It’s only the 4th week of the NFL season, but this matchup against our division rival Buffalo Bills is quite an interesting matchup. The Bills, despite having a 2-1 record have allowed and NFL 2nd best 11.7 PPG. On the flip side, the Miami Dolphins offense have scored an NFL leading 43.3 PPG, mostly due to the 70 point output last week against the Denver Broncos. What makes this matchup so fascinating to me, the Dolphins defense was supposed to be an improved unit, perhaps even a top unit, while the Bills were expected to take a step back after losing LB Tremaine Edmunds in FA to the Chicago Bears. So far, the Bills are just a hair behind the Cleveland Browns who have allowed an NFL low 10.7 PPG, while the Vic Fangio Dolphins unit has allowed 23.7 PPG good for a below average 20th in the NFL. So something has to give here, with the NFL best offense against very close to the best NFL defense. Oh, by the way, the Bills are 2nd in the NFL in scoring, right behind our Dolphins at 30.3 PPG. Dolphins fans who are looking at this game as an easy Dolphins win simply aren’t looking at this game realistically. The last 3 meetings have been decided by 3 points or less.
One of the most surprising changes in the Buffalo Bills offense is the return of their rushing attack. We all know how dangerous QB Josh Allen is rushing the football, but last year’s 2nd RD pick, James Cook has 267 yards, while QB Josh Allen has just 89 yards rushing. Perhaps even more of a turnaround, the Dolphins rushing attack has been even more impressive, no doubt mostly due to the offensive output against the Broncos last week. While the Bills have 448 yards rushing, the Dolphins have 565 yards rushing, and the 15 lbs of muscle that Raheem Mostert added are paying dividends, as Mostert has 240 yards rushing and an eye opening 6 TD’s. The debut of rookie De’Von Achane was off the charts, 208 yards on just 19 carries for an absurd 10.9 YPC. Passing is not quite as even. Josh Allen has a pedestrian 90.3 passer rating, in large part due to his 5 TD’s and 4 INT’s with 728 yards passing. On the flip side, QB Tua Tagovailoa has a 121.9 QBR with 8 TD’s and only 2 INT’s and 1024 yards passing.
As you all know, I just hate when our players get caught in the hype machine, and our young 3rd year LB Jaelan Phillips has been absolutely crushed by it. It appears as if Jaelan Phillps will miss the Buffalo game, and it looks likely that C Connor Williams may also miss this contest with a groin injury. Williams still has a chance to play, and although LT Terron Armstead only logged a limited practice yesterday, he’s likely to play. Unfortunately, this is the wrong week to have anyone on this O-line out, especially considering how well this unit has performed. Good news is WR Jaylen Waddle has been cleared from concussion protocol and got in a full practice yesterday. If Connor Williams can’t go, Liam Eichenberg will likely play C, and while his snaps are more accurate than his predecessor Connor Williams, we all know his blocking hasn’t been up to snuff. Like I said, bad week to make O-line substitutions.
While the Dolphins were pouring it on with a record breaking 10 offensive TD’s last week, The Bills defense pounded Commanders QB Sam Howell all day long to the tune of 9 sacks, 4 INT’s and 1 forced fumble and fumble recovery. Truth is, if we’re being honest, I know I expected a much better defense here in Miami with Vic Fangio. It’s also very early in the season, we haven’t yet completed a 1/4 of the season and it can definitely take time for a scheme to take hold. It’s not that the defense has been awful, it just hasn’t been better than last year, which in and of itself is a disappointment. The Bills have 12 sacks, our defense has 8, not a huge disparity, and much like our offensive numbers are skewed by last weeks Broncos game, the Bills are defensive numbers are aided by their dominant game against the Commanders.
To be clear, it’s still very possible that C Connor Williams plays, he did log a limited practice yesterday, so I wouldn’t rule him out. It’s just that you don’t want to exacerbate an injury any further and lose that player for an extended period of time, but if he can go, as I previously mentioned, this is not the week for an O-line substitution. For some bad news, both WR’s River Cracraft (shoulder) and Erik Ezukanma (neck) both did not practice, but I remind you that Jaylen Waddle will be suiting up. This means opportunities for Berrios who has already been wonderful, and Robbie Chosen who caught his first TD last week in a Dolphins uniform. Our old friend AVG, Andrew Van Ginkel has played so well this season, and surely has had a much larger role in this defense, both week 1 where he played inside, and then of course last week because of Jaelan Phillps injury. I would like to point out something that concerns me, our 2 top tacklers thus far this season are DB’s. Safeties Jevon Holland (33), and DeShon Elliott (22) are tops, and not too far behind are CB’s Kader Kohou (16) and Xavien Howard (15). I would think this is not a good trend, and hopefully once the Fangio defensive scheme takes hold, this will even out.
I really don’t know what to expect, although I would be surprised if this was an offensive shootout. I feel like these divisional games are much more measured and careful, and although last year’s playoff game was a 34-31 shootout of sorts, I think the scores will be lower. There’s a lot on the line for such an early season matchup, but the Bills don’t want the Dolphins to have a 2 game advantage on them, and the Dolphins would like nothing more to potentially be the only undefeated team in the NFL and also hold a 2 game edge on their division rival Bills, who have won the division each of the last 3 seasons. I expect us to try and run the ball often, and don’t expect another 300 + yards rushing for the Dolphins. Josh Allen loves playing against us, he owns us, he’s 9-2, but more importantly, 6-0 at home in Buffalo. For perspective, I’ll remind you that our last 3 games against the Bills have been decided by 3 points or less (34-31), (32-29), and a Dolphins victory (21-19). All I know is this is MUST WATCH TV!
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
The dominating storyline now will be what an inspiration Hamlin is.
They only beat us by a FG with Skylar at QB.
Summer and I were talking last night about just how huge this game is. for us Dolphins fans.
A win today, and I think it solidifies our position as serious threat SB contenders for the 1st time since probably the 90’s-talking in the neighborhood of 30 years. That is so huge for our fanbase. We need this.
A loss today doesn’t mean we aren’t SB contenders, we could still prove ourselves to be that as the season progresses. We could go on to beat Philly and KC, or whatever, but a win today gets us to that status right now, and I fucking want that.
Exactly- we fucking deserve it!!!!!!!!!
Definitely! Heck, my wife still hasn’t experienced a playoff win as a Dolphins fan, lol.
Skylar threw 45 passes and only completed 18 with 2 picks.
Josh also threw 2 INTs.
Agreeing with Cav and Brian,
but thus isn’t like college where you gotta impress voters.
You get in the NFL playoffs on your record.
Doesn’t matter when you lost or
who you lost to except for tie-breakers
or
even how badly you lost except in rare occasions.
We could lose twice to Bills and still go 14-3.
I don’t want to just make the playoffs. We could lose to Philly, KC, and twice to the Bills and still easily make the playoffs where we wouldn’t have a chance if we can’t beat top teams.
I don’t want to make the playoffs just to bounced in the 1st rd. I want to make a deep run.
Excepting last year, in the last 20+ years we have made the playoffs with:
Gase and a backup QB
a gimicky wildcat that was never going to go all the way (although it was one of my favorite seasons ever
Jay Fiedler (and a championship caliber defense)
62-7
38-3
I want to see a championship caliber team. This is the first time in ages I have hope we may actually have that, instead of having to do all sorts of mental gymnastics to get ourselves to believe there may be the possibility if everything goes right that we might almost sort of be close to being on the cusp of kind of being a super bowl threat, lol.
Beat the Bills!
I was thinking of that clip Mike E posted when he was watching a game years ago. Can’t remember who we were playing but I m hoping it applies to Allen today. I wish I could find it. So funny!
HE WANTS TO THROW AN INTERCEPTION!!! 😂
Chosen played the most snaps week at WR, the plan was to rotate guys in and out, but Chosen was effective in the run game, so he played more snaps
Chosen and Goode elevated to 53
It appears with his run game blocking we didn’t need another WR to replace the 2 lost
Bills were able to take advantage of a less than complete O last week, they won’t be able to do that today
Cheats used to do that shit to us all the time, this O is different
I mean how the hell can you just crowd the LOS with up to 5 guys on the field, that are sub 4.4? Good luck with dat
Seems we’re getting some respect from bills fans and the guy that wrote the article
https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/bills-mailbag-how-will-sean-mcdermott-defend-miamis-almost-revolutionary-offense/article_9d169d2c-5f15-11ee-84c3-6fbb684cdc66.html
Couldn’t ask for better weather.
71 degrees
1% chance of rain
5 mph winds
Expect to see either Waddle or Hill inside today, in 4 and 5 receiver sets, with Chosen outside
Don’t expect to see much of Wilson today, he’ll be another blocker, when he’s in there, with an occasional target
https://506sports.com/nfl.php?yr=2023&wk=4
Look at this broadcast map. We get the Chargers game in Sac instead of the Dolphins game, but the mid to northern coast of CA gets the Dolphins game. wtf?
It doesn’t matter because I have the ticket, and I actually prefer to watch it on youtube so I can pause, backup, etc. It’s just weird is all.
Maybe the thinking is that that swath of coast is Niners fans who don’t care about the AFC, so they’ll show the better game? IDK
Same as that little chink of Arizona. I swear they just throw darts at a map
chunk, not chink, lol
I’m probably going to post about 90 more comments between now and the game; I am nervous…and psyched up…and nervous…lol
A win today and we’re flipping 2 1/2 games up in the division after week effing 4!
Bills could go on a big run their next 7 games, so a win for them today would be huge.
Jags
Giants
Pets
Bucs
Bengals
Broncos
Jets
Then their last 6 is a murders row:
Eagles
Chiefs
Cowboys
Chargers
Pets
Dolphins
DOLPHINS
QB Skylar Thompson
TE Tyler Kroft
OL Connor Williams
LB Jaelan Phillips
CB Eli Apple
S Deshon Elliott
BILLS
OL Germain Ifedi
OT Alec Anderson
DT Poona Ford
CB Kaiir Elam
S Jordan Poyer
Williams is a bummer, but not really a surprise. Elliott may be an even bigger loss. He’s been playing well back there. Hopefully Jones is fully back and ready to go.
Apple may be addition by subtraction, lol.
Is it 10 o’clock yet?
It’s almost 12pm already
What are you like from another coast!?!?
🤣
Deshin Elliot and Eli Apple are inactive today
Surprised about Elliot
All I can say is ….
Looks like cam Smith is a go
Are we going to see Brandon Jones and Cam Smith on the field together
Is Elliot dinged up is or is this just a move to try different guys on the roster
Elliott is injured
I wonder if they want to do a safety blitz now that Jones is back starting
🤔
https://x.com/miamidolphins/status/1708504661970329683?s=46&t=iJM4Q1l5mMck0UQRm2xJ-w
Bethel has surpassed Eli apple on the depth chart
So I guess it’s gonna be a lot of Howard, Kahou, Bethel and Cam Smith along with Holland and Jones
I don’t know much about Elijah Campbell
Campbell is coming off a season-ending leg injury
and played with a limp and gave up a big
pass completion last week.
I didn’t even know Deshaun Watson was hurt. He’s out today vs the Ravens.
Game day, yeah baby yeah!!!
I am so fucking sick of Taylor Swift permeating my football
I love Taylor Swift,
but I don’t like them turning my football into a soap
or even a paparazzi People Magazine thing.
That’s basically it for me too. I don’t love her, but I have no problem with her as an artist.
I was watching local news last night (NYC) and they were talking about how many people want to go to the game because Taylor Swift will be there. WTF is wrong with people? Do they think they’re going to meet her, hang out with her? It’s absurd
OMG, I was at the game, and I was breathing, and I swear to god that I tasted Taylor Swifts on the air. OMG, OMG, OMG. It was amazing. I’m never brushing my teeth again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! O….M….G…..!!!!
😂
CavalierKong says:
October 1, 2023 at 11:00 am
“I want to see a championship caliber team. …”
Great Pep talk, Cav!!!
Go Dolphins!
This team is ready!
Go Dolphins!!!
Betting has overtaken the NFL, which is worse than the Taylor Swift garbage
Agreed. Stop pushing all this betting crap during my football
LMAO @ Kong!! Probably 85% accurate on that
🤣
On the NFL Today, they’re talking about if the NFL Pressure record will be broken this year. JKJBBLOLOL
lol
Hamlin is a healthy scratch for the Bills
Good, no emotional effect
I want #28 to get 4 more TD’s today so we can call him 4Chane
I see it’s Jim Nantz and Tony Romo in the booth today. I’d much rather have Kevin Harlan and Trent Green.
^ Kevin Harlan is the best to me.
Me too. I might turn the sound off
I’m wearing the same shirt as last week. Just in case. 😂
I’m sitting on the same couch as last week
Taylor Swift has a house down the road from where my son lives in Rhode Island,
and his wife Tresa is a huge fan of hers, so we’re always immersed in the glam and hype when we go visit them.
Jim Nantz is frequently biased against the Dolphins.
Not having Connor Williams could lose us this game.
Eich can get it done with his pass-blocking and hopefully better snapping. It’s run-blocking where he’s weak. However, we mostly run outside (zone). Hopefully everything will be okay.
LMAO @ CBS tribute to the Dolphins mascot TD
I’m wearing my same body as I always do.
We’ll all have to yell out “He’s got Waddle!”
in our best Kevin Harlan voice when Tua throws him a TD pass.
WILL DO!!! 😀
👍
I’m in; I have the west coast region covered
I’m wearing my Humpty nose and glasses.
Both Phil and Boomer picked the Fins for their upset special
Alright, I’m officially getting nervous now!
I always thought gambling was a sin and borderline criminal, if not worse.
It’s just a way for organized crime to take money from hard-working people.
It has already begun to corrupt major league sports.
Getting nervous. Palms getting sweaty. Skin has a bit of a green pallor
Here we go!! Broadcast going to our game now!
GO DOLPHINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BALL HAWK!!!
Sorry, I had to get that out of my system. I’m NERVOUS!
🇬🇧 28-27 🐬
Son – we are the game on Sky this week and Suh is wearing a red check jacket which would be an overcoat for 99% of UK citizens
Keys to the Game
No Taylor Swift References
Like that it’s a beautiful sunny day in BUF. No excuses, just win!
Time to take over the AFCEast.
It’s our turn to dominate!
It really is, we just have to step up and take it!
Neil Reynolds interviewed MM and told him we have a speed limit of 20 mph in most of London so Waddle, Hill, Mostert and Achane would all be breaking the speed limit. He said ‘cool – I’ve never been – I need to come over with rhem and let them loose’
Smash Puny Bills!
Let’s Gooooooooooooooo
Oink!
🐖💨💨💨💨💨💨
The zen is not helping me. At all. 😬
More laundry
LFG!!!
GO PHINS!!!
HELL YEAH!!!
Piggy – are you at Slattery’s?
No
I stayed home today and made some chili 🌶
I hope he’s in the same pig sty he was in last week? 😉
But I just saw a post that’s it’s really packed today
Laundry is in
Who said Hamlin was a healthy scratch?
I thought Hamlin was a scratch
Looks like a beautiful day for football
Let’s go DEFENSE!!!
I think they’ll run all day til we stop em
Need to hold on 3rd and 3 here
Or 3rd and 1, but eh, didn’t happen
Hamlin IS in.
and the emotion’s already begun.
Grrrr
Stupid fucking penalty
For fuck sake two hand touch is 15 yards!
Idiotic
Defense looks like shit again.
Until it stops a good offense it is shit
Well, defense didn’t get it done, now have to getter done on offense
Aight let’s match that score
It’s early
Kahou barely touched hi
Doesn’t matter- he shouldn’t have put a finger on him- that’s what happens
Beyond stupid
Come on O line. RUN THE BALL
Horrible start.
That is what I was scared of
I hate it when I can hear the bias in the voice of the announcers
They’re going out of their way to talk up the Bills.
Isn’t it Eire that our first play of the game is often designed to smythe
Being down 7 means nothing to out offense
Lol nice grab Waddle
Fortuitous bounce
Yep
Nice catch, WADDLE!!!
Boom
4Chane
Achane!
70-63 final?
What a find.
GESWHOI?
Huge TD by the offense
GRAND response!!!
StarLink M’frs….Elon is a God!
Let’s get a turnover
After the Dolphins score they show Bills highlights…can’t make it up
2 ko returns. Thought they were extinct. Neither got back to 25 yd line
D needs a stop here . Get the offense back out there
I really hate this broadcast team
LOL “But I don’t know that play! Sigh, Ok time out. “