- WHERE: Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens, Florida.
- WHEN: 8:15 p.m. ET | Prime Video, NFL+
The Bills and Dolphins both won in Week 1, erasing 14-point deficits to salvage hard-fought home victories. Now the two AFC East rivals face off Thursday in Week 2 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium looking to make a quick turnaround.
The head-to-head battle has been dominated by the Bills in recent years, with Buffalo winning 11 of the last 12 meetings, including one in the postseason. The Dolphins’ only win during that span was in Week 3 at Miami in 2022 as the clock ran out Josh Allen and the Bills, who possibly wanted to win the game.
Last season, the Bills crushed the Dolphins in Week 4 in Buffalo, but then beat them in Week 18 in Miami in a crucial game before the playoffs.
Now they have a chance to get a leg up in the AFC East. The Bills have won the division five years in a row and six of the last seven. The Dolphins have been waiting for their chance to beat them.
Allen has also surpassed Tua Tagovailoa in most of their head-to-head matchups, but Tagovailoa remains one of the league’s most efficient passers in Mike McDaniel’s wide-open system. This could be his and the Dolphins’ best chance to flip the script on the Bills compared to their last matchups.
Here are four things to watch for when the Bills visit the Dolphins on Thursday night on Prime Video and NFL+:
- Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa hope to do everything right against the Bills. It was an eventful Week 1 for Hill, who was arrested by police on his way to Sunday’s game and then scored a dramatic 80-yard touchdown that helped the Dolphins win over Jacksonville. Hill (7-130-1 pass receiver) and Jaylen Waddle both had big games, and they will likely put pressure on a Bills defense that struggled early last week and lost nickel cornerback Taron Johnson to injuries. Since Johnson is out, Danielle Lewis (who allowed five catches against Arizona) will likely take his place. For whatever reason, Tagovailoa and Hill weren’t always at their best against the Bills in the regular season (though Hill had big games against them in the playoffs). But keeping both receivers under control and putting pressure on Tagovailoa will be difficult. Sean McDermott’s defense has rarely blitzed Tua before, so we can expect something similar in this game, with mostly zone coverage to try to prevent home run shots over the top. Either way, CBs Rasul Douglas And Christian Benford will have their hands full, especially at low stakes.
- Josh Allen tries to continue to harm Miami D. Last week against the Cardinals, Allen lost a fumble in the first half but recovered, completing 18 of 23 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns, while scoring two more scores. Compared to the first few weeks of recent years, this was the cleanest start to a season he’s had in recent memory. Despite Allen’s career success against the Dolphins, this will be a tough test in Miami because of the short week. But in Allen’s final four regular-season games against Miami, he averaged more than 350 passing yards with a 12-2 touchdown integrity ratio; he also impacted all four plays with his legs. The Dolphins arguably have a less talented defense than they did a year ago, but new coordinator Anthony Weaver led a mostly good early performance. The Jaguars looked functional in the first half against the Dolphins defense last week, but went ice cold after halftime. The only good attack they had was nullified by a brilliant punchout from the safety. Jevon Hollandone of the best safeties in the league. Linebacker David Long And Jaelan Phillips also had good first appearances, and Miami’s secondary appears to be in good shape. This will be the first time that the Bills’ long-time safety Jordan Poyernow with Miami, has faced Allen and the Bills since he left last offseason. Allen distributed the ball to nine different receivers in Week 1, but may want to target tight end. Dalton Kincaid than the mere two he had against Arizona.
- The Dolphins’ running game needs new momentum. Raheem Mostert (chest) was ruled out for Thursday, and De’Von Achane (ankle) will be a game-time decision, according to head coach Mike McDaniel. Achane, officially questionable for TNFhad only 24 yards (a third of his 2023 game average) on 10 carries, and Mostert ran just six times for 9 yards. The Dolphins got a late boost from Jeff Wilsonwhose first contact didn’t come until less than nine minutes remained in the game, but he finished with a team-best 26 yards on five carries, most of them on the tying drive. With Mostert out and Achane potentially limited, Wilson — who has four 20-carry games in his career — is expected to take over. Achane made his name more as a receiver, catching all seven passes aimed at him for 76 yards, including a 34-yard catch-and-run on the opening drive. He could be a serious threat to Buffalo’s linebackers and safeties if given a chance. The Bills mostly kept Arizona’s RBs James Conner And Trey Benson in check, but Achane’s speed would pose a next-level threat.
- Can Greg Rousseau bolster the Bills’ defense? The Bills defense seemed lost against the Cardinals for a few series, but eventually settled down. A big reason was the play of Rousseau, who had three sacks and a forced fumble – the kind of game-winning performance we’ve been waiting for from him. Rousseau had three previous two-sack games in his career, two of them against Miami. He got his first sack on an inside rush against the Dolphins in Week 4 of last year. Isaiah Wynnwho is on the injured list; his second goal against … was not blocked. Kendall Lambnow a backup. Miami has a first-class tackle pair in AustinJackson And Terron Armstead. Both allowed a sack in Week 1, but Jackson and Armstead both finished their games strong overall and helped wear down the Jaguars. The Bills need all the rush power and disruption they can find. Buffalo’s back seven had some breakdowns in coverage and in pursuit on Sunday; the longer they had to drop into coverage (or gain ground), the more dangerous they looked. It will be quick to get all of that done by Thursday, but a strong pass rush can cure many ills.
