Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins – NFL Week 3 Preview
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) – The Buffalo Bills return to the 1 p.m. window for an AFC East battle with the Miami Dolphins.
Buffalo Bills Gameday Basics
Teams: Buffalo Bills (2-0) at Miami Dolphins (2-0)
Time: Sunday at 1 p.m.
Where: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, FL)
Network: CBS
Bills Injury Report
- Dane Jackson, CB (Out)
- Dawson Knox, TE (Questionable)
- Ed Oliver, DT (Out)
- Gabe Davis, WR (Questionable)
- Jordan Phillips, DT (Out)
- Jordan Poyer, S (Doubtful)
- Micah Hyde, S (Out for season)
- Mitch Morse, C (Questionable)
- Tim Settle, DT (Questionable)
Dolphins Injury Report
- Cedrick Wilson Jr., WR (Questionable)
- Cethan Carter, TE (Out)
- Hunter Long, TE (Out)
- Raekwon Davis, DT (Questionable)
- Terran Armstead, OT (Questionable)
- Xavien Howard, CB (Questionable)
What’s At Stake?
Any time it’s a divisional game, there’s a lot at stake.
This early in the season, it’s tough to predict what the AFC East playoff race will look like. But all 17 games count the same and the Dolphins, like the Bills, are 2-0. So from that standpoint, it looks like the top two teams in the division. Winning on the road would work wonders down the line.
The Bills also want to prove some doubters wrong (me included). Everyone knows this Buffalo offense can play. The defense is also top notch. But perhaps no team has run up as many injuries as the Bills have this season, and the secondary is in shambles.
Safety Micah Hyde is done for the season. Safety Jordan Poyer also looks like he won’t play on Sunday. Dane Jackson is out. That means, it’ll be two rookie corners and a pair of backup safeties trying to slow down Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Oh, and a few more on the defensive line are also out.
Good luck.
Now, the Bills do boast an impressive roster all around so it wouldn’t surprise me if some guys step up when called upon. But on paper, it’s never a good look when over half of the regular starters on defense aren’t out there. That’s especially true against a Dolphins quarterback who passed for 469 yards and 6 touchdowns in Week 2.
Last Time Out: Bills 41, Titans 7
It might be panic mode in Nashville as the recent playoff usual Tennessee Titans got blown out in Orchard Park on Monday Night Football.
Josh Allen threw for 317 yards and 4 touchdowns and didn’t play a single snap in the 4th quarter.
The defense picked off Ryan Tannehill three times and Matt Milano ran one of them all the way back for six points.
For the second straight week, the Bills showed who’s boss on national television, this time, blowing out a team that’s given them some trouble as of late.
Bills Player To Watch
Jaquan Johnson
One player expected to start on Sunday as the Bills search to replace their two safeties is Jaquan Johnson.
The former Miami Hurricanes standout should fit right in at Hard Rock Stadium, since he played his college football right down the street.
While that’s a cool story, Johnson’s going to be looked at as much as anyone who was just thrust into a starting role this week. That’s because, more than likely, this could be a season-long role.
How Johnson plays could be major in how the Bills deal with the injuries in their secondary. If he shows promise, it’s a big sigh of relief. If he struggles, it could mean a trade or free agent pickup is on the way to mend the wound.
Either way, Johnson’s in a very unique spot on Sunday.