Khalil Shakir Embraces the Process in Bills’ AFC East Push
Khalil Shakir has emerged as Josh Allen’s most reliable target, but the Bills receiver says success comes from staying focused on the process—not future weeks—as Buffalo prepares for a pivotal showdown with New England.
Bills receiver Khalil Shakir prepares for a key division matchup as he continues his breakout season. Courtesy of Buffalo Bills
Khalil Shakir doesn’t speak as someone whose breakout year overshadowed them. He appears to be a receiver who is leading his team in catches and yards, or one who has gained the trust of one of the league’s most explosive quarterbacks. He speaks like a player who comprehends the pace of an NFL season: lengthy, erratic, and rarely predictable.
Josh Allen‘s most reliable option through Week 15 has been Shakir, who has caught 57 receptions for 585 yards. The fourth-year wideout has been the constant source of inspiration for a Buffalo offense that has fluctuated, reinvented, and occasionally sputtered. Shakir insists that nothing can be seen through the lens of what has already happened, especially when there’s a lot at stake.
This week’s matchup between the 9–4 Bills and the 11–2 New England Patriots will shape the AFC East race. The Bills have suffered some setbacks, including an earlier home loss to this Patriots team, a confusing blowout defeat to the ailing Dolphins, and a mishap against the four-win Falcons. This season has taught them that there’s no way to take a stretch of games for granted.
Shakir views those ups and downs as reminders, not as a sign of trouble.
“If you could sit here and say you want to be undefeated in a season, that’s ideal,” he told RG. “Of course you want to win every single game. But the reality of being in the NFL is that any given team can win on any given Sunday.”
He’s not offering clichés; he’s explaining survival. Despite the league’s weekly momentum shifts and overnight reputation flips, Shakir believes discipline is more important than hype.
“When you start to think about weeks ahead, I think that’s when you get lost in the process,” he said. “You need to thrive and live in the process, in the preparation of everything throughout the week.”
Shakir believes that the Bills’ identity does not depend on the standings or the ESPN graphics flashing AFC playoff pictures. The small, deliberate steps: the practices, the film sessions, the adjustments, and the quiet, unseen hours that build confidence for Sunday are connected. At this moment, all those steps are pointing towards New England.
“We’re focused on the New England Patriots,” Shakir said. “We’re excited for the opportunity to go down there and do our best.”
His voice is not bravado, but it shouldn’t be. Shakir has already demonstrated that he is one of Buffalo’s most important players by following his own advice: keep his head down, take a long view, and trust the process, one week at a time.
[[Anthony L. McKnight II]] also known as Krispy was Born in Rochester, NY attending the “School Of The Arts” Class of 2009. He graduated with a Regents Arts diploma while studying Creative Writing and other arts. He recently became the founder of the Los Angeles Lakers Fan Club on Clubhouse. His club has hosted several celebrity interviews inside the fan club, from names such as Robert Horry, Gloria James, Mark Medina, Jovan Buha. His favorite hobby is spending a day out in nature, favorite sports basketball & football.
