NFL executive pinpoints why Buffalo Bills beating Miami Dolphins was ‘huge’ for them

The Buffalo Bills defeated the Miami Dolphins in Week 4 of the 2023 NFL season, and one NFL executive explained to The Athletic why it was such a “huge” win for the Bills.

“If you are Buffalo, you are worried about playing a playoff game in Miami and not making the conference championship game,” the exec said. “That’s why this was a huge win for them. They need Miami to slip up a little bit because they have already slipped up once, against the [New York] Jets (in Week 1).”

The Bills dominated on offense in Week 4, scoring 48 points in the win over Miami. Josh Allen threw for four touchdowns in the game, and he found Stefon Diggs for three of those scores.

Diggs finished Sunday’s game with six catches for 120 yards and three touchdowns on just seven targets.

The Bills came into the matchup a game behind the Dolphins in the AFC East since they lost to the Jets to open the season. However, the team has looked dominant since then, blowing out the Las Vegas Raiders, Washington Commanders and Dolphins in its last three games.

The bright side for the Dolphins is that their second matchup with Buffalo will come on Jan. 7 in Miami, so at least it will be a home game.

That is the last game of the Dolphins’ regular season, and it could end up deciding the winner of the AFC East division if both teams stay close throughout the season. Buffalo – as the executive mentioned – needs the Dolphins to slip up and lose to other teams to make up for the team’s loss to the Jets.

These teams have both been explosive on offense to start the season, but the Bills did a good job in Week 4 of holding Miami’s attack in check. Buffalo led 31-14 at the half and only allowed 20 points in the game.

Tyreek Hill had just three catches for 58 yards on five targets. The star wideout also carried the ball one time for 14 yards in the loss. It was his least productive showing of the 2023 season.

It’s likely that the Dolphins and Bills will find themselves atop the AFC East standings this season with the Jets and New England Patriots both sitting at 1-3, but Buffalo’s Week 4 win gives it a bit of a leg up at this point in the season.