Miami Dolphins Can Inch Towards Playoffs Thursday Night

Nov 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) after the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Detroit won 20-16. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

It doesn’t seem like it’s often the case that the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills get together, and there are significant playoff ramifications. That, however, is the case on Thursday Night Football, as Miami plays host to Buffalo in what should be a really solid matchup for a night that has seemingly been set apart for blowout games.

The Dolphins are a really interesting 5-4 team, having lost to the Packers, Chiefs, Lions, and tonight’s opponent — the Buffalo Bills. Last time the Dolphins lost to the Bills, E.J. Manuel was the quarterback and Buffalo was off to a surprising 2-0 start to the season.

This time around, the Dolphins will face Kyle Orton, who has gone 3-2 in his starts with Buffalo while completing nearly 66 percent of his passes, throwing 10 touchdowns compared to just three interceptions.

Orton is proving the Bills were right when they made him the starter and said he gave them the best chance to win. If that’s the case, this will be Orton’s toughest test yet going up against the NFL’s 2nd best pass defense led by Brent Grimes and Reshad Jones in Miami. The Dolphins boast a pretty solid pass rush, but the Bills know how to put pressure on the quarterback as well.

I could see this game being a low-scoring one, both teams trying to feel each other out and let the other one make a mistake. The Dolphins have the added bonus of a quarterback in Ryan Tannehill that can gain yards with his legs, and that has helped lead them to the 7th ranked rushing attack in the NFL.

Exciting rookie receivers Sammy Watkins, the first wideout taken in this year’s draft, and Jarvis Landry out of LSU will provide for some fireworks in a game that features some of the NFL’s top young talent at the skill positions.

This is a game the Dolphins need to win, or they face a potential three game losing streak heading into the home stretch of the season. They travel to Denver next weekend and then play Baltimore and New England after a road game against the New York Jets.

It’s not going to be easy, but a win against the Bills to exact some revenge from earlier this season is key to a Dolphins playoff run for this season, after they so narrowly missed out last year. It starts on Thursday night.