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American Football

Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills: AFC East champions look to continue recent domination over rival

Philip Marsh
Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills: AFC East champions look to continue recent domination over rivalJoshua Bessex/Getty Images
The two franchises meet for the 122nd time on Thursday Night Football.

The Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins renew their rivalry on Thursday Night Football, as both look to go 2-0 to start the 2024 NFL season.

The Bills beat the Arizona Cardinals in a high-scoring Week 1 contest, while the Dolphins recovered from a slow start to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Now, the focus turns to one another for the 122nd time in the history of this rivalry.

Historically, it is one that the Dolphins have edged, winning 61 times compared to the Bills' 54 - with the other ending in a draw.

In the 1970s the Dolphins won all 20 of their games against the Bills but over recent years, the Bills have been chipping away at that lead.

Since 2019, Buffalo have lost just one of their 11 games against the Dolphins, domination which is reflected in the fact that they have gone on to win the last four AFC East titles.

Last season, the Bills secured their fourth-straight division title at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which is where the sides meet once again on Thursday night.

"They are doing things a bit differently over there, the type of scheme that they are running, and they have some play-makers there," said Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

"They've got guys that we need to focus on and worry about, but at the same time we need to focus on what we do best.

"The AFC East is a tough division, we know that, and to win the division you need to beat your in-division rivals and that's how we see it."

Allen's sentiments were echoed by Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who admitted the Bills have "owned" the division for several years.

"If you want to do anything in this league, generally you can't skip over the much mandated step of winning your division," said McDaniel.

"There is one team that has won it now for consecutive years, they be de facto own the division until someone takes it from them.

"It's something they have earned and we would like to be in the situation where we earn the same thing and there is one way to do that - beat your division opponents."

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