The Buffalo Bills are in a position of winning and still missing the playoffs on Sunday. What has been at times an up-and-down year for this Bills team, consistent good play is looking to yield itself. Although unlikely that the Buffalo Bills will miss out on the postseason at this point, the seeding game is still very much up for grabs.
Buffalo Bills Face Off At Hard Rock Stadium
For better or worse, the Buffalo Bills increased offensive success came with two important changes. Joe Brady took over the offensive coordinator duties, and the run game became a greater vocal point of the offense. Now looking for the win at Miami, Vegas has the Bills favored by a field goal, a custom that is usually deserved for the home team. Will the Bills come home to Western New York as the number-one team in the AFC East?
It’s possible. The Dolphins losing Bradley Chubb will certainly help, as he is a proven defensive player, and would have been one of the more proven options to hope to slow down this Josh Allen-led offense. But this matchup provides an interesting strength-on-strength aspect to watch for on Sunday.
The Buffalo Bills are strong in the run game, whether using James Cook, or Allen as a scrambler, this running attack has proven difficult for opposing defenses to handle. Before losing Chubb, however, the Dolphins posted top defensive stats, allowing a seventh-best 95.1 yards per game against. The lingering question will be if the sum of the parts will be able to fill the void left behind by Chubb’s absence.
Buffalo Bills Defense Against The Dolphins
When fully healthy, the Dolphins pose one of the more explosive offenses in the NFL, especially at home. But for any teams rooting for a Miami home field, or the rooting interests of other fan bases regarding a Buffalo Bills win, the injury report is not looking kind.
Among others, Tyreek Hill, Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane, and Jaylen Waddle have either not practiced or were limited in the week leading up to the action. Against a strong Buffalo Bills defense that is continuing to improve as the season goes on, aspects are looking bright for the Bills Mafia.
Either a Dolphins team with limited time to get cohesive with play or a lineup with newer active participants. Either way, Tua Tagovailoa, who himself has injury concerns, will likely not have the full array of weapons available to him that this squad can utilize at full strength.
Buffalo Bills Rising
Even if the Dolphins can get fully healthy, these are two teams that are currently on different season trajectories. The Bills are playing their best football of the year, while the Dolphins have struggled as of late, especially against the better teams.
That being said, this will be a game that both teams will have full incentive to give their best effort considering the playoff implications that they have to play for.
In a game that could go either way, with health, and how the two teams are playing, the safer bet would be to take the Bills as road favorites.