Buffalo Bills-Miami Dolphins NFL Week 11 Thursday Game Preview

A competitive AFC East Division clash featuring two excellent defensive units will kick off Week 11 in the NFL on Thursday night when the Miami Dolphins (5-4) host the Buffalo Bills (5-4) in Miami.

Both teams are currently tied for second in the division, marking the first time both clubs have met this late in a season with winning records since 2000.

Buffalo earned a 29-10 victory against Miami in Week 2 and is looking to rebound from a 17-13 loss to Kansas City last week.

“Our position, as we move forward into this third quarter, is that we’re 0-1,” said Buffalo head coach Doug Marrone. “Our focus is going out and playing a divisional opponent, which holds a little more weight.”

Buffalo’s defense ranks first in the league with 34 sacks. It is the team’s highest sack total through its first nine games in franchise history, topping the previous mark of 32 sacks through nine games in 1997.

“It’s definitely tough, we lost the football game and we’re definitely upset about that,” said defensive end Jerry Hughes, who had a pair of sacks on Sunday. “We’ve got a Thursday game, we’ve got a division game so we’ve got a chance to sweep Miami this season. That’s our focus right now, just find a way to get ready for that game.”

The Bills are the only NFL team this season to feature three different players with at least seven sacks – Hughes (7.5), defensive tackle Marcell Dareus (10), and defensive end Mario Williams (7).  Dareus, who had three sacks against Kansas City last week, leads NFL defensive tackles in sacks this season.

Miami’s three-game winning streak came to an end in Week 10 against Detroit. The Dolphins have relied on its AFC-leading defense (309.8 yards allowed per game) to set the tone this season.

“We need to start studying the Bills because they are a good defense coming to town on a short week,” said Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill about the team heading into Week 11 following a 20-16 loss at Detroit. “We need to watch the tape, learn from our mistakes and quickly put it aside. We need to rest up and get ready to go on Thursday night.”

Tannehill completed 27 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown last week. In the past six games, Tannehill has 1,490 passing yards and 11 touchdowns for a 99.7 passer rating. During his career, Miami is 15-1 when Tannehill has a passer rating of 90 or better.

On defense, the Dolphins are tied for second in the AFC with 28 sacks, led by defensive end and former CFL standout Cameron Wake, who has 6.5 sacks in his previous five games. Wake recorded his 60th career sack last week, surpassing Jeff Cross (59.5) for the second-most in franchise history. He also leads the AFC in sacks since entering the league in 2009.

The Dolphins’ defense is also spurred by cornerback Brent Grimes, who has four interceptions in the past three games and is second in the NFL with five interceptions this season. Since joining the Dolphins in 2013, Grimes leads all AFC cornerbacks with nine interceptions.


WEEK 11 INJURY REPORT – BUFFALO BILLS at MIAMI DOLPHINS

Buffalo Bills 
 
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Monday
DE Jarius Wynn (knee)

Tuesday
DE Jarius Wynn (knee)

 
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
CB Ron Brooks (groin), WR Marcus Easley (knee), WR Marquise Goodwin (ribs), RB Fred Jackson (groin)

Tuesday
CB Ron Brooks (groin), WR Marcus Easley (knee), WR Marquise Goodwin (ribs), RB Fred Jackson (groin)

 
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
WR Sammy Watkins (groin)

Tuesday
WR Sammy Watkins (groin)


Miami Dolphins 

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Monday
G Daryn Colledge (back), CB Cortland Finnegan (ankle)

Tuesday
G Daryn Colledge (back), CB Cortland Finnegan (ankle)

 
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
TE Charles Clay (knee), LS John Denney (knee), DE Dion Jordan (hamstring), RB Lamar Miller (shoulder), LB Koa Misi (ankle), LB Kelvin Sheppard (hip, groin), TE Dion Sims (toe), QB Ryan Tannehill (ankle, right shoulder), S Jimmy Wilson (hamstring)

Tuesday
TE Charles Clay (knee), LS John Denney (knee), DE Dion Jordan (hamstring), RB Lamar Miller (shoulder), LB Koa Misi (ankle), LB Kelvin Sheppard (hip, groin), TE Dion Sims (toe), QB Ryan Tannehill (ankle, right shoulder), S Jimmy Wilson (hamstring)

 
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Monday
DT Anthony Johnson (back), DT Earl Mitchell (abdomen), DT Jared Odrick (hip), G Mike Pouncey (hip), DE Derrick Shelby (knee)

Tuesday
DT Anthony Johnson (back), DT Earl Mitchell (abdomen), DT Jared Odrick (hip), G Mike Pouncey (hip), DE Derrick Shelby (knee)


By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services