Every week, I preview a big NFL game and share my thoughts on what will decide the outcome. After the game, we discuss whether what I expected happened, what didn’t, and what happened unexpectedly.

The Bills’ ability to keep the game tight in the first half, leading or behind by no more than seven points.
Without Raheem Mostert, the Dolphins were able to run the ball early and carry for over 75 yards in the game.
Josh Allen’s potential to throw for many touchdowns, play at the MVP level he demonstrated in Week 1, and score three or more touchdowns for the Bills.
What I thought: How the Bills trounced the Miami Dolphins for their 12th win in 13 games.
The Bills’ quick start – Miami’s mistakes and James Cook dominate the first half.

A week after Saquon Barkley scored three touchdowns to win NFC Offensive Player of the Week, James Cook claimed this week’s AFC honor in the first half of Thursday’s game. On the Dolphins’ first drive, the Bills capitalized on Tua Tagovailoa’s first interception of the night, scoring a touchdown on Josh Allen’s 17-yard pass to James Cook, setting the tone for the game. The Dolphins replied by holding the Bills in check for most of the first quarter, tying the game at seven when Tua threw another interception and the floodgates opened on a humid and steamy night in Miami.

The Bills outscored the Dolphins 17-3 in the second quarter, dominating both offensively and defensively. The Bills scored on three straight drives, including two rushing scores from James Cook, who demonstrated his power on a goal line carry and a 49-yard gallop on the following possession. The Dolphins never recovered in the second half, even before Tua sustained a possibly fatal injury late in the third quarter. The Bills’ quick start laid the groundwork for a strong victory and an early lead in the AFC East.

De’Von Achane had a terrific game, and the Bills could not be happier.
The Dolphins gained 139 yards on 34 carries, for a solid 4.1 yards per carry. De’Von Achane accounted for 22 of those carries (96 yards).and had seven receptions for 69 yards and one touchdown. Achane had an excellent game! And the Buffalo Bills couldn’t be happier! The Bills, who have won 11 of their last 12 games against the Dolphins, had success against Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle’s speed by deploying a “2 safety shell” in which their safeties sat deep in coverage and helped their cornerbacks against the Miami speedsters.

The Dolphins’ running approach, as well as attacking the center of the field with Achane in the receiving game, were designed to compel the Bills to bring in assistance from their safeties and open up the passing game. The Bills’ tenacity and faith in their new secondary paid off, as they forced the Dolphins into three turnovers and a turnover on downs when the game’s outcome still uncertain. In a game in which the Dolphins trailed throughout, their top two wideouts were limited to seven grabs and 65 yards. De’Von Achane played a career game that had no bearing on the outcome of the game, and the Bills coaching staff could not have been happier.

Josh Allen was a nonfactor, which is a great sign for the Bills moving forward.

Josh Allen had one of his worst outings of his career, particularly in a game that the Bills won by 21 points: Allen finished 13 of 19 for 139 yards and a touchdown. He only ran twice for 2 yards, which is mainly due the game flow; the Bills trailed in time of possession, and Allen played little in the fourth quarter. However, Allen’s excessive rush efforts are alarming given his left hand issue.

Early in the game, the Bills’ starting quarterback appeared scared to run and botched a snap because he couldn’t handle the ball with his left hand. It is unclear whether the injury will have any long-term consequences, but Allen played a significant portion of last season with an ailing left shoulder, which hampered his performance.

Allen’s lack of production in a dominant win is promising for the Bills, who saw James Cook emerge as the star in week two. In an offense that is seeking for great players not wearing number 17, Cook’s emergence, plus the potential of Dalton Kincaid and Keon Coleman to become spectacular playmakers as well, must make losing Stefon Diggs hurt a little less.At all. There won’t be many games where the Bills can win with Allen playing at a high level, but it’s not impossible and must be a shock of excitement to everyone at 1 Bills Drive.

What I didn’t see coming: Tua Tagovailoa should have played his final snap as an NFL quarterback.
Many NFL fans, like me, wish they had never learned about the “fencing response,” which refers to involuntary acute hand movements caused by a traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion. Tua introduced the word to most NFL fans in 2022, when he sustained his third (second official) and season-ending concussion during the 2021-2022 season. Throughout his recuperation, Tua publicly discussed retirement. It’s time to reevaluate and recognize that retiring is the best decision for him and his family.

Late in the third quarter, Tua scrambled for a first down and lowered his helmet onto Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s chest and shoulder. The impact of a runner forcibly contacting Hamlin evoked memories of Hamlin’s season-ending heart arrest and recuperation in 2022. On this play, Hamlin was alright, but Tua’s “fencing response” and staggering across the field and into the locker room indicated that he had sustained another concussion.

Many will argue that Tua, who recently signed a four-year contract worth over $167 million in guaranteed money, has a million reasons to continue playing. After all, a doctor will sign off on his health, and some team, most likely the Dolphins, will accept him back.

But in a world when you only have one brain, Tua, who has one wife and two children, must choose his family over any monetary motive to return to a game that may literally cost him his life or drastically reduce the quality of his life after football.

Fans do not look at former Jack Lamberts, Steve McMichaels, or Archie Griffins to see the long-term consequences of brain damage. Some previous players are also missing because they are no longer alive, owing to brain damage. I know Tua enjoys the game, but he should love himself and his family more. Here’s to an optimistic farewell for Miami Dolphins #1.