Sean McDermott praised the Bills for showcasing their physicality in the blowout win over the Steelers on Sunday afternoon.
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott delivered a defiant message after his team overwhelmed the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
Entering Week 13 with a 7–4 record, the Bills had lost some momentum after dropping two of their last three games, falling to the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans while defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They needed an emphatic win to reaffirm their status as a playoff contender, and the matchup against Pittsburgh provided that opportunity. Buffalo delivered on both sides of the ball, securing a dominant victory.
Speaking with reporters after the game, McDermott emphasized the core mindset he wanted his team to impose throughout the contest.
“We’re not going to be out-physicalled,” McDermott said.
“We’re not going to be out-physicalled.”
-Sean McDermott#BillsMafia @BuffaloPlus pic.twitter.com/XEQSc91obp — Dan Fetes (@danfetes) December 1, 2025
Buffalo showcased that mentality in a 26–7 win. The Bills started slowly, trailing 7–3 at halftime, but erupted in the second half with 23 unanswered points while shutting down the Steelers’ offense.
Josh Allen didn’t replicate the explosive performance he had against Tampa Bay, but he remained effective. He completed 15 of 23 passes for 123 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while adding eight carries for 38 yards and another touchdown on the ground.
James Cook powered the offense all game long, rushing 32 times for 144 yards and adding three receptions for 33 yards. Dawson Knox and Ty Johnson combined for six catches and 61 yards, while Keon Coleman recorded two receptions for nine yards and a touchdown.
With the win, Buffalo improved to 8–4 on the season, holding second place in the AFC East behind the New England Patriots and ahead of the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets. In the AFC playoff race, they sit in seventh place, above the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers and just behind the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers.
The Bills now look ahead to their next matchup, hosting the Cincinnati Bengals on December 7 at 1 p.m. ET.
