How Defense and the Rushing Attack Boost Bills Past Miami
Well, I will be the first to admit it, I was wrong. If you’ve read any of my articles on the Bills so far in 2024, I have been completely convinced that if the Bills were to win any game this season Josh Allen would have to play out of his mind. I forgot that Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel cannot beat a good team so the Buffalo quarterback took a vacation to Miami in the Week Two victory. While Dolphins franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a concussion late in the third quarter, Buffalo won the game with a stellar first half.
While Allen played fine, completing 13 out of 19 passes for a touchdown, and 139 yards, with a 111.5 passer rating, his running back James Cook carried the offensive load. The Florida native carried the ball 11 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Plus, Cook added a fourth-down catch for a 17-yard touchdown to put the Bills up 7-0 in the first quarter. While the offensive line had a solid day in Miami, Cook overcame a lot as he rushed for 39 yards over expected and 62 yards after contact.
Even with a bad left hand, Allen’s big play ability scared Miami's defensive coordinator Vic Fangio into playing a seven-man box most of the time. Traditionally, the famed coach throws out lots of two-high safety looks with six or fewer close to the line of scrimmage, making it easier to run the ball. His whole goal: take away the big play, something Allen is famous for. However, with the dominant rushing attack that Buffalo has curated, Fangio could not commit to either the run or the pass pre-snap. Against these lighter boxes, Buffalo ran the ball 10 out of 15 times for 65 yards and a touchdown.
On the other side of the ball, Buffalo was lights out in South Florida. The Miami coach put together a solid rushing attack without his top running back Raheem Mostert. On 26 attempts as a team, the Dolphins went for 108 yards, led by running back De'Von Achane and his 96 yards. Through the air, the Bills held Miami to just 212 yards, a touchdown, and even collected three interceptions.
Headlined by a two-interception day from cornerback Ja'Marcus Ingram, the defense forced three turnovers and allowed just 10 points against a premier passing game in Miami. Despite blitzing on just 2.3% of their defensive snaps, the Bills created pressure on the quarterback 27.9% of the time. 2022 sixth-round draft pick Christian Benford allowed just 25 yards on four catches and nine targets. As well as, picking off a tipped pass in the first quarter, and top corner Rasul Douglas allowed just three targets and a catch for 21 yards. Buffalo has 10 days off before they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Orchard Park on Monday at 7:30 p.m. For some coverage on the gambling world surrounding the NFL, please click here for the best spreads in the league for the rest of Week Two.