Two playoff teams with something to prove will meet Sunday when the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, New York.
The NFC East champion Eagles (10-5) want to show skeptics that their resurgent ground game is legitimate and doesn’t rely on the backs of lesser opponents.
The Bills (11-4) are one game behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East race with two games remaining and need to prove they can stop the run.
Cold temperatures, a chance of precipitation and a heavy dose of Saquon Barkley are all predicted for the Week 17 clash at Highmark Stadium, where Buffalo is 6-1 this season.
Barkley has totaled 332 yards with three touchdowns over the last three games to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for the fifth time in his career. The Eagles averaged 4.9 yards per carry during that span, which included an overtime road loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, a shutout of the Las Vegas Raiders and a 29-18 road win last weekend against the Washington Commanders.
“We’re starting to hit our stride and we’re looking to build on that,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said Wednesday.
The Bills have won four straight games to keep the pressure on the Patriots despite their struggles against the run. Buffalo ranks 30th in rushing defense (144.3 yards per game) and allows a whopping 5.4 yards per carry – the second-most in the NFL behind the New York Giants (5.5). No one has allowed as many rushing touchdowns (24) as the Bills.
After allowing a season-high 246 rushing yards (and four touchdowns) in a Week 15 win at New England, Buffalo gave up 160 rushing yards in a 23-20 escape at Cleveland last weekend.
“We know who Saquon is. He’s a Hall of Famer. Their offensive line is very talented as well,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said Tuesday.
“…They’re a tough unit to stop. Their running game in particular is real. I know the numbers say that (they’re down from last season), but I’m not buying the numbers.”
Philadelphia wants to run the football, buy time and keep reigning MVP quarterback Josh Allen and current NFL rushing leader James Cook (1,532 yards) on the sidelines as much as possible.
It’s true that the Bills have more to play for than the Eagles, who are all but locked into the third seed in the NFC playoffs. Philadelphia needs Chicago to lose to have any chance of advancing. Buffalo, which ends the regular season at home against the New York Jets, can still catch New England and win its sixth straight division title.
That said, Sirianni said there are no plans to rest his starters on Sunday.
“You do what you think is best for your football team, and we think playing against our guys is the best thing for our football team,” Sirianni said.
“…It’s an opportunity for us,” he added. “This is a week where we need to improve.”
Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson, who has missed the last five games with a foot injury, did not practice Wednesday, as did left guard Landon Dickerson (illness), linebacker Nakobe Dean (hamstring) and wide receiver AJ Brown, who reportedly had his wisdom teeth removed. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jalen Carter (shoulders) was a full participant after missing three games.
For the Bills, Allen (foot) was limited Wednesday but is expected to play Sunday. Defensive end Joey Bosa (hamstring), defensive tackles DaQuan Jones (calf) and Jordan Phillips (ankle), tight ends Dalton Kincaid (knee) and Dawson Knox (knee), safety Jordan Poyer (hamstring) and kicker Matt Prater (quad) did not practice.
–Field level media
