The villain at the end of the Miami Dolphins’ last two seasons has been the Buffalo Bills.
In 2022, the Bills sent a Tua Tagovailoa-less Miami squad crashing out of the playoffs. In 2023, the Dolphins were a win away from hosting their first home playoff game in 15 years before a Week 18 collapse at the hands of Buffalo cursed them to a wild-card game in Kansas City in sub-arctic conditions.
Tagovailoa is trying to put it behind him . . . quickly.
“Last year is last year, brother. What a political answer,” laughed Tagovailoa, during his weekly press conference in Davie. “Worry about this year. So, we’ll see what we got.”
Indeed, the whole league will see, in a primetime slot in front of the nation. Following a less-than-convincing Week 1 performance against Jacksonville, the Dolphins (1-0) welcome their division rivals to Hard Rock Stadium tonight on Thursday Night Football.
Buffalo (1-0) has owned the AFC East, winning four straight division titles and filling the power vacuum left by Tom Brady’s departure in 2020. The Bills have also dominated Miami, winning 13 of the last 15 matchups.
Tagovailoa wants that to change.
“That’s going to be the narrative, that we can’t beat the Bills. And until we do beat them, and we beat them consistently, none of that’s going to change,” he said. “And we have an opportunity to do that this year. We have an opportunity to do that this Thursday.”
Tagovailoa’s wideouts appear like they will be at full strength. Despite the national attention from an altercation with police outside the stadium before last week’s game, Tyreek Hill showed no ill effects, catching an 80-yard touchdown in Sunday’s win over the Jaguars. He will be a full participant tonight. And so Tagovailoa, who threw for 338 yards Sunday, will have his full complement of weapons on the outside.
“Feels really good, just the timing with the guys that are out there on the field and allowing those guys opportunities to have a big run catch and what not,” Tagovailoa said. “But it feels good.”
Miami’s ground game, behind their star quarterback, could be a different story. The running back room has been thin this week. Raheem Mostert is out and his compatriot De’Von Achane will be a game-time decision. Veteran Jeff Wilson Jr. and rookie Jaylen Wright will share the workload if Achane can’t go.
“We have a bunch of guys that are very willing to do whatever is necessary and have complete skill sets,” Miami offensive coordinator Frank Smith said. “Whatever happens when we go to Thursday, we’ll have a plan to be able to get ourselves in the best position for competing.”
The ground game was ineffective even when fully healthy in Week 1 versus the Jaguars. The Dolphins only mustered 81 rushing yards, and Wilson led the team with 26 yards on five carries.
Defensively for Miami, the Dolphins hope new signee Jordan Poyer can cause havoc against his former team. Poyer, a safety, was cut by the Bills after seven seasons. Josh Allen, Buffalo’s star quarterback, was effusive in his praise of his former teammate, saying during his weekly press conference in Orchard Park, New York that Poyer’s “one of the best to ever put on a Bill uniform.”
But Allen is relishing the chance to compete.
“I think, going against really good competitors and really good players, it brings out the best in people. But at the same time, there’s going to be some friendly jabs. And hopefully, I just don’t let them tackle me or the other word,” Allen said, referring to an interception. “I won’t even say it.”
Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. on Amazon Prime.
