The Buffalo Bills will visit the Miami Dolphins in their upcoming Week 2 matchup.
Even with it being a cross-conference clash, it will still be the games, within the game, that will make all the difference.
Here are three key matchups to watch during Thursday’s Bills-Dolphins contest:
CB Rasul Douglas vs. WR Tyreek Hill
(USAT)
The Bills have mentioned one word in particular about the Miami offense this week: Speed. Who is the best example of that? Hill.
A shifty receiver that lines up in the slot plenty, Hill lining up against Cam Lewis, who is likely to start for Taron Johnson (forearm)… might be a bad idea for the Bills. Expect Douglas to cover Hill a lot. Marvin Harrison Jr. is a rookie, but a highly touted one. Douglas shut him down in his NFL debut last week.
OL Spencer Brown vs. DE Jaelan Phillips
(USAT)
Fresh off signing a long-term extension with the Bills, Brown will have one of his first best tests against Phillips.
Phillips returned from a big injury in 2023 last week and notched a sack in Miami’s late win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is still going to be fired up about that. Pro Football Focus graded Phillips as the NFL’s 10th best pass rusher in Week 1 with a 75.6 overall mark.
WR Khalil Shakir vs. CB Kader Kohou
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Finishing up on offense, the Bills relied on Shakir over the likes of tight end Dalton Kincaid in Week 1. Shakir showed he has previous chemistry with quarterback Josh Allen in the Bills’ win over the Cardinals and his touchdown was impressive.
In the slot, Kohou struggled in Miami’s opener. Of 94 qualifying cornerbacks in Week 1, Kohou’s PFF grade of 41.1 was No. 91 overall in the NFL. That’s a battle Shakir should win.