{"id":16992,"date":"2025-12-10T23:22:24","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T23:22:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/10\/the-bills-were-more-focused-on-beating-new-england-than-losing-the-afc-east-title\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T23:22:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T23:22:24","slug":"the-bills-were-more-focused-on-beating-new-england-than-losing-the-afc-east-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/10\/the-bills-were-more-focused-on-beating-new-england-than-losing-the-afc-east-title\/","title":{"rendered":"The Bills were more focused on beating New England than losing the AFC East title."},"content":{"rendered":"


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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) \u2014 For Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins, the expectation of winning Sunday against New England is more important than the motivation to stop the Patriots from stealing the AFC East title from Buffalo.<\/p>\n

Of course, Dawkins said Wednesday that it’s “very important” for the Bills (9-4) to stop Drake Maye and his team. Upstart Patriots (11-2) stop Buffalo from winning division<\/span>. But the expectation remains that the Bills will win every week.<\/p>\n

“We play to win, so our goal is to win everything,” Dawkins said.<\/p>\n

“But it’s not about defending the title,” he added, pumping his fist and pretending to shout the last three words out loud. \u201cWe have to become the best versions of ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dawkins’ comments about this weekend’s matchup were echoed by many of his teammates and coach Sean McDermott.<\/p>\n

Patriots win Will dominate the season series<\/span> They demoted Buffalo and were aiming for a wild-card playoff berth, while winning their first AFC East title since 2019. Even if the Bills win, they will still need help catching up to the Patriots in the final three weeks.<\/p>\n

“I think we as a team understand what’s at stake, but I don’t think it’s going to affect anything,” Josh Allen said.<\/p>\n

“At the same time, (an AFC East title) doesn’t guarantee anything other than a playoff spot,” the reigning MVP added. “At the end of the day, that’s our main goal. And we have an opportunity to be in a better position.”<\/p>\n

Even though the Bills won their fifth consecutive district championship, there have been few notable accomplishments. The closest they’ve come to a Super Bowl berth are two losses to Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game in 2020 and last season.<\/p>\n

Still, if the Bills make the playoffs as a wild card, they’ll have to start off with Buffalo losing six straight in the postseason. That record includes three losses under Allen, dating back to 1992, when the Bills defeated Miami in the AFC Championship and then lost 52-17 to Dallas in the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

The Bills had lost four straight in seven games, but have appeared to be on the upswing over the past two weeks, winning at Pittsburgh and defeating Cincinnati at home. McDermott said the team is starting to show its toughness.<\/p>\n

“We’re getting there. I think we’re moving in the right direction,” McDermott said. \u201cIt may have been a little later than we would have liked, but I\u2019m really grateful to our players and staff for getting through everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bills won against Pittsburgh with a season-high 249 yards rushing.<\/span> While playing without two starting offensive tackles. Against Cincinnati, Buffalo’s injury-depleted defense (missing top pass rusher Joey Bosa) blitzed and got cornerback Christian Benford’s game-changing interception return for a touchdown.<\/p>\n

Receiver Gabe Davis was one of the few Bills players willing to take the gamble head-on this weekend.<\/p>\n

“Can we make the playoffs without being AFC East champions?” Davis asked rhetorically. <\/p>\n

“Do I believe we can be AFC East champions right now? Yes. I believe in that,” he added. \u201cAnd I believe everyone here still has the goal of being AFC East champions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reporting an injury<\/h2>\n

RT Spencer Brown said he is ready to return after missing two games with a right shoulder injury. Bosa resumed practice with limited capacity on Wednesday. TE Dawson Knox missed practice for personal reasons.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP NFL: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/nfl<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n


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Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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