Sitting at an overall record of 6-6 in Week 13, the Buffalo Bills’ playoff hopes were slim to none. With a much needed bye week in sight, Buffalo made coaching adjustments and came out of the off week the rest with a novel perspective. For Buffalo to fully control its destiny in terms of playoff berths, winning out was the only option.

And so they did. The Bills stunned other organizations, fans and even themselves with a five game win streak that crowned the previously defeated squad as AFC East Champions. As a result, the Bills secured a home playoff spot, keeping dedicated fans funneling into Highmark Stadium to keep all forms of enthusiasm alive.

After a fairly dominant win against a tough crew of Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card Round, Buffalo went on to host Kansas City in the Divisional Round, a rivalry that was felt within the bones of both teams, each fanbase and the NFL in general. But, as history tends to repeat itself, the same fate captured the Bills, who suffered a devastating 27-23 defeat within the bounds of their home stadium.

So, now what? Where does Buffalo look when it comes to reorganization, player development, team morale and hope for the future of the franchise? The Josh Allen Era slowly closes with each year, the dynamic Buffalo QB offering up tremendous amounts of athleticism that fails to be supported by his offensive line, receivers and running backs. Simultaneously, WR Stefon Diggs showcased a likelihood of departure with Buffalo, the Allen-Diggs route utilized less with each game. Bills fans, myself included, are concerned with the decreasing likelihood of Buffalo getting a ring knowing that peak years may or may not be years prior.

But, in reality, how will we ever know? The enthralling nature of the NFL is the fact that each Sunday, it’s anyone’s game. Regular season sleepers have ended up one game away from the Super Bowl. The juggernauts of weeks 1-10 have fumbled division titles amid late season pressure. Coaches continue to walk through a revolving door, making game strategy up for debate with each snap of the ball. Nothing is solidified, we will continue to tune into the anticipation of surprise and that’s what makes the sport beautiful.

And for those that want to part ways with the Bills Mafia fanbase after years of disappointment, that showcases your allegiance to Buffalo. For those that are here to stay, we will continue to support the fluctuations in performance, the dangerously cold and blustery weather and the rowdy tailgates for years to come. Any given Sunday, any given season and any given team can shock the world.

Will it be Buffalo? I have no credentials to predict that. Can Buffalo and its fans offer unending support and set the stage for a potential comeback? Certainly.