Thursday, November 13th
8:25pm ET @ Sun Life Stadium (NFLN)
In what would have been considered a game to decide who was most likely to end up at the bottom of the AFC East a few years ago is now a race for a wild card spot. With both teams coming off of close losses, they look to bounce back.
Buffalo has been one of the most impressive teams this year. After pulling EJ Manuel, the team has relied on Kyle Orton to get them to this point. Sammy Watkins has been a key weapon, catching the ball 42 times for 617 receiving yards and 5 TDs. With C.J. Spiller having a few more yards on the ground than Fred Jackson, it has been Jackson that has been more of a threat out of the backfield, receiving for 300 yards. The offense is well rounded but it has been their defense, ranked at #6, that has kept Buffalo in games. With 34 sacks, the Bills lead the league in sacks and rank #4 in the league with 12 INTs.
Miami boasts a defense that surprisingly shut down the San Diego Chargers. Ranked at #4 in the NFL, this defense has shown to be a force when it comes to the pass rush. They rank #4 in sacks with 28 and #7 with 10 INTs. The offense has also played a huge part in their success. After acquiring Knowshon Moreno this past offseason, Miami had much to look forward to. Moreno has only played two games and is currently out for the season. Since then, they’ve relied on Lamar Miller, who has rushed for 528 yards and 5 TDs on 110 carries. Even Ryan Tannehill, who has passed for 2,114 yards and 15 TDs, has rushed for 245 yards.
FINAL PREDICTION:
The loser of this game will face an uphill battle when it comes to a wild card spot, sitting at 5-5 after the game. The winner will sit pretty at 6-4, obviously. Buffalo’s last few games haven’t looked sloppy while Miami, coming off of a defensive battle with the Lions, took out San Diego 37-0 the week before. Playing at home will also play a key role for Miami.
Bills 20, DOLPHINS 27
Photo Credit: AP