Jenna’s Outlook Week 18: Bills (10-6) at Dolphins (11-5)

With their backs against the wall for the better part of seven weeks, the Buffalo Bills are now in a position to win the AFC East. Certainly we all knew the scenarios that had to take place in order for this to happen. You would’ve been hard pressed to find a great deal of confident Bills fans after the blunder against the Denver Broncos. Oh, how far we’ve come.

Buffalo is currently on a four game win streak coming out of their bye week. They now head to South Beach for a Sunday night clash with the Miami Dolphins and a chance to win their fourth-consecutive division title. Also, a victory would give them the second seed in the AFC. Alternatively, a loss could spell the end of their season, unless a couple other Week 18 games go their way. Let’s avoid that altogether. The fact that the Buffalo Bills are in a “win-and-in” situation should motivate them enough to get the job done.

Matchups to Watch

Stefon Diggs vs. Jalen Ramsey

It is always a treat to watch one team’s WR1 go up against another team’s CB1, but these two have a back and forth history. Stefon Diggs and Jalen Ramsey have faced each other three times — twice since Diggs arrived in Buffalo — and it has always been chippy. Most recently, Diggs got the better of Ramsey in the 2022 season opener. He beat the former Ram on a double move to score a 53-yard touchdown. QB Josh Allen went six of seven for 124 yards and two touchdown passes when targeting Ramsey, and posted a perfect passer rating against him that night.

It’s uncertain whether Ramsey will shadow Diggs on Sunday Night Football, even with CB Xavien Howard ruled out. The Bills may counter this move by having Diggs position himself all over the field. It will be interesting to see when they cross each other’s paths. As of late, Stefon Diggs has not been producing the hefty numbers that he accustomed to. It could be personnel-specific, a result of other players’ play execution, or he could simply be nicked up. Nevertheless, we will be eagerly watching.

Buffalo Bills Defense vs. Miami Dolphins Offense

There are other matchups that I could discuss. However, I am interested to see how Buffalo’s defense adjusts to some of Miami’s offensive injuries. As of now, both WR Jaylen Waddle and RB Raheem Mostert are questionable after two straight non-participations in practice and a final limited designation. They are both dealing with chronic lower body injuries which sidelined them the week before. However, it seems like they are trending in the right direction.

There lies an important decision for the Miami Dolphins. Does HC Mike McDaniel play them in order to secure the division, or rest them in preparation for the playoffs? They have already clinched a postseason spot. But I am sure that securing 1-2 potential home playoff games is very important to them. If one or both players are not available, it will be interesting to see how Buffalo defends Miami’s offense. WR Tyreek Hill will play, but is dealing with an ankle injury and was even publicly seen wearing a boot. It would be a mistake to treat him like he is no threat, though.

Prediction: Bills use their RBs in the passing game

There is something going on with Buffalo’s passing offense. Whether it’s on OC Joe Brady, the pass protection, the receivers, or Josh Allen simply missing throws or reads, there needs to be a solution. I believe the Bills should get the running backs involved in the passing game this week. James Cook has been underutilized in Buffalo’s passing game since Week 15. There must be a way to implement him into the game plan.

Meanwhile, strictly talking about the run game, I’d like to see the Buffalo Bills elevate Leonard Fournette. Latavius Murray has been extremely underwhelming in the latter half of the season and has dropped some crucial passes. Ty Johnson should get more opportunities too. Overall, the Bills need to make the running backs a priority in their game plan against Miami.

Conclusion

There is a lot on the line for both teams. A win by either team would mean at least two home games in the playoffs. However, the Miami Dolphins already secured a playoff berth, Buffalo hasn’t. A loss by the Bills could mean an early start to their off-season. I hope that doesn’t happen.

Depending on how this weekend goes, this could be the last Jenna’s Outlook article you’ll be reading for the 2023 season. So I would like to take a moment to thank you, the readers. I cannot begin to express how thankful I am for the people who have followed my pieces throughout the season. This was my first time writing sports articles for an extended period, so being welcomed the way I have been is a source of happiness for me! I hope that I’ll be able to continue writing these in the near future! Stay tuned for my piece on the rookies!

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