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As the regular season draws to a close, we’ll take a look each Friday at a game likely to affect the playoff race, along with the teams whose fortunes are rising and falling. And, so we don’t neglect the also-rans, we’ll see which teams are in the hunt for next year’s No 1 pick.
Game of the week
Buffalo Bills (10-6) v Miami Dolphins (11-5)
It all comes down to this. One last win secures the AFC East title and the No 2 seed in the AFC playoffs. Defeat for the Dolphins spells a disappointing slump to the sixth seed while the Bills could take a dramatic tumble into offseason oblivion. A similar fall to the sixth seed remains more likely but should the Bills lose, if Pittsburgh beat Baltimore (resting Lamar Jackson and a likely host of starters), Jacksonville topple Tennessee and Houston and Indianapolis do not play out a tie, then Buffalo wave goodbye entirely, a sequence of results that applies all-or-nothing stakes if it indeed does play out before this final regular season kick-off. But the Bills will be fearless either way after battling to decide their destiny with four straight wins in December. A pivotal twilight sprint from 6-6 that began with statement victories over playoff-bound Kansas City and Dallas. Another should feel within reach as the Bills take the field with a 48-20 thrashing over Miami already in their back pocket from Week 4. The Dolphins need to discover their Super Bowl credentials quickly by rebounding after last week’s subjugation at the feet of the Ravens.
What the Bills need to do to win: Head coach Sean McDermott said the Bills need Stefon Diggs “down the stretch” in a press conference on Wednesday. The comments coming after questions were raised over the wide receiver’s lack of production over the past four games. Diggs has fewer than 50 yards while playing 65% or fewer plays in each of them. It is tough to produce when you are not on the field so Buffalo might look to put a little…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-playoff-race-bills-dolphins-163326649.html
Author : The Guardian
Publish date : 2024-01-05 16:33:26
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