Week 2
MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-0) at BUFFALO BILLS (1-0)
GAME FACTS
DATE: Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014
TIME: 1 p.m. ET
SITE: Ralph Wilson Stadium
TV: CBS
TV ANNOUNCERS: Tom McCarthy, play-by-play; Adam Archuleta, color analyst
DOLPHINS RADIO NETWORK: Clear Channel, WBGG (105.9 FM) and WINZ (940 AM) and a network of affiliates throughout Florida; WQBA (1140 AM-Spanish)
RADIO VOICES: English broadcast — Jimmy Cefalo, Bob Griese, Joe Rose, Kim Bokamper; Spanish broadcast — Raul Striker Jr., Roly Martin
THE SERIES
SERIES RECORD: Miami leads 57-42-1 (including playoffs)
AT MIAMI: Dolphins lead 32-17-1
AT BUFFALO: Bills lead 25-24
AT TORONTO: Dolphins lead 1-0
LAST MEETING: 2013 at Buffalo; Bills 19, Dolphins 0
HISTORY LESSON: The Dolphins will be playing in Buffalo in September for the 14th time since the teams first faced each other in 1966 and they have a 9-4 record in the first 13 such games. Miami’s last trip to Ralph Wilson Stadium in September came in the 2010 season opener and produced a 15-10 Dolphins victory. The Dolphins also won at Buffalo in September in 1971, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1983, 1984 and 1993.
SERIES TREND: Things have been fairly even in the Dolphins-Bills series in recent years, with the teams splitting the last 10 meetings. Buffalo swept the Dolphins last season, but Miami accomplished the same feat in 2011. Additionally, five of the last eight games between the teams were decided by seven points or less, including the Bills’ 23-21 victory at Sun Life Stadium last October.
SCOUTING REPORT
BILLS’ RECORD: 1-0
LAST GAME: Won at Chicago, 23-20 (OT)
OVERVIEW: These are happy days in Buffalo, what with the Bills’ big season-opening victory at Soldier Field and the sale of the team to the owner of Buffalo’s NHL team meaning the franchise likely isn’t going anywhere. There’s even optimism that the Bills can finally end the longest playoff drought in the NFL thanks to their punishing running game and one of the best defensive lines in the league. Buffalo, which hasn’t been in the postseason since the 1999 season, is looking to start 2-0 for the first time since 2011.
KEY NEW FACES: WR Sammy Watkins (draft-1st round), T Cyrus Kouandjio (draft-2nd), T Seantrel Henderson (draft-7th), WR Mike Williams (Tampa Bay), RB Bryce Brown (Philadelphia), G Chris Williams (St. Louis), LB Keith Rivers (N.Y. Giants), LB Brandon Spikes (New England), QB Kyle Orton (Dallas), P Colton Schmidt (San Francisco)
KEY VETERANS GONE: QB Kevin Kolb, LB Arthur Moats, S Jairus Byrd, S Jim Leonhard, WR Stevie Johnson, DT Alan Branch, QB Thad Lewis, P Brian Moorman, WR T.J. Graham