For starters, the New England Patriots (9-3, 1-2 AFC East) righted their ship with a victory over Minnesota last week and will look to bury their rivals from South Beach as the Miami Dolphins (8-4, 0-4) are staring the end of their season in the face.
"We know this is it for us," Minkah Fitzpatrick said. "If we want to continue our team's consecutive playoff streak, the playoffs start Sunday. It's win or be done for us."
Much-maligned QB and MVP candidate Dak Prescott opened up about the importance of Sunday's game for his team.
"I hear the chatter that some people believe we are not ready for prime time," Prescott said. "MVP, personal awards and things like that are meaningless. I believe in this locker room. We have a chance to separate ourselves from the field on Sunday and we aim to do just that."
Prescott will need to show that he can handle defensive pressure, which has caused him fits in his earlier AFC East games this season. The Dolphins are the NFL's top team as sacking the quarterback with 50 on the season.
"We gotta be up in his face," Shaq Thompson said. "We want to make him (Dak) beat us."
Up in Buffalo, two teams who are clearly the top two teams in the NFL will wage war in an effort to secure the AFC's #1 seed and a clear path to the Super Bowl as the New York Jets (11-1, 4-0) take on the Buffalo Bills (10-2, 2-1).
Joey Bosa leads the NFL's #1 defense - A defense that may very well be remembered as the NFL's #1 defense of all time.
"All time means nothing if you can't win the whole thing," Bosa said. "We'll let history write our story after we do our job the rest of the way."
Buffalo also boasts a defense with all time potential, but have been overshadowed simply by playing in the same division as the much-heralded Jets defenders.
"You saw it last time we were at their house," Jamal Adams said. "Who was the better D that night? I can answer that for you. We got #12 back too. Just watch Sunday."
With the return of Rodgers, Buffalo has every right to be confident heading into a home matchup. Rodgers will look to mitigate the loss of All Pro Todd Gurley who looks to be out until the playoffs.
"Huge loss losing a guy like Todd," Rodgers said. "This is a playoff game for sure. The Jets are a strong team."
The curious case of Ryan Tannehill will play out on a main stage as the former Dolphin will look to continue his strong play in a hostile environment.
"I'm just trying to keep us rolling," Tannehill said. "This is Lamar's team. I need to keep it going until he can get back out there."
