Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Bills will be looking for their fifth-straight win on Saturday night, and also looking to avenge their 21-19 loss in Week 3 to the Miami Dolphins.
In order to do that, here are my three keys to the game, plus notes and stats:
1.) Weather
The story of the week has been the weather for this game.
Sure, Bills players should be much more used to playing in cold and snow. However, those conditions will still impact both teams.
Coaching staffs will have to have contingency game plans based on how the weather not only might be one thing or another, but even change during the game. Players will have to have a plan for staying warm, and an understanding of how to do their jobs most efficiently in conditions they don’t play in very often.
One slip, or drop off the ball, could be critical in this game.
2.) Blueprint?
There’s been a lot made lately about how the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers shut down the Dolphins passing attack. Specifically, playing more press-man coverage, and disrupting their timing.
Can the Bills use that blueprint? Will they need to?
Buffalo has done an excellent job against Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the four matchups they’ve faced him as a starter, holding him to less than 59% completion percentage and intercepting him four times. He’s only thrown two touchdown passes in those contests.
However, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel will, no doubt, adjust to what he’s seen from them. Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier will have to counter any new wrinkles, and do it quickly.
3.) Converting offensive chances
The Dolphins have the 23rd-ranked passing defense in the league. There will be opportunity to move the ball against them and score points.
Last week against the New York Jets, the Bills dropped too many passes and couldn’t sustain drives in critical situations late in the game. They’re going to have to convert those opportunities in this game, knowing the Dolphins offense has a much better ability to score if they keep giving them the ball back.
One way to do that is to be better on third down. The Bills were just 2-for-13 last week. Miami ranks 25th in the NFL in allowing opposing teams to convert third downs 42.61% of the time.
NOTES AND STATS:
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