When the 2021 NFL season began, most expected both the Bills and Dolphins to make noise in the AFC East. Buffalo was coming off a 13-3 breakout, challenging the Chiefs in the AFC title game. Miami was coming off a 10-6 run fueled by Brian Flores' defense, Ryan Fitzpatrick heroics and a solid, if unspectacular, debut for Tua Tagovailoa. Now, half a year later, the two franchises couldn't be moving in more opposite directions. The Bills are 4-2, boasting one of the NFL's most explosive offenses and well on their way to another playoff run. The Dolphins, on the other hand, are 1-6, and no one knows if Tagovailoa will even be on the roster in a week's time.
Miami is playing more for pride than postseason consideration at this point, but it's also possible the Dolphins will use Week 8 to give Tua one last shot at solidifying a quarterback job that could soon belong to Deshaun Watson, the latter's legal issues notwithstanding. Can they play spoiler with so much hanging over their heads? Or are the Bills destined to roll, as they did in Week 2, when they cruised past the Dolphins in a 35-0 blowout?
We've got you covered below with odds, predictions, key questions, information on how to watch, and more:
How to watchDate: Sunday, Oct. 31 | Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Highmark Stadium (Orchard Park, New York)
TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ (click here)
Follow: CBS Sports App
Odds: Bills -13.5, O/U 49.5
Latest Odds: Buffalo Bills -13.5
Tagovailoa hasn't been bad since returning from injury, and in the grand scheme of things, he's gotten a relatively raw deal within a stationary Miami offense. Jaylen Waddle has continued to make use of his reps, meanwhile, giving Tua a promising outlet. But nothing else about the Dolphins jumps out right now. Flores' defense, in particular, is such a cause for concern that it's a wonder oddsmakers haven't given the Bills an even bigger edge at home, coming off a bye.
Rested up, Buffalo should have no problem moving the ball here. And that's really all they need to secure a sweep of Miami while distancing themselves from the Patriots (3-4) in the division. Maybe, just maybe, the Dolphins will keep it close for a bit if they get creative with Waddle, Myles Gaskin and Mike Gesicki, playing keep-away. And you can bet Tua will be motivated to show out with