The AFC Wild Card week of the 2023 NFL postseason will feature two duels between teams in the same division and one of them is next Sunday’s Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills. Miami got in as the third wild card in the American Conference in a photo finish that included a win over the Jets and a Patriots loss to the Bills. Precisely Buffalo cemented its title as AFC East champion with seven straight wins.
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills live updates, NFL Wild Card at Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
Between the multiple injuries to Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater, Miami’s powerful offense was unable to get going in many important moments, and an example of this is that in three of the last six games of the season they failed to score more than 17 points. However, their initial records were so good that they finished the year fourth in total yards (3,992) and TD passes (27) in the league.
For Miami it is essential that this way of attack works, something logical if we take into account that they were the eighth team with the fewest yards gained on the ground and that they only scored 12 touchdowns in this way. The main problem is that against Buffalo they could depend a lot on the running game, since it is not clear if Tagovailoa will be out of the concussion protocol and if Bridgewater, with his discomfort in a finger on his right hand, will be at 100%.
On the defensive side of the ball, the outlook changes radically since the Dolphins have a great ground defense, but through the air they are one of the worst in the league. This is certainly bad news for a secondary that gave up the sixth most yards through the air (3,992) and the seventh most touchdown passes (27) and now has to face one of the best QBs in the league.
For the third consecutive season, the Bills reach the postseason as AFC East champions and this time they do so as one of the top three betting favorites to win the Super Bowl.
Despite a somewhat shaky start, Buffalo finished with a 13-3 record after eight consecutive wins and the misfortune of not being able to play their game against the Bengals, due to Damar Hamlin’s accident, which prevented them from maintaining the first place in the American Conference they had held up to that moment.
Like the Dolphins, the main weapon of the Bills’ offense is the aerial game displayed by Josh Allen, the same one that led the team to be second in points scored (455), first downs gained (367) and touchdown passes completed (35). However, unlike Miami, what makes Buffalo more dangerous is that its offense is also a gale on the ground and the 5.2 yards per carry was the second best mark in the entire circuit.
When we turn to the defensive side of the ball, the performance does not deteriorate. In fact, the 286 points allowed by the Bills are the second lowest in the NFL, while in the red zone they also finished second by allowing opposing touchdowns on just 44.9% of visits.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 pm E.T from Highmark Stadium
Follow all the Wildcard game action right here on the Marca English LIVE play by play
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