The Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills square off tonight with the AFC East Division Championship awarded to the winner.
When today began, the Bills thought they would need a win in this contest to advance to the postseason field. But, the Jacksonville Jaguars loss earlier today to the Tennessee Titans assured the Bills of no less than a Wild Card berth this season.
The formula of a team assured of a playoff berth, like Miami, against a team that needs the win to get into the postseason fray, like Buffalo, bends heavily in favor of the team that needs the game to get into the playoffs.
Advantage Buffalo.
But, there are extenuating circumstances when these two meet tonight. With a win, the Dolphins clinch the AFC East title and a pair of home games in the playoffs if they win in the Wild Card round. With a loss, Miami is relegated to a road game in the Wild Card round and probably will never play in front of their home fans again this season. A win, and the Dolphins are champions of the AFC East; a loss, and they are the fifth seed and a Wild Card team.
That puts a lot more pressure, good pressure, on the Dolphins performing at a high level tonight.