Week 2: Bills vs. Dolphins
at
Sunday, Sept. 15th
1:00pm ET
The Bills come in flying high after pulling off the shocking upset of the Bears on opening day in Chicago and the sale of the team to the Pegulas lifting a huge weight off the shoulders of everyone in Western New York. The home opener promises be a very loud atmosphere as the arch rival Dolphins come to town high off of their upset of the Patriots. The Bills are expected to honor Ralph Wilson and celebrate Jim Kelly being cancer free.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Matchup: Buffalo (1-0) vs. Miami (1-0)
Place: Ralph Wilson Stadium
TV/Radio: Network: CBS; DirecTV: 705; Sirius: 91
Announcers: Tom McCarthy and Adam Archuleta
Spread: Dolphins by 1
Series: Dolphins lead 56-39-1 (Bills 3-1 in playoffs)
Streak: Bills Won 3
Last Meeting: Bills 19-0 in Buffalo (2013)
Dolphins Offense: Rush (4th); Pass (27th); overall (t-18th)
Dolphins Defense: Rush (12th); Pass (15th); overall (8th)
Bills Offense: Rush (3rd); Pass (28th); overall (t-18th)
Bills Defense: Rush (11th); Pass (28th); overall (29th)


INJURY UPDATE

The Bills should have Stephon Gilmore back after he missed the opener with a groin injury. He is practicing and feels better this week. They may be without Keith Rivers who has a groin injury of his own suffered in the Chicago win. Lee Smith remains sidleined with a toe injury. Aaron Williams suffered a head injury and is undergoing the NFL concussion protocol so his availability is up in the air as well. Jonathan Meeks is trying to come back from a neck injury.

The Dolphins will be without C Mike Pouncy who has a hip injury and LB Jordan Tripp with a chest injury. LB Chris McClain (Illness), LB Koa Misi (Ankle), DT Randy Starks (Toe), and G Billy Turner (Foot) all have missed practice time this week.

Check out our Bills Daily Injury Page throughout the week for the latest updates on the injured players.

KEY MATCHUPS

WR Sammy Watkins vs. CB Brent Grimes:
The Bills need to find a way to get the ball in Watkins hands so they should move him around and not let Grimes matchup against him too easily.

DE Mario Williams vs. RT Ja'Wuan James:
Williams played well in the opener and the all pro goes up against a rookie. A big matchup advantage for Buffalo.

RT Seantrel Henderson vs. DE Cameron Wake:
The Bills have the big advantage with Super Mario but Miam has the same kind of advantage with Wake going up against the Bills rookie right tackle. Wake had two sacks in their opening day win.

LB Brandon Spikes vs. RBs Knowshon Moreno and Lamar Miller:
The two Dolphins backs combined for nearly 200 yards rushing last week so Spikes will earn his keep as a run stuffer.

KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Quick Start: The Ralph will be rockin so if the Bills can get out to an early lead and keep the crowd rowdy it can go a long way into taking control of the game. They can't let all the good news from the week get them to show up unprepared or over confident.
2. Pressure Tannehill: The secondary struggled against Chicago so to take the pressure off of them they need to put it on the Miami QB.
3. Play Disciplined: Penalties were an issue in the win over Chicago. They need to play a smart game and not hurt themselves with bad penalties that allow Miami to keep drives alive and short circuits their own offense.

BILLS DAILY PREDICTION

This early season battle could be for sole possession of first place if the Jets lose to Green Bay. Both teams come in very confident but the atmosphere at the Ralph promises to be the most rowdy and celebratory in years giving the Bills a huge home field advantage in front of a packed house. That should be enough to get the Bills over the top in what should be a very close game and get them to 2-0 on the young season:
Bills 16, Dolphins 14

Season Prediction Record: (0-1)
Season Record Against The Spread: (0-1)

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