NFL's AFC East title at stake this weekend

MANILA, Philippines – This is exactly how you want a final game of the regular season to come down to — a match with implications. And to add gravy and a lot of tension… implications.

In the final game of the regular season and the final game of the NFL’s 2023-24 season, the Miami Dolphins (11-5-0) host the Buffalo Bills (10-6-0) at the Hard Rock Stadium in the Miami Gardens, Florida.

The match will be shown live in the Philippines on the Premier Sports channel (on SkyCable and Cignal) as well as the streaming site, Blast TV at 9:20 a.m. on Monday, January 8.

In their head-to-head history, Miami is 61-53-1 heading into this game. In playoff contention, the Bills have a better record, 4-1.

To put it simply, the Dolphins, who were embarrassed last week by the Baltimore Ravens, 56-19, have to win so that the AFC East title is theirs and they solidify their play-off spot. A loss will mean the Dolphins still book the postseason, but their seeding will be dependent on other results. 

As for the Bills, it is a little trickier. 

They have a chance to steal and win the AFC East crown, and they are coming into this game with a lot of confidence. 

Prior to this match, they are 4-0, with their defense not allowing 23 points in that streak. In their last game, their defense chalked up three interceptions and kept the opposing quarterback to a low 47.3 rating.

With a loss, Buffalo has two very different possible fates as we head into the regular season finale. 

A loss means their chances of advancing depends on the outcome of the Saturday matches of the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Baltimore Ravens, the Jacksonville Jaguars taking on the Tennessee Titans, and the Baltimore Colts battling the Houston Texans.

If the Steelers and the Jaguars win and Texans-Colts do not end in a tie, Buffalo will need a win. A loss by the Bills and that previous scenario involving the Steelers and the Jaguars and Colts-Texans all coming to fruition, Buffalo is out of the playoffs. 

Talk about complications and high stakes scenarios.