Dolphins vs. Bills: A Crucial Week 3 Showdown

Dolphins vs. Bills: A Crucial Week 3 Showdown

As the AFC East rivals prepare to clash on Thursday night, the narratives are set for what promises to be a pivotal Week 3 matchup. The Buffalo Bills are riding high with a perfect 2-0 record, while the Miami Dolphins are desperately looking for their first win after a heartbreaking start to the season. Miami coach Mike McDaniel has called the short week a "blessing," forcing his team to focus on nothing but their divisional foe.

Here are three key storylines to follow as the Bills look to extend their dominance over the Dolphins.

1. Josh Allen vs. a Struggling Miami Defense

Josh Allen has been a consistent nightmare for the Dolphins throughout his career, and this week looks no different. Despite a rare game without a touchdown last week, Allen has a history of torching Miami, accounting for 45 total touchdowns in 15 career games against them. The Dolphins' defense has struggled to generate an interior pass rush and has allowed opposing quarterbacks to dominate both through the air and on the ground. With Buffalo's deep roster of weapons, including running back James Cook and a variety of pass catchers, Allen is in a prime position to have a big night.

2. Miami's Offense Needs to Find Consistency

The Dolphins' offense showed flashes of its potential in Week 2, generating eight plays of over 15 yards. This marks a positive step forward from their stagnant performance in the season opener. However, they will need more than just big plays to win. Miami has been dead last in time of possession, a statistic the Bills lead the league in. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has a tough history against Buffalo, but if he can continue to build chemistry with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, they might be able to win a shootout. Running back De'Von Achane could also be a major factor, as he has found great success against the Bills in the past.

3. Buffalo's Injured Defense

The Dolphins' hope for an upset lies with the Bills' mounting injuries on the defensive side of the ball. Key players like defensive tackle Ed Oliver and linebacker Matt Milano have both been ruled out for the game. Additionally, several defensive backs, including Taron Johnson and Cam Lewis, have been limited in practice. Miami's offense might try to exploit these absences with misdirection plays and screen passes. While Buffalo still has plenty of talent on the defensive line, the Dolphins could find favorable matchups that weren't available in past games against a healthy Bills defense.

Official Injury Report: Week 3

Here's a breakdown of the key injuries for both teams as of the final report.

Miami Dolphins

• Out: TE Darren Waller (hip), CB Storm Duck (ankle), S Ifeatu Melifonwu (calf)

• Questionable: WR Jaylen Waddle (shoulder), DT Benito Jones (oblique), LB Chop Robinson (knee)

• Ready to Play: OL Aaron Brewer (hip), WR Malik Washington (thumb), RB Jaylen Wright (knee)

Buffalo Bills

• Out: LB Matt Milano (pectoral), DT Ed Oliver (ankle)

• Questionable: LB Shaq Thompson (hamstring/hand), CB Taron Johnson (quad), DB Cam Lewis (shoulder)

• Ready to Play: DB Jordan Hancock (shoulder)