Miami Dolphins fans hoping for a miracle victory in Buffalo
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills have played two close games already this year but asking for a third will be a tall task.
Miami will head into Buffalo for their first-round playoff game, and first postseason game since 2016, as 13.5-point underdogs. It is one of the largest margins in NFL modern-era playoff history. Can the Dolphins pull off a miracle win in the cold weather, and hostile environment, with every odd stacked against them?
Miami will limp into Buffalo without their number one and number two quarterbacks starting. They will rely on 7th-round draft pick Skylar Thompson to lead them to a miracle. They will be without Raheem Mostert who chewed up the Bills’ defense in December’s match-up.
The Dolphins will also face a Bills team who received a special visitor this week in the locker room when Damar Hamlin visited the facility for the first time since being released from the hospital.
Needless to say, emotions will be running very high in Orchard Park.
Miami’s chances will lie on the legs of Jeff Wilson, Jr. and the running game. Mike McDaniel has to take advantage of the short passing game and can’t be afraid to dump the ball off over and over again. Today isn’t about big plays, it’s about long sustained drives that take advantage of the Bills’ pass rush and the coverage on Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Mike Gesicki needs to be a bigger part of the offense as well. He should find himself covered by linebackers and McDaniel should feed him the ball and force the Bills’ defense to adjust.
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Defensively, Miami has to contain Josh Allen. Pressure is important but if the Dolphins do not keep him in the pocket, he will take control of the game and have the Dolphins playing on their heels. Someone from the Dolphins needs to shadow him every play, not overcommit to trying to get a sack but literally shadowing every move he makes and then stopping him from doing it.
Can Miami win today’s game? As fans, we have hope and for some, faith. The realistic side of us all knows that this game is set up to be an embarrassing loss for the Dolphins. But anything can happen and for Miami, it might just take another miracle.