Miami Dolphins fans are enjoying the win, even if it was ugly, over the New York Jets.
Now the 3-10 Buffalo Bills are coming to Miami, and on paper it looks like the Dolphins may finally win back-to-back games since starting the season 2-0.
Do not let the 3-10 record fool you. The Bills have played a lot of really good teams tough.
Overtime losses to the Ravens, Chiefs, and Steelers (Do not talk to Steve Johnson about that one). The Bills also have a three point loss to the Bears and an eight point loss to the Patriots in New England on their resume.
The Bills only lost 15-10 to the Dolphins in the first meeting and also did something last week that the Dolphins could not do; beat the Cleveland Browns.
Granted, close does not make you a good team, the Bills are 3-10 for a reason. The Bills have not figured out how to close out games yet. Therefore, the Dolphins should win, just do not expect it to be easy.
When Miami has the ball:
One match-up this week that favors the Bills, is their pass defense v. Miami's passing attack. The Bills' pass defense ranks fourth in the NFL only giving up 197.5 yards per game. Chad Henne and the Miami passing attack (or lack of attack) only mustered 30 yards passing last week against the Jets. The Dolphins only had 164 yards passing against the Bills in the season opener as well.
Even if the Bills do shut down Miami's air attack, the Dolphins should have no problems running the ball. The Bills rank dead last in the NFL in rush defense, so a heavy dose of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams should be in the Dolphins game plan.
Side note: The Dolphins and the Seattle Seahawks are the only teams in the NFL to not have a 100 yard rusher in a game. This is Miami's best chance to change that.
When Buffalo has the ball:
The Miami defense ranks fifth in the NFL in total defense, and have been the strong point for Miami all season. Early in the season Miami's defense did show a weakness to the deep passes, but that has since been improved (cutting loose Jason Allen helped). Buffalo will be without its best deep threats in Lee Evans and Roscoe Parrish, who were placed on IR (both have been thorns in the Dolphins side in the past), but the Bills have developed a good young WR in Steve Johnson.
A missing Evans and Parrish means the Dolphins will be better able to stack the box to slow down the Bills 12th ranked rushing offense which gets 114.4 yards per game. Fred Jackson has had a great year, but there probably just won't be any room for him to run.
The Bills' offensive line has been shuffled a lot and has not performed very well. That should mean Cam Wake to have another big game for the Dolphins.
Side note: Despite the injuries, the Dolphins cannot sleep on Ryan Fitzpatrick. He adds a running dimension, which the Dolphins have struggled with running QBs in the past. While much of the talk is about Chad Henne and Mark Sanchez; Fitzpatrick is a higher rated passer than both (Fitzpatrick 19th, Henne 26th, Sanchez 28th).
Special Teams:
Brandon Fields is coming off probably his best game as a Miami Dolphin averaging 56.4 yards per punt. Dan Carpenter has been consistent all season and with Roscoe Parrish out of the lineup the kick coverage team should have an easier time.
However, CJ Spiller is coming off his best game as a punt returner.
Conclusion:
While the Dolphins-Bills rivalry is not as intense as it was in the 1990s, this game will still be played with a lot of intensity. The Dolphins had better match the Bills intensity or else the Fins could be embarrassed at home, again.
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