It's gameday (night?) as the Fins and Bills are set to kickoff at around 8:20 from Ralph Wilson Stadium on the NFL Network. This is an absolute must win for the Dolphins as they are still hanging around in the AFC playoff picture, but that will end with a loss tonight. Kickoff is about two hours away from chilly Buffalo, so until then, take a look at who has the edge in tonight's game. Enjoy.
When the Dolphins run the ball: Reggie Bush has got to get back on track today. He was held to four carries against the Titans, and was benched for most of the first half after fumbling early on. The Bills pose the leagues 31st ranked rush defense, giving up nearly 164 yards a game, so if the Fins are to reestablish a run game that hasn't been a threat since week three against the Jets, then tonight is the perfect time to do it. EDGE: Dolphins
When the Bills run the ball: Most would think this to be a clear cut Dolphins advantage, however, C.J. Spiller scares me. He's elusive, he's quick, he's tough to catch, and if you don't tackle him early, he'll beat you every time. This scares me because this is exactly the kind of running back Chris Johnson is, and he ran up and down the field on this "juggernaut" of a run defense the Fins claim to have. I want to give the edge to Miami here, but if they don't figure out how to contain and tackle, it could be a long night for the Fins. EDGE: Even
When the Dolphins pass the ball: This is a big game for Ryan Tannehill. The rookie QB is coming off a disastrous three interception performance a week ago, and needs a solid game here to show he can bounce back and adjust. The Bills pass defense ranks 21st in the league, giving up 246 yards a game through the air, so Tannehill should have opportunities for success throughout the night. The one big question mark I have in this one is the offensive line, and more specifically, the battle between rookie Jonathan Martin, and pro bowler Mario Williams. This will be the matchup to watch throughout the evening, and could be the difference maker in the game. EDGE: Even
When the Bills pass the ball: Ryan Fitzpatrick is having a typical Ryan Fitzpatrick year, throwing for a lot of yards, a lot of TD's, and a lot of INT's. The thing that scares me about this matchup though is the fact that Fitzpatrick can run, and, as I've mentioned before, the Fins don't matchup well with mobile QB's (check Andrew Luck and Jake Locker). The Dolphins front seven must be disciplined around the edges, but also put pressure on Fitzpatrick early and often to force those bad interceptions he tends to throw. The secondary, especially Sean Smith, needs to have a bounce back performance tonight after two weeks of mediocrity, and with Fitzpatrick, they could either look really good, or really bad. EDGE: Even
PREDICTION
I expect the Fins to come out of the gates firing in this one, as they've expressed all week that they're ready to get the taste of Sunday's loss out of their mouths. The offense hasn't scored a TD in six quarters, so the pressure will be on them early to get things going in the right direction. Defensively, the Dolphins must tackle better, especially with a RB like C.J. Spiller, and the front line must put pressure on Ryan Fitzpatrick throughout the game. I expect the Fins to win this game, but, at the same time, I expected them to win on Sunday as well. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. I can't pick them tonight, not until they prove me wrong.
Final: Dolphins 23 Bills 24
Kickoff is right around the corner, so come back soon to check in on any last minute updates, including tonght's inactives. And, as always, follow the live, quarter-by-quarter, blog of the game.
Until then, Go Fins!
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