Miami (2-5) at Buffalo (6-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS
BetMGM NFL odds: Bills by 6.
Series record: Dolphins lead 62-59-2.
Against the spread: Dolphins 1-6, Bills 5-3.
Last meeting: Bills beat Dolphins 31-10 on Sept. 12 at Miami Gardens.
Last week: Dolphins lost to Cardinals 28-27; Bills beat Seahawks 31-10.
Dolphins offense: overall (22), rush (9), pass (26), scoring (32).
Dolphins defense: overall (6), rush (16), pass (5), scoring (16).
Bills offense: overall (13), rush (12), pass (15), scoring (5).
Bills defense: overall (16), rush (15), pass (13t), scoring (6).
Turnover differential: Dolphins minus-3; Bills plus-11
Dolphins player to watch
CB Jalen Ramsey. The All-Pro cornerback has perhaps been the Dolphins best and most consistent player this season, despite routinely drawing the toughest assignments. Ramsey is only allowing 11.4 yards per reception and just 159 yards in pass coverage this season, along with four tackles for loss, which is third on the team.
Bills player to watch
DE Von Miller. The 35-year-old had three sacks in four outings — including one against Miami in Week 2 — before the NFL hit him with a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The NFL’s active leader with 126 1/2 sacks is set to return this weekend, providing a boost to a defense that had 12 sacks in the four games he played, and just eight in his absence.
Key matchup
Dolphins WR Tyreek vs. Bills secondary. With 30 catches for 366 yards, Hill’s numbers are already down after topping 1,700 yards receiving in each of his first two seasons in Miami. And his production might not get a boost against a Bills defense that has contained him the past two-plus seasons in Miami. Hill has been limited to 31 catches for 335 yards and two scores in six meetings, including playoffs, against Buffalo.
Key injuries
Dolphins: Starting safety Jevon Holland (knee) did not practice Wednesday. … DT Zach Sieler could miss his second straight game after being poked in the eye at practice last Thursday. … WR River Cracraft (shoulder) practiced this week for the first time this season. … Bills’ recently acquired WR Amari Cooper’s status bears monitoring after he was limited in practice on Wednesday because of a wrist injury. … Starting LB Terrel Bernard (ankle/pectoral) and WR Curtis Samuel (pectoral) have a chance to return after being sidelined last weekend.
Series notes
The era of the Don Shula-coached Dolphins domination of the Bills is a distant memory. Miami essentially owned its division rival by going 31-7-1 — including a 20-0 run spanning the 1970s — over the first 39 meetings. Since 1986, the Bills are 52-25-1, including a 4-1 edge in playoff meetings. … Buffalo has won six straight and 13 of the past 14. And the Bills are 8-0 at home since a 34-31 OT loss on Dec. 24, 2016, in what became Rex Ryan’s final game as Buffalo coach, with Sean McDermott hired a month later.
Stats and stuff
The Dolphins are under .500 through the first eight weeks of the season for the first time in the Mike McDaniel era. … Tua Tagovailoa was mostly sharp against the Cardinals on Sunday in his first start since Week 2. He completed 28 of 38 passes for 234 yards and one touchdown, while the Dolphins converted 73.3 percent of third downs. It was the ninth time in his career that he completed at least 70% of his passes for 225-plus yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. … Tagovailoa threw three interceptions in Miami’s 31-10 loss to Buffalo at home in Week 2. He was also concussed in the second half when he collided with defensive back Damar Hamlin on a scramble. … Miami has rushed for 150-plus yards in each of its past three games, the first time since 2009 that the Dolphins have had that many yards rushing in three straight games. … The Dolphins’ defense gave up more than 300 yards passing for the first time this season, while holding an opponent to fewer than 100 yards rushing for the first time this season. … Miami is allowing 123.7 yards rushing per game, which is 16th in the NFL. … RB De’Von Achane has 253 yards on 40 carries with three rushing TDs in three games vs. Buffalo. … The Bills are the eighth team since the 2002 realignment to hold at least a four-win edge atop a division, and first since the Packers in 2021. Buffalo is the second AFC East team to do so, joining the 2007 Patriots, who went 16-0. … Buffalo is 6-2 or better for the fourth time in eight seasons under coach Sean McDermott, and 14th time overall. … Despite throwing his first interception of the season — and first in 301 attempts — last weekend, Josh Allen improved to 40-27 in games he commits a turnover. His interception and two lost fumbles account for Buffalo’s three giveaways this season. … Buffalo’s 445 yards, 29 first downs and 14 first downs rushing last week were season highs. … WR Khalil Shakir’s 36 catches are three short of his career-best season last year, and come on 38 targets. … Rookie WR Keon Coleman has combined for nine catches for 195 yards and a TD in his past two outings. He had 12 catches for 201 yards and two scores in his first six games. … Buffalo’s 32 yards rushing allowed against Seattle were the fewest since giving up 23 in a 37-20 win over Miami on Nov. 17, 2019.
Fantasy tip
With an 11-2 record over Miami, Allen has topped 300 yards five times, and 400 twice. In those meetings, the seventh-year starter has combined for 39 touchdowns (34 passing, five rushing) and is averaging 269 yards passing per outing with just seven interceptions.
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