Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The regular season has come to a close, and now it's on to the postseason, as the Buffalo Bills look to make a run in the playoffs that will end with the team hoisting its first Lombardi Trophy at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
With the Bills securing the No. 2 seed in the AFC Playoff picture in Week 17, it was a week of rest and recovery for some, while others were trying to continue some important personal streaks or reach some contract incentives for the regular season against the New England Patriots.
Among the players taking to the field on Sunday included quarterback Josh Allen, who kept his consecutive starts streak alive with just one snap in the first quarter. After handing the ball off to running back James Cook, he then handed off the reins to Mitch Trubisky for most of the game.
Cook was also playing to reach a pair of milestone achievements. He first eclipsed the 1,000 yards rushing mark for the second-straight season, and then later tied Hall-of-Famer O.J. Simpson for the most rushing touchdowns (16) in a season by a Bills running back.
Other players earning some contract incentives on Sunday in New England included Von Miller with a first-quarter sack on the first drive gave him a $1.5 million bonus. Mack Hollins also earned a bonus on his contract with a pair of receptions to reach 30 on the season.
As for the game itself, the Bills ended up falling, 23-16, to the Patriots, coming just short of winning their 14th game of the season, which would've been a new franchise record.
More importantly, though, the Bills escaped the regular season finale relatively unscathed, with only kick and punt returner Brandon Codrington dealing with a hamstring injury, according to head coach Sean McDermott.
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Heading into Super Wild Card Weekend in the NFL, the Bills, as the 2-seed in the AFC, are locked in to a first-round matchup in the playoffs with the Denver Broncos, who are making their first playoff appearance in 10 years.
Needing a win last week to secure their spot in the postseason, the Broncos were able to get the job done with a 38-0 throttling of the Chiefs, who were mostly playing backups after securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs a couple weeks back.
The last time the Broncos were playoff bound was the 2015 season when Peyton Manning, in the twilight of his NFL career, was under center for Denver, as they went on to win Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers.
This will be the second time the Bills and Broncos will meet in the postseason, with the last matchup coming the 1991 AFC Championship Game, where the Bills won 10-7 on their way to their second straight Super Bowl.
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After going 14-3 with his picks this season in "Howard Picks the Bills", Howard Simon is ready for the weekly tradition to roll into the postseason!
While the Broncos provide a challenge defensively with one of the best scoring and pass rushing units in the league, along with the continually improving play of rookie quarterback Bo Nix, Howard is fully confident in the Bills cruising past Denver in the Wild Card Round.
With the help of Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase picking the rest of the playoffs schedule, the Bills would then pit themselves in a Divisional Round showdown with the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium.
Despite a Week 4 loss to the Ravens in Baltimore, Howard foresees the Bills getting payback this time around, and making a return trip to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 2020.
Like four years ago, the Bills will have to head on the road to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, marking the fourth matchup between the two teams in the playoffs in five seasons.
Unlike the outcome of the 2020 AFC Championship Game, though, Howard has the Bills exercising some demons by beating the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, and punching their tickets to the "Big Easy" for Super Bowl LIX.
However, in the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles, Howard picks Buffalo to fall short of the main prize once again. This would give the Bills losses in five Super Bowl appearances, and losses to all four teams in the NFC East in the Big Game.
Be sure to follow along on X, formerly known as Twitter, for the latest picks from Howard by using the hashtag #HowardPicksTheBills. You can also track all of Howard's picks throughout the season with Brayton Wilson's picks tracker on X: @BraytonJWilson.
You can listen to, as well as watch the latest edition of "Howard Picks the Bills" below: