The 2017 NFL regular season has entered its home stretch and tge AFC East’s teams are making a final push to earn one of the available birth in the AFC playoff race. While the 10-2 New England Patriots are a safe bet to get a postseason spot and win the AFC East, the other three clubs are fighting for their playoff lives.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at this week’s AFC East Report:
2. Buffalo Bills (6-6)
Week 13: loss (23-3 against the New England Patriots, in Orchard Park NY)
Pats Pulpit is already in the process of analyzing this game:
Patriots vs Bills recap: New England runs away in the third quarter, wins with 23-3 final score
Patriots-Bills: 6 observations from New England’s 23-3 win against Buffalo
Patriots vs Bills: Who gets thd game ball from New England’s 23-3 win?
Patriots vs Bills: 7 winners and 3 losers from New England’s 23-3 win against Buffalo
New NFL record: Tom Brady now has the most wins against a single opponent in NFL history
Patriots-Bills press conferences: Tom Brady explains his sideline spat with Josh McDaniels
Patriots at Bills Snap Count Report: New England has a balanced backfield
Patriots vs. Bills: Fan Notes from the game
BREAKING: Rob Gronkowski suspended 1 game for his late hit on Tre’Davious White, will appeal
Patriots at Bills Advanced Stats Report: Eric Lee and Malcom Brown star against Buffalo
Linebacker Nicholas Grigsby leaves a mark on special teams in Patriots debut
Patriots right tackle Cam Fleming had a mountain of a day against the Bills
To watch highlights of the game, click here.
3. New York Jets (5-7)
Week 13: win (38-31 against the Kansas City Chiefs, in East Rutherford NJ)
On Sunday, the Jets won their fifth game of the season by defeating the visiting Chiefs 38-31. New York did not play a perfect game against its reeling opponent - Kansas City has now lost four straight - but was able to control the clock throughout the contest while showing mental toughness and an opportunistic big play ability; all needed to come back from a deficit three separate times.
New York started the game slowly in all three phases. After allowing a 75-yard Chiefs touchdown drive, going three and out to respond and giving up a big punt return, the Jets found themselves in a 14-0 hole not even five minutes into the first quarter. At that point, however, the team started to get into a rhythm and cut the deficit to seven points on a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a one-yard Bilal Powell (18/48 yds, 1 TD) touchdown run.
On their next possession, the Jets tied the game at 14: Quarterback Josh McCown (26/36, 331, 1 TD) sneaked for a score to end an eight-play series. Midway through the second quarter and after missing a field goal on its previous possession, Kansas City took a 17-14 lead. The Jets again were able to respond and took their first lead of the day thanks to a touchdown pass to Matt Forte (18 touches/91 yds, 1 TD).
Coming out of halftime up 21-17, the Jets opened with an 18-play drive that took more than nine minutes off the clock and ended with three points. However, it took only one 79-yard pass for the Chiefs to tie the game again. The tie did not last long, though, as New York's next two possessions both ended with field goals to give the team a 30-24 lead early in the fourth period. True to the game's dramaturgy, however, the Chiefs retook the lead.
Down 31-30 with nine minutes left, the Jets embarked on a seven-minute, 75-yard drive to go up yet again. McCown's second score of the day plus the subsequent two-point conversion put New York ahead 38-31. The defense then stopped the ensuing Chiefs two-minute drill on fourth down and secured the team, which held the football for almost 43 minutes, the win. The Jets therefore head into their upcoming game at the Denver Broncos with a 5-7 record.
To watch highlights of the game, click here.
4. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
Week 13: win (35-9 against the Denver Broncos, in Miami Gardens FL)
The Dolphins' 35-9 victory over the visiting Broncos was no pretty affair: Overall, the contest saw six turnovers, two safeties, as well as a combined 17 punts, one of which blocked. In short: Miami and Denver played as sloppy a game as you will ever see - and offered a perfect example as to why both of the two squads have a losing record 12 games into the season.
The first big play of Sunday's slopfest came halfway through the first quarter, when a tipped pass was intercepted by Miami's T.J. McDonald. The turnover did not lead to any points but a) tilted field position in the Dolphins' favor and b) was a sign of things to come: On the Broncos' next possession, the home team took a 2-0 lead following a bad snap by Denver's center. Until that point, Miami's offense came nowhere near scoring position and thus had to watch Denver take a 3-2 lead early in the second quarter.
However, the team came to life after the Broncos' field goal. First, Miami had a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass from Jay Cutler (18/31, 235 yds, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) to Julius Thomas (3/20 yds, 1 TD). On the very next play from scrimmage, Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard recorded a pick-six and Miami was quickly up 16-3. The team could have added to its lead on its next possession but a Cutler interception and a punt were all the offense produced prior to halftime.
The second half started well for the Dolphins. After a defensive three-and-out, the offense added three points to the lead. Following Terrence Fede blocking a punt on the Broncos' next drive, Miami was in scoring position again - but the team came up short after Kenny Stills (5/98 yds, 1 TD) lost a fumble. To make matters worse, the Broncos cut Miami's lead to 10 points on a pick-six thrown by Cutler. On the very next possession, however, Adam Gase's team answered with a touchdown of its own: Kenyan Drake (23/120 yds, 1 TD) scored from 42 yards out to put Miami up 26-9.
The Dolphins added to their already comfortable lead in the fourth quarter. Howard's second interception of the day set up a touchdown pass from Cutler to Stills before rookie linebacker Chase Allen forced a fumble on a Denver punt return; the second safety of the game and the final points in a mistake-filled contest. In the end, Miami made fewer mistakes and was able to come away with the win.
To watch highlights of the game, click here.