The Buffalo Bills are set for a huge Week 15 matchup against the New England Patriots that could end up determining who wins the AFC East division. If the Bills want any shot of claiming the top spot in the division, they are going to need to beat the Patriots, because if they don’t, their longtime rival will officially clinch the division on Sunday.
Buffalo knows the stakes are high for this game, and you can bet it’s going to show up locked and loaded for a duel with one of the surprise breakout teams in the NFL this year. With kickoff quickly approaching, though, the Bills were dealt a brutal injury update regarding star cornerback Christian Benford that could end up having a huge impact on this game.
Bills Rule Out Christian Benford for Week 15 Action
Buffalo’s season appeared to be teetering on the brink of destruction after an ugly loss to the Houston Texans in Week 12. The team has gotten back on track with a pair of victories over the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, though, and there may not be anyone who has stepped up more than Benford in both of those games.
Against the Steelers, Benford recorded a pair of turnovers on back-to-back possessions to help the Bills pick up a much-needed victory. And against Cincy, Benford recorded a game-changing 63-yard pick-six of Joe Burrow that gave Buffalo a lead it would not relinquish. Without him, chances are the Bills would have lost to the Bengals last weekend.
Over the past week, Benford has been dealing with a foot injury that has thrown his status for the team’s big clash with the Patriots up in the air. The hope was that Benford would be able to get himself ready for this contest, but that hasn’t ended up happening, as he was ruled out for the contest because of this injury shortly before kickoff.
“Bills CB Christian Benford, having as good a season as he’s had with plenty of splash plays, is out today vs. the Patriots, per me and Mike Garafolo. He suffered a foot injury this week,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported in a post on X.
Bills’ Defense Needs to Step Up in Christian Benford’s Absence
GettyORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 07: Christian Benford #47 of the Buffalo Bills reacts as he leaves the field after the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium on December 07, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
Buffalo’s secondary isn’t exactly one of its strengths, and that’s with Benford on the field. Without him, the team is going to have to rely heavily on Taron Johnson and Tre’Davious White, with first-round rookie Maxwell Hairston also set to factor into the mix. Considering how much success Drake Maye and Stefon Diggs had in the first meeting between these two teams earlier this year, being without Benford could be detrimental.
As long as the Bills have Josh Allen under center, they will have a shot to come out on top in this contest, but their injury issues are going to make things even more difficult than they already were. Buffalo knows just how much is on the line in this one, and it will approach this game with a sense of urgency, regardless of who is on the field. Kickoff for this contest is set for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon.
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