Intrigue has built throughout the week around Sean McDermott’s plans regarding playing time for his Buffalo Bills in the season finale against the Miami Dolphins.
Apparently the plan is to play “many key guys,” including quarterback Josh Allen.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Saturday that the Bills “might rest a few but belief is many key guys will go — (Bills) can land 2 seed, w/ Josh Allen’s one last MVP stand,” Fowler tweeted.
READ MORE: Who will Bills play on Wild Card weekend? Every opponent scenario
The Bills can actually get the no. 2 seed in the AFC with either a win or a Pittsburgh Steelers loss. Mike Tomlin revealed this week that his plan is to rest most of his key players, including Ben Roethlisberger and T.J. Watt.
Allen’s right in the thick of the MVP race. He currently has the third-best odds (+1400) to win behind Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers (-650) and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes (+350). He can currently strengthen his case with a few more touchdowns added to his franchise record 43 this season. Allen is just 40 passing yards away from breaking Drew Bledsoe’s team single season passing record of 4,359 yards set back in 2002. Allen passed Jim Kelly’s record for passing touchdowns in a season last week and currently sits at 34 on the year.
Bills receiver Stefon Diggs has had a career season himself in his first go around in Buffalo. His 120 catches and 1,459 yards are both new franchise records, passing legendary Bills receiver Eric Moulds in the past few weeks.
If the Bills defeat the Dolphins on Sunday they’ll secure the first 6-0 sweep of the AFC East and just the third 13-win season in franchise history.
The Bills are set to face Dolphins rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for the first time this weekend after going against veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick back in Week 2. Fitzpatrick tested positive for Covid-19 this week and will miss the game.
Bills safety Micah Hyde said this week that he wants to play against the Dolphins.
“Honestly, it’s just nothing but competitive fire right now, for myself personally. I want to play,” Hyde said. “Whatever decisions obviously (that are made), I have no control over that. But I want to play and I want to go out there and compete. I feel like, it’s crazy that I’m saying this, it’s year eight (for me) and Week 17 and I still feel like I still have stuff to work on. I’m trying to go out there, compete and get better, and get some momentum rolling into the playoffs.”
READ MORE
Tyler Kroft tests positive for Covid, Bills call up 4 for game vs. Dolphins
Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins 2020: Preview, odds, predictions for Week 17
Can Bills stop Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins with backups? (5 things to watch)
