Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - After clinching the AFC East for a fifth-straight year with five games remaining on the 2024 schedule, the Buffalo Bills now look ahead to capturing the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoff picture, starting this Sunday with a matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Southern California.
With the Bills securing the division so early on in the season, it's now about finding ways to stay engaged in the remaining five games. That's especially the case knowing the Bills have the tiebreaker on the Chiefs, while also needing to keep pace and have Kansas City lose another game in the standings.
"That's one of the mental challenges of life and sports, or life in the NFL, or just life in general," said Bills head coach Sean McDermott on Friday during his weekly appearance on the "Extra Point Show" on WGR. "We're tasked with doing that, and doing it at a high level, especially this year with clinching with with five games to go here."
Ahead of Friday's final practice of the week before making the trip to Los Angeles, McDermott did not rule any players out for Sunday's game against the Rams. He emphasized that all players, including wide receiver Keon Coleman and safety Taylor Rapp, who have been in a limited role in non-contact jerseys, will be practicing in some form on Friday.
One player in Buffalo who has dealt with a couple of significant injuries over the last two seasons is linebacker Matt Milano. Last week, Milano was able to play in his first game with the Bills since Week 5 of the 2023 season when he suffered a fractured leg playing in London, England. That after also tearing his bicep in the later stages of training camp this year.
"Incredible mental toughness," McDermott said with Sal Capaccio. "He didn't flinch going back out there, and thought he got through it well. We'll see this week how he does. I just know him, and I know what he's capable of. I think it's only going to get better as he continues to knock the rust off."
As for this week's opponent, the Rams currently sit at 6-6 in the standings, and fighting for a chance to still win the NFC West. The Rams are not only playing with nearly a fully healthy team again, but McDermott knows there will likely be some desperation in their game.
"That is the challenge. Great coach, great quarterback, two receivers that are really hard to defend. So a ton of respect for them and what they do," McDermott said. "They're three years removed from a world championship, and they're in a playoff hunt and a division hunt as well. It's going to be a very urgent team that we're going against, and a great challenge for us."
Kickoff on Sunday is slated for 4:25 p.m. EST, and you can hear all of the play-by-play action on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550 - with Chris Brown, Eric Wood and Sal on the call.