NFL Week 3 Preview: Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins Matchup Preview
The Bills have quietly proceeded to 2-0 after their non-chalant rout of the New York Jets. Oh, you thought it would be a trap game? Funny how that worked out. Nothing went right for the Jets on Sunday—their offense finished with a measly total of 154 net yards. Neither team found much success in the passing game, but it says a lot about how the game is going for you when QB Mitch Trubisky subs in to throw an absolute dot as QB Josh Allen’s nose is being tended to on the sideline. The only thing bloodier than Allen’s nose were QB Justin Fields’ knees as he was being hunted down by DE Joey Bosa—Fields lost two fumbles due to Bosa’s fierce pursuit. He ”finished” the game 3/11 for 27 passing yards and 49 rushing yards before being ruled out with a concussion. The Bills’ defense surprisingly did their job in the absence of DT Ed Oliver and NCB Taron Johnson. Mixed with a bit of good luck in terms of penalties, the Bills’ offense escaped New Jersey not through the air, but on the ground as RB James Cook recorded his first 100 rushing yard game.
The schedulers wasted no time giving the Bills a short week early in the season, but this year they get to host the Miami Dolphins at home on Thursday Night Football. Last year the Bills took over Miami on Amazon Prime and destroyed the Dolphins on national television. Could they do it again? The overwhelming consensus amongst NFL circles is that they will. The Dolphins have not looked good in the first two weeks of the season. They lost to both the Colts and the Patriots, two teams that they would have easily beaten in years past. Prior to the season it was known that the Dolphins’ defense would struggle: they traded CB Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers in return for S Minkah Fitzpatrick, a familiar face. The trade couldn’t have worked out worse for them, as their secondary is absolutely decimated with injury. Starting CB Storm Duck and S Ifeatu Melifonwu have been declared out versus the Bills. This leaves CB Rasul Douglas, a former Bill, as the next man up to start in Duck’s place. S Ashtyn Davis is poised to start in Melifonwu’s absence.
On the Bills’ side of the field, they will be without starting DT Ed Oliver for a second straight game, and LB Matt Milano will also miss Week 3. NCB Taron Johnson has been listed as questionable after missing the game versus the Jets, but he recently said that he is “ready to go.”
Matchups to Watch Out For
Bills’ Offense vs Dolphins’ Defense
The NFL is a week to week league, but if a defense is giving up 33 points to each the Daniel Jones-led Colts and the inexperienced Patriots’ offense, they’re probably not very good. I hope I don’t end up eating my words, but I just can’t see their defense playing any better against the man who has consistently bent them over twice a season for the past seven years. Let’s be real: QB Josh Allen has won AFC Offensive Player of the Week five times versus the Dolphins and he averages 266.9 passing yards per game. If I were a betting woman, I would take the over in this matchup.
Conclusion
Sure, it’s only Week 3, but it seems as though this may be a defining moment in the Dolphins’ season. With an 0-2 record, Miami must come out of Orchard Park with a win or else they’ll face a tough hill to climb to remain relevant in the AFC East. The Bills have played strong as of late and they are looking to carry their momentum forward, albeit at the Dolphins’ expense. Could this be a trap game? The Bills are undefeated on Thursday Night Football with Josh Allen at the helm, so it’s highly unlikely. But the Dolphins may be motivated to take control of the narrative and flip the script in their favor. Will the Bills answer the call?
