The Miami Dolphins play the Buffalo Bills Sunday in their first playoff game since 2016. It’s a game I feel nobody thinks they can win, and I understand that because this is the first playoff game for this team in a while, they lost 5 of their last six games, and the Bills are considered by many the team to beat in the AFC. Living up here in Central New York, I hear it from Bills fans, and when their team is good, they are the cockiest fan base in the world and come out with their gear on. When they aren’t winning, they crawl into the fetal position. However, the Dolphins and Bills this year played two games decided by 3 points or less, and that gives me some hope going into this game. I understand the Dolphins will not have their starting quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa and possibly Terron Armstead, so that will hurt their offense. I also understand Josh Allen has had the Dolphins’ number since coming into the league, and the Dolphins can’t seem to figure him out. 

The NFL doesn’t feel this is going to be a good game because they put the game on Sunday at 1 pm. They will typically put those games on early because they feel games won’t be as good, and they put the other games later for better ratings and feel will be better games for the country to see despite these teams playing close games in the regular season. 

Honestly, this game has a feel of us against the world because nobody thinks we can win and a lot of people are cheering for the Bills because of what happened to their safety Damar Hamlin, who collapsed on the field a couple of weeks ago from cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated and thankfully he has improved and is breathing on his own and appears he is going to be ok. However, forgive me for saying this, this story has taken on a life of its own, especially up here and if this was anybody else not in professional sports, you wouldn’t hear about this, but he’s a football player, who played on Monday Night Football I’m thankful he is improving each day. I hope nothing happens like that again, but we are all human, and natural causes like that happen even at professional football games. Thankfully, the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals had the trained medical personnel to save his life. I apologize in advance if that sounded insensitive; I don’t mean for it to sound that way. 

However, why can’t the Dolphins win this game  The Bills aren’t as invincible as their record indicates  Last week, they needed two kickoff returns for touchdowns to beat the New England Patriots, who were leading midway through the 3rd quarter  They also lost to the New York Jets when Zach Wilson was quarterbacking, and they didn’t want him to play the last two weeks of the season. The Dolphins had two close games against them, so they should feel confident coming into this game. I know they might not have Tagovailoa, but they have limited big plays on defense in their two games. Plus, the Dolphins had success running the ball, and they should try to use that to their advantage on Sunday. Also, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle can make big plays against any defense. Waddle has had some big gains this year against the Bills.  

The Dolphins’ defense is due for a big game; I feel their defensive line is as good as any in the league, they aren’t getting sacks, but they are getting pressures on the quarterback, and at some point, the sacks should come, you would figure, so why not Sunday? With sacks should come turnovers, and the Dolphins haven’t gotten the turnovers that change games around this year, and that must happen and some point, so why not Sunday? 

The odds are stacked against the Dolphins on Sunday, but that doesn’t mean they can’t win  The Dolphins do have some things that give you hope on Sunday  Plus, home field in the playoffs, I feel, has lost its luster over the year. Think about it last year; the Bengals went to Kansas City and Tennessee to get to the Super Bow. The San Fransisco 49ers went to Dallas and then frigid Green Bay to get to the NFC Championship game. The Dolphins proved last month, even in defeat, that they can play in a cold weather environment in Buffalo, so it begs the question, why not us?Â