Bills seek to slow Dolphins' fast offense in an early showdown
Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott was so eager to simulate the speed of the Miami Dolphins' offense in practice this week, he wondered jokingly if sprinter Usain Bolt might be free.
With the world record holder apparently unavailable, McDermott leaned on his fastest player, practice squad receiver Andy Isabella, to handle the scout team duties to get his defense up to speed for what could become a track meet between AFC East rivals today. The Dolphins are 3-0 and the three-time defending division champion Bills are 2-1.
“There's only so many guys to go around to run as fast we we need them to run to just simulate the speed,” McDermott said. “It's unique.”
Revolutionary is another word McDermott used to describe a Dolphins offense that scored 70 points in a span of 52 minutes and 59 seconds to rout the Broncos last weekend.
And it's a unit that features ballcarriers having achieved the five fastest speeds on the field in games this season, as measured by Next Gen Stats. Rookie running back De'Von Achane ranks first, and fifth, after topping out at 21.93 mph against Denver. Receiver Tyreek Hill made the list twice, and running back Raheem Mostert once.
Hill joked he didn't need to check the list because he considers himself the team's fastest player, before turning serious in discussing how speed wears down opposing defenses.
“For a guy like me, I feel I can run all day, unlike a guy who is 6-foot and up not used to running a lot,” Hill said, referring to his 5-foot-10, 185-pound frame. “Teams can't play man to man on us all game.”
Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White shuddered when asked what it's like defending Hill when the receiver gets a head start by going in motion before the ball is snapped.
“I just pray and hope that definitely doesn't happen,” White said. “But I just think that if we play team total defense, we'll be OK.”
Buffalo's Josh Allen-led attack is no slouch either. The Bills combined for 75 points in two lopsided victories following a season-opening dud against the New York Jets. And their defense is coming off a win at Washington in which it forced five turnovers and had nine sacks.
Much will be on Allen's shoulders. Perhaps the best way to counter the Dolphins is to keep their offense off the field by winning the time-of-possession edge with lengthy scoring drives.
“At the end of the day, we're just trying to win a football game. If it's by putting up 40 or putting up four, we're just trying to go out there and play complementary football,” Allen said.
Four points likely won't cut it, but the Bills have dominated Miami since McDermott took over in 2017. In that span, the Bills are 11-2 against the Dolphins, and 7-0 at home, including a 34-31 win an AFC wild-card playoff meeting in January.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remembers that game, having watched it from home while sidelined by a season-ending concussion.
“Oh, we got to beat these guys,” Tagovailoa said. “They're the next team up and that's how I think all our guys see it. We're not worried about anything else right now this week except for the Bills.”
FALCONS VS. JAGUARS AT LONDON
Falcons QB Desmond Ridder was sacked seven times in a loss last week at Detroit. The Falcons will look to provide better protection for him against Jacksonville, which failed to get a sack last week against a Houston team that had allowed an NFL-leading 11 sacks through two games. Jags WR Calvin Ridley faces his former team for the first time. This will be Atlanta's third game in London and second at Wembley. The Falcons are 1-1 overseas, including a 27-20 win over the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2021. The Jaguars are playing their leagueleading 10th game in London. They are 4-5 in the previous nine.
COMMANDERS AT EAGLES
Eagles rookie DT Jalen Carter continued to impress in Monday's win over Tampa Bay, with two tackles, a halfsack, a pair of forced fumbles and a QB hit. His 15QB pressures are tied for eighth in the NFL. After allowing nine sacks in Sunday's loss to Buffalo, the Commanders' offensive line will have their hands full with Carter. Washington has had success in Philadelphia, going 43-42-2 all time.
STEELERS AT TEXANS
A key matchup will be Houston QB C.J. Stroud vs. Pittsburgh's defense. The rookie Stroud has gotten better each week and is the first player in NFL history with 906yards passing, four TDs and no interceptions through his first three games. Now he'll face a defense that ranks near the bottom of the league in yards allowed, but that has a fierce pass rush that has 13sacks, led by T.J. Watt. The younger of J.J. Watt is the first player since sacks became an official statistic in 1982to have at least six sacks and score a defensive touchdown in his team's first three games.
RAVENS AT BROWNS
Ravens WR Zay Flowers has already been targeted 25times in his first three NFL games, and the rookie receiver has more than twice as many catches (21) as anyone else on the team. He's averaging only 9 yards per reception, but Flowers has the speed and elusiveness to break a play after the catch. Browns DE Myles Garrett had 31/2 sacks in last week's win over Tennessee, leading a defense that held the Titans to 94 yards, their fewest since they were the Houston Oilers. Baltimore's RB group has been hit hard by injuries, with J.K. Dobbins (Achilles tendon) out for the season and Justice Hill (foot) missing the Indianapolis game. Browns QB Deshaun Watson rested a sore throwing shoulder this week, but is expected to play.
BUCS AT SAINTS
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield leads the NFL in third down completion rate (78.1percent) and has only turned the ball over once in three games. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2018 draft is with his fourth team in just over a year. Saints WR Chris Olave has averaged just more than 100yards receiving through New Orleans' first three games even as the Saints have generally struggled to move the ball consistently or get in the end zone. The Bucs and Saints have combined to win the past six NFC South championships.
RAMS AT COLTS
Rams QB Matthew Stafford, who led the Rams to a Super Bowl title two years ago, is struggling in a onedimensional offense. His completion rate (60.3%) could be his lowest in a decade and he's thrown twice as many interceptions (four) as TDs (two). The Rams need Stafford, who also happens to be the Rams' second-leading rusher, to revert to his old form. With 8yards passing, Stafford will become the 11th player in league history with 53,000. Rams right guard Joe Noteboom fought through shoulder and knee injuries Monday night and barring a setback, it appears he'll play today. The biggest questions for Indy are QB Anthony Richardson and threetime Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly, who both missed last week's game after entering the concussion protocol. The Rams are making their second trip to the Midwest in a week, logging nearly 8,500flight miles over the past week.
VIKINGS AT PANTHERS
Panthers WR Adam Thielen has plenty of motivation heading into this matchup of 0-3 teams, eager to prove to his former team they made a mistake releasing him after 10 seasons. Thielen is coming off his best game with the Panthers with 11 catches for 145yards and a touchdown against the Seahawks and said he has been looking forward to this game since the NFL schedule was released. Vikings WR Justin Jefferson will be a big challenge for Panthers CBs Donte Jackson and CJ Henderson: Jefferson is one the top wide receivers in the league and will face a Carolina defense without No. 1 cornerback Jaycee Horn, who is on IR with a hamstring injury. Henderson is dealing with an ankle issue, but is trending toward playing.
BRONCOS AT BEARS
Rookie WR Marvin Mims Jr. is about the only Bronco worth keeping an eye on right now. The second-round draft pick from Oklahoma has totaled 332 all-purpose yards on just 11touches over the past two games. That's a whopping 30.2 yards per touch. Bears QB Justin Fields indicated last week he's being fed too much information by the coaches and thinking too much as a result, then threw for 99 yards in another rough outing. Fields — 5-23 as a starter — has a 67.7passer rating that ranks among the worst in the NFL.
BENGALS AT TITANS
Bengals QB Joe Burrow may be playing with a sore calf that limited him to completing only 53.1% of his passes last week against the Rams. But he threw for a season-high 259 yards to help Cincinnati avoid an 0-3start. He also is 2-0against Tennessee with three TD passes, no interceptions and a 98.9passer rating. On the other side, Titans QB Ryan Tannehill has lost five straight games to Cincinnati going back to his days with Miami. He has thrown a combined five TD passes with seven interceptions in seven games against the Bengals. The Titans are trying to bounce back from their worst offensive performance in 49 years after managing only 94 yards in losing last week in Cleveland.
CARDINALS AT 49ERS
Niners RB Christian McCaffrey has rushed for 353yards for the best total through three games in franchise history. McCaffrey has scored a touchdown in 12straight games, including the playoffs, to tie Jerry Rice's franchise record. McCaffrey is three games shy of the record of 15straight games with a TD held by Lenny Moore, O.J. Simpson and John Riggins. Arizona QB Kyler Murray (knee) is out for at least one more game. He's on the physically unable to perform list and eligible to return for Week 5, though coach Jonathan Gannon hasn't committed to any timetable for the quarterback.
RAIDERS AT CHARGERS
Raiders RB Josh Jacobs showed signs of getting going in the fourth quarter last week against the Steelers. Jacobs broke off runs of 10 and 9 yards on back-to-back carries. Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo is in concussion protocol and is questionable. If he doesn't play, the Raiders will turn to 15-year veteran Brian Hoyer or rookie Aidan O'Connell. Chargers WR Keenan Allen has put together the best two-game stretch of his prolific career, catching 26passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns against Tennessee and Minnesota. He had a career-high 215 yards receiving at the Vikings and also threw a 49-yard touchdown pass.
PATRIOTS AT COWBOYS
The health of the Dallas offensive line is one of the biggest storylines. Three starters were missing against Arizona, and all three began the week working off to the side in practice. Six-time All-Pro RG Zack Martin injured an ankle in the opener, C Tyler Biadasz tweaked a hamstring last week in practice and LT Tyron Smith is dealing with a sore knee. A key matchup will be Ezekiel Elliott, Rhamondre Stevenson and the Patriots running game against the Dallas defense. The former Dallas star Elliott is coming off his best game with the Patriots, 80 yards rushing against the Jets, after he was released by the Cowboys in the offseason in a costcutting move.
CHIEFS AT JETS
Taylor Swift is watching Chiefs TE Travis Kelce, so why shouldn't everyone else? He has 71touchdown receptions, which is five behind Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez for the franchise record. Kelce and Patrick Mahomes have connected 48 times for touchdowns, including once last week against Chicago. Three more and they will tie Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham for the third most for a QB-TE combo in NFL history.