Buffalo brass reacts to Dolphins’ upgrades. And three NFC coaches on Miami’s additions
.JPG "Miami Dolphins defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah (91) reacts after Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass (2) missed a field goal during second quarter of an NFL football game at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, September 19, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida.")
The Buffalo Bills have beaten their AFC East rival Dolphins seven times in a row and nine of their last 10 meetings, and the scores usually haven’t been particularly close.
The Bills won by margins of 10 and 17 points in 2019; by 3 and 30 points in the 2020 season (with that season-ending 56-26 drubbing costing Miami a playoff spot) and by 35 and 15 last season.
So how much has the gap between the teams closed after Miami’s offseason spending spree?
Buffalo coach Sean McDermott told me that what the Dolphins have done “makes the division that much tougher…
“They’ve got a ton of talent on that roster. They were talented last year, and with adding those players they did this year, it will only add to an already talented group.”
Asked about defending Miami’s speedy wide receivers, McDermott said: “They’re a good team, so we’ve got to try to figure something out.”
Bills general manager Brandon Beane said Miami’s acquisition of Hill is “a very strong move by the Dolphins pairing him with Jaylen Waddle. It will be tough for our defense, for any defense. We know we have our hands full. You’re not sad to see him leave KC. You’re also not excited to see him come to your division.”
The oddsmakers still make the Bills the class of the division. Miami’s offseason additions, in theory, should make it easier for Miami to score against a Buffalo defense that has consistently flummoxed Tua Tagovailoa, who left last year’s 35-0 blowout with an early injury.
In two games (plus less than a quarter) against the Bills, Tagovailoa is 57 for 101 for 579 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions and a dismal 59.8 passer rating.
Equally important is whether a Dolphins defense can figure out how to play as well against the Bills as it does against most other teams. Receiver Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley and Isaiah McKenzie torched Miami; Beasley is no longer with the team and Diggs - while under contract - is talking to the Bills about a new deal amid a market of exploding salaries for wide receivers.
A convincing case can be made that the Bills are still clearly the better team, perhaps not by much if Tagovailoa improves significantly.
But this much is clear: Miami cannot excuse lopsided losses to the Bills any more, because the talent gap is no longer dramatically different.
THREE NFC COACHES WEIGH IN
Three NFC coaches discussed Dolphins-related issues at the NFC coach’s breakfast on Tuesday:
▪ Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury, who coached new Dolphins running back Chase Edmonds the past two years, said: “We love Chase. He can do it all. We thought he was a first- and second-down back. And on third down, he’s one of the best receiving backs I’ve been around. Work ethic, mental toughness, conscientious. He prepares. I can’t say enough good things. Miami hit a home run with that one.”
Kingsbury said Edmonds and new Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert “complement each other. Mostert has home run speed every time he touches it. Chase can do all of those things in the pass game. They got two really good ones.”
▪ Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll predicts Mike McDaniel is going to have “one hell of a career. He was really, really good [as a 49ers assistant coach]. They were a unique running football team. He was in charge of all that stuff. Innovative to the point you can tell something was different. Unique aspect he brings. He’s shown it. I’m really excited about him.”
▪ New Orleans Saints coach Dennis Allen, on losing left tackle Terron Armstead to the Dolphins: “I’m glad he got the number he was happy with. Terron Armstead will be missed in terms of his leadership in the locker room and play on the field.... Quite honestly, there’s been some time that Terron has missed on the field and guys stepped into that role and done a good job for us.”
The Dolphins gave Armstead five years for $75 million, with $43.4 million guaranteed.
This story was originally published March 29, 2022 at 9:56 AM.
