Josh Allen has made six straight playoff runs with the Buffalo Bills, but that elusive Super Bowl appearance keeps slipping away. Buffalo looked like a legitimate championship contender in 2024-25, yet once again found themselves watching Kansas City celebrate while they headed home early.
The Bills enter the 2025-26 season with their core intact, but the Stefon Diggs trade from last offseason left a clear need for an explosive playmaker who can step up when the lights shine brightest.
Can the Buffalo Bills Reunite With “Big Game Gabe”?
Buffalo completely reshaped their receiving room this offseason. The team added Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore to join Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Curtis Samuel. Rookie Kaden Prather and return specialist Laviska Shenault Jr. round out what’s become a surprisingly deep group.
While Palmer and Coleman are expected to handle starting duties and Shakir has locked down the slot, several roster spots remain wide open. Buffalo could use a proven big-play threat with postseason experience, and they might not need to look far to find one.
USA TODAY’s Nick Binkerhoff identified the Bills as a top landing spot for Gabe Davis, who spent his first four NFL seasons in Buffalo before joining the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024-25.
“Davis was one-and-done in Jacksonville, failing to take the next step following his departure from Buffalo,” Binkerhoff wrote.
“With just 20 catches, 239 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games, Davis is long way away from the four touchdown game in the 2022 playoffs. Perhaps that player is still in there and someone is bound to find out what the 26-year-old can do. He is a complementary piece at this point, but perhaps a change of scenery is what the doctor ordered.”
What Did Davis Accomplish During His Buffalo Years?
Davis put together solid numbers during his Buffalo tenure. Over four seasons with the Bills, he hauled in 163 receptions for 2,730 yards and 27 touchdowns across 64 games. His 16.7 yards per catch showed his ability to stretch the field as a complementary option in Buffalo’s offense.
FOUR STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A TOUCHDOWN FOR GABE DAVIS pic.twitter.com/n74yuaPY3S
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) October 8, 2023
Unfortunately, Davis couldn’t replicate that production in Jacksonville. The 6-foot-2 receiver managed just 10 games before a torn meniscus ended his season early. He finished with 20 catches for 239 yards and two touchdowns in what became a forgettable campaign.
Now 26 and reportedly healthy after his knee surgery, Davis represents exactly the type of low-risk, high-reward move that could pay dividends. His chemistry with Allen and track record in big moments make him an intriguing option as Buffalo searches for that missing piece.
Davis earned his “Big Game Gabe” nickname during the 2021 Divisional Round showdown with Kansas City. That playoff battle saw him catch eight passes for 201 yards and four touchdowns. The Bills lost in overtime, but Davis proved he could rise to the occasion when everything was on the line.
Allen’s Window Remains Open, But for How Much Longer?
Entering his eighth NFL season, Allen remains one of the league’s most gifted quarterbacks, but questions about how long his championship window will stay open are increasingly relevant. Despite leading Buffalo to six straight playoff appearances and consistently ranking among the league’s leaders in touchdowns and total offense, Allen has yet to break through to the Super Bowl.
Buffalo’s front office continues to build around him, with a retooled receiving corps and a defense that still features Pro Bowl-caliber talent. But as Allen turns 29 this offseason, the pressure to make that leap from contender to champion is mounting — especially after multiple playoff exits at the hands of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Bills also face tough financial decisions in the coming years. Allen’s cap hit jumps to over $47 million this season, and long-term extensions could be looming for key contributors like Greg Rousseau and Christian Benford. With teams like Cincinnati, Baltimore, and Houston on the rise in the AFC, the margin for error is razor-thin.
Allen is unquestionably the franchise’s foundation, but the Bills’ best chance to deliver a Lombardi Trophy to Western New York may be right now — before the window narrows and the AFC arms race intensifies even more.
