NFL Week 11 – Bills, Fins Set to Battle on TNF

Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins (-5, 42 o/u)

Going into last weekend’s game against the Lions, the Miami Dolphins (5-4, 2-2 home) were on a roll; the team had won three straight and QB Ryan Tannehill was playing his best football to date. However, the wheels came off the offense in week 10, which allowed Detroit to eke out a 20-16 victory in the final minute.

To make matters worse, the Dolphins also lost starting left tackle Branden Albert for the season due to a major knee injury. Now Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin has to figure out a makeshift line on a short week.

Philbin said, “What you saw is probably what you’re going to get (Thursday). Those guys weren’t perfect, but overall I thought they held their own.”

Up next for the Dolphins is AFC East rival Buffalo (5-4, 3-1 away). With both teams one game over .500 and half a game back of a Wild Card spot in the AFC, Sunday’s tilt will have huge playoff implications. The Bills come into the game having won three straight against the Fins, including a 29-10 win in Buffalo in week 2.

Said Dolphins defensive back Brent Grimes, “You lose three in a row to anybody, it’s not going to feel good. The Bills play us very well. It’ll be a huge game. To get a win on Thursday night at home would feel great for us.”

The Bills had a golden opportunity to moved ahead of Miami last weekend at home against Kansas City. The Bills out-gained the Chiefs 364 yards to 278, but lost three fumbles and surrendered 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter en route to a 17-13 loss.

“We definitely lost an opportunity,” said Bills head coach Doug Marrone. “Now we’re going to have to fight our way back and find a way to win our next game.”

With Sunday’s game carrying so much meaning for both teams, look for it to be a tight affair. The Fins have been playing some of their best football of late, so taking the Miami moneyline, despite its unfavorable payout (-213), is the safest play.