Buffalo Bills — Playoff-Bound, But Falling Short of Division Goal
The Buffalo Bills have been the most successful New York area team this season, sitting at 11-5 heading into Week 18 and already clinching a playoff berth. They lost the AFC East division lead to the New England Patriots, who hold a one-game advantage late in the season, making the title out of reach unless the Bills can win and New England loses down the stretch. Reuters+1
Josh Allen has been the consistent heart of the offense, completing 23 of 35 passes with no turnovers in a recent tight loss to the Eagles, and X-rays on his foot came back negative after that game, suggesting the MVP-caliber QB remains a reliable leader.
On the flip side, Buffalo’s defense has been under pressure at times, giving up a high number of sacks this season, and their loss to Philadelphia underlines that they’re not unbeatable. Still, they’ve done enough to secure at least a Wild Card spot, and Week 18 could see them resting starters if their positioning is locked in, especially with seeding and home-field implications still to be determined. SI
The Bills will also end the regular season at Highmark Stadium for the last time before moving to a new venue, giving fans an emotional farewell backdrop as the postseason approaches. The Sun
Season summary for the Bills:
- Strong finish and playoff berth.
- Fell just short of tiebreaks to win the division.
- Overall resilience in close games and health management of Allen have been positives.
New York Jets — Rare Bright Spots in an Otherwise Bleak Year
The Jets have struggled mightily, entering Week 18 with a 3-13 record and long since eliminated from playoff contention. They’ve dropped multiple games by wide margins, including a recent 42-10 defeat to the Patriots, and sit at the bottom tier of teams with similar sub-4-win seasons. Gang Green Nation
Individual performances have offered some silver linings. RB Breece Hall rushed for over 1,000 yards, the first Jet to do so in about a decade, but even that milestone has been overshadowed by overall team disappointment and injuries.
At quarterback, the Jets have cycled through options, with rookie Brady Cook starting the finale despite a mixed performance profile, signaling ongoing questions about the position going forward. New York Post+1
Season summary for the Jets:
- Few wins and a defense that has struggled consistently.
- Promising individual play from Hall and up-and-coming pieces, but inconsistency at QB and scheme issues remain.
- Focus now shifts firmly to draft positioning and next season’s rebuild.
New York Giants — Tough Campaign, Early Coaching Change
The Giants have had one of the toughest seasons in the league, finishing 3-13 ahead of their Week 18 game, similar to the Jets in outcome but more memorable for coaching disruption and roster rebuilding.
After a 2-8 start, the franchise fired head coach Brian Daboll, signaling a reset in leadership alongside the team’s historically weak offensive and defensive production. The Sun
One positive late-season moment came against another struggling team — a 34-10 win over the Raiders that snapped a long losing streak, boosted rookie QB Jaxson Dart’s confidence, and gave fans something to build on. Big Blue View
Season summary for the Giants:
- Coaching change mid-season and organizational reset.
- Development focus on young core like Dart and Wan’Dale Robinson.
- Big draft position awaits after disappointing record.
Looking Ahead — Playoffs for Bills, Draft Focus for Jets and Giants
- Bills: Enter playoffs with matchup seeding still in flux. Wild Card prospects are ahead, and they need to lock up better seed for home-field advantage.
- Jets & Giants: Both teams are set on offseason turnaround, aiming to improve key positions (QB for Jets, coaching and offensive line for Giants) before next year.
Overall, the 2025 season has been a tale of contrast for New York’s NFL teams: playoff hopes and emotional moments for Buffalo, and tough rebuilds for both the Jets and Giants.
