The Dolphins travel to Buffalo in search of their first win at Highmark Stadium since 2016. If Miami can get over the hump against their division rival, they could climb back into the race for both the playoffs and AFC East title.
Last week, the Miami offense got back to its roots with the return of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The offense produced its most points (27) of the season, the best third-down conversion rate (73.3 percent) and scored on five of its eight offensive possessions. To take down Buffalo for the first time since September 2022, Miami will need similar offensive production from a group that has its full complement of opening day starters.
One of the reasons points are so important is because of the quarterback lurking on the opposing sideline. Josh Allen has feasted on the Dolphins since he entered the league in 2018. His 34 total touchdowns have helped the Bills to a 12-2 mark over the Dolphins since Allen's rookie season.
Miami will need its best effort to slow a Buffalo offense that ranks fifth in the NFL in scoring and has struck a balance between its ground game and aerial attack. Buffalo ranks 11th in passing offense and 12th when running the football.
A balanced attack from the Buffalo offense means the Dolphins will need the best version of linebacker Jordyn Brooks, who has played every snap for the Miami defense this season. His versatility to rush the quarterback, drop back in coverage and provide a physical force against the run are all keys to slow down the Buffalo offense.
The Dolphins will see a more star-studded talent on the Bills offense than they did in the Week 2 meeting. Wide receiver Amari Cooper was acquired by Buffalo after their Week 6 victory of the New York Jets. In his first two games with Buffalo, Cooper logged 18 and 37 snaps as he figures to see his role expand each week.
Unless these teams meet in the postseason, this is the last Dolphins-Bills matchup we will see until the 2025 campaign. It's the earliest the series has concluded on the calendar (November 3) since the 2021 season, when the two sides finished their season series before Halloween. Prior to that, the last time this series concluded this early was the 1998 season when both teams won home games in the series.
Make sure to check out the Injury Report and the team's official social media accounts 90 minutes before kickoff to see who is active for the game.
Watch the game live on Sunday, November 3 at 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS, and listen on the Dolphins Radio Network and view the Game Center for the latest coverage.
