NFL playoff race: Bills’ season hangs in balance as in-form Cowboys visit
As the regular season draws to a close, we’ll take a look each Friday at a game likely to affect the playoff race, along with the teams whose fortunes are rising and falling. And, so we don’t neglect the also-rans, we’ll see which teams are in the hunt for next year’s No 1 pick.
Game of the week
Dallas Cowboys (10-3) v Buffalo Bills (7-6)
Story of the season: Following the thread of the Bills is a must at this stage of such a white-knuckle ride for both the franchise and the AFC as a whole. After surviving a battle with the Super Bowl champions to keep their season alive, they are 7-6 but need to keep stacking wins owing to their poor divisional record and the minor detail of half of the conference having an identical win-loss column. Victory has the potential to send the Bills from 11th to squeezing inside the postseason running at seventh place, so beating Kansas City was vital but so now is toppling the Cowboys. Dallas roll into Buffalo fresh off dominating the Philadelphia Eagles, a statement victory that puts them in pole position in the NFC East and keeps their pedal to the metal across from the 49ers in the race for the NFC’s top seed. Winning out remains their most likely and possibly only shot at taking the conference crown. The pressure is intense.
What the Bills need to do to win: Buffalo may be down but their impressive home form (5-2) still gives them the advantage. They need to feed off Bills Mafia and their unique fervor to continue their impressive run. The fever will be pitched at a colossal height as the team comes home after a month away from Highmark Stadium. The crowd can also help in pumping up receiver Stefon Diggs who is suffering a slump at the wrong time for his team. Diggs started strong with 100 yards or more in five of his first six games but in his past six has averaged less than six catches and 58 receiving yards a game. The lack of usage needs to be addressed by the coaching staff, give the crowd what they want: the Diggs comeback special.
