Buffalo Rumblings
The Miami Dolphins are in California this evening, ready to take on the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10 for Monday Night Football. To say this season has been a bit of a letdown for the Dolphins is an understatement. At one point, Miami was discussed among the front-runners to win the AFC East and make a push for the Super Bowl.
The Buffalo Bills squished those dreams in Week 9 when they completed the season sweep of the Dolphins. Buffalo gained a five-game lead on their nearest foes, and a six-game lead and almost every tiebreaker available over now last-place Miami.
There are of course reasons for the 2-6 letdown beyond the concussion that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered against the Bills in Week 2, which sent him to Injured Reserve for part of the season. But there’s no denying that the Dolphins are vastly better when Tagovailoa is behind center.
Per the oddsmakers at FanDuel Sportsbook, Miami enters tonight’s game as a 2.5-point underdog (+2.5) to Los Angeles — with an O/U total set at 49.5.
The Rams will do everything possible to avoid a fate similar to the Dolphins, which which would see them drop to last place in the NFC West with a loss in Week 10. Even by winning tonight, the Dolphins can’t escape the East basement due to playing one less game than every other divisional team.
Bills Mafia, on the other hand should be all-in on the Rams for a couple reasons. Here’s what Rachel Auberger had to say about tonight’s matchup as it relates to Buffalo’s rooting interests for Week 10:
With Miami’s loss in Buffalo last week, there’s not much to worry about in terms of the Dolphins taking over the AFC East. It could happen, but it’s not going too. However, while the magic number for the Bills is five, if Miami got on a hot streak while Buffalo slipped, they may need to begin looking at those numbers. So, keeping the Dolphins so far back that they can’t even be seen in the rearview mirror is a good idea. Plus, the Bills play the Rams in December. We only deal with what we know to be a fact here, so we can’t add to SOV this week, but we can add to SOS (Strength of Schedule).
Right now the Bills are in firm control of the AFC East and their playoff chances, but it never hurts to add a few extra layers of protection at this time of the year.
It’s not going to come easy for the Rams, thanks to a more full complement of players on offense for the Dolphins, but I see them pulling this one out as the home team on a short week.
I’m going with the over on total points, and see the final as: Los Angeles Rams 30, Miami Dolphins 21
Here’s your open thread for Week 10 of Monday Night Football. Remember, be kind to one another, and in all things......
