Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins: Scores, highlights, live updates
ORCHARD PARK – You wouldn’t lose sleep over playing a team that your quarterback is 9-2 lifetime against, right?
You would if that team is the 3-0 Miami Dolphins, who’s potent offense scored so many points (70) last week that fans could be forgiven for filing a missing persons report for the Denver Broncos defense.
Still, Josh Allen and the 2-1 Buffalo Bills weren’t slouches either last week, slaughtering the Washington Commanders 37-3. In that win, the Bills defense was fearsome, toying with quarterback Sam Howell (nine sacks, five forced turnovers) like a cat with a ladybug.
Here’s what’s happening at Highmark Stadium. This story will be updated throughout the game.
In addition to edge rusher Jaelan Phillips who we knew ahead of time was going to miss the game, the Dolphins will also be without two other starters, and both losses are significant.
Center Connor Williams, who Pro Football Focus has graded as Miami’s best run blocker, will miss the game. And safety DeSon Elliott, a solid man in coverage who also is one of Miami’s most reliable tackles, is also out.
Cornerback Eli Apple, who played most of the first two games, played only four snaps against Denver last week so that may just be a healthy scratch situation. These are all areas the Bills should be able to take advantage of.
With safety Jordan Poyer inactive because of a knee injury, Damar Hamlin will make his season debut against the Dolphins.
Hamlin, who is authoring one of the great comeback stories in NFL history after nearly dying on the field in Cincinnati Jan. 2, has already cleared several hurdles on his journey. First practice back in the spring; first contact practice in training camp at St. John Fisher University; first preseason live game action; and now, his first regular-season appearance.
How much he plays is yet to be determined. Hamlin is expected to be a backup along with Cam Lewis as the Bills will start Taylor Rapp in Poyer’s place alongside Micah Hyde. Hamlin will probably get some work on special teams.
The other inactives announced by the Bills are cornerback Kaiir Elam, offensive linemen Germain Ifedi and Alec Anderson, and defensive tackle Poona Ford.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on CBS.
The betting line is Bills -3. The over-under is 53.5. The mMoney line is Bills minus-150 (bet $150 to win $100) and Dolphins plus-130 (bet $100 to win $130).
- Mon. Sept . 11: Jets 22, Bills 16, OT
- Sun., Sept. 17: Bills 38, Raiders 10
- Sun. Sept. 24, at Commanders, 1 p.m.
- Sun. Oct. 1, vs. Dolphins, 1 p.m.
- Sun. Oct. 8, vs. Jaguars, London, 9:30 a.m.
- Sun. Oct. 15, vs. Giants, 8:20 p.m.
- Sun. Oct. 22, at Patriots, 1 p.m.
- Thur. Oct. 26, vs. Buccaneers, 8:20 p.m.
- Sun. Nov. 5, at Bengals, 8:20 p.m.
- Mon. Nov. 13, vs. Broncos, 8:15 p.m.
- Sun. Nov. 19, vs. Jets, 4:25 p.m.
- Sun. Nov. 26, at Eagles, 4:25 p.m.
- Sun. Dec. 3, Bye week
- Sun. Dec. 10, at Chiefs, 4:25 p.m.
- Sun. Dec. 17, vs. Cowboys, 4:25 p.m.
- Sat. Dec. 23, at Chargers, 8 p.m.
- Sun. Dec. 31, vs. Patriots, 1 p.m.
- Sun. Jan. 7, at Dolphins, TBD
