-The CJ Spiller Show- If you asked Bills fans for one bright spot of this disappointment of a season it would be the emergence of CJ Spiller. Spiller leads the NFL in yards per carry with 7.3, the nearest running back to that is Adrian Peterson with 5.8. The problem that most Bills fans have is that even though he is producing at a very high level he does not get the ball in his hands enough. His 87 rushing attempts is less than any player in the top 20 in rushing, the next lowest is 123. The good news for Bills fans is that Spiller is likely in line for many more touches this week. Fred Jackson is out with a concussion so there is no dispute about how to divide the carries. Despite the Dolphins defense being 5th best in the league against the run, allowing only 94.2 yards per game, Chris Johnson of Titans had 126 yards and a touchdown against them just four days ago. Look for Spiller to light it up tonight.
-Stopping Reggie Bush- The Dolphins have a very flashy running back of their own in Reggie Bush. He sits at 21st in the league in rushing despite being banged up at points this season. Bush was actually benched for fumbling the ball in their last game, finishing with only 4 carries for 21 yards. The best way to describe Bush is a playmaker. He is very fast and can slip tackles to pick up big chunks of yards. Last season in Buffalo Bush had his best game of the season rushing for over 200 yards. The key to limiting his yards is to keep contain and force him to run inside, eliminate the cutbacks lanes, and do not miss tackles. Easier said than done of course for a Bills defense that has been pitiful against the run this season. If they can stop the run and force the Dolphins to put the ball into the hands of their rookie quarterback they will be on the right track for a win.
-Glenn v. Wake- Bills rookie left tackle Cordy Glenn will have his hands full in this one going against Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake. Glenn has been serviceable this season in pass blocking but Wake in one of the best pass rushers in the league. Wake has a total of 8.5 sacks this season which puts him 6th in the league in that department. The Dolphins defensive scheme relies heavily on complex blitz schemes to throw off offensive lineman. The Bills are one of the top teams in the league in protecting their quarterback, but it will still be important to get the ball out of Fitzpatrick's hands fast.
-Manage the game Chan!- Despite having a better showing against the Patriots last week there were still many areas for the coaches and players to improve upon. First, the Bills cannot commit the same amount of penalties as they did last week an expect to be in the game. Chan Gailey's club has always been one of the most disciplined when it terms to infractions so I will let them slide one time, but if something like that becomes common changes will have to be made. Second, Chan needs to get the play calling under control. Get the ball into the hands of CJ Spiller by whatever means possible. This coach is supposed to be an offensive mastermind, lets see it. Lastly, enough with the confusion and wasted timeouts on the sideline. Chan needs to coach with confidence and look like he knows what he is doing and it may go a long way in the minds of Bills fans calling for his job.
-Confuse Ryan Tannehill- One of the focuses of a team preparing to play a rookie quarterback is to disguise coverage and throw things at them that they have never seen before. This is the job of Bills defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt. As stated many times before, Wannstedt's strategy is to cover the bad quarterbacks and rush the bad ones. Well, right now Tannehill falls into the later category so take the leashes off and let this defense go and get him. Despite dealing with a knee injury Tannehill is accurate in the roll out, do not let him escape the pocket.
- For some reason despite the teams struggles this season I am very amped for this game. It could be because it is a primetime game, or because Spiller is posed for a breakout, or because they did not get creamed against the Patriots last week. It is probably a little bit of everything, but whatever the case is I cannot wait until kickoff. I think fans are in for an offensive shootout which just adds to its entertainment value. I am a believer and I think they turn it around today by squishing the fish. Bills- 35 Dolphins-17
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