They may not be the hottest team in the AFC, but the Buffalo Bills may be the most feared as they head into Week 16 and a date with the Los Angeles Chargers this Saturday Night on Peacock.
Josh Allen and Co. are making a push to crash the AFC playoffs after winning their last two game convincingly, including a thrashing of the Cowboys on Sunday Night at Orchard Park. However, a miserable start to the season means their playoff fate is not entirely in their hands. In fact, they could win out and not make the playoffs at 11-6.
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The boys of Bet the EDGE took a deep dive into the Bills’ recent play and their postseason hopes on Tuesday’s episode.
Jay Croucher (@croucherJD) opened the conversation noting just how razor thin their margin for error is in these last three weeks of the regular season.
“For all the anointing of the Buffalo Bills as the best team in the AFC, which I think they may well be, I still only make them -140 to make the playoffs. Every game counts a ton.”
Croucher also points out that while the Bills are 13.5-point favorites against the Chargers and a “Stock Up!” team after their evisceration of the Cowboys in Week 15, the Bills are still going to be in “big, big trouble” if they lose to the Dolphins in Week 18.
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Jay and Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) agree that Buffalo’s improved defense has led to turning this season around.
“They got solid replacement-level play finally at the linebacker position. That has really helped elevate the unit as a whole,” said Dinsick. “The secondary, bringing in Rasul Douglas, was an absolute smash of a move and, actually, they have some depth there. The schedule is not kind to them in terms of opponents these last few weeks, but having a late bye certainly seems like it may have helped this team.”
Dinsick went on to note the recent dominance of James Cook in Buffalo’s offensive backfield also playing a factor in the team’s improved playoff hopes.
“Their most exceptional player on offense these last two weeks has been James Cook. I did not have that on my BINGO card certainly. Actually, he was one of the more impressive and outstanding players overall in the NFL this past weekend. Cook had a quarterback-type of impact on that game, which is rare for a running back,” said Dinsick. “Congratulations on finally getting James Cook going. A good offensive line. A healthy offensive line. A good running back. This time of year, if you’re pairing that with a competent defense, then you are a factor.”
Dinsick loves this Bills team, but recognizes it may be too little, too late.
“They don’t entirely control their own destiny because they could win out and be 11-6 and not have tiebreakers over some of the other 11-6 wildcard teams. That’s a problem,” he said. “It’s absolutely crazy, but it is [also] within the scope of possibility that the Bills win the AFC East. And it is within the scope of possibility that the Bills win out, lose the AFC East and are not in the playoffs. Absolutely wild!”
It makes Saturday Night’s game on Peacock a must watch especially if you are a Bills’ fan, a Chargers’ fan, or frankly, a fan of any team in contention for the playoffs in the AFC.
*odds courtesy of DraftKings
