Dolphins host Bills in pivotal early season AFC East showdown on TNF
The Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins renew their AFC East rivalry on ‘Thursday Night Football’ coming off come-from-behind victories in the 2024 NFL season’s opening week.
Josh Allen — who is 11-2 in 13 career games against Miami — accounted for four touchdowns as the Bills bounced back from a 14-point deficit to defeat the Arizona Cardinals, 34-28. The Dolphins also faced a 14-point hole in Week 1, but rallied for a last-second 20-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
More than eight months ago, the Bills went into Hard Rock Stadium and defeated the Dolphins in what was essentially an AFC East title game. That Week 18 encounter sent the Bills home as the AFC’s No. 2 playoff seed and the Dolphins were a wild-card team, forced to play the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at frigid Arrowhead Stadium the next week, losing one of the coldest playoff games in NFL history. A week later, the Bills’ season also ended at the hands of the Chiefs.
Both teams enter this season with playoff aspirations, and an early season edge in the division will be on the line Thursday night.
USA TODAY Sports will bring you the latest updates, scores, highlights, wild plays, analysis and more throughout the Bills-Dolphins game. Follow along.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
DO YOU LIKE FOOTBALL? Then you’ll enjoy getting our NFL newsletter delivered to your inbox
What time is Bills vs. Dolphins?
How can I watch Bills vs. Dolphins
Bills at Dolphins will be streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video and will be broadcast in local markets only.
Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) will be in the broadcast booth for Peacock, with Kaylee Hartung (sideline) and Terry McAulay (rules analyst) providing additional coverage.
Bills vs. Dolphins inactives: De’Von Achane active for TNF
Dolphins running back De’Von Achane had been listed as questionable for Thursday night’s matchup with an ankle injury. However, the game-breaking runner will be available for the Dolphins. Running back Raheem Mostert had already been ruled out with a chest injury and is inactive.
For the Bills, starting defensive back Taron Johnson will not be available Thursday night.
Bills’ inactive players:
CB Taron Johnson
LB Joe Andreessen
LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
DE Javon Solomon
OT Ryan Van Demark
DE Dawuane Smoot
Dolphins’ inactive players:
CB Ethan Bonner
RB Raheem Mostert
LB Channing Tindall
LB Mohamed Kamara
OL Andrew Meyer
WR Malik Washington
Bills vs. Dolphins: Predictions, picks and odds
The Dolphins are favorites to defeat the Bills, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024.
Spread: Dolphins (-2.5)
Moneyline: Dolphins (-145); Bills (+120)
Over/under: 48.5
Here are the USA TODAY Sports’ expert picks for the game:
Jarrett Bell: Dolphins
Chris Bumbaca: Dolphins
Nate Davis: Dolphins
Tyler Dragon: Dolphins
Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: Bills
Lorenzo Reyes: Bills
Matchup vs. Bills could prove critical to shaping Dolphins’ playoff fortune
The process of ending the longest active stretch in the NFL without a postseason victory begins Thursday night for the Miami Dolphins.
The Bills have been a bugaboo for the Dolphins. This AFC East rivalry has been one-sided for the past five-plus years. A win on ‘Thursday Night Football’ will give the Dolphins an upper hand in the race for a division title. — Chris Bumbaca
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY operates independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.