SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL WEEK 18: BUFFALO BILLS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS

BY ADAM GREENE

The most important game of the week is also our final game of the regular season as the Buffalo Bills take their talents to South Beach to face off against the Miami Dolphins for all the AFC East marbles.

The winner of this game is the AFC East champion and will be no worse than the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs, which means most likely a date with the Houston Texans or Indianapolis Colts. If the Dolphins win, there’s a chance they could see the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Bills would be completely eliminated from playoff contention.

This rivalry goes back to 1966 when the Dolphins first joined the old AFL as an expansion team. This will be the 121^st all time meeting between the franchises with Miami holding a 62-57-1 lead in the series. Buffalo has won the last three and 18 of the last 24 going all the way back to 2012. The Bills took the dub the last time they squared off, 48-20 on Oct. 1. Josh Allen was 21 of 25 passing for 320 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in the win. He rushed four times for 17 yards and a score. James Cook had 12 carries for 29 yards and a TD. Stefon Diggs caught six passes for 120 yards and three touchdowns. Gabriel Davis had three receptions for 61 yards and a TD.

In the loss, Tua Tagovailoa was 25 of 35 passing for 282 yards, one touchdown and a pick. De’Von Achane rushed eight times for 101 yards and two scores. Braxton Berrios caught six passes for 43 yards and a TD.

BUFFALO BILLS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (+3, O/U: 49)

Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.

Broadcast: NBC

Kickoff: Jan. 7, 8:20 p.m.

BUFFALO BILLS (10-6)

Since firing offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and replacing him with Joe Brady, Buffalo is 5-1 and has won four straight including massive victories over the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys. Last week they held on for a 27-21 win over the New England Patriots. Josh Allen was 15 of 30 passing for 169 yards, no touchdowns and a pick in the win. He rushed 11 times for 44 yards, two TDs and was sacked once. James Cook had 16 carries for 48 yards. Dalton Kincaid caught four passes for 87 yards. The defense held New England to 103 yards on the ground, picked Bailey Zappe off three times and sacked him thrice. Yes. Thrice.

MIAMI DOLPHINS (10-6)

The Dolphins were on the wrong end of a humiliating blowout this time, falling 56-19 to the Baltimore Ravens. Tua Tagovailoa was 22 of 38 passing for 237 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss. He was sacked three times. De’Von Achane had 14 carries for 107 yards. He added four receptions for 30 yards and a score. Tyreek Hill caught six passes for 76 yards. The defense sacked Lamar Jackson once, but surrendered five touchdown passes, two rushing TDs and a perfect 158.3 passer rating.

THE PICK

With their asses still sore from the spanking the Ravens delivered a week ago, Miami should come out hot, but I like Buffalo in a do or die situation here. Plus, the playoffs will just be better with the Bills in it. Bills 27, Dolphins 23

Last week

Straight up: 13-3

Against the spread: 10-6

Season

Straight up: 137-77

Against the spread: 120-94

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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