Bills at Dolphins: Who will win in this AFC East matchup?
Everything is on the line in this AFC East matchup. Democrat and Chronicle’s Sal Maiorana explains how Buffalo is preparing for this game.
The Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins meet in a de facto AFC East division title game as the two teams play in the NFL regular-season finale on “Sunday Night Football.”
The fact that the Bills are even in this position is remarkable. The team looked like it was having its season spiraling into the wilderness after a stunning loss to the Denver Broncos on “Monday Night Football” dropped its record to 5-5 and well outside the AFC playoff picture. After that setback, the Bills made a switch at offensive coordinator and have won five of their last six games. They clinched a playoff berth earlier Sunday when the Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the Tennessee Titans, 28-20.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, are stumbling to the finish line. They’ve lost two of their last four and are coming off an especially painful drubbing against the Baltimore Ravens, a team Miami could face again in the playoffs. Adding injury to insult was the season-ending injury to standout edge rusher Bradley Chubb. Other key players are nursing injuries heading into Week 18’s pivotal game, including wide receivers Tyreek Hill (ankle) and Jaylen Waddle (ankle), running back Raheem Mostert (ankle) and cornerback Xavien Howard (foot). Howard, Mostert and Waddle are inactive for Sunday night’s game.
NFL PLAYOFF PICTURE: Where field stands during Week 18
USA TODAY Sports will bring you the latest updates, scores, highlights, wild plays, analysis and more throughout the Bills-Dolphins game. Follow along.
Start time: 8:20 pm ET
The Bills vs. Dolphins “SNF” matchup is set to kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday night. The game will be held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
NBC is the broadcast home of “Sunday Night Football.” Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will be on the call, with Melissa Stark providing updates from the sideline. The game will be streamed via Peacock and is also available to stream for free on Fubo.
The Bills are favorites to defeat the Dolphins, according to BetMGM NFL odds.
Spread: Bills (-3)Moneyline: Bills (-165); Dolphins (+150)Over/under: 50
USA TODAY Sports’ staff picks for this game:
Lorenzo Reyes: Dolphins 23, Bills 21 — Miami has lost 10 of its last 11 against the Bills. The Dolphins are super banged up. The Bills are surging with plenty of momentum. Why do I have a feeling that the Dolphins are due to buck the narrative that they’re incapable of beating good teams? Suddenly, the pressure is gone and no one is expecting them to win, at home, in the battle for the AFC East crown. I understand this pick may seem illogical, but if Miami plays loose — something it hasn’t done recently — and if the Bills continue to turn the ball over, the Dolphins could pull off the upset here.Tyler Dragon: Bills 26, Dolphins 24 — These two teams are going in opposite directions. The Bills have won four in a row and can steal the AFC East title from the Dolphins with a win. The Dolphins got beat up in a 56-19 loss in Baltimore. Miami is dealing with multiple injuries. The Bills need a win to ensure a playoff berth.Safid Deen: Bills 34, Dolphins 28 — Josh Allen has struggled a bit offensively in his last four games, but there’s something about the Miami Dolphins that turns him into Superman. Allen is 9-2 and accounted for 36 touchdowns in his career against Miami. With a shot at the AFC East and the No. 2 seed, Buffalo sends Miami on the road to begin the postseason amid an epic collapse.Victoria Hernandez: Dolphins 24, Bills 20 — The Dolphins have been inconsistent this season, but have had moments of greatness. Yes, they’re banged up, but the Bills have also been inconsistent. No better time to shine than when it matters most.Jordan Mendoza: Dolphins 34, Bills 31 — This is such a tough position for the Bills, as it could either be the No. 2 seed in the AFC or miss out on the playoffs altogether. With the stakes high, Josh Allen makes too many mistakes that Miami takes advantage of and wins the AFC East for the first time since 2008, while Buffalo can only hope results before the game work in its favor.
The Jaguars’ loss to the Titans clinched a playoff berth for the Bills, who still can win the AFC East division title with a win over the Dolphins on Sunday night. The Dolphins — once in the race for the AFC’s top playoff seed — now are playing for a home playoff game. — Nate Davids
The injury-riddled Dolphins will be without a number of key players in what is their most important game of the season. Running back Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle) and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle) will not play Sunday night. Neither will cornerback Xavien Howard (foot), who already had been ruled out prior to Sunday. Mostert and Waddle had been listed as questionable on the team’s most recent injury report.
Bills’ inactive players:
S Damar HamlinCB Kaiir ElamRB Latavius MurrayDE Kingsley JonathanOT Alec AndersonDT Linval Joseph
Dolphins’ inactive players:
QB Skylar Thompson (third QB)WR Jaylen WaddleCB Xavien HowardRB Raheem MostertCB Ethan BonnerOT Kion SmithTE Tyler Kroft
For the Bills, edge rusher Von Miller — who was a healthy scratch last week — is active for Sunday night’s game. — Jim Reineking
Highlighting Sunday Night Football odds, the Miami Dolphins are among the best bets for NFL Week 18 as home underdogs against the Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins are getting 3 points at home in a game that will decide the AFC East, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2023.
According to the top NFL betting apps, Bills quarterback Josh Allen (+3000) boasts some of the best NFL MVP betting odds in 2023. The Bills (+800) have some of the best Super Bowl betting odds.
Not interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered with Thursday Night Football odds, Monday Night Football odds and more.
If you’re new to sports betting, don’t worry. We have tips for beginners on how to place a bet online. And USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with these online sportsbooks and sports betting sites. — Richard Morin
Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts each entered Week 18 with 15 rushing touchdowns, tied for the most by a quarterback in a single season.
Hurts did not score a rushing touchdown in the Eagles’ 27-10 loss to the Giants, which means Allen can own the record for himself with a rushing score against the Dolphins. Allen enters Sunday night’s game having rushed for a touchdown in five consecutive games.
Allen ranks second all-time among quarterbacks with 53 rushing touchdowns, training Cam Newton’s 75 career rushing touchdowns. — Jim Reineking
It’s highly unlikely that Tyreek Hill will attain his stated offseason goal of reaching 2,000 receiving yards, but he could reach rarified air for wide receivers.
Hill entered Week 18 leading the NFL with a career-high 1,717 yards receiving, becoming the first player to record at least two 1,700-yard receiving seasons.
With 118 yards on Sunday night against the Bills, Hill can surpass Antonio Brown (1,834 yards in 2015) for the fifth-most receiving yards in a single season. With 83 yards, Hill will become the seventh player ever to reach 1,800 receiving yards in a season.
Players with the most receiving yards in a season in NFL history:
Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions (2012): 1,964 yardsCooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams (2021): 1,947 yardsJulio Jones, Atlanta Falcons (2015): 1,871 yardsJerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers (1995): 1,848 yardsAntonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers (2015): 1,834 yardsJustin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings (2022): 1,809 yardsIsaac Bruce, St. Louis Rams (1995): 1,781 yardsCharley Hennigan, Houston Oilers (1961): 1,746 yardsMichael Thomas, New Orleans Saints (2019): 1,725 yardsMarvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts (2002): 1,722 yardsTyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins (2023): 1,717 yardsTyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins (2022): 1,710 yards
Entering Week 18, Hill ranked second in the NFL with 12 touchdown receptions; teammate Raheem Mostert led all players with 18 rushing touchdowns. — Jim Reineking
No one is disputing Stefon Diggs’ status as the Buffalo’ Bills top playmaker. And quarterback Josh Allen once again insisted Wednesday it’s important to get Diggs more involved in the offense.But all the talk lauding the receiver’s ability doesn’t match the sudden drop in his production over the past six weeks.
So what gives? — Associated Press
The Dolphins had seven players and the Bills had two players selected for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games.
The Dolphins’ best player saw his home engulfed in flames four days before the biggest game of the season. Tyreek Hill had to leave Wednesday’s practice to see his South Florida home engulfed in flames. Hill’s family was safe, no injuries were reported and the fire was ruled “accidental.” — Safid Deen
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2024-01-08 00:56:15
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