Miami Dolphins Vs. Buffalo Bills: Connections
By Eric Roddy
What a first week of football for the 2014-2015 NFL season. Seven games were decided by one score or less, including the Buffalo Bills overtime win in Chicago over a promising Bears squad. The Miami Dolphins also shocked the football world by handily defeating the Patriots in a second half blowout, 33-20. With both teams coming off huge week 1 wins, the Bills and Dolphins will face each other in week 2. Here are a few of the connections between the two AFC East division rivals.
1. Dan Carpenter, Kicker, Buffalo Bills
Last season the Miami Dolphins cut struggling kicker Dan Carpenter after drafting Florida’s kicker Caleb Sturgis in the fifth round. While the move financially made sense, Carpenter got his revenge on his former team in week 7 last season when he nailed the game winning field goal in Miami. Carpenter, now in his second year with the Bills, has already made a game winning field goal after beating the Bears in overtime last week. He will undoubtedly look to make it 3 wins in a row over the team that cut him this Sunday. Hopefully Miami doesn’t give Carpenter the chance to beat them.
2. Kyle Orton, QB, Buffalo Bills
Before drafting now starting QB Ryan Tannehill, the Dolphins were extremely close to bringing in Kyle Orton, formerly the quarterback of the Denver Broncos. Now, Orton is a Buffalo Bill, and has a great chance of playing this season, given the inconsistency and inability to stay healthy of E.J. Manuel. Orton may get a shot at facing the team that passed on him just a few seasons ago.
3. Jim Kelly and Dan Marino
Both men were juggernauts and the best players in their respective organizations. Both are HOF QB’s who dominated the sport and went head to head numerous times in the 80’s and 90’s, and both still have impacts on their organizations today. Dan Marino recently joined the Dolphins’ organization under the title of “special adviser,” a role Kelly has played with the Bills since retiring, even if not under that name. Two of the greatest of all time will without a doubt be invested in Sunday’s game in some way.
4. Jeff Nixon, RB Coach Dolphins
Nixon played his professional football for the Buffalo Bills from 1979-1984 after being drafted in the 4th round in the 1979 NFL Draft. He is now the RB coach for the Miami Dolphins, and is partially responsible for Knowshon Moreno’s quick turn around this preseason.
5. Jim Schwartz, DC Buffalo Bills
Schwartz also served as the defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans from 2001-2008. During his time with the Titans, he coached none other than current Miami CB Cortland Finnegan. Both Schwartz and Finnegan have been with two teams since the Titans, and will face each other on Sunday.
Can you think of any other Dolphins Bills connections? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
FINS UP!