Week 15 AFC East predictions: Bills establish themselves as a dangerous playoff threat
The Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots and New York Jets all earned upset wins in Week 14, while the Miami Dolphins lost in stunning fashion. With so much at stake for each team, here are predictions for the AFC East in Week 15.
Dallas Cowboys (10-3) at Buffalo Bills (7-6): Thanks in part to the most controversial correct call in NFL history, the Bills escaped Arrowhead Stadium with a momentous victory over the Chiefs to keep their playoff hopes alive. Still, with a 7-6 record, the Bills are on the outside looking in at the playoffs and have little room for error down the stretch. The competition won’t get any easier this week as they host the Cowboys, the NFL’s top-ranked scoring offense (32.4) and winners of their last five games.
In spite of some struggles against a formidable Chiefs defense, Buffalo has played much better since Joe Brady took over as OC. The Bills’ 28.7 points per game across that span pale in comparison to Dallas’ 39.7 scoring average. However, their 408.3 yards per contest in that time are nearly on par with the Cowboys’ average of 412, so this might not turn into the blowout Dak Prescott and Co. have grown accustomed to.
While both defenses rank in the top six in points allowed, the Bills could have the advantage if either Stefon Diggs or Gabe Davis break out of their slumps in the receiving corps. Dallas’ 286.3 passing yards allowed over the last three games are the fifth-most in the NFL.
The schedule is breaking Buffalo’s way at an ideal time, with its next two games scheduled against the Easton Stick-led Los Angeles Chargers and Bailey Zappe’s Patriots. While it’s a highly favorable scenario to stack a couple of late-season wins, the Bills know the opportunity won’t mean much if they fall short against the scorching Cowboys.
PREDICTION: Bills, 24-21
New York Jets (5-8) at Miami Dolphins (9-4): Although we saw the Dolphins humiliate the Jets in Week 12, both teams are entering Sunday’s action on entirely different wavelengths, suggesting we could see a more tightly contested second act. The Dolphins became the first team since 2016 to blow a 14-point lead with three minutes remaining in a game during their 28-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans on “Monday Night Football.”
Prior to the Titans pulling off the historic comeback, teams were on an 0-767 winless run when facing such circumstances.
The Jets, on the other hand, trounced the Houston Texans 30-6 last week in their most complete game of the season behind a career-best outing by QB Zach Wilson. The former No. 2 overall completed 75% of his passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors as a result.
