The battle for first place in the AFC East comes down to just two teams: Mike Vrabel’s Patriots and, trailing slightly, the Buffalo Bills. Unfortunately for Sean McDermott, the team was left depleted after its recent victory over the Kansas City Chiefs and may face the Miami Dolphins next weekend with several key players sidelined.
According to the coach’s recent statements, several players did not participate in Wednesday’s practice due to various injuries: edge rusher Joey Bosa (wrist), running back James Cook (ankle), edge A.J. Epenesa (injury unknown), cornerback Taron Johnson (groin), defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (calf), and linebacker Shaq Thompson (hamstring).
On the other hand, wide receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle/knee) and linebacker Terrel Bernard (ankle) had limited participation in practice, leaving their availability for next weekend’s divisional matchup against the Dolphins in question.
At a crucial point in the season, where every win is golden and every loss represents a major setback, many are beginning to question why the Bills didn’t make moves at the trade deadline to add healthy players and avoid being physically depleted.
Keeping pace with the Patriots
The Buffalo Bills, currently sitting narrowly behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East standings, cannot afford another misstep if they hope to secure the division crown. With the Patriots maintaining a slight edge, Buffalo is now in a must-win scenario almost weekly.
Any further slip-ups will give New England the necessary breathing room to solidify its place atop the AFC East, forcing the Bills into a potential Wild Card scramble.
What’s next for the Bills?
The Buffalo Bills must navigate a challenging upcoming schedule as they aim to overtake the Patriots for the top spot in the AFC East. The crucial stretch begins with a vital divisional road trip to Miami to face the Dolphins.
They then return home to Highmark Stadium to host a tough cross-conference matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, before concluding the run with a road game against the surging Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. These three contests will be pivotal in shaping the Bills’ playoff destiny.