The stage is set for a Sunday night showdown between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins with major playoff implications on the line. The longtime AFC East rivals will battle it out in front of a national audience with the division title at stake.
Lead Up to High Stakes Matchup
The Bills entered the 2023 season as favorites to win the AFC East after falling just short in the division last year. Led by MVP candidate Josh Allen at quarterback, Buffalo has one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Dolphins were expected to take a step back after making the playoffs last season, especially with uncertainty around young quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s health.
However, both teams have exceeded expectations so far. The Bills’ well-rounded roster has them at 12-3 and on the verge of claiming their third straight playoff berth. Miami has been the surprise of the league under new head coach Mike McDaniel, using an innovative offense to post a 9-6 record. Entering week 18, the red-hot Dolphins have won 7 of their last 8 games.
With both teams experiencing great success in 2023, their pivotal regular season matchup will determine who takes the AFC East title. The Bills can clinch the division with a win, while Miami needs a victory to claim its first division championship since 2008. Adding to the drama is that the Dolphins stunned Buffalo 21-19 when the teams met in week 3, with Tua Tagovailoa throwing for over 300 yards in the upset.
The winner on Sunday night will earn a home playoff game and keep its hopes alive for the AFC’s top seed and coveted first-round bye. Meanwhile, the loser could miss the postseason entirely with a loss. So there are massive incentives for both hungry squads.
Game Preview and Matchups to Watch
In Buffalo, all eyes are on Josh Allen as he tries to add an AFC East title to his MVP-caliber year. Allen has thrown for 4,029 yards and 35 touchdowns against just 14 interceptions, while ranking 3rd among QBs in rushing. He pilots an offense that leads the NFL in scoring, averaging 28.5 points per game. Allen should have top receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis at his disposal even though both are nursing minor injuries from last week’s win over New England.
For Miami, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s health is critical after he exited last week’s loss with another concussion. But early signs point to Tua being good to go on Sunday night after fully participating in Dolphins’ practices. When healthy in 2023, Tagovailoa has enjoyed a Pro Bowl-level season. He has thrown for career highs with 3,548 yards and 25 TDs and has the NFL’s best passer rating at 105.5. Tagovailoa has developed electric chemistry with speedy receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
So the game will likely come down to which quarterback can make more winning plays under the bright lights. Josh Allen has proven he can handle high-pressure games in the past, leading the Bills to two playoff wins the last two seasons. But Tua Tagovailoa thrived in Miami’s statement win over Buffalo earlier this year. Whichever QB can mieux avoid turnovers could guide their squad to victory.
Another matchup to watch is in the trenches when Buffalo’s defensive front takes on Miami’s run game. The Bills boast a fierce pass rush led by linemen Von Miller and Greg Rousseau that racks up sacks in bunches. But the Dolphins excel on the ground thanks to running backs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. If Mostert and Wilson can break off chunks of yards to control the clock, it may limit the damage from Buffalo’s edge rushers. Miami surprisingly ran for over 200 yards in their week 3 win, so replicating that success will be crucial.
What’s at Stake
The winner of this Sunday night showdown will earn hosting rights for an AFC Wild Card game as either the #2 or #5 seed. The Bills can lock up the AFC East title and clinch the #2 seed with a victory. If the Dolphins prevail, they would secure their first division crown since 2008 but could end up as the 5th or 7th seed depending on other results.
Meanwhile, the loser of this game faces a real possibility of missing the playoffs entirely in the crowded AFC race. Both teams are currently in postseason position in spots #5-7. But there are scenarios where the Bills or Dolphins get jumped by New England or Pittsburgh for a Wild Card berth if they lose on Sunday coupled with other outcomes.
So while the winner punches their ticket to the 2023 playoffs, the losing side will be sweating out the final AFC games next week hoping their season doesn’t end before the Wild Card round. These high stakes raise the intensity for the national spotlight game with so much at stake.
Buffalo Eyeing First AFC East Crown Since 1995
The Bills enter week 18 eyeing their first AFC East division title in 28 years. Since last winning the division crown in 1995 behind Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, Buffalo has only finished first in the East twice (’98 and ’20). Clinicking the top spot with a win over Miami would be another milestone in the Bills’ resurgence into an AFC superpower under coach Sean McDermott and quarterback Josh Allen.
Claiming the division would also be sweet redemption for Buffalo after narrowly missing out last year. In 2022, the Bills and Dolphins both finished with 9-8 records, but Miami claimed the tiebreaker edge. Buffalo is determined to leave no doubt this time that they are beast of the AFC East.
Hoisting that long-awaited division title trophy come Sunday night would affirm the Bills as bonafide Super Bowl contenders this January.
Dolphins Gunning for First Playoff Berth Since 2016
On the flipside, the Dolphins are seeking their first postseason appearance since 2016 after experiencing a franchise resurgence of their own. Miami looked destined for a rebuilding year after making bold offseason moves like acquiring Tyreek Hill and hiring first-time head coach Mike McDaniel. But those calculated risks have paid immense dividends with the Dolphins far exceeding expectations under the offensive guru McDaniel.
Now Miami has a golden opportunity to punctuate their breakout season by dethroning Buffalo for the AFC East crown. The Fins would love nothing more than to celebrate a home playoff game in January, announced to the world on NBC’s Sunday Night Football stage.
While the Bills enter as slight favorites, underestimating this fighting Dolphins squad would be foolhardy. Miami is 7-1 in games that Tua Tagovailoa finishes healthy. His courageous return from yet another scare inspires the team to lay everything on the line for their respected leader in a game with massive stakes that will define the Dolphins’ season.
| Team | Record | Division Record | Conference Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 12-3 | 3-1 | 8-3 |
| Dolphins | 9-6 | 3-2 | 6-5 |
Game Prediction
This sets up as an absolute thriller between two of the AFC’s best teams playing at their peak down the stretch. The Bills may be more talented overall, but never count out the Dolphins’ dynamic offense and belief in resilient quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. In the end, Buffalo’s defense comes up with a key late stop of Miami’s rushing attack to seal a 31-27 victory. Josh Allen leads his Bills to the sweet taste of another AFC East championship while sending Miami home heartbroken but awaiting a probable Wild Card spot. This game will only stoke the flames for an even bigger matchup between the bitter rivals in the AFC playoffs. Buckle up Buffalo and Miami for a classic that comes down to the wire!
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
