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Dolphins vs. Bills: Time, TV, how to watch, live stream, odds, expert picks, keys for Week 18 AFC East rematch

A year after going toe-to-toe in a playoff shootout, the Bills and Dolphins are set to rematch in a warmup for the 2023 NFL postseason. But that might be an understatement, because their upcoming Week 18 showdown has playoff implications for both sides, even though both teams have secured postseason berths. 

The Bills have won four straight, registering as one of the AFC’s top title contenders; a victory on Sunday night would given them the No. 2 seed (they’d face the Steelers in the wild-card round), while a loss would make them the No. 7 seed (and set up a rematch with the Dolphins). Miami, meanwhile, can also claim an AFC East title by avenging an October defeat to Josh Allen and Co., in which case they’d be the No. 2 seed and face Buffalo again. A Dolphins loss would make them the sixth seed, sending them to Kansas City next week.

No matter how you slice it, this prime-time affair will be must-see TV, shaping the entire AFC postseason picture.

What are the keys to the matchup? And how can you tune in? Here’s everything you need to know:

How to watch

Keys to the game

Who’s protecting Tua Tagovailoa? The Dolphins quarterback has stayed upright all year, but left late in Week 17 after hurting his throwing shoulder. While he’ll be back under center here, his offensive line remains in a collective state of pain. Four of Miami’s five starting blockers are battling some sort of injury, and the last time they went up against Buffalo, Tagovailoa was sacked four times and hit another five. The Bills get after the QB as well as anyone, with the third-most sacks in the NFL, and the numbers confirm that the Dolphins just aren’t the same offense when their front is battered.Will Stefon Diggs go off? Like A.J. Brown with the Eagles, Diggs has recently gone quiet with the media amid a cold stretch, but all the stars could be aligning for a breakout ahead of the postseason. Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard will be…


Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/dolphins-vs-bills-time-tv-how-to-watch-live-stream-odds-expert-picks-keys-for-week-18-afc-east-rematch/

Author : Cody Benjamin

Publish date : 2024-01-08 00:17:57

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