The Buffalo Bills are playing with house money in Week 18. Many Bills players are playing for extra cash.
Buffalo has already clinched the No. 2 seed in the AFC and is resting several of its starters against the New England Patriots in Week 18.
Other guys on the rosters are near big contractual incentives. Some contracts include verbiage to include pay increases for reaching statistical milestones.
Here are the Bills who unlocked bonuses in the season finale, according to Spotrac.
Von Miller – Makes $1.5 million with sixth sack of season
That was easy.
Miller entered the game with five sacks, and six in a season gives him an extra $1.5 million. He leveled up on the third play of the game.
Miller raked at the shoulder of New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who tripped on a lineman’s foot and fell to the ground. Miller was credited with a sack.
Mack Hollins earns $50k with two receptions
Hollins reached 30 receptions on the year with two catches in the first quarter.
Hollins, who leads Buffalo with five touchdown receptions, is on a cap-friendly one-year, $2.6 million deal.
Sam Martin makes $100k with incredible downed punt
Sam Martin owes teammate Ja’Marcus Ingram dinner, or at least a bucket of wings.
The Bills punter entered the game one punt inside the 20-yard line from an extra $100,00. He had a chance on the last play of the second quarter but was just short. Buffalo faced fourth-and-8 at their 42-yard line with nine seconds left. Martin’s punt went 34 yards to the Patriots’ 24-yard line.
Bills coach Sean McDermott gave Martin another chance in the third quarter. McDermott punted from the Patriots’ 35-yard line instead of attempting a long field goal. Martin’s punt looked destined for the end zone but Ja’Marcus Ingram didn’t give up on the ball, batting it back in play as he lunged into the end zone. Ingram slapped the ball to the Patriots’ 6-yard line for Martin’s 25th punt inside the 20-yard line this season.
“I feel good for Sam,” McDermott said in his postgame press conference. “You’d like to be able to kick a field goal there. It felt like it was outside of T-Bass’ line at that point. Felt better about going in the other direction. That’s important when you can create field position. Happy for Sam.
“Great effort from (Ingram). Ja’Marcus is just a great guy to have on the team and in the program.”
James Cook ties Bills franchise rushing touchdown record
James Cook is playing for glory, not money. Cook was put back into the game on second-and-goal from the Patriots’ 1-yard line to score his 16th rushing touchdown of the season, tying Buffalo’s single-season franchise record.
O.J. Simpson ran for 16 touchdowns for Buffalo in 1975.
Buffalo players who are inactive despite potential incentives
Cornerback Taron Johnson, who is one interception from a $250,000 incentive, is inactive against New England. Johnson has two interceptions and needed three for the incentive achievement. Also inactive is defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, who was a half sack from $250,000 for three sacks on the season.
Bills players who could earn big paydays with incentives in Week 18
- Von Miller, LB: Needs one sack for a $1,500,000 incentive
- Taron Johnson, CB: Needs one interception for a $250,000 incentive
- Dawson Knox, TE: Needs eight receptions and 89 receiving yards for a $200,000 incentive; makes $250k if plays 60% of snaps this season
- DaQuan Jones, DT: Needs 0.5 sacks for a $250,000 incentive
- A.J. Epenesa, DE: Makes $350k if plays 60% of snaps this year
- Taylor Rapp: Needs one interception for $150k incentive
- Sam Martin, P: Makes 100k with one punt inside 20-yard line
- Cam Lewis: Earns $100k incentive if plays 60% of snaps this season
- Dawuane Smoot, DE: Earns $200k incentive if plays 40% of snaps this year
