In an inner-division matchup, the Buffalo Bills will head to Miami to take on the Dolphins. Coming in fresh off of their fourth straight victory at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers the Bills sit at (4-2) while the Miami Dolphins upset the Pittsburgh Steelers to pick up their second win of the season as they improved to (2-4). The Bills currently are second in the division and as it stands right now would make the playoffs, as a wildcard while Miami is third in the division and on the outside looking in. This will be the first of two matchups between the two teams this season, a season series that the Bills swept in dominant fashion outscoring the Dolphins 74-31.
Over the past four weeks, the Bills have quietly been one of the best team in football as the only team with a longer winning streak thus far has been the Minnesota Vikings. The most recent win, that a 45-16 victory over the Bills over the San Francisco 49ers was their most lopsided of the season. The Bills outplayed the 49ers in nearly ever aspect of the game, relying on the same winning formula of ground and pound and a stiff defensive front. This old school style football has truly suited the Bills nicely as they currently rank first in the league in rushing yards with over 160 yards per game and rank in the top five in points scored and given up.
The run game on Sunday looks to be an area where the Bills will look to take advantage of, as the Bills will go up against former Bill, Mario Williams and the Miami defense who has given up 147 rush yards per game good enough for near dead last in the league. “Some of our issues as far as what has happened to us on defense is we’ve done such a poor job on offense that we left those guys out on the field,” said Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase. “When you’re taking on the blockers that they are the amount of times they are, I think our guys got worn down a little earlier than what we needed to.”
The Dolphins defense may have caught a break as LeSean McCoy has been ruled out for the game with a hamstring injury. McCoy, leads the team in rushing to this point as well is second on the team in receptions and receiving yards. Currently second in the league in rushing yards on the season McCoy has been picking up huge chunks of yardage for the Bills with 5.6 yards per carry. “Definitely losing a player like Shady definitely hurts the team. Anytime you lose a guy with his type of ability on the field it definitely hurts, but I think he will be okay and we also have running backs back there; Reggie, Mike, Jonathan that are ready to step up and take the challenge,” said Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Backup running back Mike Gillislee looks to be the feature back with Reggie Bush and Jonathan Williams picking up carries in McCoy’s absence.
As the Bills offense prepares to lose its table-setter in McCoy, the defense looks to be gaining one of its own back in the potential debut of Shaw Lawson for the Bills. Lawson, the Bills first round pick in this year’s draft has been hampered by a shoulder injury. In his absence, Lorenzo Alexander has stepped up to lead the league in sacks on the season essentially playing in Lawson’s position. “You’ve got those guys, Jerry (Hughes) being here for a long time, and Zo just got here. But them two guys are unstoppable. Learning from those guys will help me be a better player in the long run and things like that. Us three together on the field, me with those guys, it might be special,” explained Lawson.
With an 8-plus-turnover differential, the Bills defense has been exceptionally strong at making plays this season. Going against a Dolphins offense led by Ryan Tannehill, who has already thrown seven picks compared to only 6 touchdowns on the season looks like a dream scenario for this defensive unit. Without their top offensive performer in McCoy and perhaps also being without top receiver Robert Woods, the Bills defense in terms of necessity to carry the load may have their toughest matchup of the season against the Dolphins. Though with a win on Sunday the Bills can make the AFC East a two-team race for the division title with them remaining one game behind the Patriots.
