ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) 鈥� Bills coach Sean McDermott finds his focus being pulled in different directions ahead of Buffalo’s season finale. He must decide who to play or rest ahead of the playoffs while still giving a proper send-off to Highmark Stadium in what could very well be .
One thing McDermott plans to do is find time in his schedule to appreciate the 53-year-old stadium one last time before Buffalo (11-5) closes its season against the New York Jets (3-13) on Sunday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a unique place,鈥� McDermott said. 鈥淚 want to cherish every minute of it.鈥�
His only disappointment is not getting enough wins to guarantee at least one more home game before the Bills move across the street to a new .
Buffalo enters the weekend as the AFC鈥檚 No. 7 seed and can rise no higher than No. 5, meaning it will open the playoffs on the road.
Because of the relatively low stakes of the game, McDermott has various options regarding his lineup.
, is expected to extend his starting streak to 135 games, including playoffs 鈥� the NFL鈥檚 longest active run.
Running back James Cook could get enough playing time to help him become Buffalo’s first player to win the NFL鈥檚 rushing title since O.J. Simpson in 1976. Cook leads Indianapolis鈥� Jonathan Taylor by 47 yards.
As for the rest of the roster, McDermott will lean toward caution in resting injured players. But he also wants his team to be competitive and close the stadium with a win.
First-year Jets coach Aaron Glenn and his team have little to look forward to but another lengthy offseason after extending the NFL鈥檚 longest active playoff drought to a 15th year. New York has been .
鈥淚t gives us another chance to play against a good playoff team,鈥� Glenn said. 鈥淭here have been some improvements with this team, and we鈥檙e going to try to improve on those things while we鈥檙e also trying to improve on the weaknesses that we have.鈥�
If there are lingering questions about Glenn鈥檚 status beyond this season, tight end Jeremy Ruckert had the coach鈥檚 back.
鈥淗e truly cares about this team. You can see every day how much time and love he puts into us,鈥� Ruckert said. 鈥淚 would go to war with him.鈥�
McDermott is completing his ninth season and has transformed the Bills into perennial contenders. He has reached the playoffs in seven straight seasons and eight overall.
And he’s created new memories at the stadium dubbed 鈥淭he Ralph鈥� in honor of late franchise owner Ralph Wilson. The building was once home to to Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith and O.J. Simpson, and it has hosted the Rolling Stones and the 2008 NHL Winter Classic.
It鈥檚 where McDermott won his first game, a 21-12 decision over the Jets, to open the 2017 season. It鈥檚 where he won his first playoff game, a 27-24 victory over Indianapolis in the 2020 season before a sparse crowd due to COVID-19 restrictions. And it鈥檚 where McDermott celebrated clinching a 2024 playoff berth following a 35-10 win over San Francisco.
鈥淟ife moves fast, and it鈥檚 been a special place for a lot of people,鈥� McDermott said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e just excited to play one more game in this stadium, in front of our fans, and share in that moment together.鈥�
No picks for the Jets
The Jets are on the verge of making some more dubious NFL history.
They already have the most consecutive games without an interception with 16. If New York can’t intercept a pass at Buffalo, it’ll be the first team without a pick in an entire season.
The Jets鈥� last interception came in last year鈥檚 season finale, when Ashtyn Davis had two against the Dolphins.
鈥淭his is a bizarre situation,鈥� interim defensive coordinator Chris Harris said. 鈥淚鈥檝e never seen it, but our guys are working hard, working hard, so we鈥檒l see. I鈥檓 excited about the opportunity, though.鈥�
Jets rookie QB Cook has learned a lot
Undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook is set to make his fourth straight start to end the season. It鈥檚 a scenario he couldn鈥檛 have envisioned after he began his career on the practice squad while Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor started.
But the former Missouri star hasn鈥檛 been fazed by much during his late-season starting stint.
鈥淗onestly, not a ton of big surprises,鈥� Cook said. 鈥淕etting to watch, you know, the first 15, 16 weeks of the season, I got a lot of those surprises out of the way.鈥�
Who’s the Bills’ third-string QB?
With Shane Buechele recently signed off the Bills’ practice squad by Kansas City, Buffalo is down to two quarterbacks, Allen and backup Mitch Trubisky. The lack of a third-stringer led to a playful guessing game between McDermott and reporters over who might be the team鈥檚 emergency backup.
McDermott limited his responses to 鈥済ood try鈥� when presented with the options of tight end Dawson Knox, running back Ray Davis and offensive lineman David Edwards, all of whom have previously played the position.
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AP Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. contributed to this report.
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