Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - In a matchup many saw as an easy win for the Buffalo Bills in South Florida, the team laid a massive egg on the road in a 30-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.
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While the defense forced an early turnover of the Dolphins, the Bills offense floundered on its first drive, which then became too much of a trend over the rest of the contest. Buffalo failed to produce much of anything offensively until it was far too late, not scoring until early in the fourth quarter when the Bills were already trailing 16-0.
As for the Buffalo defense, the unit did what it could to contain a Miami offense that seems to give the Bills fits on a regular basis. After a couple of touchdown drives by the Dolphins in the first half, the defense gave the offense a chance to fight back, but eventually crumbled as time dwindled away.
With the loss to Miami, the Bills now sit at 6-3 in the AFC East standings, but fall back further from the New England Patriots, who are now 8-2 following a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
As for the Buccaneers, they make their way next to Western New York for a matchup with the Bills at Highmark Stadium on Sunday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Tampa Bay currently holds a game-and-a-half advantage over the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South standings, also at 6-3 with the Bills.
In the all-time meetings between both teams, the Buccaneers hold an 8-5 advantage over the Bills, but have yet to win a game in Orchard Park in their four tries. The last time Tampa Bay visited Highmark Stadium back in 2023, the Buccaneers dropped a prime-time matchup to Buffalo, 24-18, on "Thursday Night Football".
Following the Bills' demoralizing loss to the Dolphins on Sunday, how much has it taken a toll on Howard Simon's confidence with eight games remaining in the regular season?
While the Buccaneers are set to provide a tough challenge for the Bills in Week 11, Howard remains confident that Buffalo can continue its winning ways against Tampa Bay from the comforts of Highmark Stadium.
From there, though, it is very much a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Howard has the Bills nearly splitting the remaining seven games, with wins over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. However, losses to the Houston Texans, Patriots in Week 15 and the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles may jeopardize their chances at a playoff spot come January.
Be sure to follow along on X, formerly known as Twitter, for the latest picks from Howard by using the hashtag #HowardPicksTheBills. You can also track all of Howard's picks throughout the season with Brayton Wilson's picks tracker on X: @BraytonJWilson.
You can listen to, as well as watch the latest edition of "Howard Picks the Bills" below: