Has Miami really closed the gap?

[billsbackto81]

Do the numbers lie? Thoughts?

 

Personally I'm growing tired of how their fans and the media keep hyping this team. Yes, they have a decent team on paper but what have they proven? Constantly being mentioned in the same breath as KC, Cincinnati and Buffalo. Now I do realize the final score is all that matters. But is it really that close when you look at the numbers?

 

Week 3/ Miami 21 Bills 19

 

Total yards.  Miami 212 Bills 497

Passing.       Miami 171 Bills 382

Rushing.       Miami  41 Bills 115

Avg play.      Miami 5.  Bills 6

3rd Downs.  Miami  37% Bills 61%

TOP.             Miami  19:20 Bills 40:40

 

Wildcard Game/ Bills 34 Miami 31

 

Total yards.     Miami 231 Bills 423

Passing.           Miami 189 Bills 316

Rushing.             Miami 42   Bills  107

Avg play.            Miami  3     Bills 6

3rd Downs.      Miami 25%  Bills 56%

TOP                  Miami 27:47 Bills 32:13

 

I'll spare you the details of all the injuries and misfortunes that fell upon our team last year.

 

Buffalo has dominated this team more than any other. Statistically its not even close! I just don't get the hype.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 29, 2023 by billsbackto81

[John from Riverside]

Miami doesn’t even win a game against us last year if they’re not playing in a sauna
 

People are saying that they close the gap because they actually won a game

[Nextmanup]

The big thing with Miami is always going to be Tua's health.

 

I just don't think he can get through a full season and post season without a concussion.  Not now.  

 

So Miami is only going to be so much of a threat, at least until they get a new QB.

 

 

 

[78thealltimegreat]

If you look at them player for player not really. Their big move was adding Fangio  he’s a really good dc but he’s not the hoodie or anything of that level. 
 

[Aussie Joe]

Lotta Bills fans go on about previous “domination “ of the Dolphins  …. But this counts for nothing in the 2023 season…

 

However…like every team… the Dolphins will go as far as their QB (Tua ) can take them… he is no Josh Allen, so if they both stays injury free… I would still expect the Bills to be superior to them..

[billsbackto81]

16 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

The big thing with Miami is always going to be Tua's health.

 

I just don't think he can get through a full season and post season without a concussion.  Not now.  

 

So Miami is only going to be so much of a threat, at least until they get a new QB.

 

 

 

They will face these defenses:

Bills 2x

Jets 2x

Pats 2x

Eagles

Ravens

Dallas

Giants are decent and the Chargers handed them an whipping last year as well.

 

That's quite the gauntlet Tua has to go up against.  I have nothing against the guy but I can't see him surviving the season without some type injury.

[RichRiderBills]

No....Tua has not hit 13 games. He's not reliable. 

[Your Brown Eye]

I think we are fortunate that Tua is their QB

[SCBills]

Theyre good but incredibly overhyped. 
 

They added Fangio, who last time Allen faced him.. went nuclear.   And added Ramsey, who’s now out until December.  
 

We faced them 3x last year .. should’ve won all three.  One loss was a game in which we statistically destroyed them but lost due extreme weather..  then the latter 2x were when we became so decimated that our season was over.. we just didn’t realize it. 
 

I think we’ll show how far that gap is again this year..  
 

They have a talented roster.. it’s not as talented as ours, should Von, Tre and Hyde be even 80% of what they were.. and Tua isn’t on Allen’s level.. only Mahomes and Burrow w/ his elite trio are. 

[Nihilarian]

6 minutes ago, Your Brown Eye said:

I think we are fortunate that Tua is their QB

Just think, it could have been that kid with the Chargers. The Miami owner is also a fault.

 

Anyway, this AFC East is going to be a much much tougher division to win. The Jets are now loaded and if they sign Dalvin Cook along with RB Breece Hall, good lord.

The Dolphins are better as they hired a new DC. This new guy might not run that same lame defensive scheme with the wrong players. Miami has some scary speed.

The Patriots now have their old OC, you know the one that was a HC and who isn't a DC. This guy knows how to run an NFL offense.

 

Buffalo has their work cut out for them and in particular should these teams decide that since their QBs are not "elite", they should run the ball more, a lot more. 

 

The Buffalo defense is more built for stopping the pass. They have shown a weakness in stopping the run and if you look back to that Cincy playoff game...my take is teams will look at that game and attempt to copy what Cincinnati did to beat the Bills on both offense and defense. 

 

Here is hoping that the Bills keep stomping their AFC rivals! 

[Talley56]

Seems like a lot of people point to the games where they played us closely in late December and the wild card.  Yes, they played us close both times.  The playoff game was more of us shooting ourselves in the foot but they really went toe to toe with us in the December game.  That being said, I don't remember anyone claiming we "closed the gap" with Brady and NE after the week 1 MNF game in 09 when we outplayed them the majority of the game and then just barely blew it in the end.

[NewEra]

Any given Sunday 

[Bangarang]

They are a dangerous team whose defense should be better than last year’s. 

[Airseven]

Yes. The three games last year are evidence. Dolphins eked one out in the heat. Bills eked one out in the snow. Bills eked out a home playoff game against a D-league QB. Dolphins have done a good job adding high end talent to their roster. There is no gap. Best of all the rivalry is back full throttle.

[BuffaloBillyG]

Have the Jets really closed the gap on Miami?

[Franco_92]

4 minutes ago, Airseven said:

Yes. The three games last year are evidence. Dolphins eked one out in the heat. Bills eked one out in the snow. Bills eked out a home playoff game against a D-league QB. Dolphins have done a good job adding high end talent to their roster. There is no gap. Best of all the rivalry is back full throttle.

Was the Raiders win over the Chiefs in 2020 evidence that they were closing the gap? The Chargers beat the Chiefs in 2021, and played them extremely close the next game. But both those teams have lost every game to the Chiefs since

It means nothing going forward that the Dolphins played us close despite being outgained by 1300 yards over 3 games

[Behindenemylines]

F$&k Miami. 
 

That is all

 

Go Bills!

[GunnerBill]

No. In fact I think the 9-8 record last year flattered them. Of their 9 wins, 6 were by one score. I think their OL is bad. Tua even when healthy has limitations. I think they have a soft centre on defense. Their linebackers couldn't cover a book. And that is before the star defensive acquisition goes down at the start of camp. 

 

Equally their offense slowed down the 2nd half of last season as people got tape on how McDaniel was using their players. I know everyone will say "ah yea, but that's cos Tua was out. But his first seven games (excluding the one he left early concussed and did not return) the Dolphins averaged over 29 points. The final four games Tua started they averaged only just over 20. 

 

I expect Fangio will make the defense slightly better, the offense will be slightly worse. They will go 8-9 or 9-8. They will not be a playoff team.

[Dan in Owego]

13 minutes ago, Airseven said:

Yes. The three games last year are evidence. Dolphins eked one out in the heat. Bills eked one out in the snow. Bills eked out a home playoff game against a D-league QB. Dolphins have done a good job adding high end talent to their roster. There is no gap. Best of all the rivalry is back full throttle.

O'h please Allen has owned the fins, truth be told rivalry is all on the Miami end.

[Starr Almighty]

I like McD but I feel that McDaniel's coaching has been an issue in the games towards the end of the year/injuries. He coached just a bit better. I'm hopeful for adjustments.

[SCBills]

15 minutes ago, Airseven said:

Yes. The three games last year are evidence. Dolphins eked one out in the heat. Bills eked one out in the snow. Bills eked out a home playoff game against a D-league QB. Dolphins have done a good job adding high end talent to their roster. There is no gap. Best of all the rivalry is back full throttle.

Answer for me, the following questions:

 

With Ramsey out until December, who has the better.. (I’ll give you mine)

 

Safeties? (Bills) 

 

Cornerbacks? (Bills) 

 

Linebackers? (Bills)

 

Defensive Line? (Push)

 

OL? (Bills)

 

WR’s? (Dolphins)

 

TE’s (Bills)

 

RB’s? (Push)

 

QB? (Bills)

 

*Jevon Holland is a beast, but one Holland doesn’t overcome both Hyde & Poyer, with Rapp as depth 

 

*With a healthy Ramsey, I’d put the Dolphins ahead of the Bills at CB, but without him, Bills are better 

 

*Both teams have meh at one LB spot, and I like Long, but he isn’t Milano 

 

*DL, I want to go Bills, but the Fins DL is also nasty, and ours being better is dependent upon Von coming back at close to his pre-injury ability 

 

*Both OL’s enter the season with question marks, but Bills have more potential and more depth 

*WR’s, Hill and Waddle are monsters.. We only have one Diggs 

 

*TE’s, easily Bills with Knox and Kincaid 

 

*RB’s, too close to call.  Bills RB room is solid and Cook could be big time, but Miami’s has elite speed 

 

*QB, this isn’t worth an explanation 

[T&C]

1 hour ago, billsbackto81 said:

Buffalo has dominated this team more than any other

Are you sure about that? I'm not looking it up but they had us 20-0 in the 70's alone.

[HansLanda]

As much as I hate to write this, I think the Dolphins have a good (albeit super annoying) coach. 

[SCBills]

2 minutes ago, HansLanda said:

As much as I hate to write this, I think the Dolphins have a good (albeit super annoying) coach. 

Agreed.  I low key like McDaniel. 

[KOKBILLS]

No...No they have not. 

[HansLanda]

3 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Agreed.  I low key like McDaniel. 

 

Same - as much as Sean McD "fits" Buffalo...MM, with his bling watches and sunglasses, fits Miami. There is a "personal" brand for certain markets.

[Dan in Owego]

6 minutes ago, T&C said:

Are you sure about that? I'm not looking it up but they had us 20-0 in the 70's alone.

You are talking 50 years ago, wow pretty sure we have overtaken the all-time score totals from them, and remember according to some final scores aren't important.

Trying to imagine Airseven if bills had won 21-19 last september with the dolphins with the huge statistical edge. Might be trying to hard, you can be a fan and be honest with your flaws, and you can also go to far.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

47 minutes ago, Dan in Owego said:

You are talking 50 years ago, wow pretty sure we have overtaken the all-time score totals from them, and remember according to some final scores aren't important.

Trying to imagine Airseven if bills had won 21-19 last september with the dolphins with the huge statistical edge. Might be trying to hard, you can be a fan and be honest with your flaws, and you can also go to far.

Nope. Dolphins lead series with a record of 62-56-1. Bills have won four of five playoff meetings though.

Edited July 29, 2023 by Ethan in Cleveland

[Dan in Owego]

2 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Nope. Dolphins lead series with a record of 62-56-1. Bills have won four of five playoff meetings though.

not what i said we have outscored them

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Bills better team. Dolphins better coach.

Allen as is in most cases is the difference. He almost willed a win in Miami and almost gifted them a wildcard win in Buffalo.

[billsbackto81]

1 hour ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Have the Jets really closed the gap on Miami?

I'm worried more about the Jets than Miami. Legit QB though aging and a defense that caused us fits last year. Bills have yet to have issues moving the ball against Miami. 

2 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Bills better team. Dolphins better coach.

Allen as is in most cases is the difference. He almost willed a win in Miami and almost gifted them a wildcard win in Buffalo.

Too soon wouldn't you say?

[Dan in Owego]

Just now, Dan in Owego said:

not what i said we have outscored them

 

1 minute ago, billsbackto81 said:

I'm worried more about the Jets than Miami. Legit QB though aging and a defense that caused us fits last year. Bills have yet to have issues moving the ball against Miami. 

Too soon wouldn't you say?

Exactly far to soon

[Ethan in Cleveland]

2 minutes ago, Dan in Owego said:

not what i said we have outscored them

Why would that matter? A 1 point or 28 point margin is still only one win.

 

Regardless you are wrong about that too. Miami 2536 Buffalo 2486

[billsbackto81]

1 hour ago, T&C said:

Are you sure about that? I'm not looking it up but they had us 20-0 in the 70's alone.

Wow! Wasn't going that far back but OK, point taken.

[Ya Digg?]

5 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Bills better team. Dolphins better coach.

Allen as is in most cases is the difference. He almost willed a win in Miami and almost gifted them a wildcard win in Buffalo.

Gonna need an explanation for this thinking 

[PBF81]

As several others have pointe out, how good Miami is will depend upon Tua's health status.  

 

He averaged nearly 2 passing TDs/game last season, which over 17 games had he played more than 13, would have put him at 4th in the league right behind Allen.  

 

Allen owns Miami, but that Sklar Thompson game should be enough to cause us not to overlook them.  Thompson will be lucky to ever start another game in the NFL except for injury to a starter or even a 2nd-stringer.  

 

If Tua stays healthy, they should be as competitive as any team that's not the Chiefs, Bengals, or us.  

 

 

[Dan in Owego]

7 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Why would that matter? A 1 point or 28 point margin is still only one win.

 

Regardless you are wrong about that too. Miami 2536 Buffalo 2486

Yeah so what ***** the dolphins lol

8 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Why would that matter? A 1 point or 28 point margin is still only one win.

 

Regardless you are wrong about that too. Miami 2536 Buffalo 2486

My point was certain posters are putting emphasis on style points, ergo Allen has dominated the Dolphins BUT BUT BUT the last games were close, can't win in this mindset. Want that beautiful cake but can't eat too.

[Dan in Owego]

5 minutes ago, Dan in Owego said:

Yeah so what ***** the dolphins lol

My point was certain posters are putting emphasis on style points, ergo Allen has dominated the Dolphins BUT BUT BUT the last games were close, can't win in this mindset. Want that beautiful cake but can't eat too.

Can you give me the 1970's flag total differential as well lol ***** the dolphins.😉

[Augie]

3 minutes ago, Dan in Owego said:

Can you give me the 1970's flag total differential as well lol ***** the dolphins.😉

Are you asking yourself questions? Will there be a quiz on this? 

[Dan in Owego]

7 minutes ago, Augie said:

Are you asking yourself questions? Will there be a quiz on this? 

Seemed rhetorical, would you offer to help me?

 

4 minutes ago, Dan in Owego said:

Seemed rhetorical, would you offer to help me?

 

Long time ago but i seem to remember a connection with the competion committee and one Don Shula.

Edited July 29, 2023 by Dan in Owego