The Buffalo Bills, who are 6-2 in the 2024 NFL season, enter Week 9 with a firm grip on the AFC East and are in prime position to win their fifth straight division crown. The team has a chance to strengthen its already sizable lead when it hosts the 2-5 Miami Dolphins this week in a matchup that Bills Mafia is always well prepared for.
On paper, this is a very favorable matchup for the Bills, as they have won nine of their last ten games against the Dolphins. Miami is also dealing with a laundry list of injuries all over the field star safety Jevon Holland is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game and nickel cornerback Kader Kohou has already been ruled out.
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Despite what appears to be a favorable matchup for Buffalo on paper, this is still the NFL. Every week presents a lot of uncertainty, and it’s never out of the question to assume the Dolphins won’t put up an extremely tough fight against the Bills. They are a desperate team fighting for survival, and a win for them here goes a long way towards potentially saving their season. It may also only be a matter of time before their potentially dynamic offense regains its form with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returning from a concussion last week.
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Assuming it will be an easy game for Buffalo, expectations are too high. Not only are the Dolphins desperate to save their season, but the Bills’ biggest weakness this season is stopping the run. Despite last week’s incredible performance against Seahawks rusher Kenneth Walker III, the Bills have let virtually every other prominent running back walk all over them, and the Dolphins possess not one, but two incredible backs in Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane. Rookie Jaylen Wright is no slouch either. Stopping Miami’s backs is a challenge on paper, and even if an emphasis is placed on mitigating the Dolphins’ rushing ability, that will create opportunities for star wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to break free in the passing game making in the field.
The Dolphins have a high-powered offense that was only recently derailed by not having Tagovailoa under center. This game will require another high-level performance from Bills quarterback Josh Allen, running back James Cook, and the offense as a whole to take advantage of an injury-depleted Dolphins defense. Make no mistake, it won’t be an easy game to win, but no game in the NFL is truly easy to win.
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