NFL: Bills looking to take the AFC East from the Miami Dolphins in week 18

After a tumultuous start to the season, the Buffalo Bills have clawed their way into striking distance of the playoffs. The Bills are 10-6 and will head to Miami for their final regular season game to play the Dolphins. The Dolphins have already secured their spot in the playoffs, but if they lose this game they will hand the AFC East crown to the Bills. This game might also give one of these teams a little momentum and confidence before the playoffs start as both are two of the better teams in the league.

Game details

The Buffalo Bills will play the Miami Dolphins on January 7 in Miami. This is the final week of the regular season, week 18. The Bills are the early betting favourites heading into the game on Bodog. They have -170 odds to win the game. The Miami Dolphins are the underdogs at the moment. They have +145 odds to move to 12-5.

The point spread betting market is a meager three points. The Bills are at -3, and the Dolphins are +3 on the spread. The over/under betting market is set to 49.5 points. These are two of the six highest scoring teams in the league. The Dolphins are currently the number one scoring team in the league with 30.1 points per game. The Bills are sixth with 26.9 ppg.

Week 18. It's time for the #NFLSeasonFinale. pic.twitter.com/KOV6OaZIKy

— NFL (@NFL) January 1, 2024

The Bills Have Almost Done It

The 10-6 Bills are red hot heading into week 18. Before their bye in week 13, the Bills were 3-5 over an eight week stretch. With losses to the Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals, and New England Patriots on their resume. All of those teams have been eliminated from playoff contention. The Bills have been perfect since then. They are 4-0 and have wins over the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, and Patriots. The Bills look like they are heading in the right direction with the playoffs around the corner. 

There are a few reasons to bet on the Bills in this game. The Bills are playing for their playoff lives and the AFC East division title, so this is as close to a playoff game for them as it gets. They also have a ton of momentum and are on a winning streak. And although they have had a tough season, this team has been one of the best in the league for the last couple of seasons. They have enough experience and talent on both sides of the ball to win a game with their season on the line.

Can the Miami Dolphins Bounce Back?

The Dolphins suffered their worst defeat of the season on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, a 56-19 defeat. Their second worst loss this season was to the Bills in week four. The Bills won that game 48-20. Whether or not this game is similar will probably depend on how much the Dolphins want this game. The Dolphins already have a spot in the playoffs, so they do not need to win this game. An injury to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa would be a crushing blow to their Super Bowl aspirations. The Dolphins might be willing to throw the towel in earlier than usual if this game does not go the way they want it to.

Bills vs. Dolphins. Game 272.

Winner clinches the 2 seed and the AFC East. 🍿 #NFLSeasonFinale pic.twitter.com/PXmQVuFNcF

— NFL (@NFL) January 1, 2024

On the other hand, the Dolphins do have a couple of things to play for in their final regular season game. They can win the AFC East and keep the number two seed in the AFC with a victory. If their 56-19 loss to the Ravens on Sunday is a preview of the Miami Dolphins that will show up in the playoffs, they are in trouble. A win against a decent team that is playing for their season could put the Dolphins in the right direction. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill will most likely not reach 2,000 yards, but a strong game from him could help him win the Offensive Player of the Year award.