Dolphins- Bills
Time: 1 PM EST
Line: MIA -1
Total: 43
Both the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills scored victories in Week 1. Now, “undefeated” (after one game), one of these teams will be .500 when it’s said and done. The Bills are transitioning to new ownership, but it is with a sense of positivity from a team sorely in need of it.
The Bills won 23-20 in OT over the Chicago Bears last week.
Miami won 33-20 in its home opener against the New England Patriots, a big upset.
Miami, meanwhile, dominated the ground game last week. Knowshon Moreno and Lamar Miller did a superb job in the backfield. Moreno rushed for 134 yards and a TD on 24 carries, while Miller rushed for 58 yards on 11 carries. T
he Dolphins’ overhaul on the offensive line played a major role, but Moreno more than took advantage of it.
Ryan Tannehill was sacked a league-high 93 times last season, but was sacked just once last week. He did just go 18-of-32 on completions for 178 yards, with one interception and two TDs. The Dolphins managed 25 first downs, which matched a team high from 2013.
Moreover, the Dolphins managed 222 yards in the second half, while holding the Patriots to just 67 yards.
The Bills stuck mostly to the run last week. EJ Manuel threw 16-of-22 for 173 yards, with one TD and one INT. Buffalo managed 193 yards via the rush, and 5.8 yards per carry, but the Bears are notoriously bad on defense. CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson combined for 114 yards.
Spiller and Jackson will face a lot more resistance this week, as Miami held New England to just 89 rushing yards last week. Tom Brady averaged just 4.45 yards per completion, which was the 7th lowest game of his career. Brady was sacked four times. Cameron Wake had two of the sacks, which both resulted in fumbles.
New England only threw the ball 20 times last week, while rushing 56 times.
LBs Danell Ellerbee and Koa Misi will be out for the Dolphins.
The Bears managed 427 yards in the win over Chicago, and the Bears ranked 2nd in the NFL in scoring last season. Keith Rivers is out with a groin injure while Aaron Williams suffered a concussion. CB Stephon Gilmore will play after missing Week 1.
Buffalo was 2-0 against the Dolphins last year, but finds itself one-point underdogs this week according to NFL oddsmakers. Tannehill was sacked seven times in the losses, and managed just 103 yards in the 19-0 loss on Dec. 22. The 103 yards was the third-lowest total in Dolphins history.
