New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins
The Patriots fell flat in their effort to keep their playoff dreams alive against the New York Jets last week. Now, facing a team from Miami which has won their past four meetings (including last year's AFC Championship Game) against New England, Bill Belichick and company are all but playing for pride when they face last year's Super Bowl Champions.
"You get up for any game in the NFL," Belichick said. "We haven't done well versus Miami lately."
Last week in Buffalo, Miami proved they still have championship aspirations as they took care of the Bills late.
They will need to avoid a letdown when they take on a wounded Tom Brady in South Beach.
"We all know what is at stake," Bobby Wagner said. "We are fortunate to play New England this week. They are champions and you can never overlook this squad."
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Adam Gase to let his team "RUN Miami." As the team threw only four (yes four!) passes last week in their win against the Bills, the unconventional coach is fine playing Georgia Tech football in the NFL.
"Stats and trends are for fantasy football players," Gase said. "Don't draft Jacoby Brissett if you want to win $50 from your buddies in a fantasy league. But we'll take him to help us make checks at the line and to hit a deep shot with the game on the line."
PREDICTION: Dolphins win 33-31
Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets
Each time staffers at 3GML's main studios discuss the upcoming Bills/Jets tilt, memories come up of the classic 2007 game between the then-undefeated New England Patriots and the Wild Card playoff-bound New York Giants.
Although the Giants ended up losing that game 38-35 (keeping the Patriots undefeated regular season alive), the tough loss propelled the Giants towards a Super Bowl title run (ending with their victory over the 18-0 Patriots).
Although the stakes are different and playoff positions are not fully finalized, this feels like a game that may be replayed in January regardless to the outcome Saturday.
If the Bills win, they most likely lock up the AFC's #1 seed and could see the hot Jets (if they win tie-breakers) in the Divisional Round.
If the Jets win, Buffalo may end up as the #5 seed which would set up a potentially epic rematch between the Jets and Bills in the AFC Championship Game.
Now the Dolphins, Chiefs, Bengals, and Texans may have a lot to say about all of this, but we can all dream right?
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: A classic to unfold. The AFC East has given us the NFL's best games and storylines all year. The earlier matchup between these two gave us a 19-point comeback after a miraculous 4th-and-19 prayer. Last week the Bills were edged out by the Miami Dolphins in a back and forth affair after the Jets, just a week earlier, out-slugged the same Miami squad in a compelling street fight.
PREDICTION: Bills win 38-35 (same as NE/NYG in 2007)