1. All eyes on Buffalo, Thanksgiving game can draw close to 30 million viewers
In the last three years, NFL's 4:30 p.m. Thanksgiving game has drawn the most viewership for a regular season game twice. In 2016, the number topped out at 35 million viewers. With all eyes on Buffalo, quarterback Josh Allen remembers watching the Thanksgiving games as a kid and is thankful for the support group he will have with him in Dallas on Thursday.
"I remember growing up, waking up on Thursday, going and eating and watching these games all day and that's all I did," Allen recalls. "Stuffing my face with mashed potatoes. So, I know there's people out there that are going to be doing the same thing and I'm going to have a good support group there from back home, they're making the trip out as well. There's probably about 40 of them. So, good to see them and there's a lot to be thankful for. Super blessed and really can't complain there."
The Bills have not had a nationally televised game yet this season. Good Morning Football's Kyle Brandt believes there is no 8-3 team that has gotten less coverage than the Bills this season.
"This is the 2019 Buffalo Bills coming out party," Brandt said. "I'm of the humble opinion, I don't think there's been an 8-3 team in history that has been viewed less than this Bills team. No prime-time games, not even a late window 4 p.m. kickoff. It's only been 1 p.m. Sunday games against, let's be honest, a lot of teams that don't jump off the marquee. I think the people all around the country have not seen the Bills. I think they know a few of them from their fantasy teams, maybe two or three of them. But on Thursday, it's national baby, and it's not just national, it's as big as it gets Jerry World on Thanksgiving against a very beatable Dallas Cowboys team."
2. This NFL writer says Bills need two more wins to make the playoffs
Around the NFL writer Marc Sessler broke down the AFC wild-card race and believes the Bills will be a part of the postseason if they win two more games.
Buffalo Bills (8-3)
Imagine waltzing up to a run-of-the-mill Bills fanatic in August and announcing that Buffalo would be 8-3 heading into a Thanksgiving Day clash with Dallas. This well-coached roster has exceeded expectations under star-in-the-making head man Sean McDermott, whose reputation for forging nasty secondaries has only grown, with phenomenal cornerback Tre'Davious White leading a cast that currently ranks third in pass coverage, via Pro Football Focus. Bullseye free-agent addition John Brown quietly leads the AFC in receiving yards, while second-year passer Josh Allen -- deep-ball accuracy aside -- has just one interception since Week 5 and plenty of juicy yardage on the ground. Barring a nuclear-level meltdown in Buffalo, this is your fifth seed in the AFC, but the schedule concerns are real: After tangling with the 'Boys, the Bills face the Ravens, Steelers and Patriots before closing it out with the suddenly saucy. Two more wins along the way should do the trick.
CONFIDENCE READING: 88.2/100
The New York Times playoff calculator says there is an 82% chance the Bills make the playoffs.
3. Bleacher Report picked this Bill as the best buy of the offseason
Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton went through all 32 teams to find each team's best buy of the offseason. For Buffalo, Bleacher Report says it's wide receiver John Brown.
Center Mitch Morse has stabilized the offensive line, but John Brown is on pace for his best season. He's eighth among wideouts in yards (856) with a season-high 65.2 percent catch rate.
John Brown has more receiving yards than any receiver who is on a new team this year. Brown always poses the threat of getting a first down, doing it 79.3% of the time.
In recent seasons, Brown projected as a solid slot receiver who can stretch the field with his speed and produce chunk plays. Now, he's an every-down threat who delivers with consistency as opposed to a few flashes here and there. ...
