Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition

Meet the new boss

With Brady gone, Allen now the top QB in AFC East

- By Omar Kelly, Steve Svekis

Josh Allen is the new King of AFC East quarterbac­ks

There’s a new top dog quarterbac­k to be feared in the AFC East because Allen continues to make drastic improvemen­ts to his game. While Allen still suffers from the occasional misfired pass when his footwork isn’t right, his elusivenes­s, scrambling ability, and big arm makes him the type of quarterbac­k that forces teams to defend every inch of the field.

The stress he put Miami’s defense under allowed Allen to carved the Dolphins up, throwing for 417 yards and four touchdowns in Sunday’s 31-28 win.

Myles Gaskins is here to stay

One game of serving as the Dolphins’ leading back might be a just coincidenc­e. The Dolphins explained Gaskin’s heavy snap count in the seaosn-opening loss to the Patriots on him being the

back on the field in the formation that was working. But watching Gaskin handle the bulk of the tailback work against Buffalo, gaining 46 yards on seven carries and 36 yards on six receptions indicates that the lead spot is Gaskins’ to lose. Matt Breida did produce 37 rushing yards on seven carries, but he was sparingly on the field.

With Stefon Diggs, Bills strike gold

The Bills gave up a lot to get Diggs (sending a 2020 first-round pick (No. 22), a 2020 fifth-round pick, a 2020 sixth-round pick and a 2021 fourth-round pick to Minnesota to get Diggs and a seventh-rounder), and have gotten a huge payoff. Against Miami, the ex-Vikings star grabbed eight Josh Allen passes for 153 yards and a touchdown, and he was two slight misfires by Allen away from 10 catches for at least 220 yards and two TDs.

Slot WR remains an issue

While Isaiah Ford has some talent, and could possibly blossom into a respectabl­e slot receiver, the Dolphins need to have a weapon on the field who can create

more separation, and make defenders miss. While Ford’s 76 yards on seven receptions were solid, Ryan Fitzpatric­k needs a weapon who can take a check-down pass to the house, and that isn’t Ford. Let’s hope Lynn Bowden Jr., the former Kentucky quarterbac­k the Dolphins traded to acquire from Oakland before the season began, is a fast learner because his shake-and-bake ability is what Miami’s offense is missing.

Fourth-and-goal frustratio­n

The Dolphins labored to get back into this game, and squandered a third-quarter opportunit­y to punch it into the end zone with four plays at the 1-yard line. Miami got stuffed on a Jordan Howard run, and then Ryan Fitzpatric­k failed to punch it in with his legs. From there Miami threw two passes, the first of which was nearly intercepte­d, and the second pass was a throw Preston Williams tried to basket catch but dropped. But why not try to impose your will on the Bills via the run? On the next goal-line situation, the Dolphins overloaded the line and Jordan Howard scored a 2-yard touchdown.

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