Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Just three games remain in the 2024 regular season, and the Buffalo Bills are looking to close out the season by finishing with three-straight victories to cap off a franchise-best 14-3 record.
All three of Buffalo's remaining matchups will come against AFC East rivals, starting this coming Sunday in Orchard Park with the first of two matchups with the New England Patriots.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen has been ranked among the top quarterbacks in the NFL for quite some time, but has stepped up and is playing on a whole different level.
In December alone, Allen has put up 14 total touchdowns and 1,027 total yards, and has also not turned the ball over or been sacked. This has helped the 28-year-old pull away in the MVP race, as he's the odds-on favorite to win the league honor for the first time in his NFL career.
Not only has Allen's stellar play this season helped put Buffalo in a position to win the No. 1 seed in the AFC this year, his leadership has helped the Bills stay focused on and off the field.
"In order to play great as a team, you've got to have individuals that play great in a game. So you do want to acknowledge those awards and the effort that was put into it and those performances," said Bills head coach Sean McDermott of his quarterback during an appearance on the "Extra Point Show on Friday. "Josh has been phenomenal all season, pretty much, and especially the last number of games. In my estimation, and I'm his head coach, I think he's MVP of the league. I just feel strongly about that, the way he's led our team this year and performed on the field."
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In the Bills' most recent win this past week over the Detroit Lions, the offense and defense worked very well in unison to control the game and secure a victory in a hostile environment.
Offensively, the Bills emphasized their running attack, which allowed good clock management. Defensively, they were able to force one of the best offenses in the NFL off the field on a number of occasions.
This combination allowed the Bills to get out in front early and not look back.
"With the defense starting off, being out there first and getting to a three-and-out, and getting the offense back the ball in a complimentary way. Then offense went right down and scored. That's the key piece for us," McDermott said with Sal Capaccio on WGR.
Meanwhile, the Bills have been able to stay relatively healthy throughout the season, and even have the least amount of players currently on Injured Reserve in the league. Despite this, McDermott announced on Friday that seven players will be questionable to play Sunday: Cornerback Rasul Douglas, safeties Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp, linebackers Matt Milano, Baylon Spector and Dorian Williams, and wide receiver Curtis Samuel.
As for this week's matchup, the Patriots come to town with an abysmal 3-11 record, and currently slumping with a four-game losing streak at hand.
While this season has not had many bright spots for New England, there is some hope on the horizon with rookie quarterback Drake Maye having a good start in his young NFL career.
"Smart player, big, he's got the size, got the arm talent, very mobile. He'll be a challenge for us, and certainly want to make sure that we give him the respect that he so calls for and their team overall," McDermott said of the 2024 third overall pick. "They've played seven one-score games, maybe even more than that, but they've shown, at times, they can be really good."
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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.