Why the Dolphins Will Win, Why They Will Lose, And What's Actually Going to Happen
The Miami Dolphins will face another tough challenge in Week 2 when they face the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium in their opener.
The Dolphins are coming off a 21-11 loss against the New England Patriots, while the Bills defeated the New York Jets, 27-17.
Here are different ways this game could play out:
The Dolphins will win because ...
-- Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will bounce back after a multiple-interception game, as he did all three times it happened last season.
-- The receivers will find a way to get open, which didn't happen often enough last week and partially led to Fitzpatrick's three-interception day.
-- The offensive line will have another good day in pass protection like it did in the opener, though the Buffalo pass rush is superior to that of the Patriots.
-- The Dolphins defense will force some turnovers, whether it be knocking the ball loose from Josh Allen on some of his quarterback scrambles or picking up an errant pass here and there.
-- The Dolphins defense will solve the zone read and stop the Buffalo running game.
-- The offense will take advantage of the absence of Buffalo linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano, two key pieces on the Bills defense.
-- Jakeem Grant will return a punt for a touchdown (forget kickoff because those just don't happen anymore ... well, almost).
The Dolphins will lose because ...
-- Allen will do to their defense what Cam Newton did last week.
-- Allen will have another big passing day against the Dolphins defense. As a stat to remember, three of his four best single-game passer ratings have come against Miami.
-- Former Homestead High wide receiver John Brown will have another big game against Miami after combining for 14 catches, 220 yards and three touchdowns in two games last season.
-- Or maybe it will be Stefon Diggs on the other side who hurts the Dolphins.
-- The pass rush doesn't get to Allen, giving him time to hook up with Brown and Diggs downfield.
-- Tre'Davious White comes up with a key interception the way he did in the Dolphins game at Buffalo last year.
-- The Dolphins can't handle the Buffalo defensive line, in particular second-year defensive tackle Ed Oliver.
-- DeVante Parker ends up not playing because of his hamstring injury and the receivers can't get open.
What actually will happen ...
Based on personnel alone, this actually looks like a tougher matchup for the Dolphins than the season opener against the Patriots — even with Edmunds and Milano missing the game.
For all the criticism he takes, Josh Allen is a major challenge for a defense because of his ability to make any throw and gain a lot of yards on the ground, as well as being a major threat near the goal.
While Allen can be erratic with his passing, he's coming off the first 300-yard passing game of his career.
The Dolphins have the defensive backs capable of handling the Buffalo receivers, but they'll need help from the pass rush against a good Bills offensive line.
On the other side, the Dolphins will have to find a way to make some big plays against one of the best defenses in the NFL.
This certainly would be a major coup for the Dolphins to be able to pull off a win against a team some (like me) except to be a major factor in the AFC picture in 2020.
But given Josh Allen's big games against the Dolphins in his first two seasons, logic says Buffalo leaves Hard Rock Stadium with a victory.
Bills 27, Dolphins 16.
