Tag: Buffalo Bills

6 storylines to watch for during Bills at Dolphins

Here are six storylines to follow entering this weekend’s divisional battle between Miami and Buffalo.

The Buffalo Bills are coming off a disappointing loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 10. However, the team has a great chance to rebound against its divisional rival, the Miami Dolphins.

The Bills beat the Dolphins at New Era Field only four weeks ago, with Buffalo storming back to score 22 points in the fourth quarter in a come-from-behind victory.

Even though their games are only separated by just about a month, quite a bit has changed for both teams.

Here are six storylines to follow Week 11’s Bills-Dolphins matchup:

Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary. Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Can the Bills score points?

There was much to be frustrated about last week for Buffalo. Even with a struggling offense, the team still had the ball in their hands with an opportunity to tie (or even win) the game on their final drive.

There was ample criticism with how the offense has struggled to take a major step forward this season, often relying on the defense to keep them close. There’s only so long that this defense can carry the load.

Fans and analysts alike will watch closely to see if offensive coordinator Brian Daboll can put together a more imaginative plan of action for the offense. The Bills are 25th in the league in scoring offense, averaging 19.3 points per game. This slots them as the lowest-scoring offense among prospective playoff teams. That’s not a promising sign for the Bills.

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Bills-Patriots Week 16 clash flexed to Saturday

The Buffalo Bills will play another nationally televised game this season. The NFL has announced that Buffalo’s Week 16 contest at New England will be moved to Saturday afternoon.

The Buffalo Bills will play another nationally televised game this season. The NFL has announced that Buffalo’s Week 16 contest at New England will be moved to Saturday afternoon.

The move makes complete sense, as it puts two prospective playoff teams on display. New England is on its way to yet another AFC East crown and has first-round bye playoff implications for the six-time Super Bowl Champions. Meanwhile, this penultimate game for the Bills could go a long way at seeing Buffalo earn a Wild Card playoff berth.

Buffalo lost to New England during Week 4 action, as the Patriots won 16-10 at New Era Field. During that game, Bills quarterback Josh Allen received a vicious helmet-to-helmet, rendering him unavailable to finish the game.

 

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The Dolphins are touchdown underdogs in Week 11 versus Bills

The last time the Miami Dolphins played the Buffalo Bills, a close game ensued. The sports books are expecting another close game this time.

If you have been willing to go against the grain with the Miami Dolphins and the sports books in recent weeks, odds are you’ve made yourself a nice bit of coin! The Dolphins have won two consecutive games as betting underdogs and have now covered the spread in five consecutive contests. Miami has generally been considered double digit underdogs unless facing the absolute worst of the worst this season — and Miami has delivered surprises ever since the bye week.

The bad news is the party may be over — as the sports books seem to be catching on. The Dolphins currently sit at  6.5 point underdogs for Week 11 according to BetMGM. The last time the Dolphins played the Bills, the spread was larger than two touchdowns before Miami blew a second half lead and fell 31-21. With the Dolphins at home this week, the South Florida climate could potentially bog down the Bills’ team — giving Miami a chance to play spoiler again.

The Dolphins are definitely going to be looking forward to their second crack at the Bills, as the Dolphins missed the opportunity to pin Buffalo down late in the 3rd quarter and things went off the rails courtesy of a Ryan Fitzpatrick interception in the red zone. Miami pulling off a third straight win outright would be a surprise — and now, thanks to Miami’s recent tear against the spread, getting a cover is no sure thing, either.

[Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.]

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How many more games will Broncos win this season?

The Denver Broncos are sitting at 3-6 following their bye week. How many more games will they win?

The Denver Broncos are ready to return from their bye week and sit at 3-6 heading into the second half of their 2019 season. Fans are still riding high after a win over the Cleveland Browns, which featured a new quarterback in Brandon Allen.

Several questions remain for the rest of this season, including how many more games the team will win. But before we get into that part, let’s look at some of the other key questions.

How much longer should Allen hold onto the starting job? Much of that answer likely lies within what the team decides to do with Drew Lock. Will the second-round pick play at all this season?

Will the offensive line, specifically Garett Bolles, ever start to play at a consistent level, or will this unit again be one of the big question marks going into next season?

When are the quarterback and offensive line spots not going to be big question marks for this team? How many games can the team win with those question marks the rest of this season?

Going over the team’s remaining schedule, we attempt to answer that final question.

Week 11 at Minnesota Vikings

(Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

Despite the Broncos being well-rested coming off the bye week, they have to travel to Minnesota to face a surging Vikings team.

Minnesota has a stout rushing attack and a good defense. This looks and feels like an unlikely win for the Broncos.

Prediction: Vikings 24, Broncos 13

Record: 3-7

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Former Longhorn Malik Jefferson waived by Cleveland Browns

Former Texas Longhorns linebacker Malik Jefferson was waived by the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday

On Tuesday, former Texas Longhorns linebacker Malik Jefferson was waived by the Cleveland Browns.

Jefferson is in just his second year as a pro. He was drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

With the Browns in 2019, Jefferson only made an appearance in one game, and that game came in week one against the Titans. In that game, Jefferson recorded just one tackle.

Hopefully, we see Malik find a new home soon. After all, he was a third-round pick last year for a reason.

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NFL rooting guide: Who Jaguars fans should root for Week 11

As the No. 10 seed in the playoff picture, the Jags need some help to make the postseason and a loss for the Steelers would be a huge help.

With it being Week 11, the NFL playoffs will be here before fans know it. Of course, at 4-5 the Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the teams who are currently in the hunt, however, if they are to make the postseason they will need some help in addition to handling their own business. That said, here’s a recap on how the AFC playoff picture looks after Week 10 and a rooting guide on who Jags fans should watch on Week 11:

1. New England Patriots (8-1)
2. Baltimore Ravens (7-2)
3. Houston Texans (6-3)
4. Kansas City Chiefs (6-4)
5. Buffalo Bills (6-3)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4)

7. Oakland Raiders (5-4)
8. Indianapolis Colts (5-4)
9. Tennessee Titans (5-5)
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-5)

Rooting guide

(Thursday Night Football) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns – root for the Browns

Hardly ever will you catch Jags fans rooting for the Steelers and they will especially have a reason to root against them this week. After starting 1-3 during the first quarter of the season, Pittsburgh has clawed their way back to a 5-4 record by winning their last four games and have found themselves with the last wild-card spot. Needless to say, the Jags would gladly take some help from the Browns, who aren’t in the playoff picture currently but could spoil things for their divisional rival.

Sunday, 1 p.m. games

Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens – root for the Ravens

The Texans are the AFC South’s divisional leader with a 6-3 record and it would take a miracle for the Jags to catch them because they own the tiebreaker over them. However, Sunday’s game against the Ravens is the start of a tough stretch for Houston as they also play the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts afterward. That said, a skid can begin here for them as the Ravens are playing solid football as the No. 2 seed.

Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins – root for the Dolphins

The Jags have a rivalry with Buffalo (6-3) as it is, however, they will really have a reason to root against them Week 11 as the Bills have the first wild-card spot. That said, they would gladly take some help from their Florida rivals Sunday. With the Dolphins being a divisional rival of the Bills, this could be a close one as they are on a two-game win streak currently and have some momentum.

Sunday, 4 p.m. games

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Oakland Raiders – root for the Bengals

The Raiders (5-4) are knocking on the door of getting a wild-card seed as they are the No. 7 ranked team in the playoff race. However, with the Bengals (0-9) being the league’s only winless team, Jags fans would unfortunately be asking for a lot here. Still, as we witnessed Week 10, upsets can happen and teams need to bring it week in and week out.

WATCH: Quandre Diggs gets first interception with Seahawks

Watch as Seattle Seahawks defensive back Quandre Diggs gets his first interception with his new team

A few weeks ago, former Texas Longhorn defensive back Quandre Diggs was traded from the Detroit Lions to the Seattle Seahawks. Last night, Diggs saw his first action with Seattle in a clash between the San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers went into this Monday Night Football matchup as the only remaining undefeated team in the NFL. The Seahawks were able to stun the 49ers in San Francisco, winning in overtime by a score of 27-24.

About midway through the 3rd quarter, Diggs was able to intercept 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo with the score being 10-7 in favor of San Francisco. This interception led to a Seahawks touchdown, giving them the lead.

On the night, Diggs was able to tally two tackles, one of which was solo, a pass defense, and this interception.

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Updated look at Bills’ remaining strength of schedule

Buffalo Bills remaining stretch of schedule in 2019.

The Bills sit at 6-3 after their 19-16 loss to the Browns and their 2019 schedule down the stretch is much tougher.

So, how much tougher is it exactly?

Currently the Bills sit dead-center in the NFL.

Buffalo has the 16th hardest schedule remaining in the NFL. Left on Buffalo’s schedule, in order, are the Dolphins, Broncos, Cowboys, Ravens, Steelers, Patriots and Jets.

Combined, those teams are 32-31 overall this year with a .508 winning percentage.

Earlier this season, NFL analysts were critical of the Bills and their opponents. Now the Bills will have a chance to prove they can beat better teams.

With the Bills’ schedule in mind, let’s now compare that with the other teams currently in the AFC Wild Card and playoff picture. If Buffalo doesn’t get it done, things could go bad.

Here’s how the standings currently sit with team records and remaining strength of schedule.

AFC seeding:

  1. New England Patriots (8-1, .469 – 21st hardest)
  2. Baltimore Ravens (7-2, .556 – 7th)
  3. Houston Texans (6-3, .554 – 9th)
  4. Kansas City Chiefs (6-4, .500 – 17th)
  5. Buffalo Bills (6-3, .508 – 16th)
  6. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4, .383 – 30th)
  7. Oakland Raiders (5-4, .364 – 31st)
  8. Indianapolis Colts (5-4, .531 – 13th)
  9. Tennessee Titans (5-5, .611 – 3rd)
  10. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-5, .446 – 25th)

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5 big plays from the Browns’ Week 10 win vs. Buffalo

Not everything was positive but there were some great highlights too

What moments stood out from the Browns’ big 19-16 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 10?

Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt usage

Both Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt were used on over 50% of the Cleveland Browns offensive snaps in Week 10 against the Bills. In this play, not only are both runners on the field, but Kareem Hunt delivers a block to help establish Nick Chubb’s cut back lane for a great run.

Jarvis Landry great catch for a touchdown

Landry has been the best and most reliable wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns in 2019. On this play, Landry makes a great hands catch extending his arms away from his body. After the play, Landry was called for a taunting penalty and Austin Seibert ultimately missed the field goal. This was a great play and also a reminder to not let yourself get caught up in the heat of the moment.

Rashard Higgins game-winning touchdown

Browns fans have been rooting for Higgins to get more playing time and he did. Higgins finished Week 10 with 47% of the offensive snaps. While this was a great catch and I enjoyed seeing Higgins on the field, I also wonder if he would have been on the field if Antonio Callaway wouldn’t have been benched (click here for the full story). I will be watching closely to see if Higgins’ usage continues to trend up or if Callaway returns to the field and supplants Higgins.

Baker Mayfield safety

One of my biggest concerns with Baker Mayfield is his ability to get the ball out on time and this play perfectly outlines why. While the play design is horrible and there should have been a runner in the backfield with pass protection duties, it is also on the quarterback to deliver the ball when his back foot hits on the three-step drop. Mayfield double clutches and tries to scan the field for another option. If the ball was thrown on time, it could have been thrown away. Instead, Mayfield tries to make “the big play” and takes a safety.

Incredible Jarvis Landry catch to set up the game-winning score

As mentioned earlier, Landry has been the best wide receiver for the Browns in 2019. This play shows not only great concentration, but also his ability to adjust to the ball in the air. While we shouldn’t dwell on Odell Beckham uncovering himself in the deep middle or Kareem Hunt being wide open on the right side of the field, the catch was great and set up the game-winning touchdown to Rashard Higgins.

9 things to know about the Bills’ Week 11 opponent, the Dolphins

The Bills and Dolphins will complete their 2019 pair of games on Sunday in Week 11 from South Florida. These aren’t your father’s Dolphins, and they’re not your Dolphins from like a few weeks ago when Buffalo topped Miami in 31-21. Things have …

The Bills and Dolphins will complete their 2019 pair of games on Sunday in Week 11 from South Florida.

These aren’t your father’s Dolphins, and they’re not your Dolphins from like a few weeks ago when Buffalo topped Miami in 31-21. Things have changed in three short games since then.

With that, here are nine things to know about the Bills’ Week 1 opponent, the Dolphins:

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott and Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores meet following the game at New Era Field. Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Red hot Dolphins

The Bills were huge 15.5 opening favorites against the Dolphins in their first meeting. Buffalo took a 31-21 win and didn’t cover that. Actually it was nearly just a three-point win had it not been for a goofy onside kick score from Micah Hyde late.

But since then, it’s been smooth sailing for the Dolphins. After topping the New York Jets for their first win of the season, 26-18, Miami beat the Colts last week 16-12.

Yes, the tanking Dolphins are on a winning streak. Buffalo is still the favorite, but hey, if they’re hot, they’re hot. Along with their winning streak, the Dolphins have led in four-straight games as well, dating back to that loss in Buffalo.

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