The Buffalo Payments wish to shut out Highmark Stadium in type and doubtlessly enhance their playoff seeding Sunday after they end out the common season in opposition to the New York Jets.
The Payments (11-5) have the identical report as two different present AFC wild card groups — the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Chargers — and at the moment occupy the No. 7 seed within the playoffs. Whether or not they’ll look to enhance upon that seeding or relaxation a few of their key gamers stays TBD.
“We wish to win the sport,” Payments coach Sean McDermott mentioned Monday. “That is primary.”
Nevertheless, a number of gamers are nursing accidents — together with quarterback Josh Allen who’s coping with foot soreness — and it is unclear who will play and if they’ll deal with their regular workload.
“We talked slightly bit [Sunday] evening,” McDermott mentioned. “Have not had lots of time simply to isolate these conditions, Josh Allen included.”
The Payments may climb as excessive because the No. 5 seed with a win and a few assist from elsewhere, doubtlessly losses by the Chargers, Texans and/or Jacksonville Jaguars. Listed below are all the seeding eventualities.
Again to the stadium farewell, if the Payments find yourself because the No. 7 seed it could assure that Sunday’s finale could be the final Payments recreation performed in Highmark Stadium, the place the crew has performed since 1973. Buffalo will play in a brand new stadium throughout the road beginning subsequent season. Earlier than that, although, they’ve some enterprise to maintain, not simply Sunday however into the postseason.
The place to look at Payments vs. Jets dwell
- Date: Sunday, Jan. 4 | Time: 4:25 p.m. ET
- Location: Highmark Stadium — Orchard Park, New York
- TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+
- Comply with: CBS Sports activities App
- Odds: Payments -7, O/U 38.5 (through DraftKings)
Payments vs. Jets: Must know
- Who may see their regular workload decreased for Buffalo? If the Payments wish to concentrate on well being reasonably than seeding, Allen could be the prime candidate to see a lightweight workday — if he performs in any respect. Allen has handled proper foot soreness that restricted him in follow final week. For what it is value, final season Allen appeared briefly in Week 18 in order that he may say he performed in each recreation. Maybe that will likely be in retailer once more. James Prepare dinner, Joey Bosa, Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox and different gamers may get some further break day earlier than the postseason begins.
- Jets looking draft choose. It has been a troublesome debut season for coach Aaron Glenn. The Jets are on their third quarterback — undrafted rookie Brady Prepare dinner — and are 3-13. They’ve misplaced every of their final three video games by a minimum of 20 factors. However in addition they personal the No. 3 general choose within the upcoming NFL Draft in addition to the Colts‘ first-round choose — a variety that at the moment slots in at No. 18. Each picks may get even higher this week, too, if the Jets and the Colts lose once more.
- Payments hope run protection improves. No matter who performs and who does not, Buffalo want to see enhancements from its run protection. Solely the New York Giants are permitting extra yards per carry than the Payments (5.3), although Buffalo did a pleasant job final week, limiting the Philadelphia Eagles to only 82 yards on 26 carries (3.2 yards per try).
Payments vs. Jets choose, prediction
With out understanding precisely who’s going to play for the Payments, this might be a troublesome one to choose. But when McDermott says the Payments wish to win, then they need to win. Plus Buffalo will likely be carrying the purple helmets and the throwback unis of the early ’90s period squads that went to — however misplaced — 4 straight Tremendous Bowls. And you recognize that “Payments Mafia” does not wish to see that crew from the Meadowlands get the final win at Highmark. Apart from, the Jets have appeared fully lifeless, so even when it is Mitchell Trubisky main the way in which for the hosts, they’re value believing in. Choose: Payments -7, Over 38.5
