Kathy Laughlin, sports editor (4-3): Bills 31, Dolphins 17 Keven Lerner, assistant sports editor (4-3): Bills 31, Dolphins 17

The Bills are leading the AFC East and playing at home. The Dolphins are not just at the bottom of the AFC East, they are tied for the worst record in the AFC. The glimmers of hope against the Falcons, such as Tua Tagovailoa throwing for four touchdowns, won’t be enough to keep this close. The Dolphins are trying to avoid their first seven-game skid since an 0-7 start to the 2019 season.

The Bills are favored by 13 points for good reason. The only question is if they will cover the two-touchdown spread. The first-place Bills are coming off a bye week. The reeling Dolphins have lost six straight and are tied with Houston for the secondworst record in the NFL at 1-6 (Detroit is 0-7). The only bad news for Buffalo is standout tight end Dawson Knox has been ruled out with a broken right hand.

Steve Svekis, assistant sports editor (3-4): Bills 27, Dolphins 10

The Dolphins need to find a way to slow down Josh Allen, who is a foot away from having a 7-0 record against Miami. The Bills offense has rolled up 411 yards a game this season, but the one game they had some issue was at Hard Rock Stadium in Week 2, when they scratched out 314 yards in their 35-0 rout. The Dolphins’ defense since that game, though, has been in disarray, getting gouged for 439 yards a game. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have converted 16 of their

28 third downs the past two games, after a putrid start where they converted at only a 35.4 percent proficiency

(23 for 65) in their first five games. Of course, the past two games have been played against teams who have gone 2-8 against teams other than Miami.