ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith had a strong take about the Miami Dolphins ahead of their game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night in Week 18 of the NFL season.
With a win, the Dolphins would win the AFC East and lock up the No. 2 seed in the AFC. However, if the team loses, it would fall into the wild card in the AFC, as the Bills would take the AFC East division title.
It would be a massive fall for a Dolphins team that would have had a chance to earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC had it won in Week 17 against the Baltimore Ravens. Instead, Miami is fighting to have a home game in the playoffs in Week 18.
The full Stephen A. Smith segment this morning going in on the Miami Dolphins on First Take: “I'm hoping the Dolphins get their ass kicked. I'm sick of them. I'm sick of the Miami Dolphins."pic.twitter.com/OzUucgIz8N https://t.co/XZuGXLGLg5
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) January 4, 2024
“I’m gon’ say something that’s relatively unpopular,” Smith said. “I’m hoping the Dolphins get their a– kicked. I’m sick of them. I am sick of the Miami Dolphins. I’m gonna go with Josh Allen in this particular situation, but it’s an emotional – it’s an emotional decision.”
Not only did Smith predict that the Bills would beat the Dolphins in Week 18, but he blasted the team for playing poorly on the road this season.
“I am sick and tired of the Dolphins going on the road and building up everybody’s hope, only to wet the bed,” Smith said. “I’m sick of them. Could you go someplace away from South Beach and act like you know how to play football?”
Miami is 7-1 at home this season, but the team is just 4-4 on the road. Miami’s road losses have come to Baltimore, Kansas City, Philadelphia and Buffalo. The team has really struggled against opponents over .500 as well this season.
All four of the team’s road losses were against teams over .500. The only win the Dolphins have against a team over .500 came in Week 16 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Miami will look to prove Smith wrong in Week 18, and the team has been great at home, losing only to the Tennessee Titans in Miami this season.
The Dolphins also could hurt Buffalo’s playoff chances if they win, as the Bills could be eliminated from the postseason if they lose and the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers win. That scenario also involves someone winning the Houston Texans-Indianapolis Colts matchup. If that game ends in a tie, Buffalo could still get into the postseason.
Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins will have all eyes on them on Sunday Night Football in a standalone game. Hopefully, the team will showcase what has made it so successful this season – especially on offense – to prove doubters like Smith wrong.
