Buffalo Bills Reveal 'Blend' to Beat Miami Dolphins

The Buffalo Bills face the tall task of stopping an explosive Miami Dolphins offense on Sunday.

Stopping the Miami Dolphins' offense will take a team effort from the Buffalo Bills when the AFC East rivals square off on Sunday at Highmark Stadium.

The Bills (2-1) defense will carry the brunt of the load, but slowing down a unit that's coming off of a 70-point performance doesn't just end with them. Bills head coach Sean McDermott noted the importance of his team's defense and special teams in containing Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and the rest of Miami's offense. 

"When you're playing an explosive team, a team that scores like this offense does, you have to play a complementary game," McDermott said. "All three phases have to blend together and work together. It's certainly going to take all of us to get it done."

Tua Tagovailoa lined up in shotgun on Dec. 17 when the Miami Dolphins played the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. 

After a lack of complementary football cost the Bills in Week 1, they've thrived at controlling the ball and avoiding costly errors in wins over the Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Commanders. 

When Buffalo rolled past the Las Vegas Raiders 38-10 at home on Sept. 17, they had the ball for just over 40 minutes. The Bills also only had a turnover on downs at the Raiders' goal line. 

In the Bills' 37-3 shellacking of Washington, they also won the time of possession battle, controlling the ball for 34 minutes and 39 seconds. A similar performance when it comes to possessing the ball will be pivotal if Buffalo wants to knock out the Dolphins (3-0).

Buffalo's defense has gotten off to a red-hot start to the season through three games. They've held opponents to an average of 11.67 points per game and have forced nine turnovers. The Bills are also coming off of a nine-sack performance against Washington.

But even with how good Buffalo's defense has played to begin the season, McDermott knows how tough of a task it'll be to slow down a Dolphins offense that's averaging 43.33 points per game. 

"They're as advertised," McDermott said. "They're explosive. Anybody that touches the ball can score. Whether it's what you think is going to be a two-yard run turns into a crease and a gasher. Same thing with the passing game. … It's a handful."

The Bills and Dolphins kickoff from Orchard Park on Sunday at 1 p.m.