The Miami Dolphins welcome their division rival Sunday as they prepare to face off against against the Buffalo Bills. Both teams enter the game as one of the six undefeated teams remaining in the NFL.
Dolphins/Bills By the Numbers
In recent years, the Bills have owned their matchup with the Dolphins, rattling off seven straight wins against Miami. The last time the Dolphins beat the Bills came back in 2018 when Miami won 21-17.
Since Sean McDermott took over as coach of the Bills, Buffalo is 9-1 against the Dolphins. Bills quarterback Josh Allen is 7-1 against the Fins in his career.
Josh Allen’s career stats vs the Dolphins:
▪️1,980 yards
▪️21 TDs
▪️5 INTs
▪️106.8 passer rating
▪️7-1 record#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/3hFSHMJfGw— Jarrett Bailey (@JBaileyNFL) September 20, 2022
When the teams met last season in Miami, the Bills trounced the Dolphins by a score of 35-0.
Not the Same Old Dolphins
Although Miami has struggled with the Bills in recent years, this is not the same Fins team.
New head coach Mike McDaniel has made a splash in his first two games. In his first two weeks as head coach, McDaniel has defeated two Super Bowl winning head coaches in Bill Belichick and John Harbaugh.
Mike McDaniel’s career off to a decent start. Knocks off Bill Belichick and John Harbaugh.
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) September 18, 2022
In their comeback win against the Ravens, McDaniel turned to his playmakers to get his team back in the game.
Down 35-14 in the fourth quarter, Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa strung together four consecutive touchdown passes to power the Dolphins to a 42-38 comeback win over Baltimore. Receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill made history in that game, being the first pair of receivers on the same team to have 170+ receiving yards and two touchdowns in the same game.
Teammates to have 150+ Receiving Yards, 10+ Receptions, & 2+ Receiving TD in the same game in NFL history:
Jaylen Waddle & Tyreek Hill – Today
That’s it. pic.twitter.com/Mlw3NCgF1M
— Greg Harvey (@BetweenTheNums) September 18, 2022
Allen to Diggs connection
The Dolphins will be tasked with defending arguably the most lethal quarterback to wide receiver duo in the league.
In just two games so far this season, Stefon Diggs has compiled 20 catches for 270 yards and four touchdowns. Diggs ranks second in the league in receiving yards behind Hill.
NFL receiving yards leaders:
Tyreek Hill 284
Stefon Diggs 270
Jaylen Waddle 240 pic.twitter.com/vDbxCq6SR8— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) September 22, 2022
In the Bills’ two wins against the Dolphins last season, Diggs scored a touchdown in each game. In Diggs’ five career games against Miami, he has only failed to catch a touchdown one time. Diggs will look to keep this trend going on Sunday as he should be defended by cornerback Xavien Howard.
Josh Allen to Stefon Diggs this season: 20/22 270 yards 4 TD
They've thrown Diggs 2 passes beyond 20 air yards: 2/2 99 yards 2 TDs
— Travis Wingfield (@WingfieldNFL) September 21, 2022
Bills Defensive Playmakers Out Sunday
Miami catches a break on Sunday as the Bills will be without two of their best defensive players. Safety Micah Hyde and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips are both listed as out for Sunday’s game.
Hyde left Monday’s game with a neck injury and did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday. Phillips also left Monday’s game early with a hamstring injury. He has not practiced all week.
Bills HC Sean McDermott says S Micah Hyde and DT Jordan Phillips are OUT Sunday vs. Dolphins. Both huge losses for Buffalo D going against Dolphins offense.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) September 23, 2022
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.