By Mike Rifkin
The narrative surrounding the Miami Dolphins is that they haven’t been able to win the big game. Well, they can start to change that narrative on Thursday night when they host the Buffalo Bills. In week 18 of the 2023 season the two teams battled to see who would win the AFC East and the Bills prevailed 21-14. A major key was the Bills possessed the ball for almost 40 minutes, while the Dolphins had it for slightly under 22 minutes.
Keys To the game : Bills
- Will someone on the outside step up? Last week against the Cardinals, Bills receivers stats were very balanced. This is the first meeting between the two teams since the trade of Stefon Diggs, who was a Dolphin killer. Diggs had 670 yards and six touchdowns in eight games against the Dolphins. Khalil Shakir did have 100 yards in week 18 last season.
- Make The Dolphins one dimensional : Everything the Dolphins do on offense is about one thing: speed. If the Bills can stop the run, and make the Dolphins one dimensional they can sit back and not allow Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle beat them.
Keys to the game : Dolphins
- David Long and Jordyn Brooks – Let’s be honest Josh Allen has owned the Dolphins over his career with 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his career. But why are the two inside linebackers a key? The Dolphins cannot allow Allen’s legs to beat them, he will do damage with his arm, but his legs were a massive weapon in week 18 last season so containing his running ability is a massive key.
- Run the Ball – What’s another way to beat Josh Allen let him hangout on the sideline and run the ball. The Dolphins struggled against the Jags to get the run going. The Cardinals had 124 rushing yards and averaged 5.0 yards per carry in week one, if the Dolphins can take a page out of that book that’d be beneficial.
The Bills have won eight of the last nine meetings, and if the Dolphins truly want to change this narrative this is as much of a must win in week two that there will be.
Prediction
Bills – 24 – Dolphins : 21
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