We have come to an eventuality that the NFL schedulers could not have planned better. It is the last game of the season and Miami needs the win (or some help) to get into the playoffs and the team projected to take over the division after the Patriots 2020 demise, the Buffalo Bills did not disappoint their fans as the Bills have clinched their first division title since 1995 is who we face this Sunday in a game that could put the Dolphins out of the playoff race!
To be honest I hate Buffalo and my hatred goes back decades when they were the ones who prevented Marino from getting to the SB more than the one shot in he had early in his NFL career. The Bills went to the SB 4 years straight 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994 they lost every time and they prevented Miami from going to the SB each time! In fact, they were blown out 3 times once by the Redskins and twice by the Cowboys!
| XXV | Jan. 27, 1991 | Tampa (Fla.) Stadium | New York Giants 20, Buffalo 19 |
| XXVI | Jan. 26, 1992 | Metrodome (Minneapolis) | Washington 37, Buffalo 24 |
| XXVII | Jan. 31, 1993 | Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.) | Dallas 52, Buffalo 17 |
| XXVIII | Jan. 30, 1994 | Georgia Dome (Atlanta) | Dallas 30, Buffalo 13 |
Back then the Bills had some very good players and matched up better against our Dolphins lead by Dan Marino. I still have a bad taste when I think of Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed and Don Bebe on offense as well as Bruce Smith, Cornelius Bennett and Darryl Tally on defense and Head Coach Marv Levy who had Don Shula’s number.
It seems like the Bills will once again be an obstacle in the way of our Dolphins moving forward and most likely starting this Sunday. Why most likely?
It all depends on what the Bills current head coach Sean McDermott has planned. Will he or won’t he rest his starters for the playoffs? It will be a risk to play his starters in a game that has no huge significance in the long run especially if they suffer an injury to a key starter. The Bills are the #2 seed and can end up playing the Browns or Ravens win or lose. The Steelers have already made it known thaty they intend to rest their starters so they will most likely lose and drop to 12-4 so for Buffalo a win or loss will not change their seeding they will be the #2 seeed.
Either way I would have it no other way than for Miami to have to go into Buffalo and get a win and not back into the playoffs!
On to the matchup
The Opponent
Miami @ Buffalo
- Where: Bills Stadium – Orchard Park, N.Y.
- When: Sunday, January 3
- Time: 1:00 EDT
- Point Spread: Buffalo -3
- O/U
- TV: CBS
On to the match ups
The matchup: on Offense
The Buffalo Bills are ranked 4th in total offense averaging 392.5 yards per game on offense, scoring 29.7 points a game while Miami ranks 23rd on offense averaging 331.3 yards per game on offense, scoring 25.2 points per game15th in the league in scoring.
The matchup: on Defense
The Buffalo Bills defense is ranked 10th in total defense and is giving up on average 345.7 yards per game and allowing 23.3 points per game, while Miami is ranked 20th in total defense (Down from last week) giving up on average 362.1 yards per game 18.8 points per game (Best in the league).
The Strategy:
For the Dolphins:
Miami needs to stick with the formula, mistake free on offense and on defense get turnovers and help by scoring points as well as special teams contributing in a huge way. This team needs to both support and protect our Rookie QB who is still feeling his way through the season. He’s been up and down but the offense also has had their share of starters either injured or on COVID-19 and the fact that Ryan Fitzpatrick is out after testing positive for COVID-19 is just how the end of the 2020 season would end!
The Dolphins have done surprisingly well running the ball the past two weeks and even though that will be my biggest request that they address this offseason the improved run game of late is a pleasant surprise and much needed.
Tua has played extremely conservative and has had very few INT’s but I would rather he take more risk even if it means a few more INT’s because until he starts trusting his receivers to make the catch in tight windows or himself throwing in tight windows he will not reach the next level where he needs to be.
I would love for Tua to have the game he had vs the Cardinals his best game of the season IMO. I will do a review of our rookie QB and just to give you a heads up ity really is a positive view as he has shown me a lot to be excited for.
For the Bills:
Take the Day off! Rest all your starters and get ready for week one in the playoffs and if you see the Dolphins in the playoffs that means both teams have advanced beyond week one!
My Take:
This game should be a game that Miami will win because I do not feel Buffalo will be trying too hard to win this game because of their seeding will not be affected win or lose! Miami can still lose and get into the playoffs and if they lose and not make it than they will spend the offseason getting better and more competitive too be in contention again to win the division in 2021!
The Dolphins have already won in the 2020-21 season! (See Playing with house money!)
Weather: 35 degrees, 40 percent chance of snow showers, 9 MPH wind
Predictions
Computer Pick: Buffalo 27, Miami 24
TDS Pick: Miami 24, Bills 16 (My Homer Pick)
GO MIAMI!!!!!!
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