Pregame Rumblings: Bills at Eagles, Week 12

The Buffalo Bills are heading to Philadelphia in a must-win game as they strive to keep their playoff hopes alive. With a record of 6-5, the Bills are currently the eighth seed in the AFC, — and only the top seven teams make the playoffs. This means that every game from here on out is crucial, as they will need to not only win their own games, but also rely on other teams to lose ground in order to secure a spot in the postseason.

The Bills have a tough road ahead with one of the most difficult schedules for the remainder of the season. They’ll need to pull out all the stops and play their absolute best in order to secure the wins they need. Facing off against the Philadelphia Eagles , who have the best overall record in the entire NFL at 9-1, the Bills will have their work cut out for them.

The Eagles, led by quarterback Jalen Hurts, have been on a roll and currently hold the number one seed in the NFC. They will be looking to build on their success and fine-tune their execution, as they prepare for the playoffs. In fact, Hurts currently has the highest odds to win MVP according to DraftKings Sportsbook at +250. On the other side, Bills quarterback Josh Allen has the ninth-best odds to win MVP at +3500, and will be looking to lead his team to victory in a game that’s crucial for their playoff aspirations. While the odds may be stacked against them, the Bills will undoubtedly be coming into this game with a fighting spirit and a determination to come out on top.

The Bills opened as a +3.5 point underdog against the Eagles in NFL Week 12 odds at DraftKings SportsBook for the game; it has since moved to +3. BUF is at +136 on the moneyline, while PHI sits at -162. The over/under (point total) is set at 48.5 points. The Eagles are coming off a 21-17 win against the Kansas City Chiefs . The Bills are coming off a 32-6 win against the New York Jets .

Before we get to my Same Game Parlay with DraftKings Sportsbook and my pick prediction for Bills vs. Eagles , here are my thoughts and things to look for during today’s game...

Change begets change as much as repetition reinforces repetition Prior to Ken Dorsey’s exit, I‘d complained about how the offense had been unable to score points in the first three quarters of games, and how the scheme had been using Josh Allen wrong. It seemed like Dorsey refused to change small details to fix the issue that ultimately led to his dismissal. We now have one game in the books with interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady as the play caller. Against the New York Jets in Week 11, we saw designed runs for Allen, a ton of movement pre-snap, and creative designs that allowed the run game to dominate enough to open the play-action pass. As much as I pounded the table for change, I’m now begging for the Bills to keep their creative juices flowing and stack positive offensive performances. REPEAT. That’s as simple as I can put it. Repeat everything they did last week against the Jets. The Eagles have a very good run defense — probably the best in the league. But the Bills have a running back with the fourth-most yards on the ground, a 6’5 245-plus-pound quarterback who enjoys running people over, and wide receivers who like to block. Control the time of possession and keep the Eagles offense on the sidelines. They don’t have the most explosive offense that has it figured out for the season, but they are explosive enough to put it together in a moment’s time. Run the ball, play-action passing, run the ball more and repeat.

We’ve seen the Buffalo Bills use their version of the “tush push” before, and it works pretty well. But the Philadelphia Eagles start every set of downs knowing 4th & 1 isn’t a problem. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles offense is pretty much unstoppable in short-yardage situations for first downs or touchdowns. Most teams have complained about this play due to the inability to stop it. Instead, I’d like to focus on Buffalo’s defense finding ways to get the Eagles behind the sticks on first and second downs. The Eagles lead the league in third- and fourth-down conversions at 48.2% and 76.5%, respectively. The Bills do pretty well on third down as their opponents only convert 38.6% of the time with 56 conversions on 145 attempts. The key in this game is taking away the additional opportunities the Eagles seem to find on a week-to-week basis. The easiest way to do that is by getting consistent pressure on Jalen Hurts and disrupting run plays in the back field as often as possible. I’m looking to edge rushers A.J. Epenesa, Greg Rousseau and Von Miller to really make some noise in this game and make the current MVP favorite uncomfortable all game long.

Live. Laugh. Hunt. In unfamiliar territory for the Bills and their fans over the last few years, the team is currently “in the hunt.” If the playoffs started this week the Buffalo Bills would be watching from their couches instead of competing. The early season struggles and losses to teams Buffalo should have defeated might come back to haunt them as the season winds down and the playoff race heats up. But the thing about all of this is that the Bills still control their own destiny. They have a very tough schedule for the remainder of the year and will need to win a lot of tough games to make the tournament, but it can be done. One play at a time, one week at a time. This is the stretch of the season where MVPs win awards and where Super Bowl champions typically gel and start to play playoff football every week. Each game from here on out is a must win for the Bills, meaning the playoffs start today. They need to be sharp and play with a lot less mistakes, but the key here is to play free. Allow Allen to continue being himself, and allow the defense to play fast and free. Live. Laugh. Hunt.

Score Prediction: Bills 31, Eagles 30

The Kings Ransom Same Game Parlay SegmentKings Ransom Same Game Parlay +950

A parlay, in sports betting , refers to combining two or more individual bets into one wager. This allows bettors to accumulate higher potential payouts but also increases the risk as all selected bets must win for the parlay to be successful. For example, if a bettor places a parlay on the outcomes of three football games, they would need all three games to end in their predicted favor to win the bet. In sports betting, the plus (+) and minus (-) symbols are used to indicate the underdog and favorite, respectively. The plus sign represents the expected winning amount for a $100 wager on an underdog, while the minus sign represents the amount that needs to be wagered to win $100 on a favorite. It is essential to bet responsibly when engaging in sports betting or any form of gambling. Responsible betting involves setting limits on the amount of money and time dedicated to betting and avoiding chasing losses. It also includes thoroughly understanding the odds and risks associated with different bets and never betting more than one can afford to lose. Additionally, seeking help from professionals or support organizations can provide guidance and assistance for maintaining responsible betting habits. Take your wagers to the next level — join the in-game fun with DraftKings Sportsbook , where your best bets are always up to date!