Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills: TNF Week 2 Matchup Breakdown and How To Watch

The Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins have arguably drawn an equal amount of attention as playoff hopefuls in recent years, and yet their AFC East rivalry has been something of a lopsided affair. Dating to 2017, in fact, the Bills have won 13 of their last 15 matchups with Miami, including playoffs. Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, meanwhile, is just 1-6 against his division foes.

Both sides enter their next matchup -- an anticipated "Thursday Night Football" showdown that kicks off Week 2 of the 2024 campaign -- with a 1-0 record. Plenty of questions exist under the surface, however, with Buffalo barely fending off the upstart Arizona Cardinals in Week 1, and the Dolphins coming off a dramatic week that included a much-publicized pregame clash with law enforcement.

Almost everything suggests this is the time for McDaniel, Tagovailoa and the Dolphins to turn the tide of this "rivalry" with the Bills: They get this one at home on a short week, the weather is still warm and familiar, and Allen doesn't have the plethora of receiving options he once did. Throw in the fact the Bills gunslinger is also nursing an injury to his non-throwing hand, and there's reason to believe Miami could open the season 2-0, even with the sudden shortage of healthy running backs.

And yet: Josh Allen. We've seen time and again in the NFL that if a quarterback is head and shoulders above most others at the position, he's bound to pull off victories even when the circumstances say he shouldn't. Allen is in that class, alongside Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, etc. He is a superhero playing quarterback, and while that sometimes works against him in terms of ball security, he's got an underrated James Cook by his side, poised to keep this matchup tilted in Buffalo's favor.

The Dolphins will be without running back Raheem Mosert (chest), while De'Von Achane is active despite missing multiple days of practice with an ankle injury. That could shift more pressure onto Tagovailoa and the Dolphins' passing game, led by Tyreek Hill, who's still dealing with the fallout from his being detained by police ahead of the Week 1 win over Jacksonville. He didn't seem phased by Sunday's incident, catching five passes for 130 yards and a touchdown.

On the Bills' side, cornerback Taron Johnson (forearm) and defensive end Dawuane Smoot (toe) have been ruled out for the game.

How To Watch The Dolphins vs. Bills

The Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins kick off Week 2 of the NFL season in Miami Gardens tonight, and with the teams both eyeing the AFC East crown to get home-field advantage for at least one round of the playoffs, should they qualify. This early season matchup is important. Both teams made the playoffs last season, and both were knocked out by the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs — Miami lost in Kansas City in one of the coldest games in NFL history in the wild-card round and Buffalo lost at home the following week.

The game will be streamed exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

Where to Watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video

When to Watch

Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

Where to Watch

Location: Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens, Fla.

How The Game Went Down

It was a game of big plays in the first half as both teams traded blows, and it was ultimately the Bills’ big play in the fourth quarter that sealed the deal. The Bills scored a late touchdown and intercepted Tua on the Dolphins' ensuing possession. The Bills went on to win the game 28-26.

Key Plays of The Game

Bills’ opening touchdown: Josh Allen connected with James Cook for a touchdown on a fourth-down play. The Bills were facing a fourth-and-3 on the Dolphins' 17-yard line, but Allen was able to find Cook in the flat for the score.
Tua’s first interception: Tua’s pass was tipped by a Bills defender and intercepted by Tre’Davious White.
Tua’s second interception: Tua threw an interception in the first quarter after trying to force a pass into coverage. The pass was picked off by Dane Jackson.
Achane's touchdown: The Dolphins scored their first touchdown of the game when De’Von Achane took a screen pass from Tua and went 23 yards for a touchdown.
Cook’s second touchdown: Cook added another touchdown in the fourth quarter with a 10-yard run.

Looking Ahead For Both Teams

The Dolphins will look to rebound from the loss to the Bills, while the Bills will hope to keep their momentum going as they head into their Week 3 game against the New York Jets.

This game was a reminder that the AFC East is still one of the toughest divisions in football. Both the Bills and the Dolphins are likely to be playoff contenders this season.

The Bills-Dolphins Rivalry Is a Must-Watch

The Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins have a long and storied rivalry. This game was a reminder of why this matchup is one of the best in the NFL. The Bills and the Dolphins have a lot of history, and this rivalry is one that both teams and fans take very seriously. The Bills have had the upper hand in recent years, but the Dolphins are looking to even the score. With both teams contending for the AFC East crown, we’ll see many more must-watch matchups like this one in the years to come.