NFL Week 7 Picks and Predictions: Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins

Bills – Dolphins
Time: 1 PM ET, Oct 20, 2013
Spread: MIA -7.5
M/L: MIA -300; BUF +250
O/U: 43

Betting Odds Courtesy of 5dimes

The Miami Dolphins are coming off a bye week, but last in play the team lost in back-to-back weeks, and the Dolphins are searching for answers as to how to better protect QB Ryan Tannehill, who has been sacked a lot and his effectiveness plummeted in the two Dolphins losses. In fact, the Dolphins are on pace to set an NFL record for QB sacks, so any spark that was gained by the 3-0 start to the season has been lost since.

It’s not good that the Dolphins now face the third best sack defense in the NFL (21 sacks). If Buffalo is able to consistently rush Tannehill, the 7.5 point spread predicted in favor of the Miami Dolphins by NFL oddsmakers could be incorrect.

The Bills have lost both their last contests to the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals to fall to 2-4 on the season, but fans are encouraged to see a bright young QB in E.J. Manuel. Manuel was pursued by the Bills in the draft to the point that the team traded down to draft him, and he’s thrown for 985 yards on the season with five TDs. Manuel is a great dual-threat QB and has an additional 91 yards on 25 carries. He’ll be out until mid-November, though. The FSU product should be a cornerstone in Buffalo for years to come if he continues to build on his progress.

Instead of Manuel, the Bills will turn to Thad Lewis, who experienced success in the 24-27 loss to Cincinnati. He threw for 216 yards on 59.4 percent passing and threw two interceptions while avoiding being picked. Lewis will still start despite the signing of Matt Flynn, and it’s really anyone’s guess who takes the reigns of the offense the rest of the season.

The Bills rank 3rd in the NFL in rushing yardage per game with Manuel’s contribution rounding out the solid production of C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson, who both have combined for nearly 700 yards on the season. Spiller is nursing a sore ankle but is probable for the game.