This matchup is a tale of teams moving in similar directions, in a now wide-open AFC East. The Buffalo Bills (1-0) travel south to take on the Miami Dolphins (0-1) in a divisional clash.
The Bills had an impressive Week 1 performance, beating the New York Jets 27-17. Third-year quarterback Josh Allen was impressive, going 33-46 with 312 yards and two touchdowns. His newest weapon, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, finished with eight catches for 86 yards. Bills head coach Sean McDermott has been talking about how much trust Allen has earned from the coaching staff since this time last year.
The defense of the Bills, which finished in the top three in multiple categories in 2019, is the driving force of the teams’ success. They only allowed 257 total yards last week and recorded three sacks. The secondary was aggressive all game long.
Last week, the Dolphins lost 21-11 against the New England Patriots. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick struggled last week but could turn it around against the Bills based on his previous success against his former team. He has a 90+ passer rating in three of his last four games against them. Wide receiver Devante Parker has been limited this week in practice due to a hamstring injury but he should be good to play. In his last three home games, he has 3+ receptions and 110+ receiving yards.
The defense was exposed last week against Cam Newton, allowing him to rush for 75 yards on 15 carries. Allen is another big-bodied, mobile quarterback who could expose their defense on the ground. They will need to find ways to contain him on the outside.
Game Info
Date: Sunday, September 20.
Start Time: 1:00 PM E.T.
Location: Miami Gardens, Florida.
Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium
TV Info: CBS
Betting Odds Sponsored by Jazz Sportsbook
Point Spread: BUF -5.5 (-110) | MIA +5.5 (-110)
Moneyline: BUF -255 | MIA +205
Over/Under: O 41 (-110) | U 41 (-110)
The Dolphins are an improved team this year, but there’s a feeling that they’re waiting for rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to take over and be a spark plug for them. -5.5 is a solid bet for the Bills, who should be at least a touchdown better than the Dolphins. Also, 41 is a solid number in this game, but the under is the safer bet.
Prediction:
The Bills are the favorites in the AFC East. They have the better quarterback, coaching staff, and gameplan. There shouldn’t be many opportunities for the Dolphins to score on this defense, barring a Fitz-magic type performance.
Final Score: Bills 24, Dolphins 17
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Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
