Tag: bills vs. dolphins

What we learned from the Bills’ win over the Dolphins

What we learned from the #Bills’ win over the #Dolphins:

The Buffalo Bills (11-6) successfully ran the table into the end of the regular season to secure a playoff spot after a rough start that saw them at 6-6 and on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.

Five straight wins later, and they are the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs and once more winners of the AFC East.

Buffalo’s start against Miami in the final game of the regular season was another ugly one that saw several turnovers in the first half.

After that, the Bills’ defense and depth players at positions on both sides of the ball stepped up, including an acrobatic heads-up touchdown by WR Trent Sherfield, a franchise record-long 95-yard punt return, and score by WR and return man Deonte Harty, and a game-sealing interception by S Taylor Rapp.

With that, here are three things we learned from Sunday’s win over the Dolphins:

Report card: Bills top Dolphins, 21-14

Report card: #Bills top #Dolphins, 21-14:

The 2023 NFL regular season has concluded and the Bills completed an eventful five-game winning streak to enter the playoffs with a fourth straight AFC East crown and the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoff picture.

Here is the BillsWire’s Week 18 report card for the Buffalo Bills (11-6) following the team’s 21-14 win over the Miami Dolphins (11-6):

Bills’ Josh Allen on Dolphins: ‘They probably want to right their wrong’

#Bills’ Josh Allen on #Dolphins: ‘They probably want to right their wrong’ (via @TejasVemparala):

The Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills face off this Sunday since their entertaining, high-scoring 2022 Wild Card playoff game.

The pair are wrestling for control of the AFC East.

Last season’s playoff game between the two ended in a Buffalo 34-31 win at home. Considering that the Bills knocked out the Dolphins, whether revenge is on Miami’s mind has been a conversation topic and Bills quarterback Josh Allen weighed in.

“We understand that this is a team that’s playing well and they’re coming into our house.” said Allen said via video conference. “And the implications of what happened last year in the playoffs – they probably want to right their wrong.”

In that playoff contest, the Dolphins were down starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The backup quarterback Skylar Thompson, a relative unknown, got the starting nod. The Bills narrowly won.

All considered, Miami is leaning more toward Sunday just being another day at the office.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel had said that the revenge factor is not as important to his team.

“If you need to be motivated for a game like this, check your pulse.” McDaniel said.

We’ll have to watch and see if the emotional do play a part or not at Highmark Stadium in Week 4.

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Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel on Bills: ‘If you need to be motivated–Check your pulse’

#Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel on Bills: ‘If you need to be motivated–Check your pulse’ (via @TejasVemparala):

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.

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Bills put together pass-rush fest among best ever recorded by NFL Next Gen Stats

Bills put together pass-rush fest among best ever recorded by NFL Next Gen Stats:

Yes, the Buffalo Bills defense was that good.

After the Bills’ blowout win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday, it was clear to see the pass rush has been legit in 2023.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, when Howell dropped back 39 times during the game, the Bills pressured him 27 times. That is the 2nd-highest pressure rate in a game in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2018):

After last week when the Bills defense put pressure on the Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo but failed to sack him. This is more of what we have come to expect of the Bills pass-rush and it’s going to be tough to keep it going moving forward.

Buffalo hosts the Miami Dolphins in Week 4. Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has only been sacked once through three games thanks to his quickness in getting the ball out.

The Bills have their work cut out for them.

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Bills’ Josh Allen, Dolphins’ Christian Wilkins exchange praise: ‘That’s my guy, I love Josh’

#Bills’ Josh Allen, #Dolphins’ Christian Wilkins exchange praise: ‘That’s my guy. I love Josh’

The Bills square off in NFL Week 4 against a familiar foe, the Miami Dolphins.

Mike McDaniel’s squad comes to Orchard Park fresh off a near-record 70-point performance against the Broncos.

Unlike the Broncos, Buffalo has one of the top defenses in the league.

And on the other side of the ball, QB Josh Allen and company will face the challenge of Miami’s defense.

“We understand that their their defense is playing at a high level as well too, so we got to put in the work this week have a great week of uh preparation and go out there and try to execute on Sunday,” Allen said ahead of the matchup.

The Bills offense will square off against another familiar foe in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who they faced previously when he was in Denver.

“I think that he’s going to force us to be methodical,” Allen added of Fangio. “The shots down the field aren’t always there so again taking what’s given and then a big emphasis is the red zone, you know he’s always been very good in the league when he gets inside the 20 of making sure his defense is locked down kind of a ‘bend don’t break’ mentality.”

Buffalo is 9-2 against Miami including the postseason during Allen’s time under center and Buffalo has not lost to them at home during that time. The QB has averaged 37.4 total points in those games.

They’ll need that productivity on offense, as Miami is averaging a league-best 43.3 points per contest, and has the most hards (1,651) with the second-most points (130) to start a season in NFL history. Their 8.4 yards-per-play average is the most through three games in the Super Bowl era.

One of Allen’s opponents in the game, with whom he’s shared some in-game competitive moments, is Dolphins DT Christian Wilkens.

On Monday Wilkins made some headlines with high praise for Allen.

“[anyclip-media thumbnail=”undefined” playlistId=”undefined” content=”dW5kZWZpbmVk”][/anyclip-media],” Wilkins said to the media. “We’re cool, we’re tight. But no, he’s a heck of a competitor. I love playing against him. He definitely brings the best out of you as a defense, as an individual.”

While the 6’4 310 lb defensive tackle might have surprised with the comments, he didn’t stop there.

“His resume speaks for itself. But definitely a heck of a player and we’re going to have to be on it this week as a defense and as a team because they’re a really good team and they play tough and we know them, they know us. There’s no secrets. Just have to go out there and ball, compete, and may the best man win.”

Allen responded to his opponent’s comments during a press session Wednesday.

“I do love playing against him,” Allen said. “In terms of tightness, we don’t really talk all that much. But I do respect his game… We do get a little chippy, but that’s a part of the game… When you’re playing against guys you can chirp with and then show respect after the game, that’s what football is all about. To go against individual rivals and have that type of vibe with some of the guys, it makes you want to get out of your seat but at the same time, stay as level as possible and focus what I need to focus on.”

In the Bills 34-31 home win over Miami in the wild-card round of last year’s playoffs saw the two players got into it after Allen threw an interception downfield, and Bills center Mitch Morse ran over to not only break it up, but he put Wilkins on the ground.

The Dolphins will be facing a revamped Bills offensive line this time around, one that is making headlines for its success in warding off defenders.

If Allen can continue to execute and not turn the ball over, the Buffalo offense might get the best of the Dolphins’ defense on Sunday.

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NFL Next Gen Stats: Bills’ pass-rush vs. Commanders among best since 2018

NFL Next Gen Stats: #Bills’ pass-rush vs. #Commanders among best since 2018 (via @TejasVemparala):

The Buffalo Bills defense, if you don’t know, is very, very good.

Many have been written highlighting the Bills’ domination on the defensive side of the ball against the Washington Commanders on Sunday. And now, NFL’s Next Gen Stats is also supporting that with a look at the pass rush generated by Buffalo’s defense on Washington quarterback Sam Howell.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, when Howell dropped back 39 times during the game, the Bills pressured him 27 times. That is the 2nd-highest pressure rate in a game in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2018):

The Bills defensive line was phenomenal, generating pressure on Howell to not only sack him but have him throw four interceptions during the game as well.

Defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who NFL Next Gen Stats has showcased before as an excellent pass rusher, led Buffalo defenders with seven QB pressures, with edge rusher Shaq Lawson right behind with six.

Multiple edge rushers including A.J. Epenesa, who had a pick six against the Commanders, Leonard Floyd who converted the pressures to multiple sacks, Greg Rousseau, and Daquan Jones all had five QB pressures.

In total, seven Bills defenders had four or more QB pressures against a Commanders offensive line that was not expected to be good.

Nevertheless, the quarterback pressure Howell faced would suffocate any quarterback. The Bills front four will look to continue to generate pressure against the division leading Miami Dolphins’ offensive line in Week 4.

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Ranking the best tight ends on the Bills’ 2023 schedule by PFF grade

Ranking the best tight ends on the #Bills’ 2023 schedule by PFF grade (via @TejasVemparala):

The Buffalo Bills have some talented teams and offenses to play against on their upcoming 2023 schedule.

Typically, the offensive side of the ball is closely associated with the quarterback play. Tight ends now play an integral part in many NFL offenses, needing to block defenders to protect the QB, create and maintain running lanes for the back, or even running routes to provide an option for the quarterback when throwing.

Here’s how Pro Football Focus graded and ranked every running back the Bills will face in 2023:

1 thing for the Bills to prepare for against every team in the AFC East this season

1 thing for the #Bills to prepare for against every team in the AFC East this season:

Six of the Buffalo Bills’ 17 games during the 2023 NFL regular season will be against the other three teams in the AFC East. The New England Patriots, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins will be some of the most challenging games Buffalo has on their schedule as they will play against each of these teams twice.

Here is one thing to prepare for with each of the teams in the AFC East:

Bills’ Josh Allen on Morse defending him: ‘I love him’

#Bills’ Josh Allen on Morse defending him: ‘I love him’

The Bills topped the Dolphins 34-31 in Orchard Park during the NFL’s wild-card playoff weekend.

While there was plenty of scoring that incited Highmark Stadium fireworks in the sky above, there were some explosive moments on the field as well.

Including a skirmish between the Bills offense and Dolphins defense.

With around 6 minutes left in the first half. Allen threw a deep pass to the end zone for which wide receiver John Brown was the target. The ball was intercepted by Miami corner Xavien Howard who would run the takeaway back 49 yards.

During the run back, Dolphins defensive lineman Christian Wilkins had a late hit when he shoved Allen and then tried to block him from making any defensive play on the return. Allen didn’t back down, pushing back then going at him again in a shoving match until Bills center Mitch Morse came over to protect his QB.

Yellow flags were thrown after a scrum pile of Bills and Dolphins players converged around them, and Wilkins and Morse were each given penalties that offset one another.

“That’s your guy, that’s your quarterback,” Morse said. “You just want to be there for him.”

Morse’s fervor in defending his QB was such that it even got some good humor from his Wife.

The way the fired-up Morse came to his defense touched his quarterback’s heart as well, and he voiced his appreciation when he was asked if he ever sees Morse that heated.

“No I don’t, you don’t really see that,” Allen said after the game to the media. “But I love him, I really do.”

When he was also asked by the media if he’d ever been that heated before he said “No,” but also demonstrated veteran leadership and spoke about Wilkins and an interaction they shared after the game while putting the matter to rest.

“Let’s not make it anything bigger than it was,” Morse said. “We talked afterwards actually. I have a lot of respect for the way he plays. He is a competitive guy. Tempers flare in this game. You know, we had our moment, it was mitigated and we were able to continue playing. In the moment, you lose consciousness for a little bit. I mean, that’s your guy. That’s your quarterback. You just want to be there for him. It escalated like you saw, but I’m not going to make it too big of a thing.”

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