Miami @ Buffalo preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 2, 2018 ) Buffalo 17, Miami 21

The Miami Dolphins' fast start to the season was slowed by numerous injuries while the Buffalo Bills failed to get out of the blocks after ending a pronounced playoff drought last year. The AFC East rivals look to finish this season on a high note Sunday when they meet at New Era Field.

"We had a lot of good things going on, and we lost some players. It happens. It's the NFL," said Miami coach Adam Gase, who has watched 13 players land on injured reserve -- including several offensive stars. Gase was on record as saying the Dolphins' offense was "terrible," "awful" and "brutal to watch" following Sunday's 17-7 setback to Jacksonville as the team failed to eclipse 200 yards for the fifth time this season. Miami was outgained 415-175 in total yards during its 21-17 home win over Buffalo on Dec. 2, with the Bills' point total eclipsing their season average (NFL second-worst 15.1 per game). Buffalo shot itself in the foot with three turnovers in that contest and again in Sunday's 24-12 setback to New England, marking the seventh time this season that the team gave the ball away that many times in a game.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Bills -4.5. O/U: 39.5

ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (7-8): Ryan Tannehill could be in line to play in his last game with Miami as the 30-year-old will see his 2019 base salary balloon to $18.7 million, which is too steep a price in the eyes of many for a quarterback that has yet to receive a snap in the playoffs. "You have to control what you can control," Tannehill said. "If you play the what-if games, you're not going to be growing as a person and a player." Tannehill tossed three touchdown passes in the first encounter despite throwing for just 137 yards, although more eyes likely will be on Kalen Ballage as the rookie running back has rolled up 170 scrimmage yards and a rushing score in his last two weeks. On the other side of the ball, defensive end Robert Quinn has four of his team-leading 6.5 sacks in his last four games, including one against Buffalo.

ABOUT THE BILLS (5-10): Rookie Josh Allen threw for 231 yards and ran for 135 in the first meeting with Miami to set a franchise record for rushing yards by a quarterback for the second week in a row. The seventh overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, Allen has rushed for at least one score in four straight home games and ranks second among quarterbacks with 536 rush yards. The ground attack has long been the specialty of six-time Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy, who was benched to start last week's tilt versus the Patriots and could be playing in his last game with Buffalo on Sunday. The 30-year-old, who has been limited to just 488 rushing yards and two scores, has 360 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns in three career home games versus the Dolphins.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Buffalo WR Zay Jones has three of his club-best five touchdowns in his last four games.

2. Dolphins DE Cameron Wake has five sacks in his last five meetings with the Bills.

3. Buffalo rookie LB Tremaine Edmunds has recorded 27 of his team-leading 109 tackles in his last three contests after collecting just four versus Miami.

PREDICTION: Dolphins 22, Bills 17