After creating havoc all over the field in a 37-3 win over the Washington Commanders, Buffalo will look to continue its dominance when it hosts AFC East rival Miami. This will be the toughest test of the season so far for both teams. After a rough start, the Bills defense settled in during the second quarter as Matt Milano forced a fumble from Raheem Mostert and Terrel Bernard recovered it. Tyler Bass then nailed a 53-yard field goal.
The Dolphins’ Offense
With a healthy mix of playmakers and elite speed, it’s no wonder the Dolphins lead the NFL in total offense. This team isn’t a one-dimensional threat, and Mike McDaniel has done a good job of using his talent to maximize it. After a first drive that saw some good plays and some bad, Miami punted to give Buffalo the ball back. The Bills got a good field position, but a facemask penalty and another false start stalled the drive. A 3rd-and-20 screen pass attempt to Diggs was batted down by cornerback Byron Jones.
The second drive started well for the Bills as a Singletary run picked up two yards, followed by a nifty double-move with Allen and Davis that saw both players gain six yards. The Bills moved the ball to the Miami 20-yard line before settling for a field goal. The kick was good. The score was tied at halftime. Both teams are looking to put their stamp on the game early.
The Bills’ Defense
The Bills have shown they can be a force to be reckoned with defensively. They didn’t allow a single touchdown from scrimmage in Week 3 against Sam Howell and the Commanders. However, they’ll face a far more daunting task on Sunday against Tua Tagovailoa and the dolphin vs bills game high-octane attack. A penalty ruins Miami’s first drive of the game, backing them up to third-and-20. Tagovailoa throws a screen pass to Raheem Mostert, who is stuffed for only a yard.
Buffalo’s nickel defense is a lot different this year. Cornerback Germain Ifedi has taken on more of an in-your-face role, while a healthy Matt Milano provides sideline-to-sideline speed that can help match up with Miami’s speedy receiver corps. The key will be getting consistent pressure on Tagovailoa. The Bills’ leaky run defense needs to improve as well. That could be a tough task against Miami’s running back duo of Jaylen Waddle and Mostert, who are both ripping off big gains at the line of scrimmage.
The Dolphins’ Special Teams
As the NFL’s top scoring team, Miami will try to keep rolling against a Buffalo defense that has looked ferocious in the first two weeks. This is a must-watch game in the AFC East with plenty on the line for both teams. The Dolphins’ rushing attack is very dangerous thanks to the combination of RB Raheem Mostert and lightning-quick rookie TE De’Von Achane. They’re averaging 6.1 Y/A, over half a yard more than the next-best team and more than a full yard ahead of Buffalo, who ranks third.
The Dolphins’ success in the running game is a testament to the depth of their offensive line. Even without starting LT Joey Williams, Terron Armstead has been excellent and FB Mike Ford is a reliable option who excels at taking blockers head-on. This is not a group that will allow the Bills’ dominant run-stopping duo of Leonard Floyd and DaQuan Jones to exploit them.
The Bills’ Offense
The Bills’ offense has been great, a trend that was cemented last week against Howell and the Commanders. The key will be continuing to do so against a good Miami defense. That means getting immediate push up the middle to disrupt Tagovailoa’s quick read throws and making it difficult for him to find open receivers. The pass rush will also have to be great in the red zone.
Stefon Diggs has been a big part of that, and he’s just ripped off a beautiful pattern for his third touchdown of the game. Keep an eye on him — if he can get past Xavien Howard and the coverage team he should be able to make some big plays downfield. He’s a dangerous playmaker and the Bills need to make sure he doesn’t have too many opportunities to turn this game into a blowout.
Conclusion
The Dolphins travel to Buffalo for a game that could be a playoff decider. Tua Tagovailoa and the offense will face a top-notch defense led by Josh Allen. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on CBS. Cable and satellite subscribers can watch the game on the CBS Sports app or via Paramount + (subscription required).