Buffalo Plus LIVE: The Bills’ Slow Start Struggles, Josh Allen’s MVP Case, and Playoff Prospects

Buffalo Plus Podcast - December 19, 2025
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes
Live at Riverworks, Buffalo, NY

Episode Overview

In this lively and engaging live episode, the Buffalo Plus team—Mike, Jenna, and Dan—dive into the Buffalo Bills’ recent performances and dissect the team’s ongoing slow-start struggles, their second-half dominance, Josh Allen’s MVP candidacy, and Buffalo’s ever-shifting playoff landscape. The trio fields live audience questions, delivers signature banter, and finishes the show with heartfelt personal moments and thanks to their community.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Bills’ Slow Starts vs. Second-Half Surges

• The Bills have established a troubling habit of starting sluggish and then surging, especially in recent games.
• Dan (06:00): "It's almost like they play possum. It's like they play rope-a-dope in the first half and let the offense tire themselves out."
• Mike (04:08): Praised the defense’s second-half performance against the Patriots and highlighted how the team’s formula for winning doesn’t require Josh Allen playing Superman for all four quarters.
• DAnalytics: Dan introduces his ongoing “Danalytics” segment, supplying stats that underscore the Bills’ vast point differential in the second half:
  • Dan (14:45): "Point differential is plus 116 in the second half this season... By far they're better."

2. Role of Veteran Experience & Defensive Adjustments

• The Bills’ defense, filled with experienced players, is credited for its ability to adjust in-game.
• Mike (08:03): "The one plus of having a lot of years in reality is the experience. Jordan Poyer's got experience. Trey White, Matt Milano, Shaq Thompson..."
• The halftime process is portrayed as pragmatic—no big speeches, just focused, quick adjustments.

3. National Narratives & Playoff Odds

• Panel collectively rejects the narrative that “this is the Bills' easiest year to win a Super Bowl,” citing the parity and difficulty of the AFC.
  • Dan (17:12): "It's disingenuous... It is asinine to say this is their best chance."
  • Mike (15:24): "It's never easy to win the Super Bowl... You still gotta win three games and likely on the road."
• The Bills’ playoff math remains fluid, with the hosts breaking down possible scenarios and which teams fans should root for in other AFC games.

4. Josh Allen’s MVP Candidacy

• Spirited debate around Allen’s MVP chances versus Matthew Stafford’s, and whether the MVP should reflect full regular season performance or late-season narrative surges.
  • Dan (23:21): "I just don't want the MVP award to go to the best player of December."
  • Mike (24:44): "If I'm thinking about the vote now, I think Stafford's going to win it, and I think Josh is going to be second. It could change, but I think that's what's going to happen."
• Panel and live audience both agree: Allen is Buffalo's MVP, but the national race is close.

5. Bills Offense: Tight Ends Surging, Receivers Struggling

• The team’s passing attack has shifted from struggling wide receivers to productive tight ends Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid.
  • Jenna (27:24): "White Claw grab of the week to Dawson Knox. His two touchdowns..."
  • Dan, DAnalytics (29:47): “The Bills’ six wide receivers over the last four games, all of these guys combined have 29 catches for 330 yards… averaging less than 86 yards per game.”
• James Cook’s All-Pro level performance in both the run and pass game is also highlighted.

6. Special Teams & Ray Davis’ Emergence

• Despite limited touches at RB, rookie Ray Davis is lauded as a game-changing kick returner.
  • Mike (34:09): "Ray Davis leads the league, 32.7 yards per return. He's already got one touchdown. It honestly feels like he's going to break it every time now."
• Davis’ willingness to embrace this role, despite initial disappointment, is celebrated as a sign of strong team culture.

7. Preview: Bills vs. Browns - Keys, Matchups, and Predictions

• Detailed discussion of how Buffalo should handle Cleveland’s star pass rusher Myles Garrett.
  • Dan (43:55): "That’s why they always talk about the defensive line—it's, you're a one man band... The offensive line has to be like an orchestra."
  • Spencer Brown is spotlighted as a “player to watch” in his matchup versus Garrett.
• Shadur Sanders, Browns' rookie QB: While promising, he’s seen as a favorable draw for Sean McDermott’s defense this week.
  • Mike (47:58): “This is the type of quarterback, a young guy... that McDermott's defenses have eaten up in the past.”

Score Predictions

• Dan: Bills win, 26–10 (48:20)
• Jenna: Bills win, 27–13 (50:44)
• Mike: Bills win, 27–13 (51:29)

Player of the Game Picks (Picasso’s Award)

• Dan: Spencer Brown (for his matchup against Myles Garrett) (52:22)
• Jenna: Cole Bishop (predicts a pick-six) (53:14)
• Mike: Greg Rousseau (calls for a game-changing strip sack) (54:00)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the highs and lows of Bills Mafia:
  Dan (13:17): "Why is Dan so far away?... These are great. I don't care. Fire McDermott. The very next comment is, 'I love McDermott.' That is the Bills mafia in a nutshell."

• Comparing Drake May to Josh Allen:
  Dan (12:24): "A Chrysler 300 looks like a Phantom... Drake May looked like an MVP and then an MVP pulled up next to him."

• Audience Interaction:
  The live chat and audience at Riverworks added energy and running jokes, including calling out Dan's evolving vocabulary ("disingenuous," "asinine") and celebrating fans from Australia and beyond (20:35).

• Personal Credit to Me Section:

  • Mike: His daughter gives birth to his third granddaughter. (57:25–58:08)
  • Dan: Reflecting on the joy of the holiday season as a parent (58:35–59:42)
  • Jenna: Expresses gratitude to the community and audience (60:19–61:13)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Bills’ Slow Starts & Second-Half Wins: [04:08–07:09]
• Defensive Veteran Adjustments: [07:09–08:38]
• Separating Halftime Reality from Hollywood: [10:01–11:13]
• The Allen/Stafford MVP Debate: [22:01–25:42]
• Statistical Dive: The Wide Receiver Struggles: [29:47–31:13]
• Special Teams - Ray Davis’ Impact: [34:09–35:48]
• Stopping Myles Garrett & O-line Challenges: [41:00–45:22]
• Predictions & Picks: [48:10–51:29]
• Credit to Me (Personal Highlights): [57:18–59:42]
• Audience Thanks and Show Close: [60:19–61:52]

Tone & Takeaways

True to the Buffalo Plus brand, this episode was part-insider football clinic, part-comedy, and part-family-style hangout. The hosts balance sharp, well-supported analysis (“Danalytics!”), playful bickering, running jokes, and heartfelt personal notes.

For those who missed the episode:

• The Bills’ formula for success in 2025 is clear: execute in the second half, adjust on defense, and rally around a superstar quarterback—even if supporting skill positions lag behind.
• The hosts firmly reject national narratives that oversimplify Buffalo’s playoff path or Allen’s MVP chances.
• Defensive adaptability and special teams improvements are real strengths as playoffs approach.
• The spirit and unpredictability of Bills Mafia are as alive in the podcast’s audience as on game day.

Memorable closing vibe:
“Give yourselves a round of applause. It really is awesome and we genuinely appreciate it.” (Jenna, 61:13)