Miami Dolphins At Buffalo Bills: 6 Pack Of Key Match Ups

The Miami Dolphins visit the Buffalo Bills in week 2, each seeking to reach 2-0 and get a leg up on the division. Both teams succeeded this past week with strong run games and solid defense, so it will be a battle of wills to see who remains undefeated.

In order for the Miami Dolphins to earn a victory, a few match-ups will have to go their way, but a few seem to stand out more than others making up this week’s Key Match Ups 6 Pack.

Match Up 1: Mario Williams vs. Ja’Wuan James

For this rookie, he’s going to feel like he’s in a key match up every week. Tasked to keep the QB standing while facing some of the game’s most elite Pass Rushers, today he will have his hands fuller than most with Mario Williams lined up across from him. Luckily for him he’s had the benefit of seeing a similar dominant force in practice with teammate Cameron Wake, so the work should pay off.

Mario Williams almost single handily beat the Dolphins last year by turning former Right Tackle Tyson Clabo into a turnstile. Blessed with the opportunity to line up next to 2 Pro Bowl Defensive Tackles, look for Williams to pose a big challenge for the rookie. This will be a week where Tight End Dion Sims will play a huge role in support of his young lineman.

Match Up 2: Dolphins Reserve Linebackers vs. Bills Running Backs

This is a tough match up for the Dolphins even if they had their complete starting line up, but unfortunately for them, injuries have forced the Dolphins to move forward playing their reserves. Down 2 starters in Dannell Ellerbe and Koa Misi, with another banged up in Phillip Wheeler, the Dolphins will rely heavily on reserves Jason Trusnik and Jelani Jenkins to pick up the slack as both of them figure to play nickel downs as well as they offer more in coverage than Wheeler.

The Bills own a stable of backs that can do damage against many defenses and have a history of success against the Fins, Jackson and Spiller are both effective runners and receivers out the back field and as Buffalo’s best players on Offense, figure them to play a large role in today’s game plan as they have accounted for a large portion of Miami’s focus in preparation.

Match Up 3: Cameron Wake Vs. Seantrel Henderson

The former University of Miami Offensive tackle Henderson was highly recruited coming out of high school and failed to live up to the hype during his playing career with the Hurricanes. Usually overweight and underachieving, he saw his stock drop to the point in this year’s draft that he went undrafted. From the outside looking in, it would seem this has ignited his effort which has led to him not only making the Bills roster but also winning a starting job. That may also speak to the state of the Bills Offensive Line.

Cameron Wake has to be chomping at the bit for the opportunity to take this young cat to school. If you think the display he put on against a seasoned pro like Sebastian Vollmer was impressive, then what would you expect him to do to an undrafted rookie free agent? Can you say clinic? You can bet your house on the fact that the Bills will be rolling protections Wake’s way while trying to get a consistent run game going to slow down his pass rush.

Match Up 4: Charles Clay vs. Buffalo’s Linebackers

Charles Clay is still nursing a sore knee but he’s healthy enough to wreak havoc on these set of Bills Linebackers. With the offseason losses of Jarius Byrd to free agency and Kiko Alonso to injured reserve, plus Keith Rivers not playing on Sunday. The Bills are vulnerable in the middle of the field to the passing game.

Look for the Dolphins to try and get Clay lined up in favorable mismatches against the likes of Brandon Spikes and Nigel Bradham to exploit their lack of coverage abilities. Spikes fell out of favor in New England because of his limitations in coverage and the Miami Dolphins need to take full advantage of that.

Match Up 5: Brent Grimes vs. Sammy Watkins

If the Buffalo Bills are going to have any chance of beating the Miami Dolphins, the Bills are going to need more than a running game to do so. They are going to need some explosive plays in the passing game, the Bills made a trade in order to acquire Sammy Watkins in the first round and did so with the hope for him to come in and be their alpha receiver, he’ll need a big game to help balance the Bills attack.

His job is hard enough as a rookie and now has to face a Pro Bowler in Brent Grimes. Grimes makes it a habit of shutting down receivers in his area so expect this game to be no different. While Watkins has the size to pose a problem for Grimes, expect Grimes to use his experience and superb change of direction ability in his favor. Shutting down the Bills’ passing game and making them one dimensional will help the Dolphins stifle the Bills offensive attack.

Match Up 6: Brain Hartline vs. Leodis McKelvin

With the Bills more than likely to roll double coverage with the safety over the top of Mike Wallace and shadowing him with Stephon Gilmore, should he suit up today. The Dolphins are going to need Hartline to take advantage of one on one coverage from Leodis McKelvin. McKelvin is coming off his best season as a pro but that’s not saying much since he hasn’t been particularly good in the league yet.

McKelvin allows a lot of routes to be in completed in front of him and with a receiver like Hartline that specializes in route running, he can have field day with this kind of match up.

Knowing the Bills swept the Dolphins last year with a Quarterback that isn’t even in the league anymore, expect this game to be a contested one especially with it on the Bills turf. But the Dolphins have momentum on their side and a real opportunity to gain an early edge on the division and conference with this victory againt a divisional foe. If this team is better than last year, then they will posses consistency and should perform at least as good as they did last week against New England, if they execute. FINS UP!