ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The phrase “must-win” has been used with unusual frequency this season as it relates to the Bills.
But in this campaign of overall ineptitude in the American Football Conference, Buffalo, despite its pedestrian record, remains solidly alive in its bid to end a 17-year playoff drought.
Eight teams, including the Bills (7-6) are over .500 in the AFC and thus in the mix for a postseason bid … but so are two 6-7 squads, notably Miami, which visits New Era Field Sunday afternoon.
And that’s where the “must-win” comes in.
Oddsmakers call this game a toss-up — anywhere from a ‘pick’ to Buffalo by three — on merit.
The Dolphins are coming off their most impressive win of the season, a 27-20 decision over New England (10-3) on Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium, and have won two straight.
Buffalo is fresh from a 13-7 overtime decision against the Colts in a virtual blizzard on the Bills home field.
If Miami wins Sunday, both teams would be 7-7 but the Dolphins would actually pass Buffalo in the standings.
That means the Bills would have to go on the road and win at New England — good luck with that with the Patriots likely needing the game for playoff position — AND Miami, to reach 9-7, the presumptive record necessary to claim a wild-card spot.
Thus, Sunday becomes a swing game for Buffalo, which currently has a 25 percent chance of making the playoffs but could improve those odds to 40 percent by beating the Dolphins. However, a loss would drop the Bills chances into single digits.
That’s what’s at stake for coach Sean McDermott’s crew.
At least his quarterback question is resolved as Tyrod Taylor is sufficiently recovered from the knee injury he suffered in a home loss to the Patriots to reclaim the starting job. Third-string QB Joe Webb, who engineered the win over Indianapolis, is now the backup as Nathan Peterman, the rookie fifth-round draft choice from Pitt, remains in the concussion protocol after a hit against the Colts, and is out Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins have their own quarterback issues.
Starter Ryan Tannehill went on injured reserve in mid-August and the job fell to former Bronco and Bear, Jay Cutler, who retired after last season and had signed to be an analyst for Fox TV, until being enticed back into the NFL when Miami was in desperate need of a QB.
The 34-year-old has started 11 games, going 6-5, including wins over Denver and New England the past two weeks.
Of course, McDermott, in keeping with the coaching handbook which requires heaping praise on an opponent, painted Cutler as the second coming of Joe Montana.
“He’s one of the top quarterbacks around the league, I would say,” Buffalo’s first-year boss noted. “I don’t think much has changed over the years … strong arm, extremely versatile in what he can do moving with the ball in his hands in terms of his feet in the pocket. He has great vision for the field and pinpoint accuracy. He’s as good as (any quarterbacks) that are out there and you saw that Monday night.”
McDermott added, “I think he’s playing at a high level, much like their team. This is a team that was in the playoffs a year ago (and) they’ve been where we’re trying to go as an organization. (They’re) a good football team, a team that was 2-0 against this club last year.”
And Taylor was quick to second that assessment.
“They’re a very talented team … talented players across the board and it’s been like that for a while,” he said. “We look forward to this matchup. What they did Monday was definitely impressive holding the Patriots the way they did. Week in and week out, there should be no surprises in the league. Every team is capable, so we have to bring our A-game each Sunday.”
Buffalo running back LeSean McCoy, 39 rushing yards short of 10,000 in his 9-year NFL career, agreed.
“They looked good,” he said of the Patriots game. “You look at the names on the (defensive) roster, they’re a solid group. When they’re rolling, they’re rolling. (Tackle Ndamukong) Suh gets that thing going, you have (end Cameron) Wake. They’ve got a couple players, even in the back end, (safeties) Reshad (Jones) and (T.J.) McDonald. They’ve got some weapons on defense, they’re an aggressive group, and they’re athletic. A lot of talent.”
McCoy is fresh from a 32-carry, 156-yard performance in six inches of snow against Indianapolis and wouldn’t mind more of the same Sunday, though the forecast calls for above-freezing temperatures and no precipitation
“I guess I have the advantage,” he said of that sort inclement conditions. “Whatever the weather is, we need a win. We need to run the ball well. The games that (the Dolphins) have lost, the opposing team has ran the ball really well. That’s something that shows up. So we want to jump on them early … that way we have the advantage.”
Meanwhile, center Eric Wood is totally onboard with the “must-win” theme.
“We have to focus week-to-week,” the 9-year veteran said. “These games are obviously big. Late in the year, unless you’re sitting with a record like the Steelers (11-2), these games matter a whole lot. We don’t want to be rooting for other teams, we want to be worried about our games.”
To which safety Micah Hyde added, “We’re just trying to get hot at the right time. Every game from here on out is a playoff game. You have to play a game at a time; you can’t look forward to who’s after that. Just play it game-by-game, week-by-week.”
And it starts Sunday afternoon against the Dolphins.
