The Buffalo Bills are currently one of the top teams in the NFL with a record of 9-2. They are first in the AFC East and are the second seed in the conference. Because of this, Buffalo has an opportunity to clinch their playoff berth this week if multiple elements break their way. It would make them one of the first teams to have their playoff spot secured and is a testament to how strong the team has been this season. For the Bills to clinch the AFC East this week, they need to win against the San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins to lose to the Green Bay Packers.
How the Buffalo Bills can Clinch
The Buffalo Bills already have nine wins this season, while the Miami Dolphins hold a record of 5-6. So, a Bills win over the 49ers this week would put them at 10-2. This means that if they lost every other game this season, they would finish at 10-7. Meanwhile, if the Dolphins lose on Thanksgiving to the Packers, they will be 5-7. So, if the Dolphins lose to Green Bay and win the rest of their games, they would also be 10-7. But because Buffalo holds the tiebreaker over Miami, they would still win the AFC East.
If this scenario were to play out, it would make the Buffalo Bills the first team in the NFL to clinch their division title. Other teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions can technically clinch playoff berths this week if the right pieces fall into place, but they would only be able to clinch wild card spots. The Chiefs can secure their spot with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Black Friday and a Dolphins loss or a Denver Broncos loss. The Lions can also clinch but would need many more things to break their way since the NFC is a much deeper conference.
Breaking Down the Games
For the Buffalo Bills to have any shot at winning the AFC East, they need to beat the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers are a team that has dealt with significant turmoil this season with bad injury luck and a Super Bowl hangover. But, despite their underwhelming season, the 49ers are still capable of beating anyone at full strength. It is not a matchup that Buffalo should take lightly in prime time on Sunday night. The Niners at 5-6 are playing for their playoff lives while the Bills are looking to wrap up their division early.
The other side of the coin is the Thanksgiving night game between the Green Bay Packers and Miami Dolphins. It is expected to be one of the more competitive games on the holiday slate, between two teams still vying for playoff contention. The Packers are 8-3 and still have a shot of winning their division while being comfortably in wild-card contention. For the Dolphins, they are 5-6 but have been heating up at the right time. With the return of Tua Tagovailoa, they are on a three-game win streak. Miami is outside the wild card, but can still win their way back in.
Both these games could go either way, but the Buffalo Bills need them both to go in their favor. With a win and a Miami Dolphins loss, they can claim the AFC East title and a playoff berth. If the Dolphins lose on Thanksgiving night, it means the upcoming game between the Bills and 49ers could have even more stakes. But Josh Allen and the Bills have never been a team to shy away from big games and moments. With an MVP-caliber season, Allen will look to punch the Buffalo Bills ticket this week.
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