Brian Flores’ team heads north to Buffalo. Can the Miami Dolphins snap a six-game losing streak in their longtime with the Bills?
Seven weeks into the 2021 season and the Miami Dolphins have already lost as many games as they did all of a year ago.
Brian Flores’ team was 10-6 in 2020 and now finds itself in the midst of a six-game losing streak. And now of all teams to run into, here come the defending AFC East champion Buffalo Bills. And speaking of six, the ‘Fins have dropped a half-dozen consecutive games in this series dating back to the club’s second meeting in 2018. The latest was back in Week 2 at home courtesy of a humiliating 35-0 loss in which quarterback Tua Tagovailoa injured his ribs.
Still, the Bills will be coming off a week in which they didn’t play. The team’s last appearance on the field came in Tennessee on a Monday night in Week 6. Quarterback Josh Allen failed to punch the ball into the end zone on fourth down and Sean McDermott’s club fell to the Titans, 34-31.
So is anyone saying there’s a chance?
5. Special teams score a TD
Back in Week 1, the Pittsburgh Steelers stunned the Bills in Buffalo, 23-16. The pivotal play came in the fourth quarter when Mike Tomlin’s team blocked a Matt Haack punt and returned it for a touchdown.
That’s the kind of play that the Dolphins will need to pull off the surprise. And it’s worth noting that Haack spent his first four seasons with Miami. Could the ‘Fins’ coaching staff take advantage of that familiarity?
4. Brian Flores’ team rushes for 100-plus yards
Was Sunday’s performance by the Miami offense a sign of things to come? Or was Brian Flores’ squad simply taking advantage of a less-than-fearsome Atlanta defensive unit?
The Dolphins totaled a season-high 29 running plays in the loss to the Falcons. And the club’s 132 rushing yards was its second-best performance of the season. The ‘Fins wound up with 133 yards on the ground in the overtime loss at Las Vegas in Week 3.
Only the New York Jets have run for fewer yards per game this season. Meanwhile, only five clubs have given up fewer yards rushing per outing than Buffalo. But a closer look at the latter bears noting.
In their first four games, the Bills not only limited the opposition below the century mark on the ground, none of those opponents ran for at least 80 yards. But in the prime time win at Kansas City, Buffalo allowed 120 yard rushing. And in their Monday night loss at Tennessee, Sean McDermott’s club allowed Derrick Henry and the Titans to run for 146 yards.
Buffalo’s defense has allowed the fewest total yards per game and fewest passing yards per contest after seven weeks. But it might be a little vulnerable to a patient ground attack.
