Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills fans alike are looking forward to this Sunday’s showdown between two fantastic teams. The pair will wrestle for control of the AFC East.
So is Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel.
The matchup is the first time the two teams have faced off since 2022. As is usually the case because Buffalo and Miami play twice each and every year as divisional rivials.
However, last season was different. There was a third meeting in the postseason, one which the Bills won.
Considering that, revenge could be on Miami’s mind… but not McDaniel. He said he doesn’t need it.
This one is already big enough.
“If you need to be motivated for a game like this, check your pulse. Or maybe consider a career adjustment,” McDaniel said via ESPN. “You sign up to play the best and I think (the Bills) have been that.”
In that playoff contest, the Dolphins were down starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Instead, backup Skylar Thompson, a relative unknown, got the nod.
The Bills won, but narrowly, it was a 34-31 final.
McDaniel, much like Bills head coach Sean McDermott, both understand the importance of getting ahead of a division rival and leading the division early in the season. That’s all the motivation needed.
Likewise, Tagovailoa seems to echo this mentality of taking care of business and not focusing on other factors:
“We got to beat these guys. They’re the next team up, so we know all of us have to be ready,” Tagovailoa said.
[lawrence-related id=123323,123293,123265]