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Revisiting five Miami Dolphins to watch vs. the Buffalo Bills

Published

2 years ago

January 9, 2024

Revisiting five Miami Dolphins to watch vs. the Buffalo Bills

The Miami Dolphins entered their Week 18 matchup against the Buffalo Bills in the same situation as their opponent: win and the divisional crown was theirs. Lose, and they would be traveling as a wild card team for the playoffs. Well, lose they did, as Miami blew a 14-7 lead in the fourth quarter en route to a 21-14 defeat.

The Bills weren’t perfect in defending against Miami’s top players, but in the second half especially, they were about as close as they could have been to perfection. Buffalo’s offense moved the ball at will, and after Miami’s offense was able to do the same in the first half, the Bills clamped down and limited their division rivals in the second half.

Here’s how our five Dolphins to watch performed this week.

QB Tua Tagovailoa

In the first half, Tua was really, really good. He completed 9-of-13 passes for 123 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. In the second half, Tua was really, well… not good. He completed 8-of-14 passes for just 50 yards and an interception. Miami’s offense gained just three first downs after intermission, and they ran 17 plays for a net total of 47 yards when penalties were factored into the equation.

Buffalo wasn’t really able to pressure Tagovailoa, but they did confuse him with coverages. That hesitation led him to hold the ball, which led him to rush his mechanics just enough at times. That rush caused him to miss high all night, which eventually came back to bite him on the game’s final drive. His last pass was a loafer into double coverage that safety Taylor Rapp intercepted, but there were a few passes that he just couldn’t put enough on in order to gain the yardage his squad needed.

On Miami’s first drive, he had Braxon Berrios beyond the sticks for a first down on the left hash. However, Tagovailoa was a little outside the right hash, and his throw hung in the air long enough that Berrios had to come back to the ball to catch it. By coming back to the ball, he ceded the first-down position, allowing Buffalo to make a tackle and force a punt.

These things happen when Tagovailoa is either forced off his spot by pressure or forced to go to a later read, making a throw where he doesn’t quite have his feet and body going in the direction for him to make his strongest toss. Buffalo’s secondary tightened up in the second half, limiting Tagovailoa and keeping the Bills in it long enough for their offense and special teams to score enough to win.

WR Tyreek Hill

Speaking of players who had a big first half, Hill was another one who was killing Buffalo early before the defense settled in and stopped him. Prior to halftime, Hill had five catches for 60 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. After halftime, Hill saw six more targets, but he caught just two more passes for 22 yards. He had opportunities to do more damage, but he either dropped the ball or had one of Buffalo’s safeties (Micah Hyde once on a third down and Rapp later on a first down) jar the ball loose.

It was Hill’s best game against Buffalo as a member of the Dolphins, as he totaled seven catches for 82 yards and a score. Much of that production came in the first half after Rasul Douglas left with a knee injury, as Hill worked on sub corner Dane Jackson. Jackson found his legs in the second half, totaling three tackles and a pass breakup on the night. Hill found himself leaving the field of play immediately after his quarterback’s game-ending interception, as he chose to skip the postgame handshakes in favor of an early shower.

LB Melvin Ingram

The veteran showed up in a big way on Sunday night, as he was a legitimate problem on the blitz all night long. Ingram totaled five tackles, 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hits, and two tackles for loss on his night, turning back the clock and looking like his much younger self — when he was asked to do things that make sense for him to do. I have to add that caveat because, for some reason, Ingram was the man who defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had in coverage against tight end Dalton Kincaid on one of Miami’s blitzes in a tie game in the fourth quarter.

Predictably, quarterback Josh Allen found Kincaid for a huge gain, picking up 26 yards to put the Bills at Miami’s 35-yard line. That call reminded me of some dark times, like when former Bills coach and self-proclaimed defensive genius Rex Ryan had guys like Mario Williams and Marcell Dareus dropping into coverage. Buffalo’s offense saw the matchup, exploited it, and set themselves up to take a lead that they would not relinquish.

LB Andrew Van Ginkel

Miami’s Josh Allen mirror/spy didn’t finish the game, as he left in the third quarter thanks to a foot injury. He was hurt while making his only tackle of the night, stopping running back James Cook on a seven-yard gain. He would have been credited with a pass breakup when Josh Allen dunked a pass off his head in the second quarter but, somehow, the deflection was secured in the end zone by wideout Trent Sherfield — so it instead ended up a “wow” play in a game full of them.

CB Eli Apple

The veteran started his night off with a bang, securing an errant throw by Josh Allen for an interception in the end zone that ended Buffalo’s first drive without allowing points. From then on, though, things weren’t as good. Allen was able to throw the ball at will as the night progressed, and Apple was on the wrong end of a pair of big pays.

First, he seemed like he gave up on the aforementioned hockey assist from Van Ginkel’s helmet, staring up at the ball while Sherfield positioned himself to catch it below. Apple also was the man in coverage who wide receiver Stefon Diggs burned for a huge gain to set up said touchdown, as Diggs made a brilliant sliding grab with Apple right in his face. He finished his night with eight tackles and that interception.

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Miami, FL

Miami Heat-Minnesota Timberwolves Final Injury Update: Anthony Edwards’ status divulged

Published

2 days ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Miami Heat-Minnesota Timberwolves Final Injury Update: Anthony Edwards’ status divulged

The Minnesota Timberwolves announced that guard Anthony Edwards is now available to play in Tuesday night’s game against the Miami Heat after originally being listed as questionable with right foot injury maintenance.

Here’s the rest of the injury report and game preview:

INJURY REPORT

HEAT

Tyler Herro: Available – Toe

Jaime Jaquez Jr.: Out – Ankle

Nikola Jovic: Available – Groin

Terry Rozier: Out – Not with team

TIMBERWOLVES

Anthony Edwards: Available – Foot

Terrence Shannon Jr.: Out – Foot

Joan Beringer: Out – G League

Game date, time and location: Tuesday, Jan. 6, 8:00 p.m. EST, Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

TV: TV: Peacock,

Radio: 104.3 FM (Miami/Ft. Lauderdale), ESPN 106.3 FM, (West Palm Beach), FOX Sports Radio 105.9 FM (Ft. Myers/Naples), 1450 AM (Suart), 97.7 FM (Florida Keys), WAQI 710 AM (Spanish-language broadcast, South Florida) 100.3 FM (Minnesota)

VITALS: The Miami Heat (20-16) and Minnesota Timberwolves (23-13) meet for the second and final regular season matchup after just facing off three days ago with Minnesota recording a, 125-115, win in Miami on January 3. The teams split the series, 1-1, last season with each squad winning on the road. The Heat are 36-35 all-time versus Minnesota during the regular season,
including 19-16 in home games and 17-19 in road games.

PROJECTED STARTERS

HEAT

G Davion Mitchell

G Tyler Herro

C Bam Adebayo

F Norman Powell

F Andrew Wiggins

TIMBERWOLVES

G Donte DiVincenzo

G Anthony Edwards

C Rudy Gobert

F Jaden McDaniels

F Julius Randle

Spread: Heat +5.5 (-112), Timberwolves -5.5 (-108)

Moneyline: Heat +166, Timberwolves -198

Total points scored: 239.5 (over -106, under -114)

QUOTABLE

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra on the forced turnovers: “That is and has to be our identity. We have to play with a recklessness and activity level that exceeds our opponent, and thats not to put down our talent level or anything like that, it’s more about we look different when we’re flying around and making plays and making it tough for the opponent.”

For more Miami Heat information and conversation, check out Off The Floor.

Alexander Toledo is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI and producer/co-host of the Five on the Floor podcast, covering the Heat and NBA. He can be reached at Twitter: @tropicalblanket

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Miami, FL

Man shot during $22,000 gold chain robbery at Supreme store in Miami’s Design District; Atlanta suspects arrested

Published

2 days ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Man shot during ,000 gold chain robbery at Supreme store in Miami’s Design District; Atlanta suspects arrested

Three men were arrested Saturday after a robbery inside a Miami clothing store left a man shot and hospitalized, according to Miami police and arrest affidavits.

The incident happened Friday afternoon in Miami’s popular Design District neighborhood.

Police said officers were dispatched around 4:20 p.m. Friday to the area of Miami Avenue and Northeast 41st Street after receiving reports of a man who had been shot. Officers found the victim, who told them he had been robbed and shot while shopping inside a Supreme store located at 45 NE 41st Street.

According to investigators, the victim said he was approached by three suspects inside the store, including one person with whom he had a prior conflict originating from the Atlanta area. Police said an argument broke out, and one suspect forcibly removed a gold chain from the victim’s neck. The chain was valued at approximately $22,000, according to police.

As the suspect ran out of the store, the victim attempted to chase him, police said. During the pursuit, an unidentified male shot the victim once in the stomach. The suspects then fled the area in a white Mercedes-Benz, according to the arrest affidavits.

Miami Police detectives later located the suspect vehicle parked near Northeast 10th Avenue and Northeast 91st Terrace. Police said they conducted surveillance and observed the suspects abandon the vehicle and walk through a nearby residential area before entering a home in the 800 block of Northeast 90th Street.

A residential search warrant was executed, resulting in the arrest of three suspects. During the search, detectives recovered the victim’s gold chain, keys to the suspect vehicle, and clothing believed to have been worn during the robbery, police said.

The suspects were identified as Jamar McKay, 25, Omarion Phillips, 20, and Kevieon Smith, 21. McKay was charged with armed robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon. Phillips and Smith were charged as accessories after the fact, with Smith also facing an additional firearms-related charge, according to court records.

“This arrest sends a clear message: violent crime will not be tolerated in the City of Miami,” Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales said in a statement. “Individuals who commit acts of violence in our city will be identified, located, and held fully accountable.”

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Miami, FL

Miami Hurricanes arrive in Phoenix to continue Fiesta Bowl preparations

Published

3 days ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Miami Hurricanes arrive in Phoenix to continue Fiesta Bowl preparations

The Miami Hurricanes are looking to buck a bad trend. They’re 0-4 in the Fiesta Bowl.

Coach Mario Cristobal’s team gets its fifth shot this week as Miami (12-2) squares off against Mississippi (13-1) in the Fiesta Bowl at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 at State Farm Stadium. The school may be 0-4 historically, but there is plenty at stake. This Fiesta Bowl is serving as a College Football Playoff semifinal.

The Hurricanes, the No. 10 seed in the 12-team playoff field, arrived at 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5, at the Ragsdale Executive Terminal of Sky Harbor Airport. The opposing team is expected 24 hours later.

The gathered crowd of 100 or so was made of members of the Fiesta Bowl Committee, easily identifiable in their yellow jackets, and their families.

In the past, there had been a welcome event in a tent adjacent to the runway. The coach typically made an opening statement, but players and coaches walked off the plane and straight to their buses parked nearby.

Players, dressed in white sweatsuits, filed off their American Airlines flight in single file on a blue carpet.

The players will take part in a media day on Jan. 6 at a Scottsdale hotel, with the coaches talking to the media the following day, the eve of the contest.

The Hurricanes enter on the heels of a six-game winning streak. Their last loss came on Nov. 1 against SMU, a game decided in double overtime 26-20. They have surrendered just 17 points in their two postseason games.

The winner advances to the national championship game on Jan. 19 against the winner of the other semifinal, the Peach Bowl between Oregon and Indiana.

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