Josh Allen, quarterback of the Buffalo Bills, understands that his previous success against the Miami Dolphins will mean little in this week’s crucial matchup.
The Bills are 10-6 after a four-game winning streak, and a victory over the Dolphins would give them their fourth consecutive AFC East crown. The Bills have yet to clinch a playoff spot and could enter Sunday night’s season finale with the option of claiming the No. 2 seed with a win or heading home for the offseason with a defeat.
Allen addressed the contest this week, stating that his great performances versus the Dolphins in the past will have no bearing on this game and issuing a caution to his squad about the necessity of preparation.
Josh Allen: ‘Each Game Is Different’
In Josh Allen's first game vs. the Dolphins this season, he had more TDs (5) than incompletions (4).
What will he do in primetime with the division on the line?
📺: #BUFvsMIA — Sunday 8:20pm ET on NBC
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If past performance is any indication, the Bills have a good chance of finishing the season with a victory. Josh Allen is 9-2 versus the Dolphins in his career, with a passer rating of 110.8, 3,004 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.
But Allen disagrees, telling Katherine Fitzgerald of the Buffalo News in a story published on January 3 that his squad will not be able to rely on prior success and that they must focus on properly preparing.
“I think every game is different, each game has its specific flow,” Allen was quoted as saying. “I’ve done well against them in the past, but that doesn’t guarantee I’ll do well against them this week unless I prepare well, work hard in practice, and get on the same page as receivers.” And the five guys up front execute their jobs, and the receivers catch the ball, so it’s a team effort. We’re looking forward to a productive practice week and putting our best foot forward.”
The Bills are attempting an unlikely comeback.
The Bills may have once thought it was impossible to compete for a division title. The club dropped to 6-6 after an overtime defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles and had one of the league’s most difficult remaining schedules, but have since won four straight games, including victory against the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys.
Veteran safety Jordan Poyer, Buffalo’s longest-tenured player, said the squad has been at its best when up against the wall.
“We’ve stuck together throughout the season,” Poyer remarked, according to ESPN. “… That has, after all, been our mantra for the past seven years. Our backs are against the wall, and we normally play much better when our backs are against the wall.”
The Bills have increased their defensive effort, holding their previous four opponents to 22 points or fewer and allowing only one passing touchdown since Week 13.
“Since maybe four weeks [ago], we’ve just been playing with that like ‘Bro, we really the best,’ and like, I think we all believe we the best,” said cornerback Rasul Douglas, who joined the team in a trade with the Green Bay Packers on the deadline. “So, it’s like every time we come out there, every series, every snap, we communicate and we talking, we telling each other like, ‘Yo, you the best, bro.'”
