Dolphins (2-7) vs. Bills (6-2), Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Latest line: Bills are favored by 9 1/2 points
Dave Hyde, Sports Columnist (Season record: 2-7): Bills 34, Dolphins 20
Buffalo still has Josh Allen, right? And the Bills just beat high-flying Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes, right? Dolphins owner Steve Ross should clean house right now. That means Mike McDaniel should go, and an interim coach named to go with the interim GM.
Chris Perkins, Dolphins Columnist (Season record: 5-4): Bills 28, Dolphins 24
Buffalo will extend winning streak over the reeling Dolphins to eight consecutive games because of Josh Allen and his knack for late-game heroics. I think the Dolphins play a close game, but in the end they won’t be able to stop the elusive Allen, which is often the case.
David Furones, Dolphins Writer (Season record: 3-6): Bills 31, Dolphins 16
A Dolphins team in disarray isn’t going to snap Buffalo’s seven-game winning streak in the series, especially after shipping away some top talent at the trade deadline. But I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m wrong and this game is surprisingly close, given the familiarity between the longtime rivals and how the Dolphins have played the Bills close the last two meetings.
Kathy Laughlin, Sports Editor (Season record: 4-5): Bills 34, Dolphins 17
No amount of home-field advantage is going to get the 2-7 Dolphins past the 6-2 Bills. Buffalo’s defense, including St. Thomas grad Joey Bosa, just held off a rallying Patrick Mahomes to beat the Chiefs. The Dolphins are in a bad place right now, with losses, upheaval, uncertainty. Playing against Josh Allen is not an opportunity to right the ship.
Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record: 7-2): Bills 27, Dolphins 17
The only real question is if the Bills will cover the 9 1/2-point spread. Buffalo has dominated Miami, winning seven straight and 14 of 15. The Bills will be extra motivated as they have a tough schedule down the stretch with games against Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, New England and Philadelphia. After harassing Patrick Mahomes, the Bills should have no problem shutting down Tua Tagovailoa. James Cook also should have a big day.
Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor (Season record: 3-6): Bills 23, Dolphins 16
Over his past three games against the Dolphins, Josh Allen has run for only 34 yards (11.3 yards per game) after 658 in his first 13 career games against Miami (50.6 per game). South Florida high school product James Cook burst onto the scene last year in the Week 2 with his 95 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Tua Tagovailoa, set to make his fifth Hard Rock start against Buffalo, has struggled in those games, with a poor 70.6 passer rating to go with being forced from three of those games with an injury.