ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills (7-3) are in the driver's seat in the AFC East coming off of their Week 11 bye.
The Miami Dolphins are still on Buffalo's heels in the AFC East division but dropped to 6-4 following a 20-13 loss in Denver on Sunday, snapping a five-game win streak.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was benched in the fourth quarter in favor of veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, but the rookie will keep his starting job moving forward.
The New England Patriots dropped to 4-6, third in the division, with a 27-20 loss in Houston on Sunday, while the New York Jets remain the NFL's lone winless team, following a 34-28 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
As for the Bills, coming off of a heartbreaking, 32-30, loss to Arizona on a Hail Mary play with two seconds remaining before their bye week, they will now turn their attention to the 3-7 Chargers.
The Chargers are averaging just over 400 yards per game, offensively, third in the NFL in that category.
The Bills defense struggled against the Cardinals in Week 10, giving up 453 yards, with 217 coming on the ground. Buffalo’s rushing defense - ranked 28th in the league and giving up an average of 135 yards per game - will have their hands full with a Chargers offense that averages 121.3 yards per game on the ground and could potentially be welcoming back starting running back Austin Ekeler on Sunday.
The Bills are in the bottom fifth in that category, averaging just 97.6 yards rushing per game, with an offensive line plagued by injuries so far this season. They'll be tasked with handling the highest paid defensive player in the league, defensive end Joey Bosa, who returned for the Chargers in their win over Jets on Sunday after missing two games with a concussion.
Buffalo will continue to bank on quarterback, Josh Allen, who has seven touchdowns in the past two games, including a 12-yard touchdown reception from Isaiah McKenzie against the Cardinals, and the reliability of receiver Stefon Diggs.
With only four touchdown catches on the season, Diggs is second only to "Hail Murray" recipient, Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins, in reception yards this season, with 906 yards in 10 games.
The Bills host the Chargers, Sunday at 1 p.m., in Orchard Park.
