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5 Bills players who could cause problems for the Dolphins in Week 2

(Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
(Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

The Miami Dolphins started the season with a comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but they don’t have much time to prepare for their first divisional opponent of the season.

Miami is hosting the Buffalo Bills, who won their first game of the season against the Arizona Cardinals. Both teams were expected to leave Week 1 with victories, but neither of their wins came easily.

The past couple of seasons have given NFL fans excited matchups between the AFC East foes, but Buffalo has seen massive changes since the teams’ last meeting. While the receiver corps and defensive backfield saw overhauls, the Josh Allen-led Bills are still be a dangerous team.

Here are five Bills players who could give the Dolphins headaches in Week 2:

QB Josh Allen

Oct 31, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) avoids a tackle by Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard (25) to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) avoids a tackle by Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard (25) to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

The Bills are only ever as good as Josh Allen. Especially with the new faces in the building and players left to step up, he has to be at the top of his game; and that’s even more important early in the season.

While Buffalo beat Arizona by only one score, Allen was the biggest reason why they won. Allen completed 18 of his 23 pass attempts for 232 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran the ball nine times for 39 yards and two more touchdowns.

It’s hard to gameplan against Allen, but he is the most important player for Buffalo. He pushes the ball down the field, can make every throw in the book, and will run through his opponent when needed.

TE Dalton Kincaid

Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid got only two targets in the team’s season debut, but he’s much more important to the Bills’ offense than that showed. Kincaid is the most prolific returning target for Allen after Buffalo allowed Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis to switch teams.

Last year, the tight end saw 91 targets for 73 catches, 673 yards, and two touchdowns, and that was before the receiver room was gutted. Now, he’s competing with more players for targets — including rookie Keon Coleman, third-year Khalil Shakir and newcomer Curtis Samuel — but it’s likely he’ll be worked into the offense more consistently moving forward.

OT Dion Dawkins

(Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)

Allen loves to take off and get outside of the pocket, but he’s more than willing to stay in it if that’s what the play calls for. When Allen needs the protection, tackle Dion Dawkins has become the Bills' best piece on the offensive line.

Dawkins is the longest-tenured player on the offensive front and was brought in a year before Allen joined the team.

According to Pro Football Focus, Dawkins was the highest-graded player on the team in its win over the Cardinals. He had a 79.6 rating in Week 1, putting him right around his career-best season grade of 80.6.

DE Greg Rousseau

Bills Greg Rousseau gets behind the offensive line to sack Arizona's quarterback Kyler Murray during the third quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Sept. 8, 2024. Credit: Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK
Bills Greg Rousseau gets behind the offensive line to sack Arizona's quarterback Kyler Murray during the third quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Sept. 8, 2024. Credit: Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK

Especially given the changes made to Buffalo’s defense, edge rusher Greg Rousseau has become the most valuable defensive player for the Bills. In Week 1, Rousseau had six tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble.

Rousseau has been steady for Buffalo since being drafted in 2021, but this looks like the start of a career year. He’s never broken 10 sacks or made a Pro Bowl, and this could be the year to change that.

Whether he’s lined up across from Terron Armstead or Austin Jackson, the Dolphins’ tackles will have their hands full trying to stop Rousseau.

DT Ed Oliver

Oct 31, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91) applies pressure to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) on a pass play in the second quarter at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91) applies pressure to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) on a pass play in the second quarter at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Ed Oliver might not be a great run defender, but he’s been one of the best interior defensive line pass rushers for a few years. And last season he finally had his first 10-sack season.

Oliver didn’t pop off the tape against the Cardinals, but he could show improvement against an unproven Dolphins interior.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was sacked three times Sunday, with one coming from a slide at the line of scrimmage, one coming from a shoelace tackle by Travon Walker off the edge, and one coming from Arik Armstead, who beat guard Liam Eichenberg for the sack.

The interior did a good job protecting Tagovailoa Sunday, but Thursday’s matchup is headlined by a solid interior defensive line.

This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: 5 Bills players who could cause problems for the Dolphins in Week 2