Miami Dolphins set sights on Buffalo before playoffs

The Miami Dolphins are still learning how to walk as a team. This week the Dolphins are heading to Buffalo where they haven’t won since 2011.

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Miami last won against the Bills in Orchard Park, Ny in 2011 during a mid-December game, just like this coming Saturday. The managed to pull off the win with a back-up quarterback. Just like they will attempt to do this Saturday. That quarterback? Matt Moore.

The Dolphins are in a very good position to make the post-season but they can’t think about what will happen after Buffalo. Miami needs to find a way to step up and win a game that is more important than any they have faced this year under new head coach Adam Gase.

For the Dolphins the issue seems to lie more on the defensive side of the ball. Miami struggles every week with stopping the run. They are relying on young corners and young linebackers and the Bills are capable of putting up a lot of points and grinding out a lot of yards.

The good news for the Dolphins is that the Bills are simply too inconsistent and do not get good play from their quarterback position. Tyrod Taylor is up and down but he has had pretty good games against the Dolphins.

Miami won the last meeting between the two clubs back in October. The three-point margin of victory shows just how close the two clubs are to one another. The Bills are only two games back of the Dolphins in the division but at times they have played much better than their record has indicated and at others have played far worse.

The Dolphins need to stay focused this week in their preparation and they can’t let the thought of what-if get in their heads. Each play must be taken care of by each player. Assignments must be followed, and the coaches have to have plans in place for in-game adjustments.

Of all the places for the Dolphins to play in mid-December with the playoffs on the line, Buffalo is not the most welcoming. Since 1980 the Bills have won 24 and lost 14 against the Dolphins. Miami has not won in the last four meetings and the longest streak in that time period was six games by the Bills from 1987 to 1991 that included a playoff game.

The Dolphins played well on Saturday night but they need to put that game behind them and move on now and get ready for a fist fight.