News and notes from Monday's media availability with HC Sean McDermott, OC Joe Brady and DC Bobby Babich
Just one game remains in the 2025 NFL regular season before the Bills enter the playoffs for a seventh consecutive season.
Week 18 will be one to remember as it's the final regular season home game at Highmark Stadium, and with the Bills not winning the division, it could be the last home game in the stadium, period.
"It'll be emotional," head coach Sean McDermott said. "That stadium has been really good to us, it really has. I know I'll miss it."
Sunday evening's game against the Jets will provide the Bills one more chance to make a lasting memory inside the 53-year-old building.
"We want to win the game. That's number one," McDermott said.
With the division out of reach, the Bills can climb no higher than the No. 5 seed in the AFC. Currently, they are the 7-seed but have the highest probability of moving up to the No. 6 seed with a victory over the Jets.
A loss to NYJ and the Bills will stay at 7 with no chance of hosting a playoff game. A jump to 5 or 6, and there's a small chance to host the AFC Championship should the top seeds falter.
As Buffalo begins its Week 18 prep, one of the key decisions from the team will be how they approach resting players while balancing the effort of trying to win and potentially improve their seed. The Bills coaching staff is still sorting through that process, including at quarterback.
"We talked a little bit (Sunday) night," McDermott said. "Haven't had a lot of time just to isolate those situations — Josh Allen included."
McDermott added that he anticipates having a clearer picture later in the week when practice resumes.
Injury Updates going into Week 18
Speaking of Allen, the quarterback had X-rays on his right foot following Sunday's defeat to the Eagles as he deals with soreness. The X-rays were negative and McDermott shared that Allen appears to be in a better spot physically the day after Week 17 than after the Browns Week 16 game.
"Maybe in a slightly better spot than the early part of last week, like he was. We'll just take it one day at a time and see how he does here through the week," McDermott said.
Buffalo released kicker Michael Badgley from the practice squad Monday afternoon with the anticipation of getting back Matt Prater who has been out the last two games with a right quad injury.
"Prater seems to be moving in the right direction. Don't know for sure yet, but feel like we're heading in the right direction there, and he should be back this week," McDermott said.
LB Terrel Bernard left the first half of the Eagles game with a calf injury and did not return. He has been ruled out by McDermott for the Jets game.
TE Dalton Kincaid, DT Jordan Phillips, DT DaQuan Jones and S Jordan Poyer are all "improving".
