Who will the Bills play next? Buffalo's playoff schedule explained
After Sunday's 35-23 victory against the New England Patriots, the Buffalo Bills wrapped up their regular season with a record of 13-3, a division title and the No. 2 seed in the AFC for the NFL playoffs. Buffalo will host the Miami Dolphins, who clinched a playoff spot and No. 7 seed with a win vs. the Jets and a Patriots loss, thanks to a head-to-head tiebreaker over Pittsburgh, who also finished with a record of 9-8.
This first-round AFC playoffs matchup between the divisonal oppoents will be the third time these teams will have played against each other this NFL season, splitting the first two matchups with each respective team winning at home. Miami won 21-19 in week 3 and Buffalo won 32-29 in week 15.
Will Tua Tagovailoa play against Bills next week?
However, one thing the first two games had in common was Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa playing. Buffalo will not only have home-field advantage over Miami in this matchup, but they will have a far more superior and capable quarterback in Josh Allen if Tagovailoa does not clear the NFL's concussion protocols. The Dolphins started Kansas State rookie Skylar Thomson on Sunday with backup Teddy Bridgewater sitting with a finger injury. The offense failed to score a touchdown but did enough to secure a clutch win in what was essentially a playoff game for Miami.
If Tua can somehow find a way to get healthy before this playoff game, then we'll be looking at this matchup very differently. Sadly for Dolphins fans, the odds that happen seem less likely every day.
The Bills are one of the hottest teams in the NFL and are currently on a seven-game win streak. With Josh Allen healthy, this team always has a chance to beat their week's opponent. Allen has thrown for 4,029 yards and 32 touchdowns this season, and six of those touchdown passes came against this Miami Dolphins defense.
The obvious mismatch in this game is Buffalo's offense versus Miami's defense, who has given up 27 passing touchdowns this year, and if the Dolphins have to start either Bridgewater or Thompson at quarterback, this game could be over before the first half ends.