You remember where you were on January 2nd, 2023. Honestly, everyone does. It was supposed to be the game of the year—a Monday night heavyweight bout between Joe Burrow and Josh Allen. Instead, it became the night the sports world stopped spinning. When Damar Hamlin collapsed at Paycor Stadium, the score suddenly didn't matter. The stats didn't matter.
Football felt small.
But "Bengals vs Bills 2023" isn't just one night in January. It’s actually a trilogy of games that defined the AFC landscape, full of snow, heavy hits, and some of the highest-stakes drama we’ve seen in years. If you're looking at the 2023 calendar year, you’re looking at a story of a canceled game, a snowy playoff blowout, and a mid-season redemption.
The Night Everything Changed: January 2, 2023
It started with a routine tackle. Tee Higgins caught a pass, Damar Hamlin brought him down, and for a second, it looked like every other play. Then Hamlin stood up and fell straight back.
The silence that followed was deafening. You could see the terror on the players' faces. Josh Allen was staring into space; Joe Burrow was huddled with his teammates, looking completely lost. This wasn't a "tough it out" situation. This was life and death.
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The logistics of that night were a mess. The NFL initially tried to give the teams a five-minute warmup to resume play. It sounds crazy now, right? But Zac Taylor and Sean McDermott—the two coaches—basically said "no way." They met in a tunnel, talked to the league, and eventually walked their teams to the locker rooms.
The game was officially postponed, then later canceled entirely. It threw the AFC playoff seeding into a blender. Because the game was never finished, the NFL had to invent a neutral-site AFC Championship scenario that luckily never had to be used.
The Snow Game: AFC Divisional Round (January 22, 2023)
Just twenty days after the trauma in Cincinnati, these two teams met again. This time, the setting was Orchard Park. The stakes? A trip to the AFC Championship.
Everyone expected a dogfight. Buffalo was the favorite, playing at home in a literal snowstorm. But Cincinnati didn't care about the script. Joe Burrow came out and completed his first nine passes. He looked like he was playing in a dry dome while everyone else was sliding around on ice.
- Bengals 27, Bills 10.
- Joe Mixon ran for 105 yards, punishing a Bills defense that looked uncharacteristically soft.
- The Bengals outgained Buffalo 412 to 325.
- Ja'Marr Chase scored early, and the Bengals never looked back.
The most shocking part? How easy Cincinnati made it look. They dominated the line of scrimmage. Buffalo's offense, usually so explosive, looked frozen. Stefon Diggs was visibly frustrated on the sidelines, a moment that sparked months of "is he leaving?" rumors.
The Regular Season Rematch: November 5, 2023
Fast forward to the actual 2023-2024 season. By November, the narrative had shifted. The Bengals had started the season 1-3 because Burrow was hobbling around on a bad calf. The Bills were struggling with inconsistency.
When they met on Sunday Night Football, it felt like a crossroads for both franchises.
Burrow was finally healthy. He looked like the "Joe Brrr" of old, carving up the Bills for 348 yards and two touchdowns. The Bengals won 24-18, but it wasn't as close as the score suggested. Cincinnati’s defense, led by Lou Anarumo, forced two massive turnovers. They made Josh Allen look human.
The "Bengals vs Bills 2023" rivalry at this point was firmly in Cincinnati's favor. They had figured out the Buffalo puzzle. They used quick passes to neutralize the rush and dared Allen to be patient—which, as we know, isn't always his strong suit.
Why This Matchup Still Matters Today
People talk about the Chiefs and the Ravens, but Bengals vs. Bills is the "people’s rivalry." There’s a weird bond between these two cities. Ever since Andy Dalton helped the Bills break their playoff drought years ago, the fans have been "Bills-Bros" and "Bengals-Bros."
Even after the intensity of 2023, that respect stayed. When Hamlin returned to the field later that year, the Cincinnati crowd gave him a standing ovation. It’s one of the few rivalries in the NFL where the fans actually like each other, even if the games are brutal.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of fans think the Bills lost the playoff game because of the "emotional hangover" from the Hamlin incident. While that probably played a part, it ignores the X's and O's.
The Bengals' offensive line was decimated by injuries heading into that playoff game. They were playing three backups. Logically, Buffalo’s pass rush should have feasted. Instead, Zac Taylor called a masterpiece. He used quick-game concepts and heavy personnel to protect his line. Cincinnati didn't just win on "vibes"—they won on coaching.
Actionable Insights for the Future
If you're betting on or analyzing future matchups between these two, keep these three things in mind:
- The "Cloud" Defense: The Bengals have perfected a "bend but don't break" style against Josh Allen. They drop seven or eight into coverage and wait for him to get bored and throw into a window that isn't there.
- Home Field Advantage is Optional: Cincinnati has proven they can win in the loud, snowy environment of Highmark Stadium. Don't overvalue the "Bills Mafia" factor when these two specific teams meet.
- The Turnover Battle: In their last three meaningful meetings, the team that won the turnover margin won the game. It sounds like a cliché, but with two high-volume QBs, the first one to blink usually loses.
The 2023 saga of the Bengals and Bills was a roller coaster. From the horror of a player's heart stopping to the beauty of a snow-covered playoff masterpiece, it reminded us why we watch. It wasn't just about football; it was about the people playing it.
To stay ahead of the next chapter in this rivalry, track the defensive adjustments Cincinnati makes in the secondary, as their ability to disguise coverages has been the secret sauce in neutralizing Buffalo's deep threats.