Bills face Dolphins in AFC East rivalry: What to know for today’s game
The Buffalo Bills (1-0) will travel to the heat and humidity of Miami to take on the Dolphins (1-0) at Hard Rock Stadium to open the second week of the season.
Although it’s just Week 2, this matchup has more than pride on the line as both the Bills and Dolphins have their sights on the AFC East crown this season. With both teams entering the matchup following comeback wins in their season openers, neither team can be counted out of the game until there’s no time left on the clock.
After a left-hand injury concern during Buffalo’s Week 1 opener, the Bills have cleared QB Josh Allen for Thursday’s game.
Allen was instrumental in Buffalo’s come-from-behind 38-24 win Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. After a sluggish start to the season that saw the Bills fall behind 17-3, Allen scored a rushing touchdown seconds before halftime. Buffalo then went on to command the field with 14 unanswered points in the third quarter to retake control of the game.
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Like the Bills, the Dolphins also overcame a 14-point deficit to defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-17 in a dramatic win that included an 80-yard touchdown catch from wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
Here’s everything you need to know about Thursday’s matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins.
How to watch Bills at Dolphins on Thursday Night Football
The Bills-Dolphins game will begin at 8:15 p.m. ET and can be streamed on Amazon Prime. In Buffalo, the game will also be aired on local ABC affiliate WKBW.
What are the betting odds for the Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins?
The Dolphins (-125) are the moneyline favorite, while the Bills (+105) are a slight underdog. The over/under is set at 49 points, with the Dolphins favored by 2 points, according to BETMGM.
Spotlight on the quarterbacks: Josh Allen vs. Tua Tagovailoa
Both quarterbacks are off to a strong start to the season. Allen ranked first in ESPN’s QBR metric for his Week 1 performance, which saw him accomplish a record fourth career game with multiple rushing and passing touchdowns. Allen completed 18 of his 23 passes (78.3%) for 232 yards while recording nine carries for 39 yards. His versatility will be useful against a strong Miami defense that recorded a shutout in the second half of its Week 1 game.
Meanwhile, Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards last season and got right back to his old self, leading the league again in Week 1 passing yards. In Miami’s win over the Jaguars, Tagovailoa had one carry for 11 yards and completed 23 of 37 passes (62.2%) for 338 yards and one touchdown, including an 80-yard touchdown pass to Hill to kickstart Miami’s comeback.
Player to watch: Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill
Hill has been at the center of this week’s headlines after police pulled him over, forcefully removed him from his car and detained him ahead of Miami’s season opener. Despite the incident, hours later, Hill recorded seven receptions for 130 yards — second in the league only to the Packers’ wide receiver Jayden Reed — to re-energize Miami’s stagnant offense and ultimately secure his team’s opening win. Against Buffalo, Hill’s unmatched speed on the field will be a decisive part of any offensive success for the Dolphins. Hill’s athleticism could prove even more dangerous considering the Bills have ruled out cornerback Taron Johnson after he left the Week 1 game with a forearm injury.
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