Recapping five Miami Dolphins to watch against Buffalo Bills

The Miami Dolphins entered Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills on a two-game win streak. That streak came to an end, however, as the Bills pummeled their divisional rivals, winning 37-20. Even though the Bills won by three scores, the game was closer for a time. And even though the score was closer, especially in the first half, it never felt as if the Bills would lose.

Our five Dolphins to watch all had an impact on the game, although some didn’t quite have a positive impact for their own team.

RB Kalen Ballage

This guy is so frustrating to watch. Ballage is such a big, strong runner, yet he just can’t seem to do anything other than run right into traffic and fall down. Ballage did score a touchdown on a three-yard plunge late in the first half. He also was the point man on the wildcat play where Jerian Grant scored Miami’s final touchdown of the day. However, Ballage managed to carry the ball nine times for nine yards. He also had five catches for a total of eight yards. He is maddeningly inefficient.

WR Allen Hurns

Fresh off of signing a contract extension, Hurns was quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s second most popular wide receiver in the game. Hurns saw six targets his way, and he hauled in four of them for a total of 53 yards. On his longest reception, a 20-yard catch and run, he also managed to fumble when he tried to secure the ball. Losing the football when you’re not touched by a defender is bad enough, but at that point, it was still a game, as Miami had just scored a touchdown to make it 16-7, and then they followed that up by recovering an onside kick. Hurns’s lack of ball security killed any momentum Miami had.

TE Mike Gesicki

The second-year tight end had another solid game, catching four of six targets on the day, but he only managed 18 yards in total as the Bills’ defenders were able to clamp down on him right away. Gesicki has found a nice role in Miami’s passing game, as he is averaging five targets per game over the last month or so. He’s a great athlete who should only continue to improve.

LB Vince Biegel

Miami’s pass-rushing outside linebacker wasn’t much of a factor in the game, as Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen had all day to throw on most of his pass attempts. Biegel did manage to make five tackles on the day, but he’s usually a guy making his presence known in the opposing backfield. He did not make a tackle for loss all afternoon.

LB Jerome Baker

We said that Baker was someone Buffalo wanted to isolate in coverage, but Baker actually held his own in that regard. The Bills didn’t do much throwing to tight ends and running backs, with the lone exception being a touchdown pass against an all-out blitz to tight end Dawson Knox. Baker had a team-high 11 tackles, including one on special teams for Miami.