Bills Offense Needs To 'Embrace The Ugly' vs. Dolphins, Says Analyst

Chris Simms thinks the Buffalo Bills' running game will be imperative to their success against the Miami Dolphins.

Can the Buffalo Bills run the ball against the Miami Dolphins?

NBC analyst Chris Simms spoke about the Bills' (10-6) running game on his podcast, "Simms Unbuttoned," and how that will hold the key in a must-win game against the Dolphins (11-5) on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. Along with the importance of running the ball, Simms said Buffalo's offense is at its best when it's pulling its offensive lineman and uses different running plays with whoever is at running back or Josh Allen. 

Simms also compared the Bills' offense when they're running the ball to the Baltimore Ravens and last year's Philadelphia Eagles. Baltimore (13-3) leads the NFL with 159.7 rushing yards per game, while Philadelphia (11-5) was 5th in the league last season, averaging 147.6 rushing yards per game.

© Katie Stratman, USA TODAY

"They almost have a Ravens, last year's Eagles type of attack, and they have some of those plays with it that I go, that's what you should ride home here," Simms said. "You do that, play that style, Allen will make a few plays, and it's going to add to some people being open downfield...If they want to make it through the AFC playoffs, they've got to do that. They've got to embrace the ugly." 

Simms is a former quarterback and played five years in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004-2006), Tennessee Titans (2008) and Denver Broncos (2009).

The Bills offense has averaged 153.17 rushing yards per game in its six games with Joe Brady as the interim offensive coordinator. Before Brady became the play-caller on offense, the Bills averaged 116.5 rushing yards per game in 10 games with Ken Dorsey as the offensive coordinator before he was fired.

Another reason Simms pointed to the Bills' running game as being important to their success is he expects the Dolphins' defense will be able to slow down Josh Allen and the passing attack. While Miami is coming off its worst defensive performance in a 56-19 loss to Baltimore, Simms noted the weapons that the Ravens have and said Buffalo doesn't have the same explosiveness.

"I don't think they have the weapons that Baltimore has at wide receiver," Simms said. "Baltimore has three receivers with multiple rockets up their ass. Buffalo, I don't know if anybody's got more [than Baltimore]. They got Stefon Diggs, and even his rockets aren't multiple. When was the last time you saw Stefon Diggs just run by somebody for an 80-yard bomb? When was the last time you saw him catch a slant and go for 70 yards? Never in years. Miami is going to be able to cover Buffalo."

Josh: Bills Relying On 'Nobody Else' vs. Dolphins

Josh Allen completed 21 of 25 passes for 320 yards, threw four touchdowns and ran for one in the Bills' 48-20 win over the Dolphins in Week 4 at Highmark Stadium. Diggs also had his best game of the season, with six catches for 120 yards and three touchdowns. Buffalo ran for 104 yards as a team, with Cook and Allen accounting for touchdowns on the ground.

Since then, Miami's defense has only allowed over 30 points in a game twice and more than 300 total yards four times. 

The Bills and Dolphins square off for the AFC East title on Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium.