Analysis
10/3/23
3 min read
How the Buffalo Bills Stopped the Miami Dolphins' High-Powered Offense
In Week 4, the Buffalo Bills defense stopped a Miami Dolphins offense that led the league in scoring and put up 70 points on the Denver Broncos. Buffalo held Miami to just 20 points on Sunday and pressured Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa early and often.
How did they do it? Well, it was a combination of smart scheme and outstanding play from individual players to counter the unique things the Dolphins' offense has used this season.
Let's look at some of the ways Bills coach and defensive play caller Sean McDermott made the Dolphins look less like the NFL's best offense than any other team has in 2023.
Forcing Tua Tagovailoa Out of Structure
This play encapsulates how the Bills tweaked a foundational coverage to take away Tagovailoa's frontside reads and make him play off schedule.
How Bills Handled Motion
This an excellent example of Buffalo's crafty counter to Miami's potent (relatively) new Tyreek Hill wing-jet motion.
Bills' Adjustments
The Bills' defenders were smart about getting physical with Hill and Miami's other speedy receivers like Jaylen Waddle.
Creating Redzone Pressure
This play illustrates how the Bills are perhaps football's smartest blitzing defense (even though they don't blitz often).
Prior to joining The 33rd Team as an NFL analyst, Benoit worked for Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams coaching staff from 2020 through 2022. Before that he was a football analyst, writer and content producer for Peter King’s MMQB at Sports Illustrated (2013-2019), as well as at CBS Sports (2010-11) and The New York Times (2010-2013). You can follow him on Twitter (X) @Andy_Benoit.
