The curtain rises on Week 3 of the NFL calendar with Thursday Night Football showcasing an AFC East rivalry as the Miami Dolphins journey to face the Buffalo Bills. These two teams find themselves at contrasting positions early in the season, with Buffalo enjoying an unblemished 2-0 record, while Miami is searching for answers after beginning with an 0-2 start.
The Dolphins have generally struggled in this particular series in recent memory, managing to secure just two victories against the Bills since Josh Allen joined the league back in 2018. As a result, the head-to-head battles between Tua Tagovailoa and Josh Allen have often favored one side. This week, Tua and the Dolphins hope to turn the tide and alleviate some of the pressure on head coach Mike McDaniel, who has been the subject of speculation.
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Miami is trying to recover from a painful defeat at the hands of the New England Patriots, with a final score of 33-27. While Tua Tagovailoa and the offensive unit showed improvement compared to their dismal Week 1 showing, where they managed only eight points, the Dolphins’ defensive unit continued to struggle. Miami surrendered 33 points to the Patriots, following their Week 1 performance where they allowed the Colts to score 38 points. Now, they aim to avoid an 0-3 start to the season in Buffalo, where the Dolphins haven’t recorded a win since 2016.
The Bills enter Week 3 with considerable momentum after securing victories over the Ravens and Jets to commence the season, averaging an impressive 35.5 points per game (ranking second in the league), while the Dolphins’ defense is conceding an average of 33 points per game (ranking second-worst). The reigning league MVP is also riding a personal six-game winning streak, which he’ll be eager to extend on Thursday night against the ‘Phins.
Dolphins-Bills inactives Week 3
Dolphins inactives: S Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB JuJu Brents, CB Storm Duck, TE Darren Waller, WR Tahj Washington, DT Zeek Biggers, QB Quinn Ewers (Emergency 3rd QB)
Bills inactives: WR Curtis Samuel, DB Jordan Hancock, CB Ja’Marcus Ingram, LB Matt Milano, OT Chase Lundt, DT Ed Oliver, DE Landon Jackson
Date: Thursday, September 18
Dolphins-Bills start time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: Highmark Stadium | Orchard Park, NY
TV channel/live stream: Amazon Prime Video
Dolphins vs. Bills live blog
Keep up with Yahoo Sports for real-time updates, key moments, and comprehensive coverage as the Dolphins clash with the Bills to begin Week 3 on “Thursday Night Football.”
