Bills Dominate Dolphins in Week 4 AFC Clash
What a statement the Buffalo Bills made on this past Sunday’s most anticipated game. After starting the season losing in embarrassing fashion to the New York Jets, the Buffalo Bills have outscored their opponents by 28 points or more in a dominant 3-0 run since week one. Buffalo is now viewed firmly as the second-best team in the AFC, if not the best, in an impressive early-season turnaround led by Josh Allen and Buffalo’s elite defensive play.
Allen showed up and showed out, accounting for five total touchdowns and 337 total yards with no turnovers; Allen has been the highest-graded quarterback per Pro Football Focus over the past three weeks. In the Bills victory, Allen became the second player in NFL history with 300+ pass yards, four touchdown passes, one rush touchdown, and a 158.3 (perfect) quarterback rating. If he can continue this level of play throughout the season, the Bills will be a force in the AFC and, finally, maybe, get to the Super Bowl.
Much of Allen’s dazzling effort can be attributed to star wide receiver Stefon Diggs’s phenomenal play, which included six catches for 120 yards and three touchdowns. The highlight of the game was Diggs’s touchdown grab, where he caught the ball down the left sideline and broke two tacklers, embarrassing them on his way to a 55-yard score. In addition, Gabe Davis had a nice game with 63 yards and a touchdown on three catches to add to his quietly productive season.
The Bills defense suffered a brutal season-ending Achilles injury in cornerback Tre’Davious White just as he was starting to come into form after recovering from ACL surgery last year. Despite the obvious void to be filled, the Bills had four sacks, nine QB pressures and forced a turnover.
Tua Tagovailoa, who some had as a top MVP candidate coming into this game, struggled on Buffalo’s turf. The most impressive part of the Bills’ defensive performance was containing star receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to both under 60 yards each. The addition of defensive end Von Miller for this week’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars should only bolster this scary unit. The only weak spot for the Bills defense vs. the Dolphins was allowing rookie running back De’Von Achane to rush for 101 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries.
After week four, there are many positive takeaways the Bills will build on as they are coming into form at the right time. Their next three games are against the Jaguars, Giants and Patriots, which I predict will continue their impressive winning streak into the middle of the regular season. Buffalo will look to carry this momentum into their week five matchup vs. the Jaguars in London at 9:30 a.m. EST.