A division rivalry game is always placed as an emphasis for any team’s schedule. It is the type of game that can foreshadow playoff spots, division titles, and if a team truly will be someone to watch in January. When it comes to the Miami Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills are that team in the AFC East.
Despite it being a Week 2 contest, Thursday Night Football will be the second consecutive time Miami and Buffalo face off on prime time. The Bills defeated the Dolphins 21-14 in Week 18 of the 2023 season to clinch the division. Miami as a result was forced to travel on the road, where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wildcard. If the Dolphins are to avoid the same fate this season, an early victory against the Bills is crucial.
Week 2 Could Determine Miami’s Division Title Hopes
Winning the Division Most Likely Requires Two Wins Against Buffalo
The AFC East division consists of the New York Jets, New England Patriots, Bills, and Dolphins. Buffalo, however, has been the team to beat if a division title is possible for anyone. Buffalo has controlled the division since 2020. Miami hasn’t controlled the division since 2008, where they finished 11-3.
In that same season, the Dolphins defeated the Bill twice — once on the road and at home. Of course, a team can win a division without an undefeated campaign through each division game. However, in Miami’s case, it would put the nail in the coffin against Buffalo if they did so. Similar to last season, the Dolphins finished a game short of the division because they couldn’t close out the Bills at home in a 21-14 week 18 loss.
Miami head coach Mike McDaniel’s record against Buffalo through two seasons with the Dolphins is 1-4, which includes playoffs. McDaniel understands that division games are important in the NFL. The offensive guru notes that the Bills have rightfully earned its place on top of the division the past few years, but would like Miami to be in the same situation later this year. First, they’ll have to win six divisional games, starting Thursday.
“If you want to do anything in this league, generally you can’t skip over the much-mandated step of winning your division,” McDaniel said. “There’s one team that’s won the division consecutive years and you can say that they, by de facto, own the division until someone takes it from them.”
Beating a “Winning” Team Narrative
Despite Miami’s 11-6 record from 2023, one of the main narratives around the Dolphins was their lack of victories against a playoff, or winning teams. Miami went 1-5 against opponents that held winning records on game day, two of them were against Buffalo. The lone victory was against the Dallas Cowboys in a 22-20 week 16 win at Hard Rock Stadium on Dec. 24.
The Dolphins have already started to stray away from this narrative this season. Miami came back against the Jacksonville Jaguars to win 20-17 in its season opener on Sept. 8. Jacksonville last season had a winning record of 9-8 in 2023. A win against Buffalo would in all snuff out any doubts on the Dolphins’ competitive outlook against winning contending teams.
Protecting the Magic of the 1966 Home Throwbacks
Many in the NFL argue that Miami’s throwback jerseys are the best in the league. With three lines highlighted on the shoulder, bold orange and white outlined fonts, and encased in a beautiful aqua with an old-fashioned dolphin jumping through a painted sun on the helmet — these uniforms are a natural treasure to some.
Despite the jerseys’ visual appeal, they also have a winning record at home. Since the 1966 home throwback jerseys were introduced, the Dolphins hold a 10-4 record when wearing them. The latest victory in these jerseys was against Dallas in 2023. So whether it’s because of the ghost of Joe Robbie, or for some added luck, a loss against a division rival in the aqua home throwbacks would be devastating for Miami, especially on national television.
A Win Could Mark a Change in the Division
This may be an early contest between these two teams, but it goes without saying that the Bills and Dolphins have become closer due to the tight AFC East title race. Like last season, both teams are bound to make a run for the postseason with Super Bowl expectations. Everyone in the building knows the importance of this game, Miami franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said.
Buffalo commands an 11-1 record against the Dolphins through its last 12 matchups. The storyline of the Bills ‘having their number’ against Miami has echoed throughout the AFC East. The Dolphins first-string quarterback understands this will continue unless Miami can prove otherwise.
“That’s gonna be what’s written out there until we do something about that,” Tagovailoa said. “That’s gonna be the narrative that ‘we can’t beat the Bills’ and until we do beat them, and we beat them consistently, none of that is gonna change and we have an opportunity to do that this year. We have an opportunity to do that this Thursday.”
A Miami win against Buffalo would create more questions than answers for the Bills side of things. In contrast, a win for the Dolphins could mean everything with an early lead in a division they haven’t won a title in for 16 years. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. on Thursday at Hard Rock Stadium. You can watch it exclusively on Prime Video.
Main Image: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
