The Buffalo Bills will need their “X-factors” to help continue their winning ways in the remaining four regular-season games of 2025, starting with Sunday’s AFC East rematch with the New England Patriots on the road in Week 15.
The team has an early-season loss and game film that they’ve had a chance to put under the microscope and examine for a game plan on defense. They face an offense revitalized by former player turned NFL head coach Mike Vrabel and long-time former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, back to work with an offense bolstered through free agency additions and a favorable schedule.
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With that, here are Bills Wire’s three potential X-factors on the Bills (9-4) defense against the Patriots (11-2):
CB Christian Benford
Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford celebrates sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow during first half action at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Dec. 7, 2025.
Benford has risen to new heights as the class of the NFL at his position over the last two seasons and is coming off multiple high-level headlining performances. But then a toe injury has brought into question his availability for Sunday’s meeting with New England, during a final four-game stretch in which every game has a ‘must-win’ level of urgency for Buffalo.
He and cornerback Taron Johnson played an important part in defending New England in the first matchup, and secondary defenders like Johnson, rookie Maxwell Hairston, and defensive back Cole Bishop will all need to be on their game to make it a hard day for Maye and the Pats’ offense.
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Benford’s development came in a big way from his years with now-Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs, who cooked Buffalo in their last game for 146 yards on 10 catches receiving. The defensive back’s availability is a big X-factor that can have a domino effect on that pass coverage.
DE Joey Bosa
Buffalo Bills defensive end Joey Bosa tuns towards the fumble that Buffalo Bills defensive tackle DaQuan Jones caused after sacking Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield during second half action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov 16, 2025 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. The Bills recovered theh fumble.
Bosa returns from injury at an important time, as pressuring and disrupting New England QB Drake Maye will be an important key for a successful day on defense.
The Bills’ defense and DE A.J. Epenesa showed up big during late-game moments in Bosa’s absence last week against Cincinnati, but also couldn’t stop Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense throughout much of the Bills’ 39-34 win and struggled to get stops on third down.
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Greg Rousseau and the pass rush rotation need to be aggressive and consistent as well, but Bosa is a key X-factor who can help unlock that pocket pressure for the group while also being a turnover threat.
LB Matt Milano
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 05: A.J. Epenesa #57 and Matt Milano #58 of the Buffalo Bills tackle Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots in the second quarter of the game at Highmark Stadium on October 05, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
Veteran linebacker and Boston College alumnus Matt Milano has the potential to be a big difference-maker in Sunday’s game. Buffalo’s defensive unit was injury-depleted, and Milano and company were not able to slow Maye and the Patriots’ offense the first time around.
While offensive turnovers didn’t help in a tight game on the scoreboard, it would stand to reason the Bills can reach the winner’s circle in Foxboro if the offense protects the ball and they win in all three phases.
Milano can be an X-factor that could make an impact in getting that win.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 3 X-factors on the Bills defense vs. the Patriots in Week 15