Bills v Dolphins NFL Week 2 TNF Picks

Either the Buffalo Bills or Miami Dolphins will seize an early upper hand in the battle for AFC East supremacy when these two division rivals go head-to-head in Week 2 of the NFL regular season on Thursday Night Football. Both teams are off to 1-0 starts; Buffalo clipped the Arizona Cardinals 34-28, while Miami also had a tough test but passed it with a 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

This is one of the Week 2 schedule’s marquee matchups, so it’s no surprise that it gets primetime billing. Kickoff in Miami is set for 8:15 pm ET on Amazon Prime Video. Let’s take a look at the best bets to be made. 

Predictions 

Pick #1 – Miami Dolphins -2.5 over Buffalo Bills (-110) 

Pick #2 – Over 48.5 (-110) 

Pick #3 – James Cook to score a touchdown (+145) 

PICK #1: Dolphins -2.5 over Bills (-110)

The Dolphins are no strangers to starting fast under head coach Mike McDaniel. In each of the past two years they have raced to 3-0 records. Miami still has two wins to go before it can equal that season-opening mark, but it is off and running on the heels of last weekend’s defeat of Jacksonville. The offense is a well-documented machine, led by Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Defensively, the Dolphins limited the Jags to a grand total of 10 yards on five of their six second-half drives in Week 1. 

Buffalo looked decent enough offensively in its opener, but a six-point win over Arizona is nothing to write home about. Unless the Bills’ defense improves dramatically, Hill and company will be running circles around it on Thursday. Giving less than a field goal, the home team looks good to cover the spread. 

PICK #2: Over 48.5 (-110)

The Bills’ defense looked vulnerable throughout their Week 1 game. With linebacker Matt Milano sidelined by a torn biceps, things may not improve in the immediate future. Without Milano last season, Buffalo allowed seven touchdowns without recording a single interception while defending the middle of the field; with Milano it was five interceptions and zero touchdowns over the middle of the field. The visitors are going to have a tough time containing a dynamic Dolphins attack that heated up against the Jaguars following a slow first quarter. 

Similarly, Allen and the Bills also got hot late in Week 1. They scored all 34 of their points in the final three quarters, with the star quarterback accounting for four total touchdowns – two through the air and two on the ground. In two games against Miami last year, Allen threw for 320 yards and four scores in the first matchup before capping off the regular season by going 30-of-38 for 359 yards and two TDs. All things considered, this feels like a high-octane shootout between a pair of potent offense – making the over a strong play. 

PICK #3: James Cook to score a touchdown (+145)

Given Allen’s skill not only throwing the football but also with his feet, he commands a ton of attention from opposing defenses. That can often open the door for the rest of Buffalo’s skill-position players, and on Thursday running back James Cook may be able to take advantage. Last season, the former University of Georgia standout averaged 4.6 yards per carry to go along with six touchdowns. It’s worth noting that Cook scored four times via receptions, so it’s clear that he is a multi-dimensional RB who has various outlets with which to find the endzone. 

Both Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis are gone, so Cook will have to shoulder more of a workload in 2024. The 24-year-old got 22 total touches in Week 1 (19 carries). If he gets a similar number of opportunities on Thursday, he should be able to capitalize on at least one in the form of a touchdown.