Bills look to enhance playoff chances against the Cowboys
Count out the Bills as much as you'd like, wide receiver Stefon Diggs is defiant and confident in believing Buffalo is in an ideal spot to make a late-season playoff push.
“We battled a lot, been battle-tested. And it's a big thing being battled-tested,” Diggs said of a team that has spent much of the season lurching from one crisis to another — be it injuries, blown leads or coach Sean McDermott most recently having to publicly apologize for a clumsy remark he made four years ago in crediting the 9/11 hijackers for their communication skills.
Now it's a matter for the Bills (76) proving they're better than the team that has dropped five of eight and is left with little margin for error in opening a final four-week stretch by hosting the NFC Eastleading Dallas Cowboys (10-3) today.
“Is the record a reflection of our team? I don't think so. But it is the record,” Diggs said. “The only thing we can do is win the next game, win the next play.
“Because down this stretch, we get to see what we're made of. And as a true competitor, if you're a real competitor, that's what you want. And I like being an underdog more than anything.”
The Cowboys might be riding high following a 33-13 rout of Philadelphia to nudge ahead of their division rivals, and a win or a tie away from clinching a third consecutive playoff berth. The challenge for the Cowboys is carrying over the momentum they've generated in winning five straight while spending much of the past month at home, and taking their high-octane offensive show on the road.
“Outdoors, northern climate, all those things. I think this is what you need as part of that opportunity,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said. “If things go right, and we're able to get the momentum, grab those chunks of confidence that come with a good division win as we had (against the Eagles), this is an opportunity to go win and grow as a football team.”
The Cowboys have been superb at home, where they're 7-0 and outscored their opponents by a combined margin of 279-108. They're so-so, however, on the road in going 3-3 with a 142-125 edge in points.
“Right now it's not about home or away. These are all playoff-type games,” quarterback Dak Prescott said. “It's important for us to use this momentum and confidence that we gathered from the last month-and-a-half and make sure we take another step on the road.”
Fortunately for Dallas, the forecast today has temperatures in the 40s with chances of rain in the late afternoon, which led to the Cowboys practicing with wet balls Thursday.
The Bills are hoping their playoffs chances don't slip away entering a week in which they're 11th in the AFC standings, but one of six teams at 7-6. Buffalo maintains an outside shot of winning its fourth consecutive division title after the Bills defeated the Chiefs last weekend and Miami fell to 9-4 following a loss to Tennessee.
The Bills have already defeated the Dolphins once, and the teams close the season with a matchup in Miami.
First things first, McDermott said.
“That obviously helped a little bit,” McDermott said, referring to the Dolphins' loss. “Having said that, we're focused obviously on what's right in front of us with Dallas this week.”
The Desmond Ridder-Drake London connection is heating up for the Falcons (6-7). Add to that RB Bijan Robinson, who has 396 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns over the past four games. The Panthers have struggled at times against the run and Robinson's speed and quickness is of concern to Carolina. Atlanta can't look past the woeful Panthers (1-12) with first place in the NFC South very much in play.
Baker Mayfield's last-minute touchdown pass against Atlanta put the Buccaneers (6-7) on top of the weak NFC South. Now, they've got to find a way to win another road game against a team fighting for a wild-card spot. The Packers (6-7) are on a short week after they were on the wrong end of Tommy DeVito leading the Giants to a comeback win Monday night.
With Joe Flacco providing a steady hand at quarterback as well as the team's stingy defense, the Browns (8-5) have a chance to put some heat on the AFC North-leading Ravens. They can't afford a slip-up against the improved Bears (5-8). Justin Fields has led Chicago to consecutive wins. Fields has been showing progress as a passer after a slow start. He has a 104.5rating in his past six games while throwing for 1,284yards, 10touchdowns and two interceptions.
After a major collapse in the final minutes Monday night against Tennessee, the Dolphins (9-4) can't let up against another inferior opponent. Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa is the NFL's leading passer (3,697yards), but had one of his more pedestrian games of the season last week with 240 yards passing, and saw his streak of 21straight games with a passing touchdown also ended. Beleaguered QB Zach Wilson is coming off his best game for the Jets (5-8) and they still are clinging to slight playoff hopes.
Rookie QB DeVito has turned into a folk hero after leading the Giants (58) to three straight wins to put them one game behind a bunch of teams in the NFC wild-card race. DeVito, who has been an effective scrambler and the New Orleans' defense has struggled several times this season against mobile QBs. Derek Carr and the Saints (6-7) catch New York on a short week. RB Alvin Kamara leads New Orleans with six TDs (5 rushing, 1receiving) and needs just 34yards from scrimmage to hit 1,000 in each of the first seven seasons of his NFL career.
Fresh off an improbable comeback win in Miami on Monday night, Will Levis and the Titans (5-8) look to spoil Houston's playoff hopes. The Texans (7-6) have lost two of three and QB C.J. Stroud is in concussion protocol and out of the game, giving Tennessee the upper hand. With Stroud out, the Texans will look to Davis Mills or Case Keenum. Mills struggled as the starter for most of the last two seasons, going 5-22-1 in 28games, with 26starts for the Texans.
The 49ers (10-3) have taken over as the NFC's No. 1 seed, but can't afford to look ahead to a prime-time matchup against the Ravens on Christmas. San Francisco has been favored by at least 13points twice in the past four games and didn't cover the spread either time. The Cardinals (3-10) are 1-2-2against the spread as a double-digit underdog in the past 10 games.
The surprising Rams (6-7) have moved into the NFC wild-card race by winning three in a row before an overtime loss at Baltimore. QB Matthew Stafford has been on a roll over his past three games, throwing 10 touchdowns against one interception. Stafford should feast on a Commanders secondary that has allowed 30 touchdowns to six interceptions. The Commanders (4-9) have lost four in a row and coach Ron Rivera's seat is getting hotter.