Buffalo Payments quarterback Josh Allen, proper, and Stefon Diggs rejoice after a landing in the course of the first half of an NFL soccer sport towards the New York Jets in Orchard Park on Nov. 19. Nobody disputes Stefon Diggs’ standing because the Buffalo Payments’ final menace. And quarterback Josh Allen as soon as once more burdened Wednesday the significance of getting Diggs extra concerned. AP picture
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The one factor standing in the best way of a fourth straight AFC East title for the Buffalo Payments is a Miami Dolphins crew they’ve crushed 9 occasions of their final 10 conferences.
And the Payments will know earlier than Sunday night time’s kickoff in the event that they must beat the Dolphins simply to make the playoffs. If different video games do not go Buffalo’s method, the Payments might discover themselves in an uncommon state of affairs: Win out, and so they’re the No. 1 seed. 2 of the AFC; lose and miss the playoffs altogether.
Nothing has come straightforward for Buffalo this season.
The Dolphins took management of the division, posting a 6-Three file. The Payments fell to 5-5 on Nov. 13 with a late droop in a 24-22 loss at visiting Denver, and coach Sean McDermott fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey a day later. Josh Allen additionally had 12 interceptions and three fumbles via the primary 10 video games.
Main rusher Stefon Diggs’ manufacturing has dipped and main rusher Von Miller has had a down yr on the sector whereas additionally coping with home violence allegations.
Nevertheless, the Payments have received their final 4 video games — whereas treating each sport as a must-win.
“We sort of thought we had been within the playoffs,” Allen mentioned. “It was survival and development, win or go dwelling.”
There’s much more at stake this week than when the Payments beat Miami 48-20 in Week four behind 4 landing passes from Allen.
Though the Dolphins have secured a playoff spot, they’ve rather a lot to play for. Win and so they’re division champions and the No. 2 seed with the potential to play two and even three playoff video games at dwelling. Lose and so they drop to sixth and begin the playoffs on the street.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel believes his crew is totally totally different from the one which performed in Buffalo on Oct. 1.
“It felt like at that time within the season, perhaps the gamers had been operating the system that we’ve in each part,” McDaniel mentioned. “Now it seems like I personal the system and there is an unbelievable energy in that. After we’re at our greatest, that is what you see.”
The Dolphins are additionally conscious that the Payments have had their numbers in recent times. Miami has two wins towards Buffalo since McDermott took over in 2017.
Tua Tagovailoa has 5 landing passes, 5 interceptions and a 70.6 % completion fee in six video games towards Buffalo. Allen has 34 passing touchdowns, 5 dashing touchdowns and a 109.2 QB score in 12 begins towards Miami.
“I’ve performed nicely towards them up to now, however that does not imply I’ll play nicely towards them this week,” Allen mentioned, “except I put together nicely and work arduous in follow and get on the identical web page because the receivers. And the entrance 5 guys are doing their job and the receivers are catching the ball.”
GREAT TANDEM
Buffalo’s security tandem of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer is getting into its seventh and doubtlessly last season collectively. Hyde, 33, is within the last yr of his contract and continues to be bothered by a neck harm he suffered in 2022. Poyer, 32, has one yr left on his contract, which may very well be straightforward canceled by Banknote.
Buffalo signed the free brokers hours away in 2017, and so they’ve been round ever since.
“I really feel so indebted to those guys,” McDermott mentioned. “If I had identified they had been going to proceed to do what they’ve finished for these seven years, I hit the lottery somewhat bit proper there.”
FEEDING THE CHEETAH
The Payments had been very accustomed to extensive receiver Tyreek Hill earlier than he landed in Miami in 2022. Buffalo confronted Hill 5 occasions when he was with Kansas Metropolis, together with two playoff conferences — each received by the Chiefs.
“It is distinctive,” McDermott mentioned. “In my 20 years within the NFL, I have never seen anyone else like him by way of what he can do on the sector, what he was in a position to do that yr.”
Buffalo saved the “Cheetah” for essentially the most half. He has 31 catches for 284 yards and a TD in six common season video games. He was higher within the playoffs with 27 catches for 391 yards and a TD in three video games.
YOUR HEALTHY
Tagovailoa is on the verge of a private milestone. When Miami’s fourth-year quarterback begins Sunday’s sport, it would mark the primary time in his profession that he has began each common season sport. Accidents have brought about Tagovailoa to overlook no less than one sport each season because the Dolphins drafted him in 2020.
Tagovailoa missed 5 video games in 2023, together with one playoff sport, as a result of two identified concussions that led him to briefly contemplate retirement. He added weight within the offseason and commenced coaching in jiujitsu to raised shield himself on the sector. Tagovailoa had a sore shoulder after final week’s loss at Baltimore, however practiced totally this week.
“It is a blessing that I can play the entire season,” Tagovailoa mentioned. “I believe anyone would say the identical factor across the league that it is a blessing to get as wholesome as anyone could be proper now, till this week. So very blessed. Very fortunate. And I do not take that as a right.”