The NFL week 18 Sunday Night Football was crucial for both the Buffalo Bills and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bills have still kept their playoff hopes alive with a 10-6 record, but the Dolphins‘ match may make all the difference in the wild card. The Jaguars, on the other hand, are now guaranteed to be the postseason spectators with a 5-11 record.
But there was a major twist, which could have turned ugly for the Bills. Despite not making it to the playoffs, the Titans held multiple teams’ futures in their hands. They took on the Jaguars on Sunday night, but the victory over the Jags meant their season ended right there. Now with a playoff berth secured for either side, what’s to expect from the Bills-Dolphins game? Here’s what.
NFL 2023 playoff scenario for the Bills
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The Bills will be taking on the mighty Dolphins on Sunday. The Miamians are safe with their 11-5 record, and they enter the playoffs regardless of the outcome. It’s pretty much the same for the Bills. Except they have multiple scenarios to enter the playoffs, even after losing against the Dolphins.
It’s a must-watch game from all perspectives: Not only to find out who is heading where but also to witness two of the best defenses in the league go at each other. The fear of dropping out early is out of the question, so expect some unique strategies and experiments from either side: Something that can’t be seen in the regular or postseason between two contenders.
However, there was one scenario that could have blown out Josh Allen‘s 5th straight playoff hope. That was if the Bills lose on Sunday, as well as the Jaguars had won over the Titans. With that result, the Phins would be entering the postseason as the #2 seed, the Jaguars as the #4 seed, the Texans as the #6 seed, and the Steelers as the #7 seed. But the path is now cleared.
Titans take Jags out with them clearing the road for the Buffalo Bills
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A Trevor Lawrence magic didn’t happen as the Jaguars lost 20-28 to the Titans. And now the Bills can breathe a sigh of relief in two ways. Firstly, the playoff now gets secured for them. Secondly, they will be guaranteed to not face the defending champion, the #3 seed Chiefs being anywhere but at the #6. They can thank the Titans for taking the Jaguars out. Additionally, the Bills can now also clinch the AFC #2 spot with a win over the Dolphins, and being the AFC East winner.
But that still doesn’t clear all the problems. The biggest one lies at the end of the road: the Super Bowl. The Buffalo-based franchise is quite comfortably the side with the worst Super Bowl luck. They reached 4 straight Super Bowls between 1990 and 1993, creating an NFL record. And miraculously lost each of them to either of the NFC East sides.
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Even if Josh Allen and co make it to the ring range, a cloud of uncertainty will still loom over their sky. But are the courageous Bills prepared for that?
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