2016 Season - Week #14

Pittsburgh @ Buffalo

                                    1         2         3         4         FINAL

PITTSBURGH          3         0         0         7         10

BUFFALO                  0        10        0         7         17

BUFFALO – The Buffalo Bills (12-1) yet again proved they could win any type of game with their 17-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) in blizzard-like conditions. 
With the Steelers fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive, Ben Roethlisberger committed a pair of atrocious interceptions, one in the end zone on a well-timed jump by cornerback Damarious Randall, to lead his squad towards their second consecutive defeat.
"That's a great defense over there," Roethlisberger said. "They made plays and we did not."
Aaron Rodgers, no stranger to clutch-performances, orchestrated what may end up being the signature play of the 2016 season if his Bills are able to make a Super Bowl run.
Up 10-3, early in the 4th quarter, with Pittsburgh gaining momentum, Rodgers faced a 3rd-and-14 from his own 17-yard line.
With no receivers open and his pocket collapsing, Rodgers was set to collide head on with a hard-charging James Harrison which would have resulted in a sack deep in his own territory.
Rodgers instead pivoted with Houdini-like quickness, shoving aside Harrison, before unleashing a sure-to-be intercepted pass towards a well-covered Tyler Lockett 30-yards down the field near the sideline.
The ball made it through the smallest of available windows into Lockett's arms. 
Five plays later, Buffalo was back in the endzone, up 17-3, on their way to their 12th victory of the season.
"You guys (writers) keep talking about destiny and all that stuff," Rodgers said. "We'll just happy to have clinched a playoff berth."
Rodgers finished 22-27 with 242 passing yards and a TD.
In addition to Lockett's steady play, tight end Luke Willson contributed nine catches for 93 yards and a TD.
The Bills next host the Cleveland Browns. 

Arizona @ Miami

                                    1         2         3         4         FINAL

ARIZONA                  0         3         7         0         10

MIAMI                       0        14       10        0         24

MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins (12-1) clinched their second consecutive playoff berth with their 24-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals Sunday.
Rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett out-paced his counterpart from Arizona with a 13-14, 187 yard, two TD afternoon that yielded a perfect 158.3 passer rating.
"At the end of the day, we're all just trying to do our jobs and to do what it takes to get the win," Brissett said. "I've said it all year: This is a team that will rely on running the football first to support our amazing defense. Our ground game makes it possible for our passing game to take flight."
In a game that lacked drama, Miami's defense held Arizona to 42 yards rushing, giving opponents 35 combined rushing yards over the past two weeks (after last week's -7 yards allowed against the Rams). 
"We got a hungry team over here," Khalil Mack said. "The next three weeks will end up defining this regular season, but the real season starts in the playoffs."
Mack finished the day with seven tackles, four for loss, and 1.0 sacks. 
The Dolphins next face the New York Jets, in a game that has been flexed to Sunday Night due to the playoff implications. 

New York Jets @ San Francisco

                                    1         2         3         4         FINAL

NEW YORK              14        7        0         7         28

SAN FRANCISCO    7          7       0         10       24

SAN FRANCISCO – Don't tell the New York Jets (7-6) that any win in the NFL should be celebrated. After their 28-24 victory in northern California, you could hear a pin drop in the (victorious) visitor's locker room as the team processed their narrow victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
"Pitiful quarterback play again," Todd Bowles said. "I said it. I need these guys - whoever is under center, to value the ball; No reason this game should have been that close."
After falling quickly behind 7-0, the Jets seemed to take control with three straight scores, including a pick-six by rookie Jalen Ramsey.
But then the turnover bug bit New York in two critical moments allowing the undermanned San Francisco squad to hang around.
For a team fighting for their playoff lives who have now put themselves into a tie for the 6th and final playoff spot, this 4-point victory was not enough.
"We let too many get away early," David Johnson said. "This felt like one of those games. I'm glad we pulled it out, but it's got to stop man. Crazy that we let it get like this still after all we've been through."
Johnson finished with an eye-popping 166 yards rushing (with only 16 carries) and a score. 
The Jets ended with a second score on defense as cornerback Sean Smith also made a house call with a 68-yard INT returned for a score.
New York, now in a 4-way tie with Denver, New England, and Pittsburgh for the 6th and final playoff spot, will host the 12-1 Miami Dolphins Sunday Night on NBC. 
The Patriots will take on Denver earlier in the day; If New England were able to defeat the Broncos and the Jets the Dolphins, the Week 16 matchup between NE & NYJ would essentially be for the AFC's #6 seed.

Week #14 AFC East Preview

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Buffalo Bills
With their string of narrow, last second victories, the AFC's current #1 overall seed from Buffalo (11-1, 3-1 AFC East) play in what seems to be their first unofficial 'playoff game' of the 2016 season.
The Steelers (7-5) are in desperate need of a victory to remain in the AFC's Wild Card picture with the hard-charging New York Jets close behind. 
Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown, who are locker neighbors for the Steelers, in unison declared this game a "must win."
"It's win or be done now time for us," Roethlisberger said. "At this point, the road to the playoffs goes through Buffalo - our playoffs begin today."
With a winnable matchup against the hapless Browns next week before a pair of compelling games against the Dolphins and Jets, don't expect Rex Ryan's squad to overlook the importance of beating the Steelers.
"All season it's been a race for home field," Ryan said. "We are  not going to get this close and just give it away."
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: James Harrison has made it very clear that he expects the middle of the field to be a no-fly zone. Harrison has repeatedly offered to "punish" Buffalo's smallish receivers who have made a living in the intermediate passing game.
PREDICTION: Steelers win 29-24

Arizona Cardinals @ Miami Dolphins
Although the Cardinals have underperformed for the most part during their 2016 campaign, the talent-level is still there making Arizona a perfect team to spoil Miami's (11-1, 2-1 AFC East) dreams of carrying home-field advantage into the playoffs.
"You can't overlook anybody in this league," Earl Thomas said. "Especially a team with that many playmakers over there."
The Dolphins have continued to put forth impressive defensive efforts as the calendar has turned towards the winter months, but Jacoby Brissett and Chris Ivory have been taking longer to get going, making the once invincible-seeming team look very beatable.
"We need to keep grinding," Ivory said. "We still gotta commit to the run and set that physical tone early."
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The speed of the Arizona linebackers and defensive backs will cause all kinds of trouble for Miami's inside-out rushing attack. Ivory and Thomas Rawls have made a living pounding the ball inside before bouncing it to the edges; This won't be easy against Arizona. 
PREDICTION: Cardinals win 23-20

New York Jets @ San Francisco 49ers
If the New York Jets (6-6, 1-2 AFC East) controlled their own destiny in the AFC, it would be easy to label them as Super Bowl contenders at this point in the season.
The team is angry, hungry, and easily the youngest & most talented team in the NFL. 
It seems disrespectful to tell the Jets' faithful to 'wait until next year,' as this year's version seems poised to make a deep playoff push.
"It's all on us," Todd Bowles said. "We gave away too many early season games and now the future is not in our hands."
The San Francisco 49ers, favorites to earn a top-3 NFL Draft pick, look to be the unlucky team this week to face off against the buzzsaw that is the New York Jets. 
"We aren't going to just phone it in," Carlos Hyde said. "We will do our best to try to ruin their postseason dreams."
With Jimmy Garoppolo again set to start for the Jets, the team (behind their mammoth offensive line) should start quicker than the games started by the oft-benched Sam Bradford.
Bradford has had the propensity to turnover the ball early and often (typically for scores).
David Johnson, who is quietly becoming one of the NFL's top players, will be set for a big day in northern California. 
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Fifty to fall. It would surprise no one if the Jets get to 50 points against this San Francisco team.  
PREDICTION: Jets win 49-7

2016 Season - Week #13

Miami @ Baltimore

                                    1         2         3         4         FINAL

MIAMI                      0         14       7         0         21

BALTIMORE            7         0         0         7         14

BALTIMORE – On a dreary northeast day, the Miami Dolphins (11-1) kept the floundering Ravens at bay with a 21-14 victory.
In a game that provided much less drama than the 7-point differential may suggest, the Dolphins yielded only 188 yards, with a staggering negative seven on the ground.
"That was the game plan coming in," Bobby Wagner said. "We want to get people to throw the ball against us - the ground game won't come easy."
Wagner finished with another solid game picking up a pair of sacks to go along with his 10 tackles.
Offensively Miami was their typically efficient selves, for the most part, but allowed a pair of Justin Tucker field goal attempts to be blocked - keeping the Ravens in the game much longer than they should have.
"We'll keep working on it," Tucker said. "But that's obviously frustrating to us all, leaving points and field position out there."
League MVP candidate Chris Ivory posted 111 yards and two TDs on 19 carries.
Rookie Jacoby Brissett also finished 16-18 for 130 yards through the air.
The Dolphins will host the Arizona Cardinals Sunday in Miami.

Buffalo @ Oakland

                                    1         2         3         4         FINAL

BUFFALO                  7         3         3         0         13

OAKLAND                0         7         3         0         10

OAKLAND – The Buffalo Bills (11-1) squeaked by with their third consecutive 3-point victory over the Oakland Raiders 13-10 in northern California. 
The Buffalo ball control offense again focused on short crossing routes to the league's leading receiver Tyler Lockett.
Lockett finished with 15 catches for 133 yards receiving.
"My body can take it," Lockett said. "We all just want to do whatever it takes to get a win. Whether it's by three or thirty-three man, a win is a win."
The Kansas State product is on pace to challenge teammate Todd Gurley's 150 receptions in a season NFL record.
The Bills committed a pair of costly red zone turnovers that could have spelt disaster for their hopes of earning the AFC's #1 seed.
Late in the 3rd quarter, Aaron Rodgers telegraphed a pass that was picked off in the endzone (taking a sure three points off the board). 
On the next drive, with a 4th-and-Goal from the 6-inch line, Rex Ryan opted to go for the win, forsaking a field goal that would have put his team up by six with just minutes to go.
Fullback Jerome Felton fumbled away the ball reaching for the goalline.
The Raiders were able to move the ball to the 45-yard line of the Bills for a 62-yard Sebastian Janikowski field goal attempt that ended up sailing wide right.
"A win and then we move on," Rex Ryan said. "It wasn't pretty, but we gutted it out."
Buffalo continued to receive strong play by linebacker Jelani Jenkins and tackle Geno Atkins. 
The pair combined for two sacks and multiple quarterback pressures on a day that saw the defense give up only 176 total yards. 
The Bills will face yet another test as they head home to host the 7-5 Pittsburgh Steelers.

Indianapolis @ New York Jets

                                    1         2         3         4         FINAL

INDIANAPOLIS      7          7       0          10        24

NEW YORK              7          3       21        21       52

NEW YORK – After a dominant 2nd half surge which saw New York put up 42 points, the Jets dismantled Andrew Luck and the Colts 52-24.
If the 2016 New York Jets (6-6) find themselves as observers once the playoffs begin, they will have no one to blame outside of their locker room.
The team is ripe with talent and is currently playing some of the best football in the league.
But, with the team finally back to .500 and with only four games remaining, a team that should easily challenge for the AFC Championship this year, may have to sit and watch as six other AFC squads chase Super Bowl glory.
"That second half really showed what this team is capable of," Aaron Donald said. "Every week is the playoffs for us - We know we need some help."
Donald picked up a sack and a scoop-and-score touchdown during the team's flurry of scoring in the second half.
Rookie Jalen Ramsey also took an interception to the house early in the third quarter to start the rally.
"Man, this team is clicking," Ramsey said. "We just gotta keep the train rolling."
Quarterback Sam Bradford, who was given another chance to grab hold of the starting quarterback job, had an uninspiring first half performance including a pick-six that left his team down 14-10 at the half.
Once Jimmy Garoppolo went back under center, the team took flight in all three phases.
Garoppolo finished 8-13 for 175 yards and three touchdowns, connecting often with speedy rookie Tyreek Hill.
Dante Fowler Jr. and Hassan Ridgeway also picked up 1.5 sacks each.
The Jets next travel across country to face the San Francisco 49ers before their brutal 3-game final stretch against the 11-1 Dolphins, 7-5 Patriots, and the 11-1 Bills.

2016 Season - Week #12

New England @ New York Jets

                                    1         2         3         4         FINAL

NEW ENGLAND     0         7         7         14        28

NEW YORK              3         7         7        14         31

NEW YORK – What will be lost in New York's (5-6, 1-2 AFC East) 31-28 dramatic late victory over their hated rivals from New England (6-5, 1-3) will be the sheer dominance displayed by the Jets (save for three crushing turnovers).
The Jets out-gained the Patriots 438 to 220 while allowing only four rushing yards (after allowing under 100 yards for the game two weeks ago against against the Rams). 
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, for most of the game, looked to be the better passer completing 26-34 attempts for 251 yards compared to Tom Brady's 21-27, 243 yard line.
But, as has been the case all year for these cardiac Jets, the red zone and turnover woes almost doomed the squad again.
Garoppolo saw two of his passes returned for touchdowns as he foolishly held onto the ball too long as he was being pressured. 
The 3rd year man has yet to understand the importance of throwing the ball into the stands when the situation warrants it.
"I have to be better there," Garoppolo said. "There was no reason for this to have been a close game - our defense was lights out all night."
After stuffing Brady and company inside the five yard line, Bill Belichick dialed up a fake field goal run by back up quarterback and holder Brandon Doherty, who scampered into the end zone despite the best efforts of Shane Ray.
"Lowest moment of my short career," Ray said. "I slipped and now it looks like I got trucked by the holder man. Terrible."
Despite all of that, Joey Bosa, Myles Jack, and the rest of the dominant Jets defenders kept the team in it enough to allow for Garoppolo to drive his team in the waning moments for the eventual winning score. 
"Heart," David Johnson said. "This team has it. We have seen it all. You are going to have to bury us twice to end this season for us. We ain't going out like that."
New York will have another chance to extend their season against the Indianapolis Colts next week. 

Jacksonville @ Buffalo

                                    1         2         3         4         FINAL

JACKSONVILLE    3         0         0         14        17

BUFFALO                 7         0         3         10        20

BUFFALO – A torrential downpour over Ralph Wilson Stadium paved the way for one of the more compelling and heart-wrenching finishes of the 2016 NFL season as the Buffalo Bills (10-1) somehow finished off the Jacksonville Jaguars (6-5) 20-17.
Despite allowing only 160 yards to the Jacksonville offense over the course of the entire game, Aaron Rodgers' offensive unit sat deadlocked at 10-all on the Jaguars 6-yard line with 1:50 remaining. 
On 3rd-and-goal, with a field goal firmly within reach, Rodgers forced an ill-advised pass into the endzone which was picked off by Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith.
With nothing but green grass in front of him, Smith stormed down the field 106 yards for what seemed to be the game-winning pick six.
"In the moment, I felt like we were on top of the world," Smith said. "But 12 (Rodgers) over there is magical and you can never count him out."
Unfazed by his error, Rodgers methodically led his team down the field before finding Tyler Lockett in the corner of the endzone with only :19 remaining.
The typically cool Rodgers sprinted towards Lockett and tackled his favorite target in one of the more emotionally scenes of the '16 season.
As the teams prepared for overtime, with only seconds on the clock, Jacksonville's Blake Bortles started the Christmas season early for Bills fans by throwing an interception at mid-field with only :09 on the clock. 
Rodgers again found Lockett for a 12-yard gain to set up Dan Carpenter for his second 50-plus game-winning field goal attempt in as many weeks.
The kick was true.
"These games can only help us come playoff time," Rodgers said. "This team is starting to feel like one of those meant-to-be units."
Without the services of injured Todd Gurley, James White filled in admirably with 126 yards rushing and a score.
Lockett, closing in on Gurley's 150-catch record, had 13 catches on the day for 125 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The hot Bills next head to Oakland to face Derek Carr and the Raiders. 

San Francisco @ Miami

                                    1         2         3         4         FINAL

SAN FRANCISCO   0         14       0         0          14

MIAMI                      7         21      14        3          45

MIAMI – An outmanned San Francisco 49ers team fell big to the Miami Dolphins (10-1) 45-14 today in South Beach.
After an early second quarter fake field goal by the 49ers helped lead to a TD, tying the game at seven, the Miami Dolphins stepped on the gas offensively.
Rookie Jacoby Brissett saw the training wheels come (somewhat) off the team's playbook.
The NC State product finished 13-for-18 with 233 yards passing and one touchdown.
"Wasn't a great game by me," Brissett said. "But I'm happy they are trusting myself and our receivers more each week."
A red hot Chris Ivory continued his incredible season, which has seen him average a gaudy 7.8 yards per carry, with 167 yards and three touchdowns (while only carrying the ball 14 times).
"It's the o-line here, man," Ivory said. "I'll get all the pub since I'm the one with the ball, but just look at all those beasts blocking."
Head Coach Adam Gase made the decision to drop former safety Calvin Pryor permanently into the box in the 'Deone Buchanon' role while giving the starting Free Safety job to the steadily improving Byron Jones (with pro bowler Earl Thomas moving over to Strong Safety).
The changes did not yield great results, as the team finished with its lowest sack total for the season.
"We like the changes," Gase said. "This also gives us a chance to get Miles (Killebrew) in there as well. I think, in time, this gives us the best chance to be aggressive and faster as a unit."
For the game, the balanced Miami offense finished with 234 yards rushing and 233 yards through the air, for their most efficient offensive performance of the season.
The team also scored their sixth non-offensive touchdown of the season (leading the NFL) on a blocked punt while also finishing without a turnover; Their +17 turnover differential also leads the league.
The Dolphins will face a tougher task next week as they head to Baltimore to take on the Ravens. 

Week #12 AFC East Preview

New England Patriots @ New York Jets
The New York Jets (4-6, 0-2 AFC East) get back to action against their rivals from New England (6-4, 1-2) as they attempt to keep their fleeting playoff hopes alive.
In what could be a 2-game elimination series, the Jets and Patriots face off twice over the league's final 6-weeks. With Pittsburgh and Cincinnati both holding firm atop the AFC North, the AFC East's hopes for three playoff teams will require either New England or the Jets to sweep their games against each other while getting the help of a Bengals or Steelers collapse during the same timespan.
"We know the hopes are slim to none based on what you all are saying in the media," Todd Bowles said. "But we are all believers here in this locker room.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Bill Belichick to pull out all the stops. The Hall of Fame coach is in uncharted territory as his team is hoping for, at best, the AFC's 6th seed. Look for 4th down attempts, fake punts, and an aggressive approach in an effort to bury the Jets for the 2016 season. 
PREDICTION: Patriots win 23-20

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Buffalo Bills
For the first half of the season, it looked as if this matchup may have decided the AFC's #1 seed. But after dropping 3-straight after a 6-1 start, the Jaguars will look to keep their division title hopes alive against the 9-1 Buffalo Bills.
Aaron Rodgers cooly led his team from the brink of only their second loss of 2016 without his backfield mate Todd Gurley in a rough road showdown last week against the Bengals.
"We can't look too far ahead," Rodgers said. "There is a lot of football left to be played and we have earned nothing yet."
There are some scenarios that could allow for the Bills to clinch a playoff spot this week, the primary goal of Rex Ryan's squad before the season began.
But, with their place atop the NFL standings, the team is hoping this early clinch will be just the beginning.
"Our playoffs start now," Geno Atkins said. "We know how few chances you get for greatness in this league. This is our time to go get it."
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Home-Cooking. Warm weather teams are typically at a disadvantage when traveling to more frigid areas. The weather forecast looks foreboding, which could spell doom for the Jacksonville-based Jaguars. 
PREDICTION: Bills win 30-20

San Francisco 49ers @ Miami Dolphins
Despite their 9-1 record, the Miami Dolphins have been struggling of late. The untrained eye may miss it, but the heir of invincibility that once surrounded the reigning champions has vanished.
"We are 9-1, but honestly it feels as if we are 1-9 in the locker room," Chris Ivory said. "I can't explain it - and I'm not sure it's a good thing if we can't get our swagger back."
For the first half of the season the Miami defense was on a record-setting pace. They were sacking the quarterback, scoring on D, and dominating with fierce hits while causing multiple turnovers each game.
But the team has turned vanilla a bit of late and found themselves bending and breaking a bit more than they've been used to over the past 12 months.
"Look, we picked up four sacks and four takeaways last week," Adam Gase said. "But we did go through a rough patch before that. I like that our guys are upset - we have high expectations for ourselves."
Bobby Wagner, who has been playing at an All Pro level for the 'Fins, clarified the feeling inside the Miami locker room best.
"It will sound crazy and unattainable, but I want to be honest with you all," Wagner said. "We absolutely want to give up zero points and zero yards each week. We take every blade of grass on that field personally. We are insane like that."
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Call it a hunch, but look for the angry Dolphins to return this week against a cross-country trip-taking 49ers squad. 
PREDICTION: Dolphins win 27-3

2016 Season - Week #11

Buffalo @ Cincinnati

                                    1         2         3         4         OT       FINAL

BUFFALO                  0         9         6        10          3        28

CINCINNATI            7          7         0        11         0        25

CINCINNATI – The Buffalo Bills (9-1) played in another 'Game of the Year' candidate as they narrowly escaped with a 28-25 overtime victory over the AFC North leading Cincinnati Bengals.
A 13-yard completion to Tyler Lockett with :04 seconds remaining in regulation put Dan Carpenter in range for the kick that put the game into OT as a stunned 'Jungle' crowd sat stunned that their team's own furious late rally didn't hold up.
"A great feeling," Carpenter said. "A great team win for us all."
Gamblin' Rex Ryan dialed up another late miracle call with his team facing a 4th-and-5 from his own 37-yard line. 
Aaron Rodgers, after seeing both of his short options well-covered, heaved a bomb to, who else, a streaking Amari Cooper who hauled in the 48-yard reception against Adam Jones to put his team in place to score the go-ahead touchdown in the wacky 4th quarter.
"I like that coach (Ryan) trusts us," Rodgers said. "It's not conventional and we certainly do trust our defense. But we made a commitment towards aggression this season."
The play was eerily similar to the infamous 4th-and-19 picked up against the New York Jets earlier in the season that pushed both franchises on opposite paths for the 2016 season.
A blown coverage 3-plays later gave AJ Green his own long catch, putting the Bengals in position to re-take the lead with only seconds remaining before Rodgers and company were able to give Carpenter the chance to put the game into extra time.
In overtime, Carpenter kicked what ended up being the game winner after his team's offense stalled inside the Cincinnati 20-yard line.
Buffalo's pass rush stymied any attempt for Andy Dalton to lead a scoring drive with a pair of sacks leading to a 4th-and-27 prayer that went unanswered to end the game.
On the bad news front, MVP candidate Todd Gurley left the game early with broken ribs and may not be able to return for the remainder of the regular season. James White performed admirably in his stead with 115 yards rushing and a score.
The Bills next face the AFC South leading Jaguars back home. 

Miami @ Los Angeles

                                    1         2         3         4         FINAL

MIAMI                      6         17       3         0          26

LOS ANGELES        7         3         0        10         20

LOS ANGELES – The Miami Dolphins (9-1) ended their 2-week stay on the west coast with a 26-20 victory over the never-say-die Los Angeles Rams. 
After a lackluster 10-6 victory 2-hours south against the Chargers, the Dolphins put forth another uninspiring offensive effort with only 280 yards of total offense. 
But the defense, which has been the calling card for this recent Dolphins run, came up huge again with four takeaways and four sacks.
Kyle Fuller, the team's stalwart at corner, picked up a critical interception and made the play of the game, stripping a sure-to-score Eric Decker at the Miami 3-yard line before picking up the fumble he forced.
"Coach always tells us to never quit on any play," Fuller said. "We aren't going to be one of those teams that has a ton of easy games. We wanna grind it out and take the ball away from you."
Chris Ivory and Thomas Rawls both had huge first half runs to help their team build up a 23-10 halftime lead. However, the Rams kept the game close by daring rookie Jacoby Brissett to throw after halftime. 
A 4th quarter fumbled punt return by Cordarrelle Patterson turned what should have been a drama-free final frame into a nervy finish for his team as the Rams picked up 10-straight points before failing to recover an onside kick effectively ending the contest.
The Dolphins finally head home to host the San Francisco 49ers on Thanksgiving Weekend. 

Week #11 AFC East Preview

100th Blog Post!!!

Buffalo Bills @ Cincinnati Bengals
Fresh off their bye week, the Buffalo Bills head to the state of Ohio to face off against the Cincinnati Bengals. 
Although the Bengals have been disappointing this year, the team is still dangerous with AJ Green on the outside coupled with a strong running game.
"We aren't taking any team lightly," Luke Kuechly said. "We are one of the hunted teams now so we always need to be ready for a fight."
With seven regular season games remaining for the Bills, the team knows they are potentially set for a historic run for their franchise. 
The team has been somewhat irrelevant since the 4-straight Super Bowl run in the '90's.
"I watch this team, and I see a lot of good in them," Hall of Famer Andre Reed said. "I just really hope they can close the deal and bring our fans a much-deserved ring."
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Although there may be a loss or two still out there for this steady Bills team, we don't see this week as one of them. Look for Geno Atkins to be on a mission against his former team. 
PREDICTION: Bills win 45-31

Miami Dolphins @ Los Angeles Rams
Quarterback Jared Goff has made plenty of headlines this week as the rookie signal-caller has pointed to this game, against the defending Super Bowl champions, as his chance to break out and show he deserved to be taken with the #1 pick in last year's draft.
"Home game, great crowd," Goff said. "And I expect to come out of this one with a W (win)."
Miami's top ranked rushing defense will certainly dare the Cal product to try to beat them through the air. 
Although unlikely, it is not impossible that Goff and his receivers could have success against the Dolphins. Just two weeks ago, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo neared the 500-yard passing mark as the 'Fins refused to alter their run-prevention strategy despite being torched through the skies.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Special Teams and defensive scores. The Dolphins have not scored on the defensive side of the football since week six. Previously, the team had scored on D in each previous game. For the Rams, the team typically has some sort of trick play up their sleeve and we expect the team to do the same Sunday. 
PREDICTION: Dolphins win 33-13