Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
Time: 4:25 PM ET (CBS)
Spread: MIA -3
Total: 42
Betting odds c/o Bovada
The Miami Dolphins had a chance to start out the 2015 season 2-0 last week but suffered a tough 23-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Here in Week 3 the Dolphins will look to get back on track at home against the visiting Buffalo Bills. Early odds at Bovada lists the ‘Phins as 3-point favorites in the affair which will air at 4:25 EST on CBS.
In the loss to Jacksonville, Miami fell on a 28-yard chip in field goal by Jason Myers, leaving just 40 seconds on the clock and helping Jax notch its first victory of the year. Ryan Tannehill (likely to play this week but nursing an ankle injury) had an outstanding game with 359 yards on 30 of 44 passing with two TDs, but the Dolphins got little to nothing from its backfield.
Tannehill actually led the Dolphins in rushing yards with just 17, while Lamar Miller averaged 1.4 yards per carry on 10 attempts. Jarvis Landry and Damien Williams combined for a whole other 11 yards on three carries, wrapping up the Dolphins 42 yards rushing.
The WRs were far more successful as a result of Tannehill’s strong arm. Both Rishard Matthews and Jarvis Landry caught for over 100 yards each and had 14 of the Dolphins 30 receptions. Ultimately, the offensive effort was strong but it just was not enough as Miami allowed 396 total yards from Jacksonville and fell behind 20-13 at the half. While it did limit Jacksonville to a mere FG in the second half, it was not enough as that field goal by Myers sealed it up.
Tannehill is likely on the verge of really breaking through, however, and that is a good sign for Miami. He actually performed better in last week’s loss than the Week 1 win over the Washington Redskins when he threw 22 of 34 for 226 yards. His passer rating on the season is still 101.
The visiting Bills are 1-1 on the year with an impressive ‘W’ in Week 1 over the Indianapolis Colts and a heartbreaking 40-32 loss to the New England Cheaters. The Patriots received another overwhelming performance from the legendary cheater himself Tom Brady, who was bizarrely cleared of his four game suspension and has gone on to help the Pats to a 2-0 start in predictable fashion.
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This week against a fair playing opponent the Bills will hope to get more production from its defense, though countering a team that both steals play signals and deflates footballs can be tough with all due respect. The Bills had their own form of impressive on the offensive end nevertheless, with QB Tyrod Taylor throwing 23 of 30 for 242 yards and three TDs.
What cost Taylor and the Bills the game was his three interceptions and the fact that both Corey Graham and Preston Brown committed fumbles in the game.
RB LeSean McCoy has adjusted well to the Bills offense and produced 89 rushing yards on 15 attempts, though failing to score a TD. Both Taylor and RB Karlos Williams did reach the end zone, though Williams had just 21 yards on six attempts. The Bills did spread the wealth amongst its WRs with Percy Harvin, Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods combining for 167 yards on 13 catches, while being targeted a collective 16 times.
Harvin (probable, hip) also did a nice job returning kicks, with 45 yards on his two returns. Kicker Dan Carpenter (probable, abdominal inj.) did not get much work with the offense clicking, just attempting his three extra points and somehow missing one of them.
Punter Colton Schmidt looked good with a 40.3 yard punt average including a long of 54 while placing two within the 20. The special teams play could prove crucial in a game that oddsmakers have set just a three point spread for.
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