade). If cleared, mismatches abound; else, Iosivas steps up vs. Bills’ slot (4th in EPA/dropback post-bye).
Team Records and Standings Context
Bengals: 4-8 (3rd AFC North, .333 win%). 12th in AFC wild-card hunt, 4.5 games back. Offense: No. 11 passing (224.8/g), No. 30 rushing (88.5/g), T-16th pts (23.3/g). Defense: No. 32 pts allowed (31.2/g).
Bills: 8-4 (2nd AFC East, .667 win%). 7th in AFC wild-card. Offense: No. 8 passing (240.5/g), No. 3 rushing (155.7/g), T-5th pts (28.1/g). Defense: No. 4 pts allowed (21.6/g).
Recent Team Forms
Bengals snap skid but D exposed; Bills steady with Allen’s heroics amid injuries.
Bengals Last 5 Games (1-4):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Nov. 27 | @ BAL | W 32-14 | Burrow: 261 yds, 2 TD return; D holds Jackson to 1 TD. |
| Nov. 23 | vs. NE | L 20-26 | Higgins concussed; Chase: 112 yds, but 3 TOs doom. |
| Nov. 16 | @ PIT | L 12-34 | Browning: 140 yds; run D gashed for 142 yds. |
| Nov. 2 | vs. CHI | L 42-47 | Flacco: 219 yds; secondary torched (350 pass yds). |
| Oct. 26 | vs. NYJ | L 38-39 | Brown: 42 yds; OT loss after 38-pt outburst. |
Bills Last 5 Games (3-2):
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Nov. 30 | @ PIT | W 26-7 | Allen: 209 yds, 2 TD; D forces 3 TOs, holds to 199 yds. |
| Nov. 20 | @ HOU | L 19-23 | Allen: 253 yds, 1 TD; Stroud outduels (275 yds). |
| Nov. 16 | vs. TB | W 44-32 | Allen: 273 yds, 3 TD; Cook: 114 yds in shootout. |
| Nov. 9 | @ MIA | L 13-30 | Allen: 148 yds; Mayfield carves secondary (280 yds). |
| Nov. 2 | vs. KC | W 28-21 | Allen: 163 yds, 2 TD; Cook: 216 yds monster. |
Bills win by avg. 16 pts in victories; Bengals 0-5 when allowing 30+ pts.
Series History
Evenly split historically, but Bengals own recent edge (3-2 last 5, including playoff W). All-time: Tied 17-17 (0-3 postseason for BUF). Last 5 meetings:
Nov. 5, 2023: Bengals 24, Bills 18 (CIN).
Jan. 22, 2023 (Playoff): Bengals 27, Bills 10 (CIN).
Sep. 11, 2022: Bills 27, Bengals 10 (BUF).
Jan. 2, 2022: Bengals 27, Bills 10 (CIN).
Oct. 10, 2021: Bills 26, Bengals 11 (BUF).
H2H avg. 41.6 total pts; overs hit 3/5 since 2021, but unders in BUF home games (3-2).
Betting Trends
Spread: Bengals 5-7 ATS (42%); Bills 6-6 ATS (50%). BUF 3-3 ATS at home; CIN 2-4 ATS on road.
Total: Over in 7 of CIN’s 12 (58%); Under in 7 of BUF’s 12 (58%). BUF unders 4/5 last; H2H overs 60% last 5.
Key Trends: Bills 18-0 SU after road win; Bengals 0-5 when <100 rush yds. BUF covers 70% as 5+ home faves.
Projected score: Buffalo Bills 28, Cincinnati Bengals 22
BENGALS NOTES:
• QB JOE BURROW passed for 261 yards & 2 TDs in Week 13. Needs 300+ pass yards & 3+ TD passes to surpass HOFer Kurt Warner (17) for 3rd-most such games all-time in 1st 6 seasons. Completed 31 of 44 atts. (70.5 pct.) for 348 yards & 2 TDs with 108.9 rating in last meeting. • RB CHASE BROWN led team with 113 scrimmage yards (78 rush, 35 rec.) last week. Has 100+ scrimmage yards in 6 consecutive games, longest active streak. Has 6+ catches in 3 of his past 4. • RB SAMAJE PERINE had 54 scrimmage yards (39 rush, 15 rec.) in Week 13. • WR JA’MARR CHASE had 7 catches for 110 yards last week. Has 6+ catches in 7 games this season, incl. 6 of his past 7. Needs 29 rec. yards & 2 rec. TDs to become 1st all-time with 80+ receptions, 1,000+ rec. yards & 7+ rec. TDs in each of 1st 5 seasons. Needs 1 catch to surpass Jarvis Landry (481) for 5thmost catches in 1st 5 seasons. Had 41 rec. yards in last meeting. • WR ANDREI IOSIVAS had 29 rec. yards & rec. TD in Week 13. • TE TANNER HUDSON had career-high 2nd TD last week. Had 4 catches for 45 yards in last meeting. • TE DREW SAMPLE had 30 rec. yards & TD in last meeting. • DE JOSEPH OSSAI had 4 tackles, career-high 2 sacks & FF in Week 13. Has TFL in 3 of his past 4. • DE MYLES MURPHY had 3 tackles & PD last week. • LB DEMETRIUS KNIGHT JR. had 5 tackles & INT in Week 13. Has PD in 4 of his past 5. Is 1 of 2 rookies (Carson Schwesinger – 11) with 5+ tackles in 10+ games (10). • S JORDAN BATTLE led team with 8 tackles & had FF last week. Aims for his 7th in row on road with 6+ tackles. • CB JALEN DAVIS had 3 tackles & 1st FF of season in Week 13. • CB DJ TURNER had FR & PD last week. Has PD in 3 of his past 4.
BILLS NOTES:
• HC SEAN MCDERMOTT has 94 reg. season wins, tied 3rd-most (HOFer John Madden & Mike McCarthy) reg. season wins by HC in 1st 9 seasons. • QB JOSH ALLEN completed 15 of 23 atts. (65.2 pct.) for 123 yards & had 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) in Week 13. Surpassed Cam Newton (75) for most rush TDs by QB all-time (76). Aims for his 7th at home with 60+ comp. pct., 205+ pass yards, TD pass & 100+ rating. Completed 26 of 38 atts. (68.4 pct.) for 258 yards & had 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) in last meeting. • RB JAMES COOK led team with 177 scrimmage yards (144 rush, 33 rec.) last week. Has 110+ scrimmage yards in 5 of his past 6. Had 39 scrimmage yards (20 rush, 19 rec.) in last meeting. • RB RAY DAVIS had season-high 62 rush yards in Week 13. • WR KEON COLEMAN aims for his 3rd in row with rec. TD. • TE DAWSON KNOX had 28 rec. yards last week. Had 76 scimmage yards (67 rec., 9 rush) & rec. TD in last meeting. • TE DALTON KINCAID can make 1st appearance since Week 10. Has rec. TD in 4 of his past 5 at home. Led team with 10 catches for 81 yards in last meeting. • LB SHAQ THOMPSON led team with 9 tackles in Week 13. Has TFL in 2 of his past 3 at home. Aims for his 4th in row vs. Cin. with 5+ tackles. • LB MATT MILANO had 3 tackles & TFL last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with TFL. Had 5 tackles & FR in his last game vs. Cin. (9/22/19). • DE JOEY BOSA had sack & FF in Week 13. • CB CHRISTIAN BENFORD had TFL, INT & 1st-career FR-TD last week, 1st Bill since 2010 (Drayton Florence) to have INT & FR-TD in same game. • S JORDAN POYER had 5 tackles in Week 13. Aims for his 7th in row with 5+ tackles. Has PD in 2 of his past 3. Had 11 tackles & TFL in last meeting. • S COLE BISHOP had 4 tackles last week. Has 5+ tackles & PD in 3 of his past 4 at home.
Game Odds
Cincinnati Bengals 52.5
Buffalo Bills – 5.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Saturday, December 6, 2025
