Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins: Final score prediction for Week 8

In Week 8, the Buffalo Bills will look to bounce back from their 34-31 defeat to the Tennessee Titans when they match up against the Miami Dolphins on Halloween. Last week, the Dolphins lost to the Atlanta Falcons 30-28 on a last-second field goal. The loss was Miami’s sixth in a row, dropping them to 1-6.

The Dolphins have been an absolute trainwreck in 2021. After an opening weekend win over the New England Patriots where they were bailed out by a Damien Harris fumble in the red zone, Miami has lost their last six games, one of which ended the 20 game losing streak of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Dolphins have been dreadful on both sides of the ball in 2021. They currently sit 29th in total offense and 31st in total defense. While an argument can be made that the absence of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been responsible for their offensive woes, he has thrown four interceptions in as many games. Tagovailoa has an interception percentage of 3.4%, which is sixth-worst in the league, and second amongst non-rookies.

As for the defense, it has been a shocking implosion of a unit that finished sixth in total defense a year ago and forced the most turnovers in the league. The unit has forced nine turnovers in their first seven games. For comparison, last year, Miami’s defense forced thirteen turnovers in their first seven games.

A combination of offensive and defensive woes In that same time span, Miami’s defense allowed just 18.5 points per game last year, as opposed to the 29.5 points per game they have allowed so far this season. The Dolphins are struggling mightily on both sides of the ball, and look nothing like the team that went 10-6 a year ago.

Last time out, the Buffalo offense racked up 417 total yards of offense against the Titans, outgaining Tennessee, who gained 362 yards. Josh Allen was dealing against Tennessee, completing 35 of 47 passes for 353 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. Allen distributed the ball well, given that Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley, and Emmanuel Sanders all were heavily involved in the offense.

The Bills’ defense hit a wall in Week 6, allowing Derrick Henry to rush for 143 yards and three touchdowns on 20 attempts. Henry’s most notable run of the night was a 76-yard touchdown run in the first quarter; a rare big play allowed by the Buffalo defense. The Bills held Ryan Tannehill in check, for the most part, allowing him to complete 18 of 26 passes for just 216 yards and an interception. Jordan Poyer was the man who came away with the interception. On a night where the Buffalo secondary was on par, their run defense struggled mightily.

The Bills and Dolphins are experiencing wildly different seasons so far, with the Dolphins looking all the way up at the Bills from the AFC East cellar. The Bills will likely start hot in Week 8, and it would be genuinely surprising if Miami’s offense could keep pace with Buffalo’s.

Final Score Prediction: Buffalo Bills 34, Miami Dolphins 17

The Bills are going to be an angry group with a point to prove on Sunday, and Miami will be the team that stands on the tracks while the train is coming through. The Buffalo Bills will defeat the Miami Dolphins by a score of 34-17.