Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said this week he would be open to the idea of benching quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, a decision that could have a big impact on the playoff hopes of the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills scored a season-turning victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday, facing what appeared to be an assured elimination from division contention before a frantic second-half comeback. The Bills trailed 21-0 late in the second half but scored touchdowns on five straight possessions, winning 35-31 and preventing the Patriots from clinching the division.
The Bills now go into the final three weeks with a chance to catch the Patriots, but Miami’s looming decision on Tagovailoa could be one of the deciding factors.
Bills Need a Dolphins Victory
Sunday’s win over the Patriots gave the Bills a clear, though narrow, path to winning their sixth straight division title. They must win one more game than the Patriots the rest of the way, while at least one of New England’s losses would need to come in one of their remaining division games.
The Patriots face the bottom-dwelling New York Jets before ending their season against the Dolphins. As McDaniel hinted when talking to reporters after Miami’s loss on Monday to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Patriots could be facing a team without Tagovailoa in the lineup.
“The quarterback play last night was not good enough. So for me, everything is on the table,” the coach told reporters on Tuesday, via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe.
McDaniel did not reveal exactly what he was thinking, but said he would reach a decision that is best for the team’s chances of winning.
“I think the biggest thing is that my job … is to do the best thing for the football team,” McDaniel said. “A lot of times, that’s doing the hard thing, but regardless, it’s always with that same best interest in mind, which is what gives us the best chance to win the game whoever the next opponent is.”
If the Dolphins bench Tagovailoa, that could leave the Patriots facing former Jets first-round pick Zach Wilson or seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers. The Dolphins were eliminated from playoff contention, so could be free to give the former Texas quarterback an extended look going into the offseason.
Bills Could Clinch Playoff Spot
While the Bills will not be able to win the division until the end of Week 18 officially, the team has a chance to clinch at least a wild-card berth this weekend. As Matt Warren of SB Nation’s Buffalo Rumblings noted, the Bills actually have a rather clear path to the playoffs.
“The Buffalo Bills at 10-4 can clinch a playoff spot before Christmas but in order to do that, they will need a win or tie against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday,” Warren wrote. “Then they will need either a loss or tie from the Houston Texans or Indianapolis Colts.”
The Bills could face an attractive path, even if they don’t host a playoff game. Perennial rival Kansas City Chiefs have already been eliminated from playoff contention, while the dangerous Baltimore Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson are currently out of the playoffs and have only the AFC North title to aim for.
Tua Tagovailoa Benching Would Have Big Impact on Bills’ Playoff Hopes