DOLPHINS GAMEDAY

KEYS TO THE GAME Protect Tua Tagovailoa better:

The last time the Dolphins played Buffalo it took the Bills two series to get Tagovailoa out of the game because constant pressure from the edges led to a brutal hit that broke his ribs, and sidelined him for a month. Since Tagovailoa’s return the Dolphins have only allowed one sack in two games, but that has more to do with Tagovailoa evading pressure and getting the ball out his hands quickly. The Bills have produced 14 sacks in six games, but six of those take-downs were against the Dolphins.

Minimize Bills QB Josh Allen’s impact:

Allen has won six of the seven games he’s played against the Dolphins, and plenty of those featured career-best performances. He has thrown for 1,731 yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions against Miami. The biggest issue Miami has had defending him comes from his scrambling, and ability to extend plays. Allen averages 35.5 rushing yards per game throughout his career, and he’s scored 27 rushing touchdowns in his four seasons.

Double cover Bills WR Stefon Diggs:

The Dolphins have tried a couple different approaches to covering Diggs — and none of them have been successful in the three games he’s played them with the Bills. Earlier this season he caught four passes and turned them into 60 yards and a touchdown.

Rush for more than 100 yards:

The Dolphins are the NFL’s second-worst rushing team, averaging 80.1 yards per game and 3.9 yards per carry. Only the New York Jets are worse, but believe it or not, there has been a concerted effort to become more balanced the past few weeks. It resulted in Miami gaining 132 rushing yards on 29 carries against the Falcons last week.

Score touchdowns in the red zone:

The Dolphins didn’t have an issue driving the length of the field in Miami’s 35-0 loss to Buffalo in Week 2. The problem was that Miami squandered four trips inside the red zone, leaving those possessions without points because of turnovers and poor execution.

PREDICTIONS Dave Hyde, sports columnist (season record: 3-4): Bills 34, Dolphins 21

Buffalo is the new Patriots of the AFC East, while the dismal Dolphins remain the Dolphins. Buffalo has won every game in the Brian Flores era. No reason to think that will change Sunday. The well-rested Bills also are coming off a bye and haven’t lost under coach Sean McDermott following an idle week (4-0). Buffalo has won the last six games against the Dolphins by an average score of 39-19.

Omar Kelly, Dolphins columnist (4-3): Bills 30, Dolphins 21

Josh Allen and the AFC Eastleading Bills have dominated the Dolphins in recent years, and that should continue. Buffalo has won the last six meetings, matching its longest win streak against the Dolphins (1987-89). The biggest question is if the Dolphins’ offensive line can protect Tua Tagovailoa after the Bills knocked him out of their last meeting. While the Dolphins are 6-0 in games played on Halloween, expect that unbeaten mark to end in rowdy Buffalo.

David Furones, Dolphins writer (4-3): Bills 34, Dolphins 20

They just lost to the Jaguars and Falcons. Let’s be real. They’re not going into Orchard Park and upsetting the Bills, who have owned the Dolphins under coach Brian Flores (5-0). The Bills also should extend their NFL record of leading at halftime to 16 straight games. Tua Tagovailoa has played reasonably well in his return after suffering fractured ribs in Week 2 against the Bills, but that was against Jacksonville and Atlanta.

Kathy Laughlin, 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.

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

The Bills are favored by 13 ½ 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.