Dolphins CB Xavien Howard to miss crucial game vs. Bills

The Miami Dolphins will be without their two-time All-Pro cornerback in a tilt for the AFC East.

On Friday, coach Mike McDaniel confirmed that Xavien Howard will not play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Howard was carted off early in Sunday's loss against the Ravens after suffering a foot injury and did not practice all week.

Howard, a former four-time Pro Bowl and NFL interception leader, will finish the season with 45 combined tackles, nine assisted, and one interception; near identical stats as the year prior. Eli Apple will step into Howard's role as Jalen Ramsey will likely shadow Bills' wideout Stefon Diggs in the crucial Sunday nighter.

Losing one of their top cornerbacks could't come at a worse time for the Dolphins (11-5), who have been unable to ice the AFC East, meaning Sunday's game between the two AFC East rivals has a multitude of outcomes that could shake up the NFL Playoffs.

If the Dolphins defeat the Bills, they will clinch the division and finish the No. 2 seed behind the Baltimore Ravens, and face either the Pittsburgh Steelers or have a rematch with the Bills. If they lose, they'll slide to No. 6 seed in the playoffs.

The game gets far more interesting when you look at the variety of outcomes that could happen surrounding Josh Allen and the Bills (10-6). If the Bills win, they win the division and will grab the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

If the Bills lose to the Dolphins, they would drop to a 6-6 conference record, the worst amongst teams that are also in the hunt for the playoffs. If the Pittsburgh Steelers win against the Lamar Jackson-less Ravens, and if the Jacksonville Jaguars handle their business against the Tennessee Titans, the Bills could miss the playoffs entirely, as long as the Indianapolis Colts-Houston Texans game doesn't end in a tie.

This means Sunday's game very well could be win the division or be eliminated from post-season contention for Buffalo.