After topping the New York Jets in Week 1, the Bills will look to make it 2-0 overall and two wins against the AFC East in their next contest against the Miami Dolphins. In facing another divisional rival, Buffalo will face a familiar face under center.
Miami head coach Brian Flores announced on Monday that the Dolphins will keep Ryan Fitzpatrick as their starting quarterback with the Bills coming to town in Week 2. Rookie Tua Tagovailoa, the fifth-overall pick at the recent NFL Draft, will continue to wait for his first-career start.
Also playing part into the question of who is starting at quarterback for the Dolphins was Miami’s opening-week loss to the New England Patriots. A familiar scenario played out with Fitzpatrick.
Known for having a NFL career that’s either red hot or ice cold at times, it was a pretty chilly day for Fitzpatrick against the Patriots. In a 21-11 defeat in New England, Fitzpatrick was 20-for-30 passing with 191 yards. He tossed three interceptions.
Dolphins Wire notes that one of Fitzpatrick’s interceptions, a pass toward tight end Mike Gesicki, was potentially a defensive pass interference call that was missed. That one came with about a minute left in the game.
Along with a tough showing for Fitzpatrick in Week 1, the Dolphins also didn’t establish any sort of run game to help him out. In total, Miami had 87 rushing yards in the loss.
It’s also worth echoing that the Dolphins did play the Pats. While losing some players this offseason due to free agency and COVID-19 related opt outs, New England still sported the NFL’s best defense last season.
Fitzpatrick, 37, who was Buffalo’s starting quarterback from 2009-2012, started both games for Miami against the Bills in 2019. While completing 69 percent of his passes combined in those games for an average of 302.5 yards per game, Fitzpatrick only managed one touchdown in those combined outings and was 0-2 against his former team.
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