Sep

26

Bills vs. Dolphins: What’s the Game Plan for Miami?

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Week 3 pits two 1-1 AFC East teams against each other as the Miami Dolphins will host the Buffalo Bills in their 2015 home opener. 

The records are identical, but the similarities between these two teams end there. The Bills are a physical team looking to punch you in the mouth early and often on both sides of the ball, while the Dolphins will try to finesse their way to a victory. 

With an extremely subpar offensive line, the Dolphins will have to hope that they can win on finesse alone or that their offensive line develops toughness. 

Here’s a look at the game plan for Miami. 


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Offensive Game Plan

Points have been awfully hard to come by for the Dolphins when they face the Bills. 

Last season, the Dolphins scored 32 points in two games against Buffalo, going 1-1. The year before, the Dolphins scored 21 points in two games against Buffalo, with one of those games being a shutout. 

Something has to change, especially since Buffalo’s offense is currently the fourth highest-scoring offense in the NFL. 

The best way for the Dolphins to do this is to stretch Buffalo’s defense and not allow it to stack everyone in a box, while also ensuring that decisions are made quickly. 

The read option must be used, giving Ryan Tannehill three options on one play. Those options would be to hand it off if he notices Buffalo blitzing (which they will do often), drop back if the Bills choose to drop more into coverage or just take it himself. 

Screen passes, which the Dolphins don’t typically use, should also be explored. This would not only be another way for Jarvis Landry to shine, but it also gets Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker more involved. 


Ron Elkman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images

Buffalo’s defensive line is very good, but its linebackers and secondary are limited. Being able to exploit said limitations is the key to a Dolphins victory on the offensive side come Sunday. 

 

Defensive Game Plan

Make Tyrod Taylor beat you with his arm. 

I like how Taylor has played in his first two games with the Bills. He manages the game very well, and when called upon, he can provide a spark of his own. 

However, that spark is normally provided with his legs. This can be a problem for Miami’s defense, as it tends to have problems with quarterbacks like Taylor. 

There’s also the issue of stopping LeSean McCoy and the Bills running game. McCoy is a superstar running back in every sense of the word, and Buffalo’s offensive line won’t be afraid to use cut blocks similar to what Washington used in Week 1. 

It’s time for the defensive line to earn its money and flush out the run early and often. Then the linebackers have to hold up their end. 

One problem I’ve noticed with Dolphins linebackers is their failure to hit the right gap. This gap can be caused by a defensive tackle (mainly Ndamukong Suh) swallowing up a blocker, creating said gap. 

The other issue: Kevin Coyle’s handling of the defensive line. Why does he have C.J. Mosley covering T.J. Yeldon on a pass out of the backfield? On a play like that, why not have a defensive end or outside linebacker shadow Yeldon? 

Less of this. Just let the defensive line maul the offensive line; let them get to the quarterback. Keep it as simple as that, something the Dolphins have failed to do. 


Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

 

Key Players and Matchups

The team that wins in the trenches is the team that will win this game. 

Everything seems to favor Buffalo on that front, especially when you consider that Dallas Thomas will have to match up with Kyle Williams, and rookie Jamil Douglas will be responsible for containing Marcell Dareus. 


Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

On the other side, Suh will have to dominate Richie Incognito in what should be the most intriguing matchup of the game that will disappoint those looking for anything dirty to occur. Instead it will be good old-fashioned, grown-man football. 

 

Prediction

I haven’t changed my mind from my prediction in the preview I wrote, as the Dolphins will let their fans down again with a 20-17 loss to the Bills. 

Ironically, the Dolphins will play better on Sunday than they have all season. Tannehill will commit a key turnover, but aside from that this will be the best game he’s played against the Bills or any Rex Ryan-coached team. 

The defense will have its finest outing, turning in at least three sacks. 

It won’t be enough; a ghost from the past will end Miami’s hopes, and for the second consecutive year they will be on their way to London at 1-2.

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