Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘Sal’s prediction: Buffalo Bills 30, Miami Dolphins 13.’

‘The game will be available locally via the following stations: WROC (Channel 8, Rochester), WIVB (Buffalo area), WTVH (Syracuse area), WKTV (Utica area), WENY (Elmira area), WRGB (Albany area), and WBNG (Binghamton area).’

‘Since the dawn of the 21st century, the Bills-Dolphins rivalry has been mostly irrelevant because the teams have almost never been good at the same time. In fact, this is the first time since 1999 that the Bills and Dolphins have qualified for the postseason in the same year.’

‘This neutral site will only be in play if these two teams get to the title game. If the Bills don’t qualify, Kansas City would host all other teams. And if the Bills do qualify, and the Chiefs lose in the divisional round, Highmark Stadium would host the game.’

‘Thompson is a seventh-round rookie who started the Dolphins season finale against the Jets, though he did very little in Miami’s 11-6 victory. He has now appeared in seven games with two starts. His first start came in Week 6 at home against Minnesota, a 13-7 loss during which he completed only seven of 13 passes for 89 yards.’

‘Hamlin’s journey from his on-field emergency against the Bengals, to his two days of being sedated and intubated while listed in critical condition, to his rapid improvement late last week, to being discharged from University of Cincinnati Medical Center and flown back to Buffalo, to being sent home Wednesday, has captivated the nation, and even the world.’

‘If he can’t play, and backup Teddy Bridewater is recovered enough from the broken thumb he suffered in Week 17 at New England to start, the Dolphins are 10-point underdogs. And if neither can play and the Dolphins have to go with rookie Skylar Thompson, the spread balloons to 14 points.’

‘“I traveled with him to the airport this morning with our UC Health, air care and bubble care crew, including teammates who are with us on the field when Damar collapsed,” Knight continued. “He landed safely and as standard as anybody who has gone through what he’s gone through this past week, and certainly after flying on a plane, he is going to be observed and monitored to ensure that there’s no impact from the flight of his condition or on his lungs.”‘

‘And then in the third quarter, with the Bills listing a bit against a fired up New England team, he did it again, this time going 101 yards for a go-ahead touchdown which ultimately sent the Bills on their way to a tense, hard-fought 35-23 victory.’

‘“I think a little bit,” quarterback Josh Allen said when he was asked if it was tough to steady the nerves and control the emotions that were coursing through the veins of every player. “Sitting there, national anthem, I know some guys had some tears rolling down and just a feeling of uncertainty of what it was gonna feel like to go back out there.”’

‘With Hamlin out, the Bills had to turn to third-string safety Dean Marlowe who, since returning to the Bills in a trade from Atlanta, had played all of one defensive snap before Sunday. He held his own, but there were definitely times when the secondary had problems, especially with WR Devante Parker who caught six passes for 79 yards and two TDs. Nothing new for him because he used to kill the Bills when he played for Miami.’

‘You’d be hard-pressed to walk down Southwestern Boulevard without passing Hamlin jerseys and No. 3s posted everywhere. That includes Fay Street, where the Bills Mafia House sits next door to the Bills stadium. Hamburg’s Shane Prouty fixed the house nine years ago before it turned into a popular tailgating destination.’

‘The Bills will now wind up the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the conference after the NFL amended its postseason format following the cancellation of the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals game in Week 17. It’s also possible the AFC Championship Game is played at a neural site.

‘Sal’s prediction: Buffalo Bills 23, New England Patriots 14.’

‘Given all that, this is a game that will appeal to far more than just the regular Sunday afternoon crowd and there will be a massive amount of eyeballs on Orchard Park.’