2021 Week 2 Primer: Bills vs Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in a game that is surprisingly important for the AFC East, despite it only being a Week 2 contest. With a win, the 1-0 Miami Dolphins will move to 2-0, remaining in sole possession of the top spot in the division and push themselves to a two-game advantage over the Bills, plus have the early head-to-head tiebreaker. If the Bills win, they pull Miami down into a 1-1 tie, plus will hold the early head-to-head tiebreaker, moving them into the division lead. While both teams will have 15 games remaining on their respective schedule - including the Week 8 completion of the annual home-and-home series - this game feels like it has some importance to it.

We set you up for the game with the information you need and the key stats for the contest.

Game: Buffalo Bills (0-1) at Miami Dolphins (1-0)

Date/Time: Sept. 19, 2021 / 1pm ET

Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL

Series Leader: Dolphins 60-49-1

Streak: Bills have won past five

Coaches vs. Opponent: Sean McDermott (7-1), Brian Flores (0-4)

TV Broadcast: FOX (Brandon Gaudin, Matt Millen, Sarah Kustok); NFL Sunday Ticket Channel 712

Radio Broadcast: Dolphins Radio Network, including WQAM 560 AM, KISS 99.9 FM, and WQBA 1140 AM (Spanish) in Dade/Broward; WUUB 106.3 FM and WEFL 760 AM (Spanish) in West Palm/Treasure Coast; ESPN 580 AM in Orlando; WRXK 96 FM in Ft. Myers; WPSL 1590 AM in Port St. Lucie; WKWF 1600 AM in Key West; Broadcasters are Jimmy Cefalo, Joe Rose, and Jason Taylor. Sirius channels: 106 (Bills), 119 (Dolphins); XM Channels: 803 (Bills), 819 (Dolphins)

SB Nation: Buffalo Rumblings (@BuffRumblings)

Weather: Scattered thunderstorms, 88°F degrees

Odds: Bills -3.5 | 47.5 O/U

Referee: Craig Wrolstad

Bills notes:

• Quarterback Josh Allen passed for 270 yards and a touchdowns and rushed for 44 yards in Week 1. Has 20 touchdowns (17 pass, 3 rush) and 4 interceptions for a 114.3 rating in six career games against Miami. He is aiming for his fourth game in row against Miami with 3+ touchdown passes. He has passed for 1,054 yards (351.3 per game) and 10 touchdowns versus no interceptions for a 131.2 rating in his past three games on the road.
• Running back Devin Singletary rushed for 72 yards last week. He has 75+ scrimmage yards in two of his past three games against Miami.
• Wide receiver Stefon Diggs had nine catches for 69 yards in Week 1. He is aiming for his tenth game in row with 7+ catches. He had eight catches for 153 yards and a touchdown in his last road meeting with the Dolphins and is aiming for his third game in a row against Miami with 75+ receiving yards. He is also aiming for his fifth game in row on the road with 9+ catches and 90+ receiving yards.
• Wide receiver Cole Beasley had eight catches for 60 yards last week. He has five catches for 70 yards in his last meeting with the Dolphins. He has 100+ receiving yards in four of his past five games on the road.
• Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders had 52 receiving yards last week in his Buffalo debut. He is aiming for his fifth game in a row with 50+ receiving yards.
• Wide receiver Gabriel Davis has a touchdown catch in Week 1. He is aiming for this third game in a row against Miami with a touchdown catch.
• Cornerback Tre’Davious White has a tackle for a loss last week. He has a pass defensed in three of his past four game against Miami.
• Cornerback Taron Johnson led the Bills with seven tackles and two passes defensed last week. He has a pass defensed in four of his past five games. He had six tackles and a pass defensed in his last meeting with Miami.
• Safety Jordan Poyer had six tackles and his ninth-career sack in Week 1.
• Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds has a pass defensed last week. He had a sack in his last meeting with Miami.
• Defensive end Mario Addison had a sack and a forced fumble in Week 1. He has had a sack in two of his past three game and had a sack in his last meeting with Miami, as well as a sack in two of his three career games versus Miami.

Dolphins notes:

• Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa passed for 202 yards and a touchdown and rushed for his fourth-career touchdown last week. He completed 35 of 58 passes (60.3 percent) for a career-high 361 yards in his last meeting with the Bills. He had nine touchdowns (6 passing, 3 rushing) against two interceptions in five home starts last season.
• Running back Myles Gaskin had 76 scrimmage yards (49 rushing, 27 receiving) and five catches in Week 1. He is aiming for his fifth game in a row with 75+ scrimmage yards. He had 77 scrimmage yards (57 receiving, 20 rushing) in his last meeting with Buffalo. He has 125+ scrimmage yards in two of his past three at home.
• Wide receiver DeVante Parker had a team-high 81 receiving yards last week. He had seven receptions for 116 yards in his last meeting with Buffalo. He is aiming for his fifth game in a row against the Bills with 5+ catches and 50+ receiving yards. He has 115+ receiving yards in two of his past three against AFC East opponents.
• Rookie wide receiver Jaylen Waddle had 61 receiving yards and a touchdown last week in NFL debut.
• Tight end Mike Gesicki had eight catches for a career-high 130 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in his last meeting at home with the Bills. He is aiming for his third game in a row against Buffalo with 5+ catches.
• Cornerback Xavien Howard had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in Week 1. He has a pass defensed in two of his past three games. He had an interception in last meeting and has three interception in his past 3 against Buffalo. He has an interception in three of his last four games in Miami.
• Cornerback Jason McCourty had a pass defensed last week in his Miami debut.
• Cornerback Byron Jones aims for his third game in row with a pass defensed. He had an interception in his last meeting with the Bills.
• Safety Eric Rowe had nine tackles and a forced fumble last week. He is aiming for his fourth game in a row with 7+ tackles.
• Rookie safety Jevon Holland had a forced fumble in his NFL debut last week.
• Linebacker Jerome Baker led the team with 12 tackles last week. He has 3.5 sacks in his past two games at home.
• Defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah had a tackle for a loss and a pass defensed in Week 1. He has 1.5 sacks in three career games versus Buffalo.