Five games shaping up to have biggest impact on the 2022 NFL season

7 days 15: Game time and date not however scheduled.

Whilst the Bills continue to be favorites to 3-peat in the uber-competitive AFC East, they have a good deal of perform continue to to do. They at this time are winless within just the division (-2), and their MVP-caliber quarterback is battling an elbow personal injury.

But barring doomsday information on Josh Allen’s lengthy-expression availability, the Charges — however a half-match up on the Jets and Dolphins — have the expertise, coaching and management to continue to be atop the division and probably gain a 1st-spherical bye. It will not appear straightforward, even though. The AFC has just about double the range of profitable groups as the NFC (nine vs. 5), and the Bills’ division is the only just one in the NFL with all four groups above .500. Many AFC East matchups were regarded as for this listing, such as the Jets’ Week 14 game at Buffalo and their period finale in Miami. Finally, the two the Jets and the Patriots have also lots of question marks on offense — at the QB posture, precisely — carrying the opportunity to derail them down the stretch.

The Dolphins have no these kinds of concern.

Miami — driving a 3-game get streak — is 6-1 this season when Tua Tagovailoa has started, with the lone reduction coming versus the Bengals in Week 4, when Tagovailoa exited in the second quarter right after suffering a concussion. The 3rd-12 months pro sales opportunities the NFL in passing yards for every try (9.2) and passer score (115.9) in 2022, thanks to fantastic decision-making, Mike McDaniel’s plan and, of class, 1 of the most prolific getting duos we’ve ever observed. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have been excellent by way of the first half of the campaign, combining for the most obtaining yards by any teammate tandem in excess of the initially 9 video games of a time in the Super Bowl era.

Handful of groups can match Miami’s offensive firepower, but Buffalo is definitely 1 of them. The Bills’ Josh Allen-Stefon Diggs pairing is as good any QB-WR combo in the NFL, with Allen major the NFL in offensive touchdowns (23) and Diggs tying for the league lead in acquiring scores (7). As immediately and consistently as the Charges can score, even so, it is their defense and residence-discipline benefit that could be their major assets in opposition to Miami. Since Sean McDermott’s arrival in 2017, Buffalo features the greatest full defensive EPA (237.32) at dwelling of any group by much and is tied for the fifth-ideal home profitable percentage (.682).

The Dolphins are currently 1 up in this division struggle, owning held provide in opposition to the Expenses in 7 days 3. A time sweep could imply Miami owns the East by season’s conclude.