Does Bills game matter in Week 18? How NFL playoff scenarios impact starters vs. Jets

Billy Heyen

Does Bills game matter in Week 18? How NFL playoff scenarios impact starters vs. Jets image

The Buffalo Bills host the New York Jets in Week 18.

It's a big game for one reason above any other: It's the final game at Highmark Stadium before the Bills move across the street to a shiny new stadium next fall.

For now, though, it gets this final matchup.

It just may not have the intensity fans would like.

MORE: Breaking down what NFL games matter today

Does the Bills' game matter in Week 18?

The Bills' game vs. The Jets matters for AFC wild card seeding.

Buffalo enters the game as the No. 7 seed in the conference. They can't drop out of the playoffs.

If they win and both the Texans and Chargers lose, the Bills would climb to No. 5 and travel to the AFC North champ (either Steelers or Ravens) next week.

If the Bills only get one of those two losses above them, a win would take them to the 6-seed.

The 7-seed and 6-seed aren't easy to predict. Up top in the AFC, the Broncos, Patriots and Jaguars are all still in play for the top-three spots in any order, so the Bills wouldn't be able to anticipate that opponent ahead of time.

So yes, there's a bit to play for, but not a lot.

Are the Bills' starters playing?

The general expectation is that the Bills will play it safe with their starters.

Josh Allen will start to get his 136th consecutive game started but likely exit early.

James Cook probably won't play much. Left tackle Dion Dawkins is also a strong rest candidate based on the Bills' usage of him in Week 18 a year ago.

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