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The Buffalo Payments have gone from a high group within the NFL to at least one that’s anticipated to overlook the playoffs. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Buffalo Payments out of the playoffs?
The Buffalo Payments have been third in preseason Tremendous Bowl odds and heavy favorites to win the AFC East—now they’re 5-5, two-to-one to make the playoffs, and on the verge of a complete collapse.
all they’ve to point out for his or her efforts are a league-wide rule change…
Buffalo was propped up as the most effective groups within the NFL for the previous few seasons. However after a couple of years of being labeled a championship contender, all they’ve to point out for his or her efforts are a league-wide rule change, a few coach firings, and an enormous invoice of participant contracts they’ll quickly look to ship to different groups.
However how did it get this dangerous this shortly, and may the Payments’ season be saved? Let’s dive into the solutions.
From all angles without delay
The Payments entered the 12 months at round -300 to make the playoffs and +120 to win the AFC East at DraftKings Sportsbook. They got early discover that their season wouldn’t go how they deliberate once they fell to the New York Jets 22-16 on the primary Monday Evening Soccer recreation of the season, throughout which Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles after 4 performs.
They went on a fast three-game win streak after that however are 2-4 since. In addition they haven’t lined the unfold in six straight weeks, most just lately falling to the Denver Broncos 24-22.
“one-man-band” type of offense
Quarterback Josh Allen, third in preseason MVP odds, is first in complete touchdowns and fourth in QBR. Nevertheless, he’s additionally first in interceptions and complete turnovers in what is an ideal illustration of his “one-man-band” type of offense.
The Payments have been unfortunate relating to accidents. Von Miller missed time, Dawson Knox is on injured reserve, and each Matt Milano and Tre’Davious White are out for the 12 months.
The place Buffalo has not been unfortunate is in its strategy. They’ve allowed Allen (who leads the league in interceptions by each per-year mark since he entered the league) to proceed his reckless type of soccer with no pushback. Then, when issues lastly got here to a head per week in the past, they fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey as a substitute of addressing the true challenge.
In addition they went all-in on a 32-year-old Miller and signed him to a profitable six-year contract regardless of his huge damage historical past and their perilous cap state of affairs (second-least cap area in 2023).
Simply as shortly because the Payments jumped from irrelevance to a divisional powerhouse, they’re looking at probably very darkish instances.
Monitoring the numbers
Taking a look at DraftKings’ betting odds, the Payments are +200 to make the playoffs and -250 to overlook them.
They’re additionally +400 to win the AFC East, +1500 (sixth) to win the AFC, and +3000 (tenth) to win the Tremendous Bowl.
If the Payments don’t make the playoffs and win at the very least one recreation, head coach Sean McDermott’s seat will get extraordinarily sizzling. The group additionally wants to handle the way forward for star wideout Stefon Diggs, who’s annoyed together with his state of affairs and whose brother, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs, tweeted that he ought to get out of Buffalo.
allowed a median of 21.5 factors over their final six video games, which might rank 18th
In addition they must regain their defensive id, which was the spine of their rise via the ranks. The Payments ranked first in factors allowed per recreation in 2021 (18.3) and fourth in 2022 (19.1). Now, in a 12 months wherein scoring is down league-wide, they’ve allowed a median of 21.5 factors over their final six video games, which might rank 18th if utilized to the complete season.
The excellent news is that they’re nonetheless at 18.4 factors allowed per recreation total and have affect gamers that can return from damage. However their capacity to return to a high protection additionally will depend on whether or not their swagger and confidence survive their downswing.
In response to Tankathon, the Payments have the fourth-hardest remaining energy of schedule. They nonetheless have video games towards the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, and Miami Dolphins on the horizon.
Buffalo can principally assure a spot within the playoffs if it wins six of its subsequent seven video games. At 10-7, there are a selection of tiebreaker eventualities that would come into play, particularly with how crowded the AFC is.
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