The Final Game at Highmark Stadium

The Buffalo Bills have secured their spot in the playoffs, but the playoffs won’t be coming to Buffalo. This final game at the current Highmark Stadium is set to be a mix of emotions, with more tears than cheers, not because of the football itself. Week 18 has arrived, and the Bills are hosting the Jets, setting the stage for some predictions.

Prediction #1 – James Cook, Rushing King

In what seems like an insignificant Week 18 game, with a playoff spot already secured and no major goals left to achieve, the focus will likely be on the Bills’ running game. They’ve relied on it all season, and it will continue to be their main strategy until Wild Card Weekend.

James Cook is in contention for the NFL’s 2025 rushing title. With 1606 rushing yards, he leads the league by 47 yards over Jonathan Taylor and 137 yards over Derrick Henry. While the battle is his to lose, he’ll need to defend his position.

Taylor plays before the Bills, so we can track how many total rushing yards he needs to retake the lead. Derrick Henry remains a contender, facing the Steelers on Sunday Night Football with the AFC North crown on the line. The 137-yard cushion isn’t significant with Henry on your heels—Cook will need to add to that to win his title.

Jonathan Taylor has averaged 97.4 yards per game this season. Derrick Henry ran for a season-best 216 yards and 4 touchdowns just last week. To beat those feats, Cook needs 50 yards or 79 yards, respectively. We believe Cook will achieve that and possibly more.

Prediction #2 – A Lopsided Clock

The Buffalo Bills are a run-first team. This has been the focus of their offense all season and will continue into the postseason. Their average time of possession is second-best in the NFL. A game plan that feeds James Cook and other RBs the ball as much as possible, while keeping Josh Allen safe, naturally creates a notable clock disparity.

The Jets are one of the NFL’s worst possession teams. Their inability to string together drives, regardless of who plays at quarterback, is just one of many issues the New Jersey franchise faced this season. With a premium draft pick within reach, the Jets don’t care to fix it this week.

Prediction #3 – Final Score

Buffalo will run the final home game at Highmark Stadium into the record books with a James Cook masterpiece. It won’t be high-flying, outrageous, or even that significant. However, it will matter. For Bills fans everywhere, they go out with a win.

Prediction: Bills ground out a 31 – 17 win over the Jets.

Additional News and Analysis

• Bills make Week 18 roster elevation move that fans have been waiting for
• Projected Super Bowl matchup has Bills facing off against perfect opponent
• Recent Maxx Crosby report should have Bills picking up the phone immediately
• Bills’ final tuneup before playoffs comes with three glaring priorities to address