One meaningless regular game against a near-inept division opponent separates the Buffalo Bills from their third postseason contest of the millennium.
With a Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots, Buffalo took its hat out of the race for the AFC East crown. The 10-5 team can now finish no better or worse than fifth in the AFC, set to face either the Houston Texans or the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card round of the postseason.
The outcome of the Bills’ Week 17 matchup with the New York Jets will not impact the team’s place in the final standings. Thus, one could expect Buffalo to rest its starters in its season finale, allowing its key players a break before the playoffs while also preventing significant injuries.
Per head coach Sean McDermott, such a decision has yet to be made. While speaking to the media following the team’s 24-17 loss to the Patriots, McDermott was asked if the team had thought whether or not it will bench its starters in its season finale.
“Yeah, no, we’ll talk about it,” McDermott said. “Brandon [Beane] and I will sit down and talk about it and make sure we do what’s right for the team.”
Though the team has yet to make a decision as to whether or not starters will take the field next week, resting key players would likely be a wise move.
The game has no bearing on the team’s season. Buffalo has already constructed its best record of the century and has secured a playoff berth, a win in the final game of the season would do nothing but send the boisterous New Era Field crowd home happy.
Giving key players such as Josh Allen, Tremaine Edmunds, and Tre’Davious White a week of rest and more time to prepare for the Bills’ postseason opponent would likely prove more beneficial than sending them out against the struggling Jets.
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