The Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins will face off in the de facto AFC East title game, with both teams facing off in the final NFL regular season game on “Sunday Night Football.”
The fact that the Bills are even in this position is remarkable. After a crushing loss to the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, dropping their record to 5-5 and falling well outside the AFC playoffs, the team appeared to be in for a rough season. After that setback, the Bills changed offensive coordinators and have won five of their last six games. The Jacksonville Jaguars clinched a playoff spot with a 28-20 loss to the Tennessee Titans early Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins are stumbling all the way to the goal line. They’ve lost two of their last four games and are coming off a particularly tough battle against the Baltimore Ravens, a team Miami could face again in the playoffs. Compounding injuries was a season-ending injury to standout edge rusher Bradley Chubb. Other key players in Week 18 include wide receivers Tyreek Hill (ankle) and Jaylen Waddle (ankle), running back Raheem Mostert (ankle), and cornerback Xavien Howard (foot). He is suffering from an injury for a big game. Howard, Mostert and Waddle will not play in Sunday night’s game.
NFL playoff photos: Week 18 field position
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What time is the Bills vs. Dolphins game?
- Starting time: 8:20pm ET
The Bills vs. Dolphins “SNF” matchup is scheduled to kick off Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. ET. The game will be held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
How can I watch Bills vs. Dolphins?
NBC is the broadcast home of “Sunday Night Football.” Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth will join the call, and Melissa Stark will provide an update from the sideline. The game will be streamed via Peacock, as well as available for free on Fubo.
Bills vs. Dolphins: Predictions, Picks, Odds
The Bills are the favorite to defeat the Dolphins, according to BetMGM’s NFL odds.
- Spread: Banknotes (-3)
- Moneyline: Bill (-165); Dolphin (+150)
- Top/Bottom: 50
The USA TODAY Sports staff picks for this game are:
- Lorenzo Reyes: Dolphins 23, Bills 21 —Miami has lost 10 of its last 11 games against the Bills. The Dolphins are very excited. The Bills are on a roll. Why do I feel like this is going to push back against the narrative that the Dolphins can’t beat good teams? Suddenly the pressure is off and no one expects them to win at home in the AFC East title race. . I understand this pick may seem illogical, but if Miami plays loose (which hasn’t been the case lately) and the Bills continue to turn the ball over , the Dolphins could pull off an upset here.
- Tyler Dragon: Bills 26, Dolphins 24 –These two teams are going in opposite directions. The Bills are on a four-game winning streak and could steal the AFC East title from the Dolphins if they win. The Dolphins lost 56-19 in Baltimore. Miami has been plagued by multiple injuries. The Bills need a win to make sure they make the playoffs.
- Safid Dean: Bills 34, Dolphins 28 — Josh Allen has struggled a bit offensively over the past four games, but the Miami Dolphins have something that turns him into Superman. Allen went 9-2 against Miami and scored 36 touchdowns in his career. Buffalo has advanced to the AFC East and earned the second seed, sending Miami to the postseason in the midst of a major collapse.
- Victoria Hernandez: Dolphins 24, Bills 20 — The Dolphins have been inconsistent this season, but they have had some great moments. Yes, they clash hard, but the Bills are also inconsistent. There is no time to shine like when it matters most.
- Jordan Mendoza: Dolphins 34, Bills 31 — This is a very tough position for the Bills and could result in them being either the No. 2 seed in the AFC or missing out on the playoffs altogether. With the stakes high, Josh Allen makes too many mistakes and Miami takes advantage to win the AFC East for the first time since 2008, while Buffalo can’t help but hope for results until the game goes in their favor. I can only do it.
The Jaguars’ loss to the Titans clinched a playoff berth for the Bills, but the Bills still have a chance to win the AFC East title with a win over the Dolphins on Sunday night. The Dolphins, once in contention for the top playoff seed in the AFC, are now playing a home playoff game. — Nate Daveys
Bills vs. Dolphins inactive players: Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert out
The Dolphins are riddled with injuries and will be without many key players in the most important game of the season. Running back Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle) and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle) will not play Sunday night. Neither will be starting cornerback Xavien Howard (foot), who was already ruled out before Sunday. Mostert and Waddle were listed as questionable on the team’s latest injury report.
Bills inactive players:
- S Damar Hamlin
- CB Kyle Elam
- RB Latavius Murray
- DE Kingsley Jonathan
- OT Alec Anderson
- DT Linval Joseph
Dolphins inactive players:
- QB Skylar Thompson (3rd QB)
- WR Jaylen Waddle
- CB Zavian Howard
- RB Raheem Mostert
- CB Ethan Bonner
- OT Keon Smith
- TE Tyler Craft
Bills edge rusher Von Miller, who was a healthy scratch last week, will be active in Sunday night’s game. — Jim Reineking
Bills vs. Dolphins odds
Highlighting Sunday Night Football odds, the Miami Dolphins are one of the best bets for NFL Week 18 as the underdogs, playing at home against the Buffalo Bills. According to BetMGM’s NFL odds, the Dolphins have three points at home in the game that will decide the AFC East championship. Want to bet? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promotions in 2023.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen (+3000) boasts the best betting odds for 2023 NFL MVP, according to the top NFL betting app. The Bills (+800) also have some of the best Super Bowl betting odds.
Interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads covers Thursday Night Football odds, Monday Night Football odds, and more.
If you’re new to sports betting, don’t worry. There are tips on how to bet online for beginners. USA TODAY readers can also claim exclusive promo and bonus codes at these online sportsbooks and sports betting sites. — Richard Morin
Josh Allen could set QB rushing TD record
Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts each entered Week 18 with 15 rushing touchdowns, tied for the most by a quarterback in a single season. .
Hurts did not score a rushing touchdown in the Eagles’ 27-10 loss to the Giants, but this means Allen will be able to score himself a rushing score against the Dolphins. Allen enters Sunday night’s game looking for his fifth straight game with a touchdown.
Allen ranks second all-time among quarterbacks with 53 rushing touchdowns, trailing Cam Newton with 75 career rushing touchdowns. — Jim Reineking
Tyreek Hill can reach receiving yardage milestone
It’s highly unlikely that Tyreek Hill will reach his offseason goal of 2,000 receiving yards, but it’s possible he could reach that rare feat for a wide receiver.
Hill entered Week 18 leading the NFL with 1,717 yards receiving, a career-high, and became the first player to record 1,700 yards receiving in at least two seasons.
Hill’s 118 yards against the Bills on Sunday night could make him the fifth-most receiving yards in a season, passing Antonio Brown (1,834 in 2015). With 83 yards, Hill becomes the seventh player in history to reach 1,800 receiving yards in a season.
Players with the most receiving yards in a season in NFL history:
- Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions (2012): 1,964 yards
- Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams (2021): 1,947 yards
- Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons (2015): 1,871 yards
- Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers (1995): 1,848 yards
- Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers (2015): 1,834 yards
- Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings (2022): 1,809 yards
- Isaac Bruce, St. Louis Rams (1995): 1,781 yards
- Charlie Hennigan, Houston Oilers (1961): 1,746 yards
- Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints (2019): 1,725 yards
- Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts (2002): 1,722 yards
- Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins (2023): 1,717 yards
- Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins (2022): 1,710 yards
Entering Week 18, Hill ranked second in the NFL with 12 touchdown receptions. His teammate Raheem Mostert led all players with 18 rushing touchdowns. — Jim Reineking
No one disputes Stefon Diggs’ status as the Buffalo Bills’ top playmaker. And while quarterback Josh Allen reiterated Wednesday the importance of getting Diggs more involved in the offense, the talk of praise for the receiver’s ability coincides with a sudden decline in his productivity over the past six weeks. do not.
So what does that give? — Associated Press
The Dolphins have seven players selected to the 2024 Pro Bowl game and the Bills have two players selected for the 2024 Pro Bowl game.
The Dolphins’ best player saw his home engulfed in flames four days before the biggest game of the season. Tyreek Hill had to leave practice Wednesday to watch his home in South Florida go up in flames. Hill’s family was safe, no injuries were reported, and the fire was ruled “accidental.” — Safid Deen
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