On Sunday, both the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins staged come-from-behind victories after rocky starts. The two AFC East rivals are set to face each other in Miami Gardens, Fla., as they kick off Week 2 of the NFL season on Thursday. The Dolphins (1-0) are dealing with an especially quick turnaround following Tyreek Hill’s detainment by Miami-Dade police just hours before their season opener. Monday’s release of body camera footage showed officers forcefully removing Hill from his vehicle, pinning him to the ground, and handcuffing him after a traffic stop, which escalated when he didn’t promptly follow their order to lower his window. Team member Calais Campbell attempted to defuse the situation but was also briefly held. Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has since called for the dismissal of the officers involved due to their “horrendous” treatment of the star receiver, while one officer, now on administrative duty, has hired lawyers in hopes of being reinstated. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, in a passionate defense of his players, noted a potential benefit to their short week. “We can immerse ourselves in a tangible goal that we can control,” he said. “It can be therapeutic amidst the distractions.” Hill performed well on Sunday, recording seven catches for 130 yards and an 80-yard touchdown that helped clinch a 20-17 comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jaylen Waddle celebrated Hill’s touchdown by mimicking a handcuffing gesture. Meanwhile, Tua Tagovailoa led all quarterbacks in Week 1 with 338 passing yards as he helped the Dolphins rally from a 17-7 halftime deficit, and now he must guide his team through the emotional fallout of the past weekend.
Guys are in a positive mindset and ready to tackle this game,” Tagovailoa stated on Tuesday. “A lot of players have been getting ready in the building over the past day or so since our last game, which is a promising sign for us.” The Bills have had a strong advantage in their recent matchups, winning 10 out of the last 11 regular-season games and knocking the Dolphins out in the wild-card round last season with a 34-31 victory. “The storyline will be that we can’t beat the Bills. Until we start winning against them consistently, that perception won’t change,” Tagovailoa mentioned. Buffalo (1-0) received good news regarding their star quarterback Josh Allen, who injured his left (non-throwing) hand against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Following evaluation, Allen was cleared to play against Miami and fully participated in Tuesday’s practice while wearing a glove on his hand. “I’m trying to keep things as normal as possible,” Allen said on Tuesday. “I felt good throwing today and was able to execute everything, so I’m prepared to go.” Allen had an impressive performance against Miami last season, racking up 679 passing yards, six touchdown passes, and one rushing score, while throwing two interceptions in their two encounters. Tagovailoa will need to keep an eye on Bills pass rusher Greg Rousseau, who had three sacks in Week 1. Meanwhile, Buffalo is wary of the Dolphins’ renowned speed. “They possess incredible speed,” Bills coach Sean McDermott noted. “It’s unlike anything I’ve seen, not just this year but in past seasons as well… If you don’t get close to them, they’re gone. Even if you do, they can still pull away.
