The last time Miami had a victory in Buffalo Matt Moore was the QB.
A triumphant victory in Buffalo means a 92% of making the Playoffs.
Here we are at the near conclusion of the 2016 Season with the Miami Dolphins in full control of their playoff destiny about to face a tough challenge of getting a crucial victory against their division rivals.
The opportunity alone is a pleasant Christmas surprise.
A victory would be a Corvette pulling up in the driveway with a big, red bow.
Sober reality slaps me in the face with the knowledge that the Dolphins have not won in Buffalo since December 18th of 2011.
Matt Moore was the QB then, and Reggie Bush had a monster day racking up 203 yards.
This was an outlier though.
December games in frozen Buffalo isn’t a good recipe for a team that spends their season in the beautiful weather of South Florida.
So, Miami must step up to the challenge in heroic fashion, raise their sword like the demi-god Perseus, and cut the head off the beast this Saturday.
The ‘beast’ not being Medusa in this situation, but rather the knock on their ability to play in the cold, Rex Ryan‘s rep as a Dolphins slayer, and most importantly, the image that they are the same old Dolphins waiting to choke when it’s most crucial.
A win over the Bills would certainly fall into the realm of that fantastic word, triumphant: feeling or expressing jubilation after having won a victory or mastered a difficulty.
Beating Buffalo would be a victory over old ghosts.
Yes, the Dolphins may have beaten Buffalo in late October in Miami, but that was in Miami, and both teams are dramatically different from when they played last.
The Dolphins are now without 2 key starters in Ryan Tannehill and Mike Pouncey, which is a major setback. The Bills on the other hand will now have a healthy LeSean McCoy, who has been playing excellent, and a now healthy Sammy Watkins.
These additions and subtractions definitely favor the Buffalo Bills.
But, one vital injury on the Bills front that isn’t getting enough attention except from the best pay per head and sportsbooks, and could dramatically alter each team’s fortunes, is Mammoth Offensive Tackle, Cordy Glenn. At 6’6” 345 Glenn towers over everyone on the Miami defense except Jordan Phillips (6’6” 324). With the Bills love of the run game, if Glenn is unavailable this could prove a large chink in Buffalo’s armor. A lingering back injury ha shad Glenn downgraded from LP (limited practice) to DNP (did not practice) on Thursday.
Big guys and bad backs are quite fickle, and at this point, his status is very much in question. Even if he does play, the back injury will limit him, if not force him out of the game early.
One less gigantic road-grader would leave Miami getting the benefit of the mismatch.
A Dolphins victory gives them double digit wins for the season, been awhile since we saw that.
It will certainly help the Dolphins cause if Glenn doesn’t play, but this by no means is a death knell for the Bills run game. McCoy is now healthy and has run for over 100 yards in 3 of his last 4 games. He is fast and shifty, and he is going to be a big headache for Miami if they don’t bottle him up early and often.
In addition, QB Tyrod Taylor is also dangerous with his legs, and Miami continues to have issues with running QB’s. Taylor was able to gain 35 yards and a touchdown on the Dolphins in their last contest, so Miami needs to keep him inside the pocket.
The Dolphins have given up over 130 yards per game this season, and their ability to overcome this weakness will play the most crucial component in them having a triumphant victory in Buffalo or not.
But, there has been something special about this team this season. How special will be determined over starting tomorrow in Buffalo. Go Fins!!!