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MIAMI GARDENS — For the second consecutive week the Miami Dolphins are in a near must-win situation. This time the winless Dolphins (0-2) and coach Mike McDaniel badly need a victory against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, a team that has owned them in the past three years in the form of a 6-1 record.
A loss, and it’s unclear whether McDaniel makes it through the weekend with his job. Owner Steve Ross might find it advantageous to make the change and give the interim coach an 11-day window before the Sept. 29 New York Jets game on “Monday Night Football.”
Buffalo (2-0) has been on fire through two games. The Bills lead the league in offense 450 yards per game, are No. 2 in scoring (35.5 points per game), No. 4 in passing offense (284 ypg), No. 8 in defense (293 ypg allowed), No. 1 in pass defense (124 ypg allowed).
But they’re No. 22 in scoring defense (25 ppg allowed) and No. 31 in rushing defense (169 ypg allowed) … so we’re saying there’s a chance.
Here are five things to watch for in Thursday’s game:
The Dolphins are 0-4 at Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium in the McDaniel era. Buffalo has scored at least 30 points in each game so the Dolphins enter Thursday’s game knowing that’s their low-water mark. The Dolphins have three three-point losses at Buffalo — 34-31 in a wild-card rould playoff game, 32-29 in that infamous snow game that saw Bills fans pelting the Dolphins with snowballs, and the 30-27 game last year that Buffalo won on a 61-yard field goal. The other loss at Highmark was a 48-20 pummeling in 2023. Weather won’t be a factor as the temperature should be around 70 degrees at kickoff.
Oh, and this game is in prime time on “Thursday Night Football, which doesn’t favor the Dolphins. They’re just 3-10 in prime time games under McDaniel.
The Dolphins’ run defense, which is No. 25 at 139 yards per game allowed better be prepared. Buffalo is No. 2 in rushing at 166.0 ypg. Running back James Cook is No. 4 in rushing at 176 yards and an impressive 5.2 yards per carry. Quarterback Josh Allen is No. 2 at 89 yards and 4.4 ypc. The Dolphins’ run defense is led by tackle Zach Sieler and linebacker Jordyn Brooks. But that unit has been ineffective through two games. The Dolphins like to say they have to earn the right to rush the passer, and they do that by stopping the run.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (three touchdowns, three interceptions, 90.6 passer rating) hasn’t shown anything special in a long time. If he has any magic left, Thursday would be a good time for it to surface. Perhaps the last time Tagoaviloa had a special performance was his four-touchdown performance in last year’s 34-15 victory over New England. The last time he showed something special against a quality opponent was his three-touchdown performance against Buffalo in that 21-19 victory in 2022, a game in which Tagovailoa was 13 of 18 for 186 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions and a 123.8 passer rating. His best games since then have been against non-playoff teams, and in last year’s win at the Los Angeles Rams he was 20 of 28 for 207 yards, one touchdown, one interception and an 89.4 passer rating.
McDaniel appears beaten down lately, and with good reason. Vultures are circling. He’s even broken from his usual trend of not naming names. In the last week he’s named Zach Sieler as an example of a player freelancing and has said coaches and players haven’t done their jobs well enough. In fairness, McDaniel has named himself as also being inadequate. Still, in the previous three seasons he wouldn’t have named Sieler or pointed to coaches and players in such a way. It’ll be interesting to see if he can stay focused well enough to get plays into the huddle on time if this is a close game. He failed at that task against New England.
Achane, who had 1,499 yards from scrimmage last season, has 197 yards from scrimmage through two games. He leads the Dolphins in rushing with 85 yards, leads in receptions with 11, leads in targets at 14 and is second in receiving yards at 112. Achane has had more than 100 yards from scrimmage in three of his four games against Buffalo, including his last three consecutive. He had 61 yards from scrimmage in his first game against the Bills in 2023, the 21-19 victory, but since then has totaled 120 yards (101 rushing, 19 receiving), 121 yards (63 rushing, 58 receiving) and 165 yards (96 rushing and 65 receiving). Considering wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle don’t have a 100-yard receiving game against Buffalo in the McDaniel era, Achane is incredibly valuable.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Prediction time — Can Miami stop Bills? | VIDEO
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A loss, and it’s unclear whether McDaniel makes it through the weekend with his job. Owner Steve Ross might find it advantageous to make the change and give the interim coach an 11-day window before the Sept. 29 New York Jets game on “Monday Night Football.”
Buffalo (2-0) has been on fire through two games. The Bills lead the league in offense 450 yards per game, are No. 2 in scoring (35.5 points per game), No. 4 in passing offense (284 ypg), No. 8 in defense (293 ypg allowed), No. 1 in pass defense (124 ypg allowed).
But they’re No. 22 in scoring defense (25 ppg allowed) and No. 31 in rushing defense (169 ypg allowed) … so we’re saying there’s a chance.
Here are five things to watch for in Thursday’s game:
Winning at Highmark Stadium, and in prime time
The Dolphins are 0-4 at Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium in the McDaniel era. Buffalo has scored at least 30 points in each game so the Dolphins enter Thursday’s game knowing that’s their low-water mark. The Dolphins have three three-point losses at Buffalo — 34-31 in a wild-card rould playoff game, 32-29 in that infamous snow game that saw Bills fans pelting the Dolphins with snowballs, and the 30-27 game last year that Buffalo won on a 61-yard field goal. The other loss at Highmark was a 48-20 pummeling in 2023. Weather won’t be a factor as the temperature should be around 70 degrees at kickoff.
Oh, and this game is in prime time on “Thursday Night Football, which doesn’t favor the Dolphins. They’re just 3-10 in prime time games under McDaniel.
Dolphins run defense
The Dolphins’ run defense, which is No. 25 at 139 yards per game allowed better be prepared. Buffalo is No. 2 in rushing at 166.0 ypg. Running back James Cook is No. 4 in rushing at 176 yards and an impressive 5.2 yards per carry. Quarterback Josh Allen is No. 2 at 89 yards and 4.4 ypc. The Dolphins’ run defense is led by tackle Zach Sieler and linebacker Jordyn Brooks. But that unit has been ineffective through two games. The Dolphins like to say they have to earn the right to rush the passer, and they do that by stopping the run.
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Tua magic
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (three touchdowns, three interceptions, 90.6 passer rating) hasn’t shown anything special in a long time. If he has any magic left, Thursday would be a good time for it to surface. Perhaps the last time Tagoaviloa had a special performance was his four-touchdown performance in last year’s 34-15 victory over New England. The last time he showed something special against a quality opponent was his three-touchdown performance against Buffalo in that 21-19 victory in 2022, a game in which Tagovailoa was 13 of 18 for 186 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions and a 123.8 passer rating. His best games since then have been against non-playoff teams, and in last year’s win at the Los Angeles Rams he was 20 of 28 for 207 yards, one touchdown, one interception and an 89.4 passer rating.
McDaniel mentality
McDaniel appears beaten down lately, and with good reason. Vultures are circling. He’s even broken from his usual trend of not naming names. In the last week he’s named Zach Sieler as an example of a player freelancing and has said coaches and players haven’t done their jobs well enough. In fairness, McDaniel has named himself as also being inadequate. Still, in the previous three seasons he wouldn’t have named Sieler or pointed to coaches and players in such a way. It’ll be interesting to see if he can stay focused well enough to get plays into the huddle on time if this is a close game. He failed at that task against New England.
De’Von Achane
Achane, who had 1,499 yards from scrimmage last season, has 197 yards from scrimmage through two games. He leads the Dolphins in rushing with 85 yards, leads in receptions with 11, leads in targets at 14 and is second in receiving yards at 112. Achane has had more than 100 yards from scrimmage in three of his four games against Buffalo, including his last three consecutive. He had 61 yards from scrimmage in his first game against the Bills in 2023, the 21-19 victory, but since then has totaled 120 yards (101 rushing, 19 receiving), 121 yards (63 rushing, 58 receiving) and 165 yards (96 rushing and 65 receiving). Considering wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle don’t have a 100-yard receiving game against Buffalo in the McDaniel era, Achane is incredibly valuable.
Dolphins Deep Dive: Prediction time — Can Miami stop Bills? | VIDEO
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