The Buffalo Bills secured a 31-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins in their Week 2 matchup, improving to 2-0 in the 2024 season. Despite traveling to Miami after a short week and facing the typical humid September weather, the Bills managed to pull off a win on Thursday night. Although the game wasn’t flawless and shifted significantly in the second half following an injury to Tua Tagovailoa, the Bills kept their composure and focused on the task at hand.
In the following recap, we’ll highlight the standout performances of the evening, address injuries on the Bills’ defense, examine the need for improvement in the passing game, and touch on the most frustrating aspect of the night. While James Cook scored only two rushing touchdowns throughout his breakout 2023 season, he matched that total in this single game and also added a receiving touchdown. With Joe Brady taking over as offensive play-caller last year, the focus has clearly been on optimizing Cook’s contributions through a consistent running game, a strategy that is yielding results early in the 2024 season. Cook, who was seen as a developmental player coming out of Georgia in 2022, has been molded by running backs coach Kelly Skipper into a significant threat in the NFL, demonstrating marked improvements each year.
Additionally, two of the Bills’ cornerbacks recorded three interceptions, with Ja’Marcus Ingram getting two, including an easy pick-six. After the team lost veteran corner Tre’Davious White and remained uncertain about 2022 first-round pick Kaiir Elam, there were concerns about fielding starters like Rasul Douglas and Christian Benford. Douglas brought experience to Buffalo, but Benford, a sixth-round pick, has proven to be more than capable in a starting role, showing he can significantly contribute, not just rely on surrounding talent. Ingram’s two turnovers capped off an impressive night for the Bills’ cornerbacks.
**Defensive Injuries:**
Once again, the Bills are grappling with defensive injuries. Following Matt Milano’s torn bicep and Taron Johnson’s recent arm injury, Terrel Bernard suffered what appears to be a pectoral injury early in the game. Losing a top-tier player pre-season is challenging, but losing a key defensive communicator just minutes into the game creates a tough situation for rookie defensive coordinator Bobby Babich. How the team adapts to a significantly weakened second level of the defense will likely influence their performance this season, though they still have a strong front line to mitigate some of these losses.
**Passing Game Inconsistency:**
The Bills are still working out kinks in their passing game two weeks into the season. While they effectively capitalized on the Dolphins’ defense with the run game, the passing attack failed to contribute consistently, apart from a few short completions to Dalton Kincaid and Khalil Shakir. A fourth-down touchdown to James Cook marked a highlight, but overall, the passing game did not place the Bills in a favorable position.
Even with a decisive win, there’s room for improvement in this area. Josh Allen remains one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, as demonstrated in the previous week, but enhancements are needed in the passing game. With extra time before their next game on Monday Night Football, there is hope that Joe Brady and his staff will address these issues.
**Tua Tagovailoa Incident:**
The harsh realities of football became evident with Tua Tagovailoa’s injury on Thursday night. After a healthy 2023 season where he played the full year and led the league in passing, it seemed he had overcome the troubling concussions from 2022. However, a collision with Damar Hamlin during a play in the third quarter sent him to the ground in a concerning manner, evoking memories of past injuries for Dolphins fans.
It’s important to remember that, beyond their extraordinary performances, these players are individuals facing real dangers in pursuit of a game they love. Reactions from fans can sometimes overlook the human aspect of these athletes, as seen when New York Giants supporters heckled Daniel Jones over a contract. Watching a player face a season of hardship or suffering an injury is difficult, and empathy should guide the fan experience.
Ultimately, while enjoying the thrill of the game, we must also remember that players are human beings deserving respect and compassion. Celebrating rivalries and the excitement of football should never come at the cost of wishing harm upon others. Fostering a positive and supportive fan environment is essential to enjoying the sport we love.
