The Buffalo Bills are playing better than any team that’s scheduled to take the field on 2021 NFL Wild-Card Weekend. It’s why the AFC East champs are heavy favorites over the visiting Indianapolis Colts in their first-round playoff matchup.

The Bills are seven-point favorites against the Colts in Saturday afternoon’s game, according to the betting odds compiled by OddsShark. Indianapolis finished two games behind Buffalo in the AFC standings, and it will take a massive effort in order for the Colts to pull off the upset.

No team has even challenged the Bills during their six-game winning streak to conclude the regular season. Buffalo defeated every opponent by double digits, winning by an average score of 38-18 during that span.

Had it not been for Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray’s Hail Mary, an unlikely last-second touchdown pass to beat the Bills in Week 11, Buffalo would enter the playoffs on a 10-game winning streak.

Josh Allen has performed like an MVP candidate, throwing for 37 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 107.2 passer rating. The third-year quarterback added eight rushing touchdowns, engineering the NFL’s No.2 ranked offense.

Veteran QB Philip Rivers had a fine season in his first year with the Colts, though the gap between Buffalo’s quarterback and Indianapolis’ starter is a significant one.

It’s been over two months since any defense came close to slowing down Buffalo’s offense. Indianapolis’ defense was better than most during the season. It wasn’t nearly as good in the season half of the year, especially against difficult competition.

The Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders all had success against the Colts in the final few weeks of the season, averaging a combined 34.3 points per game.

Buffalo’s defense has improved as the season has gone along. The Bills last gave up more than 26 points on Nov. 15. Only four teams held opposing quarterbacks to a lower passer rating than the Bills.

The betting total for Saturday's game is 52.

Home-field advantage has meant very little this NFL season. Buffalo might actually have an edge Saturday with 6,700 fans allowed to be in attendance. In 30-degree weather, the Bills will host a Colts’ team that plays its home games in a dome.

All signs are pointing toward the Bills reaching the second round of the playoffs for the first time in 25 years.

Prediction: Buffalo over Indianapolis, 30-20

Josh Allen Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills looks to pass while pressured by Alex Highsmith #56 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter in the game at Bills Stadium on December 13, 2020 in Orchard Park, New York. Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images
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