Rex Ryan promised a hard-hitting defense in Buffalo. Ndamukong Suh was supposed to turn the Miami Dolphins into a brick wall.
Bills vs. Dolphins 2015 live stream: Start time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Two struggling defenses try to find a way to get healthy.
So far, none of this has happened.
Ryan's defense was ripped to shreds last week in a 40-32 loss to the New England Patriots that saw Tom Brady throw for 466 yards -- the most the Bills had ever allowed. Buffalo committed 14 penalties for 140 yards in the game, and Ryan has already talked about how his team needs to find the line between physical play and illegal play.
The Dolphins, on the other hand, are getting destroyed by the run -- a significant problem with LeSean McCoy in the Buffalo backfield. Miami's opponents are averaging 142 yards a game on the ground, a startling statistic given what the Detroit LIons did against the run last year, thanks to Suh.
Suh only has two tackles, but his role in Detroit was never just about making tackles. He would occupy two or three offensive players, leaving his teammates more room to attack the running game. That's a big reason why DeAndre Levy led the league in unassisted tackles last season, and Miami needs more members of the front seven to find that kind of space, especially against a back like McCoy.
Every extra yard McCoy gains will take more pressure off Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Taylor was sacked eight times against the Patriots, but if the Dolphins have to commit more resources to stopping the run, they won’t be able to attack him with such abandon.
The key to the Dolphins, if they can force Buffalo into passing situations, is to stay disciplined in their rushing lanes. New England’s outside rushers didn’t chase Taylor out of the pocket, but bottled him up. That meant he wasn’t able to scramble with any success -- a huge factor in stopping him. He’s one of the league’s better running quarterbacks, but he’s below average when trapped in the pocket.
For Ryan and the Bills, the problem is going to be finding a way to stop Ryan Tannehill. He threw for 359 yards in last weekend's 23-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and given Brady's numbers, he's going to feel confident that he can at least match that total against Buffalo. He also has the advantage of knowing Ryan's defense, having faced the New York Jets twice a year, but that works both ways -- Ryan knows him just as well.
This is a game that the Dolphins need to win if they want to be taken seriously in the AFC East. They are at home, they have the better quarterback, and while he’s not always on the same page as his teammates, they have the game’s best defensive player. Good teams find ways to win when they are given those kind of advantages, while mediocre ones can’t finish games like that.
On the other hand, if Buffalo can neutralize Suh and get a big day out of McCoy without hurting itself with penalties, it could easily go into Miami and steal this game. It is hard to see anyone taking the division away from New England, but the winner of this game will have a wild-card edge.
How to Watch
When: 4:25 p.m. ET.
Where: Sun Life Stadium, Miami, Fla.
TV: CBS
Announcers: Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
Online: NFL Game Pass
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