McDaniel doesn’t deny that next test for Miami is indeed a big one
There’s no wrong answer.
That’s the first thing you need to know when asking the Miami Dolphins whether Sunday’s game against Buffalo is a big game. It’s all about personal perspective.
It’s interesting to note, however, that Miami coach Mike McDaniel embraces the challenge of his head-turning Dolphins (2-0) hosting the mighty Bills (2-0) at Hard Rock Stadium. McDaniel said he’d even tell his team not to hide from using this game as a measuring stick.
“I think you embrace the fact that they’re a good football team and that there’s one way to be put in the category of good football teams — you beat good football teams,” he said.
Some of McDaniel’s players have opted for the businesslike, it’s-just-one-gameamong-17 approach.
“They’re just another team on our schedule,” veteran linebacker Melvin Ingram said. Ingram’s not alone in that feeling. “They’re all big,” defensive tackle Christian Wilkins said. “You’ve got to approach it the same way each week because once you start playing that inconsistency game in the NFL, you get showed up for sure.” McDaniel has a different method. He chooses to speak publicly about the temporary enormity of this early season matchup, and he’s got lots of company. He acknowledges Sunday is just one-seventeenth of the season schedule and one-sixth of the division schedule.
“But it’s also an opportunity for us to see where we’re at and go against the best, which as competitors — our team is very competitive — you bask in that opportunity,” he said.
So count McDaniel among the number of people making a big deal about the Dolphins, who are riding a seven-game home winning streak, facing the Bills, who are riding a sevengame winning streak over Miami.
The high-scoring Bills, the two-time defending AFC East champs who have won at least 10 games each of the past three seasons, are among the NFL’s Super Bowl favorites. The Dolphins, who have a dynamic new offense and renewed energy under McDaniel, turned heads with last week’s shocking 42-38 comeback victory at Baltimore that included an explosive 28-point fourth quarter. Fans are hyped. Headlines are juiced. A whole bunch of NFL eyes will be focused on South Florida for this peak at an expected Super Bowl contender visiting one of the NFL’s most intriguing teams.