In the wide range of storylines surrounding Sunday’s Cincinnati Bengals divisional round game. On the road against the Buffalo Bills. There are seven intriguing matchups that will influence this game.

Logan Wilson and Josh Allen

Sunday’s game will feature a college reunion for Buffalo Bills quarterback and Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson. They were Wyoming Football teammates from 2015-2017. Allen is by far the most famous Wyoming alumni currently in the NFL. Wilson is one of Cincinnati’s key defensive players. He played a pivotal part in Sam Hubbard’s fumble recovery touchdown last Sunday. Wilson prevented a Baltimore Ravens touchdown through knocking the ball away from the goal line. Forcing Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley to fumble the ball that Hubbard took to the house.

Joe Burrow and Josh Allen

Among the many storylines going into the Bengals and Bills January 2nd game. One of the biggest was the first matchup between quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Josh Allen. Even though we have a small sample size to analyze from that game. Due to the game being suspended and later cancelled. After Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest in the first quarter. The short sample size of Allen vs. Burrow on January 2nd lived up to the hype.

Joe Mixon and Devin Singletary

Running backs Joe Mixon and Devin Singletary lead their teams in rushing yards. Singletary led the Bills with 819 rushing yards in the regular season. Mixon led the Bengals with 814 regular season rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Both led their respective teams in rushing yards on Super Wild Card Weekend too. Helping make the Bills and Bengals two of the most complete teams in the AFC.

Ja’Marr Chase and Stefon Diggs

Ja’Marr Chase and Stefon Diggs lead their teams in receiving yards. On teams that have a wide range of options receiving-wise. In the regular season, Chase led fellow Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins by just 17 receiving yards. Higgins and Chase have over 1,000 receiving yards. Meanwhile, Diggs is the only Bills player this season with over 1,000 receiving yards and double-digit receiving touchdowns.

Evan McPherson and Tyler Bass

In a matchup featuring two dynamic quarterbacks and defensive units. This Sunday’s game could come down to the kickers. Bengals kicker Evan McPherson has mostly avoided a sophomore slump. After a rookie season where he had two game-winning playoff field goals. While the Bills offense often keeps kicker Tyler Bass out of the spotlight. Bass made a significant difference in last week’s Bills wild card game. Making a field goal to give Buffalo the lead at halftime; after Buffalo blew a 17-0 lead against the Miami Dolphins.

Nyheim Hines and Sam Hubbard

Hines and Hubbard were at the center of the two biggest plays of the last two weeks. Hines returned the opening kickoff for a Bills touchdown. In Buffalo’s regular season finale at home against the New England Patriots. Their first game since Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest. Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard made NFL Playoffs history last Sunday; with his 98-yard fumble recovery touchdown.

The Bengals offensive line and the Bills defense

Cincinnati’s offensive line heads into Sunday in perhaps the roughest shape it’s been in this season. With three injuries in the last month. Most recently, left tackle Jonah Williams suffered a knee injury in last Sunday’s game. Now the Bengals face the AFC’s top defense still in the postseason field. Buffalo gave up a conference low 17.9 points per game during the regular season.

Much like the Bengals offensive line, the Bills defense is navigating through injuries. Bills linebacker Von Miller is on injured reserve. Along with safeties Damar Hamlin and Micah Hyde. Their fellow Bills safety Jordan Poyer’s status is unspecified. Poyer is one of five Buffalo defensive players whose status is unspecified going into Friday afternoon.

Along with all of these matchups, there are other fascinating storylines heading into Sunday’s game. From the outpouring of support for Damar Hamlin. The close bond between Bengals and Bills fans that deepened after Hamlin collapsed and as he recovers. The weather will be a topic because it’s a January game in Buffalo. Plus, Sunday’s game is one of the most highly anticipated rematches, in a divisional weekend full of regular season rematches.

Sunday’s game between the Bengals and Bills is set to kickoff at 3 PM Eastern on CBS. The Bengals radio call can be heard on WLW-AM (700), WCKY-AM (1530) and WEBN-FM (102.7).