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Thursday, August 31 ESPN.com | ||||||||||||
Bills (2-1) at Dolphins (2-0)
Why to watch:
Who to watch:
Although their featured back (Smith) is averaging just 3.9 yards per carry, the Bills are averaging 154 rushing yards per content, the most in the AFC and second-most in the NFL behind Dallas' 160. Miami is allowing an average of only 88.5 yards on the ground per game.
Dolphins' numbers to know:
What it means: The Bills will put the ball in Doug Flutie's hands and ask him to win the game. The reason this is a difficult game for Buffalo is that the Bills' game is speed and getting Flutie out of on the edges of the defense. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have perhaps the quickest defense in football. Like they did in the playoffs last year, the Bills will try to spread out the Dolphins defense with multiple wideouts. That will help clarify who Miami's blitzing defenders will be. If the Bills spread out, the corner blitz will come from farther away. The Bills will run a lot of crossing patterns and pick plays because their receivers will see man-to-man coverage most of the time. The pick plays should be set up to create space and get the ball to Eric Moulds, the Bills' best playmaker in the open field. Dolphins cornerbacks Sam Madison and Terrell Buckley will get beat and keep coming back for more, talking big and playing big because they are confident players. One way to attack the aggressive Dolphins corners is for the receivers to double-move them -- the receiver pushes upfield, stuttering slightly as a hesitation before getting into a go route behind the corner. The Bills defense needs to get to Dan Marino's legs. They can't let Marino step into his throws. They need some good upfield push inside from nose guard Ted Washington. Expect the Bills to stunt inside with Bruce Smith. Marino won't beat anyone on the perimeter because he has no legs. So getting pressure inside on Marino will be important, and the way the Bills do that is with stunting and solid penetration from Washington.
Dolphins' game plan: I expect a pretty good balance to the Dolphins offense. Also important will be getting the ball outside to Tony Martin, who can stretch the field. Marino will take his shots downfield to Martin, opening up mid-range routes to possession receiver O.J. McDuffie and tight end Troy Drayton. The Miami defense has linebackers who can run as fast as any quarterback and linemen who can rush up the field, such as Jason Taylor. The key for the Dolphins defense will be to keep Flutie from making his moves between the tackles. The Dolphins will send a corner blitz from Flutie's back side. They will rush linebackers. It will be Flutie's strength against Miami's strength, which is speed.
Pivotal player: | ALSO SEE
Playbook: Miami's corner blitzPlaybook: Doug Flutie's rollout War Room: Week 4 previews Week 4 injury report Week 4 picks |