Your guide to the Bills' game at the Dolphins

Here are my five takes on the Buffalo Bills’ game Sunday against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.

1. The absences of Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano hurt but aren’t insurmountable

There’s no escaping the Bills’ defense has been, to a large extent, gutted by Edmunds and Milano being out with shoulder and hamstring injuries, respectively, suffered last Sunday against the New York Jets. But that doesn’t mean it faces an impossible task in dealing with the Dolphins’ offense.

Edmunds and/or Milano missing prolonged time is a different conversation. They are too important for this defense to be without beyond a game or two. However, the Dolphins have neither the offensive firepower nor the overall talent to gain a significant advantage. The Bills remain the better team.

A.J. Klein was a key free-agent addition who now steps into a starting role that he should be able to handle effectively with his experience and smarts. The Bills also figure to call on Tyrel Dodson, who also was injured in the Jets' game, but should be able to play. The loss of yet another linebacker, Del’Shawn Phillips (quadriceps), stretches the depth at the position, so Bills could use Tyler Matakevich beyond his primary special-teams contribution.

The Dolphins no doubt will look to exploit the interior of the Bills’ defense on the ground and by seeking mismatches in pass coverage. The bottom line is that the Bills’ front four must be stout against the run and their highly talented secondary must keep short/intermediate throws from turning into longer gains.

2. Josh Allen keeps throwing – and running – to his heart’s content

The Jets’ game reinforced what we already knew about the Bills. They’ll go wherever Allen’s arm and legs take them.

Based on the many difference-making plays he generated as a passer and runner on Sunday, Allen is on track to lead the offense and the team to the lofty heights many have projected for them. That doesn’t figure to stop against the Dolphins, whose defense struggled badly in a season-opening loss against New England.

Stefon Diggs made an instant impact on the Bills’ passing game, but it was Allen who brought the best out of his dynamic skill with mostly good decision-making and accurate throws. The same was true for Allen’s connections with seven other pass-catchers.

His two fumbles on runs against the Jets were troubling, as is the risk of serious injury when he’s on the move. But Allen’s running is an integral part of the offense. In allowing Cam Newton to rush for 75 yards last Sunday, the Dolphins already showed extreme vulnerability when it comes to zone-read plays, which accounted for much of Allen’s 57 yards on the ground against the Jets.

3. Speaking of rushing, the Bills need to figure out how to do that with their backs, too

Throwing was the focal point of the game plan against the Jets, and the Bills executed it exceptionally well. That was part of the reason Devin Singletary and Zack Moss became afterthoughts.

It wasn’t the whole reason. There were times when the Bills tried to get them going in the run game, and they met major resistance from a defense that’s solid in that department.

The Bills can’t allow that against the Dolphins, who besides what they gave up against Newton, allowed 142 rushing yards against the Patriots.

4. Force more “Bad Fitz” to surface

Ryan Fitzpatrick was true to form against New England.

He wound up putting far too much of the offensive load on his shoulders, forced throws and predictably had three interceptions. Bills fans, along with those of teams at Fitz’s other career stops, know that ugly side of his game all too well.

Even without Edmunds and Milano, the Bills should be able to make it come out again. They must crank up the pass-rush heat from their defensive line, while maintaining maximum coverage. That means Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison, Trent Murphy and Ed Oliver (with others rotating in) must consistently apply pressure and cause one of the NFL’s more intelligent quarterbacks into the dumb mistakes he is capable of making when under duress. That Dolphins receiver DeVante Parker has been hobbled by a hamstring injury also could factor into a long day for Fitzpatrick.

5. It’s time Tyler Bass to grow up

Those first-game jitters are over for the Bills’ rookie kicker, who beat out veteran Stephen Hauschka largely because of his long-range accuracy.

There cannot be a second game of missed field goals within 40 yards, or perhaps even from most any reasonable distance for a professional. Nor can there be missed extra points.

If so, the Bills will be looking for a replacement well before boarding their return flight home.

***

Game details

TV: CBS. Announcers: Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Adam Archuleta (analyst).

Radio: Bills Radio Network. Buffalo-WGR 550 AM; Toronto-Fan 590 AM; Rochester-WCMF 96.5 FM and WROC 950 AM; Syracuse-WTKW 99.5 FM and WTKV 105.5 FM. Announcers: John Murphy (play-by-play), Steve Tasker (analyst).

Series history: The Dolphins lead the series (including playoffs), 61-50-1.

Bills injury report: Out: LB Tremaine Edmunds (shoulder), LB Matt Milano (hamstring) and LB Del’Shawn Phillips (quadriceps).

Dolphins injury report: Out: LB Elandon Roberts (concussion). Doubtful: S Clayton Fejedelem (pectoral). Questionable: WR DeVante Parker (hamstring).

Point spread: The Bills are a 5.5-point favorite at vegasinsider.com.

Did you know: Jerry Hughes’ six career sacks against the Dolphins is his most against any opponent. He also has forced and recovered two fumbles against Miami.

Next: After going on the road and playing in front of fans for the first time this season, the Bills return to an empty home stadium to face the Los Angeles Rams.

When the Bills run: This probably isn’t the week for Josh Allen to run any less. The Dolphins gave out contracts that could be worth up to $168 million to defensive players this offseason, but you couldn’t tell in Week 1. Patriots quarterback Cam Newton piled up 75 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns. Miami allowed 217 total yards on the ground, the most in the NFL. Allen has had a field day running against the Dolphins in the past, and the potential is there for that to continue. The key for the running game, though, will be to get Devin Singletary and Zack Moss going. They combined for just 41 yards on an evenly split 18 carries against the Jets. Miami has allowed at least 2,000 rushing yards in four of the past five seasons – so this is a big chance for Buffalo to get going in the running game. EDGE: Bills.

When the Bills pass: So much for Allen and new No. 1 target Stefon Diggs needing time to build chemistry. Diggs was targeted nine times against the Jets and finished with eight catches. At least in Week 1, the addition of Diggs did exactly what the Bills hoped it would for the offense – opened things up for those around him. John Brown had six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown, and Cole Beasley added four catches for 58 yards. “This is as good a group as there is around the league,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said of the Bills’ top three receivers. The Dolphins rank No. 1 against the pass after Week 1, but that’s mostly a result of the Patriots running the ball with so much success there was little reason to throw it. Newton completed 15 of his 19 attempts for 155 yards. Miami has three strong cornerbacks, though, with Xavien Howard and Byron Jones being joined by first-round draft pick Noah Igbinoghene. EDGE: Bills.

When the Dolphins run: The Dolphins added Jordan Howard in free agency and Matt Breida via a trade with San Francisco, but surprisingly, 2019 seventh-round draft pick Myles Gaskin led Miami in running back touches in Week 1. He had 66 total yards on nine carries and four catches against New England. The Dolphins were an absolutely terrible running team in 2019. Howard didn’t do much to improve that, gaining just seven yards on eight carries, although he did score a touchdown. Breida is one of the fastest players in the NFL, so the Bills will have to be prepared when he’s in the game. Buffalo’s run defense, which was a question mark without Star Lotulelei, was impressive in the opener against the Jets. EDGE: Bills.

When the Dolphins pass: The “bad” Fitz showed up last week, as Ryan Fitzpatrick threw three interceptions. Fitzpatrick has never met a throw he didn’t think he can make. Fitzpatrick’s top wide receiver, DeVante Parker, is dealing with a hamstring injury, which is going to limit his explosiveness, if not keep him out of the lineup entirely. He is listed as questionable. Tight end Mike Gesicki could be a problem. He has good athleticism and has developed a good relationship with Fitzpatrick. Preston Williams also had some success against Patriots star Stephon Gilmore, drawing a pair of pass-interference penalties. EDGE: Bills.

Special teams: The Bills can’t have a lot of confidence in rookie kicker Tyler Bass after he missed a pair of field goals in the season opener. The rest of the Bills’ special teams were solid. Miami return man Jakeem Grant returned a kickoff for a touchdown last year against the Bills. Miami kicker Jason Sanders and punter Matt Haack are solid. EDGE: Dolphins.

Coaching: The Dolphins made it sound after Sunday’s loss to the Pats as if they weren’t prepared for Newton’s running. How is that possible when facing one of the best rushing quarterbacks of all time? Brian Flores has generally gotten good review as Miami’s second-year head coach, but that was a bad, bad look. There is something comforting about the fact Chan Gailey is once again reunited with Fitzpatrick. They’re probably not going to win anything meaningful, but it’s fun nonetheless. One area Sean McDermott and his staff need to improve is coming out of halftime. The offense went three-and-out last week and what should have been a blowout ended up being a game for a while against the Jets. To be a dominant team, the Bills need to dominate inferior opponents. EDGE: Bills.

Few positions on the football field require coaches to do more hands-on instruction and demonstrating than the offensive line.

Through the first five months of the coronavirus pandemic, that became a huge challenge for the Buffalo Bills’ Bobby Johnson. With no players allowed at NFL team facilities for offseason workouts, Johnson resorted to other ways to teach the finer points of stances, footwork, hand-to-hand combat, pad leverage and other aspects of line play.

Some worked, some didn’t. The Bills’ first game after the world went sideways, last Sunday’s 27-17 victory against the New York Jets, went well enough for the line to help Josh Allen throw for 312 yards and two touchdowns, and run for 57 yards.

But Johnson knows it’s still a bit of a scramble to pull together loose ends from the months of teaching in front of a computer laptop camera, which he set up in the dining room of his family’s offseason home in Canton, Mich.

“It was funny that this quarantine was the most that dining room had been used in the seven years that we were in that house,” Johnson said with a laugh. “I turned it into my office. I was actually teaching everything from my dining room.”

There were hiccups, some of which were unavoidable given the makeshift arrangement.

“At times, I moved the chair I was sitting in out of the way and I would actually demonstrate some things for the young guys,” Johnson said. “But they could only see half my body. So, I would say, ‘OK, this what I’m doing with my upper body,’ and then I’d stand on a chair and try to show them a little bit of what, footwork-wise, I was trying to do. But that didn’t always work because anyone who has seen me knows my base is a little bit wider than the average person’s dining room chair. The guys probably thought, ‘Coach, do you really want us to play with like an 18-inch base?' And I was like, ‘No, never mind. That’s a bad idea.’”

Johnson pushed through the setbacks and found other methods to employ with the help of the technology. Besides the laptop, he had a tablet and his cellphone, and he used them all to the fullest.

“What (the pandemic) did is it forced every coach to be creative,” Johnson said. “That’s where I started making some (video) cutups and I’d say, ‘Hey, you’ve heard me reference this type of block. Here’s a little three-play cutup of three perfect examples of that block.’”

In the latest edition of One-on-One Coverage, The Buffalo News spoke with Johnson by phone about coaching the Bills’ offensive linemen through a pandemic; the decision to move Cody Ford from right tackle, where Ford started as a rookie in 2019, to right guard and make newly acquired veteran Daryl Williams the No. 1 right tackle, and the running backs' struggles against the Jets.

Buffalo News: How did you prepare for this whole distance-coaching thing?

Bobby Johnson: Sean (McDermott) made a big point of saying, “Hey, where we’re really losing out in the offseason is the number of walk-through reps.” And that's where you kind of bank a lot of hidden reps in your walk-throughs in the offseason. So, for us as a line, one of the things that we, myself and the other assistants, did was put together PowerPoints. I’d put the play on there, and I’d put basically screenshots of defensive fronts that you know we could see throughout the year. And guys were able to put it on their iPads or on their TV screens, because these young guys know how to AirDrop and all that other kind of stuff. So, I could say, “Hey, it’s right there in front of you. Now, imagine you’re the left guard. Get in a left guard stance and here's the front, you know the call, make the call and step through it.”

The new guys really had a challenge because of the volumes of stuff they had to learn without actually being in the room and physically doing it. The people that really got stung by this offseason were the rookies. You could really see how far behind they were when we finally all got together. You couldn’t replace the actual physical reps and I couldn’t get my hands on them. But we tried to get them to simulate things.

I talked to a couple of college coaches who are pseudo-working their kids out all year-round. Well, how do you do it when you can't have your hands on them? One of the things was a metabolic workout. So, the guys were asked to do certain O-line movements, but it was also linked into conditioning. So, it might be like, “Hey, get in a right-hand stance and you're going to do an O Pull (where the backside guard pulls) from the right to the left, and then burst five yards.” We were trying to get them in and out of their stances and do movements that were O-line-specific, but they weren't necessarily play specific.

We tried to do that kind of stuff when they weren't here, and then once we got them here, we had to work at like warp speed to try to catch them up. That was where the young guys were really behind. I had to try to take them aside and go, “OK, here's how we teach this, here's the technique we actually use,” whereas the older guys who have been here for a year already knew it. They just didn't have the physical reps, but they had the muscle memory of how to do it.

BN: What were some of the other challenges besides being able to get the camera to show a full view of you?

BJ: What we all found out was trying to stream video clips and cutups via Zoom, you ran into some buffering issues. So, I learned to log into my own meeting twice: once as myself and once through (another account on) my phone. I would turn my phone camera toward the screen and actually video the screen for the players. That way, it didn't have to buffer twice, so they could see a clearer picture. One of the things I used a lot of was PowerPoint, because the players were able to not only see it when we were communicating through Zoom, but I could show them very clear pictures.

We basically did a virtual walk-through, where I could say, “Here’s the front, here's the play. Center, make your Mike point, and everybody make your calls off the center’s Mike point.” So, then, if we were standing there in a walk-through but they were looking at a still photo of a particular defensive front, then what I would do is I would push those PowerPoints to their iPads and the guys were basically like, “Hey, when you’re laying in bed you have nothing else to do, just flip through them and just do a mental walk-through of what we went through today.” So, we were able to mentally rep just about everything that was in our offense, not only together in our meetings but they could do it at any point in time they wanted.

BN: What went into the decision to put Cody Ford at right guard and Daryl Williams at right tackle?

BJ: There were a lot of layers to that. The first layer was, what combination of five was best for the team? And, more importantly, what was best for the production of the quarterback? Our job is to protect the quarterback inside-out and set the depth and width of the pocket. In the run game, our job is to put a hat on a hat, with pad leverage and move the line of scrimmage.

And then the next layer was, OK, with Cody being a young building block of a team, what was going to be best for his development? Cody's one of the smartest guys in the room. He's mentally tough. He’s a team guy, so for him it was a matter of, “Coach, I don’t care. I just want to play.” I think that him moving inside was maybe a natural progression for him. It just probably happened a little bit sooner than maybe people would have thought. Also, Daryl and Cody are both Oklahoma alums, so I know at some point in time in the offseason they talked, they shared some notes, they even probably crossed paths. And that helped Daryl kind of minimize his learning curve for being a new guy.

My philosophy has always been, just because of my college days coaching at some schools where you just had to find a way to get your best five on the field, I just had to find a way to get the best five. Which is why I like guys that can play multiple positions, because you can move pieces around and get the best kind of combination. Early on, I repped Cody at tackle and Daryl at guard, and Ty (Nsekhe) at tackle and Cody at guard, and Ty at tackle and Daryl at guard. We worked all the possible combinations as quickly as we could, so we get some continuity. And at the end of day, that wound up being the best five and, with Cody inside and Daryl outside, wound up being the best combination of those five. They work really well together.

BN: The running game, outside of Josh Allen’s carries, struggled against the Jets. How much of a focus has been on getting it fixed for the Miami game?

BJ: Yeah, I think every O-line coach is always going to want better out of the run game, unless you're a team that's ripping off 200-plus rushing yards a game. And even then, as O-line coaches, you're still not happy with it. I think, as you look around the league, you saw a couple of things that really stood out. You noticed the poor tackling, but I think you also noticed some miscommunication or some O-lines that weren't in sync. And that's just from a lack of offseason of working together. How to fit our double-teams? How do our feet work together? I think you saw a lot of that around the league in general.

I was really pleased with the overall production of the passing game and our guys understanding their responsibilities and knowing where the issues were in using the tools that they were taught to handle those issues. We still need to improve there. Josh Allen getting hit once is one too many times for me. And I don’t think that's too high of a standard to have. I’ve been part of teams where the quarterback went nine games without getting touched. So, I don't think that's undoable, and I don't think that's an unrealistic expectation to put on people. So, yes, we passed the ball well, but we need to continue to improve individually and collectively in pass protection and the run game.

Simply put, we've got to play better, starting with better leverage. We've got to get pads under pads, we've got to move people, we've got to be more physical. I had the concern that that would show up. And it showed up for us and it showed up with a lot of our teams, but I only coach on one team so I'm really only concerned about us. But as a coach, you know that your biggest improvements come from Week One to Week Two, so I'm looking forward to us having the opportunity to make a big jump with our performance from Week One to Week Two.

George Schmidt won’t forget the day Ryan Fitzpatrick moved to the neighborhood.

The Hamburg resident had finished playing hockey with his 8-year-old son, climbed the steps from his basement and stopped dead in his tracks.

“We came upstairs and Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards are in the kitchen, and my wife’s cooking food,” Schmidt said. “I’m like, ‘Uhhhh, maybe you want to come and tell me that you’ve got two Buffalo Bills quarterbacks in our kitchen?’ 

“When Ryan moved in, they never hooked up the stove right. They put the food in the oven and it wasn’t cooking, so they brought it over to finish cooking their meal.”

Fitzpatrick, 37, never had a winning record in his four seasons with the Bills after replacing Edwards as the starter midway through the 2009 season. A seventh-round draft pick from Harvard cast off by the Rams and Bengals, Fitzpatrick went 20-33 while tossing 80 touchdowns and 64 interceptions during his tenure in Buffalo, part of the Bills’ 17-year playoff drought between 1999 and 2017, then the longest active streak of futility in major North American pro sports.

Fitzpatrick’s time here was highlighted by a 21-point comeback victory against the Patriots in 2011. A couple of weeks later, he signed a six-year contract extension for $59 million, including $29 million guaranteed, a deal that then had the potential to become the richest in franchise history. But “The Amish Rifle” – he coined the nickname, playing off his distinctive lumberjack beard – was released less than two years later, in the midst of a major housecleaning, when the Bills fired Chan Gailey and hired Doug Marrone as head coach.

Fitzpatrick will start against the Bills on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium; the Dolphins are his eighth NFL franchise in 16 seasons. But the eternal underdog remains beloved by Bills Mafia because of his fun-loving attitude, fearless play, endless effort, grittiness, selflessness and down-to-earth demeanor, along with his steadfast adulation for the City of Good Neighbors.

Earlier this month, Bills fans donated more than $15,000 to the Concussion Legacy Foundation in honor of Fitzpatrick’s mother, Lori, who died Aug. 29.

They came in $14 increments, because Fitzpatrick wears No. 14.

“During a dark time, during the drought, he was one of the bright spots for fans,” said Del Reid, the #BillsMafia co-founder and owner of 26 Shirts, explaining the enduring love for Fitzpatrick. “He had that gunslinger mentality. He was following Trent Edwards, who a lot of people used to call ‘Captain Checkdown’ and used to get frustrated with his conservative play. And maybe that wasn’t Edwards’ fault. Maybe that was the game planning. But when you remove Edwards and you put in place this guy who is not afraid to throw the ball, fans were excited to have any kind of vertical passing action going on with the offense.”

“Buffalo is naturally drawn to the underdog, the discarded, the forgotten,” said Luke Russert, the former NBC News Washington correspondent and lifelong Bills fan. “Embracing a journeyman from the Ivy League who overcame the odds to make the NFL was a natural fit for the fanbase. Fitz was also incredibly gritty as evidenced by playing out a season with a broken rib. … Till that point the Bills hadn't had an honest QB since Drew Bledsoe, meaning with Fitz, you knew what you had and you were happy to roll with it. There was no ‘future potential’ or ‘great physical skills that just need fine-tuning.’ He lacked athleticism, was a bit undersized and could be too much of gunslinger, but dammit he gave 100% and never looked unprepared. You trusted him.”

“He was an adventure to watch – both good and bad,” said Nick Bakay, an actor, writer, sports commentator and Buffalo native, “but such a shot of adrenaline to our collective coma during the Dick Jauron years.”

As much as Buffalo fans still love Fitzpatrick, he loves them back. 

"There are very few places where during the football season your mood is based on what happened last Sunday, and that's what Buffalo is," Fitzpatrick said before last season's game in Orchard Park. "It's such a special place to play, and when you are a player there, you really do appreciate the fans and how much they are into it."

Fitzpatrick has played for the Rams, Bengals, Bills, Titans, Texans, Jets, Buccaneers and Dolphins.

Buffalo was his third and longest stop, from 2009 to ’12.

It’s where the Arizona native first grew his trademark beard, where he was briefly regarded as the franchise quarterback, where his legend was born.

“I saw him go from the person who nobody really recognized to ‘FitzMagic,’ ” former Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson said.

A fellow former seventh-round draft pick, Johnson eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in three seasons with Fitzpatrick and signed a long-term extension just a year before the quarterback was jettisoned.

Johnson said the Bills moved on from Fitzpatrick a year too early.

“We should have just got rid of Doug Marrone. Or Chan Gailey,” Johnson said, venting frustration over the tumultuous 2013 offseason. “I don’t understand the move. It was a crazy move where they bring in the guy, Doug Marrone, and he just bullies the situation with the offense. It was just crazy. And then they get rid of Fitz.”

But after four seasons, it was clear to most observers the ride was over.

“He got a big contract and I don’t think he would even try to tell you that he was performing at the level of that contract,” veteran Bills radio broadcaster John Murphy said about Fitzpatrick. “And I’m not speaking for the Bills here, but I think at the time the sense was, ‘OK, we’ve gone about as far as we can go with this guy and we should try somebody else.’ And so they did. And it took them a while to get to Josh (Allen), obviously, but both sides, I think, came to the realization that it was time.”

Fitzpatrick’s ascent began when Edwards was benched in 2009. He went 4-4 and in his third start tossed a franchise record 98-yard touchdown to Terrell Owens in a loss to the Jaguars.

The next season, Buffalo lost its first eight games under Gailey, the team’s fifth head coach in 10 years.

But Fitzpatrick, who again replaced Edwards as the starter after Week 2, twice threw four touchdowns in a game, including in a 49-31 comeback victory against the Bengals, when the Bills erased a 21-point deficit and Johnson caught three touchdowns in the second half.

“We were in the huddle and I asked (Fitzpatrick) if he’d ever made a comeback and he was like, ‘I got close when I was with the Rams,’ ” Johnson said. “And then he was like, ‘Let’s make it happen today.’ And when we did it, I was like, ‘This dude, he’s serious.’ He don’t just talk about, ‘Yeah, I’ll get you the ball.’ He actually does it. He gives you that opportunity. That’s why he’s so good.”

But his gunslinging style was just as likely to backfire in a spate of turnovers.

The Bills finished the season with a 4-12 record and the No. 3 pick in the draft, missing out on the chance to select Cam Newton first overall.

(The Panthers finished 2-14. The Bengals were likewise 4-12.)

But Fitzpatrick’s strong finish, coupled with his charisma and a fast start the following season captured the hearts of Bills fans and teammates.

“Fitz is at the top of most people’s list when you get to play with him,” former Bills center and current broadcaster Eric Wood said. “He’s just so selfless. He has no ego, and he plays like that, and that shows up when he prepares so hard, puts so much heart and soul into the game plan, and then he goes out and puts his body on the line during the game. He’s reckless out there, in a good way, trying to run over people. He’s 37 years old. And he’s a ton of fun to play with, and guys appreciate guys like that in this league.”

The Bills surged to a 5-2 record in 2011, a run that included a 21-point comeback to stun the Patriots, 34-31, in Week 3 in Orchard Park.

Buffalo, which improved to 3-0, hadn’t beaten the Patriots since 2003, a run of 15 consecutive losses over eight years.

“That win was akin to a playoff victory,” Russert said. “It exorcised many demons that had haunted the franchise for the 2000s and fanned the flames of hope that carried on till the postseason drought was finally broken in 2017.”

Fitzpatrick signed his extension just six games into the season. But after a Week 8 shutout victory against Washington, the Bills lost seven straight games and went 1-8 the rest of the way, finishing at 6-10.

Fitzpatrick threw for a career-high 3,832 yards and 24 touchdowns, but also led the league with 23 interceptions. After the season, a teammate disclosed that Fitzpatrick had broken a rib against Washington, but the quarterback never missed a game.

“There is so much about Ryan Fitzpatrick that embodies Western New York and Bills fans in general,” said Ryan Nobles, a CNN Washington correspondent and lifelong fan. “He was always every team’s second choice, so when he emerged as the Bills' starter and won some big games – like crushing the Patriots in 2011 – it was the perfect marriage between an underrated quarterback and an underrated fan base. The fact that he continues to defy expectations is a credit to his hard work and unbelievable perseverance. It is hard for me to root for anyone in a Dolphins uniform, but I will always root for Fitz.”

"He plays his butt off every week, has fun and is quick to forget mistakes,” said Jeff Glor, the CBS journalist and Tonawanda native.

“Fitz was always so polite to fans,” said Robyn Mundy, the editor-in-chief of BillsMafia.com. “Once when I was sitting in a waiting area at Customs entering St. Lucia I noticed Fitz was on the other side of the room with a small group of people. I pulled out my Bills bucket hat and put it on. He looked over at me, gave me a thumbs-up and went on about his business. Years later at a Bills game in Denver we met again. He remembered and chuckled about our chance encounter in the Eastern Caribbean years prior. A truly genuine person on and off the field.”

Fitzpatrick, now a father of seven, often joined his neighbors for cookouts after home games.

“We’d be at the house just chilling, playing family games like Pictionary and Charades, and everybody in the neighborhood is cool with coming around his house,” said Johnson, who lived a couple of blocks away. “It’s not like it was blocked off or private. He was like a regular, cool dad, but he was like slanging touchdowns. It was sweet.”

Johnson signed a five-year, $36.25 million contract extension in March 2012, a week before he was to become an unrestricted free agent, keeping Fitzpatrick’s favorite target in the fold.

But the Bills kept losing games.

Buffalo posted another 6-10 record in 2012, with Fitzpatrick starting all 16 games for the second consecutive season. Excitement waned, with the team failing to sell out its final four home games.

Gailey was fired by the Bills on New Year’s Eve, after three losing seasons. A week later, the Bills hired Marrone, now in his fourth season as head coach of the Jaguars. In March 2013, they released Fitzpatrick, a day before he was due a $3 million bonus.

He called into the John Murphy Show later that night.

“Sometimes you’ve got to twist people’s arms to get them on the show in a situation like that,” Murphy said. “With Fitz it was like, ‘Of course I’ll do the show. Of course I will.’ And he’s been on the show since then a couple of times, too, just because, I don’t know, because he’s Fitz. He’s great.”

A month later, then Bills General Manager Buddy Nix traded down to draft Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel at No. 16 overall, then bolstered the wide receiving corps, adding Robert Woods in the second round and Marquise Goodwin in the third.

Nix then stepped down as GM and Doug Whaley was promoted to the role.

Johnson played one last season in Buffalo – his production nosedived while catching passes from Manuel and Thad Lewis – before being traded to the 49ers.

“We all knew inside that EJ would be even better if he sat one year underneath Fitz, you know what I’m saying?” Johnson said. “Built that up, and then he would have been cool. Even if Thad Lewis would have been playing in front of him. I think they just rushed him in there because we needed something. So we brought in a high draft pick quarterback, and the fans were loving it, but at the same time, we knew he wasn’t ready at that time.”

Fitzpatrick went 10-6 a few years later with the Jets, with Gailey as offensive coordinator and Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker his top receivers, but New York didn’t make the playoffs, losing the regular season finale, 22-17, to the Bills in Orchard Park.

“It was a bitter loss,” Murphy said. “Fitz was playing quarterback for the Jets, and I remember after the game, we were down shooting postgame stuff on the field and he was there talking to friends. It looked like his old Buffalo friends – not teammates, but neighbors – 45 minutes after the game.”

It was the only winning season in his career, the closest he’s ever come to reaching the playoffs.

“This year we met up at the Super Bowl,” Wood said, “and me, him and one of his neighbors from Buffalo, we had plans of going to a party that night and meeting up with some people, and we ended up just talking and hanging out for about six hours and blowing off all plans. With a guy like that, you just enjoy being around him.”

Fitzpatrick returned to Buffalo for a day in 2018 to support Wood when the center announced his retirement from football because of a neck injury.

He again returned a couple of weeks later for WGR’s Roast of Fred Jackson, when, during his bit as a featured speaker, he famously stripped to his Zubaz undies at the podium.

Fitzpatrick went 5-8 in 13 starts last season in Miami.

He won the final two games, including the season finale in New England, again costing his franchise a shot at the No. 1 overall pick, in this case the opportunity to draft LSU quarterback Joe Burrow.

“That’s the thing with Ryan Fitzpatrick. He’s dangerous,” Reid said. “You put him on the field, you don’t know what’s going to happen, and it seems franchise after franchise keeps picking him up just to be like this placeholder. The dude’s dangerous on the field and anytime he can turn on that FitzMagic and he can light you up. It’s crazy. But then he’ll also throw three picks. So you play with fire. But sometimes it works.”

The Dolphins drafted his eventual successor, Tua Tagovailoa, with the No. 5 overall pick, but also coaxed Gailey out of retirement this offseason, hiring him as offensive coordinator and pairing him with Fitzpatrick for the third time in their careers.

Fitzpatrick began his 16th NFL season last week by throwing no touchdowns and three interceptions in a 21-11 loss at New England. It’s only a matter of time before he’s replaced.

But Johnson thinks Fitzpatrick could continue playing for several years.

“At quarterback, you can do that if you know how to protect yourself and you know how to give your guys opportunities,” Johnson said. “I could see him playing for 20-plus maybe, if he wants to.”

Wherever he goes, Bills fans will continue to root for his success.

“I love the guy,” Reid said. “I want him to win all the time, except when he plays the Bills, so here’s hoping he throws four picks and the Dolphins get embarrassed.”

Brandon Beane’s used to making some tough cuts.

Usually, that involves the on-field product for the Buffalo Bills’ general manager. This week, however, Beane has found himself trying to set another roster.

Due to the NFL’s Covid-19 protocols, teams are facing a reduction in the size of their traveling party. In addition to the team’s 70 players, another 70 staff members are allowed to accompany the team on the road. That includes coaches, trainers, equipment staff, medical personnel and any other members of the organization deemed essential – up to and including team owners Terry and Kim Pegula.

With the Bills set to head to South Florida for their first road game of the season Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, Beane has had some decisions to make.

“Due to that 70 number, we have people who normally traveled with us last year who we can’t bring because we’re out of numbers,” Beane told The Buffalo News on Thursday. “That’s probably the hardest part of this whole thing. That’s been a hard number for every team to get to.”

An astounding amount of work has gone into making the NFL season happen. Part of that includes coordinating road trips. For the Bills, that job largely falls to Brendan Rowe, the team’s director of football operations. Rowe, however, is quick to point out that he’s far from alone in sharing the work.

“Honestly, it’s top to bottom,” he said. “It’s our cleaning staff, our kitchen staff – everybody has made adjustments throughout this whole process, all the way up to Kim and Terry allowing us to do what we need to do to make sure that everybody stays healthy and safe.”

Kevin Meganck, the team’s director of football administration, and Jason Barbarino, the coordinator of football administration, have also played important roles in coordinating the massive effort to get the Bills safely to and from Miami.

That starts with the airplane to get them there. The Bills chartered a bigger plane than usual this season to allow for the maximum possible social distancing. All team personnel – players and staff – will be required to wear masks on the entire trip – from the plane to the bus ride to the team hotel in South Florida.

Once the team lands, there will be more charter buses than usual to transport them to the hotel, again to allow for maximum social distancing. Given that the bus driver isn’t tested daily for Covid-19, the first row is to be left vacant.

Once at the hotel, Rowe blocked off one tower solely for the team (lower floors are preferred so that elevators can be avoided). In one sense, the ongoing pandemic has made one aspect of his job slightly easier. With the entire hotel industry suffering because people aren’t traveling, it’s been easier for Rowe to secure more rooms than usual. That includes rooms that won’t even be used. The NFL requires teams to hold at least three empty hotel rooms near the game site to be used for any member of the traveling party who reports Covid-19 symptoms or tests positive and needs to be isolated. The NFL also has a private air-charter service on retainer to transport those individuals home.

Instead of having some staff members and younger players going two to a room, as is customary, every member of the Bills’ traveling party will have their own room this year.

That includes the team’s entire practice squad. In years past, the team may bring one or two members, but this year, all 17 players make the trip. That way, if the team receives positive coronavirus tests Sunday morning, it can activate players for the game. The league has made a special roster exemption for Covid-19 cases only. Otherwise, the rule is any decision to call up a player from the practice squad to the active roster – as the Bills did last week with cornerback Cam Lewis and defensive tackle Justin Zimmer – must be made by 4 p.m. Saturday.

Throughout the road trip, all team personnel will wear a contract tracer. In the event of a positive test, data from that tracer can be used to tell the organization who that player came within 6 feet of. Even without a positive test, the tracker can provide valuable data. If a person is shown to have spent an inordinate amount of time within 6 feet of another person, an email is sent to remind them to be mindful of that whenever possible.

Rowe has also reserved double the meeting space at hotels this season than he normally would, again to allow for social distancing.

“It’s able to work because a lot of times we’re competing with weddings and other things for space on the weekends, but now a lot of those things aren’t happening because they can’t have large gatherings,” Beane said. “We’ve got more space to spread out our guys and socially distance meetings like we’re doing here.”

The Bills have put up a massive tent outside the ADPRO Sports Training Center where players are encouraged to eat their meals. Rowe was able to secure outdoor space this weekend for the trip to Miami, and plans to do so as much as possible for the rest of the team’s trips.

“It’s something that we would encourage moving forward anywhere we can do it,” he said. “To be outside in the fresh air, the guys can grab a pre-packaged meal and get out there and relax a little, rather than be condensed in a ballroom.”

Perhaps the biggest change, though, relates to visitors. The NFL has prohibited all visits to team hotels. That includes family, friends and any other guests.

“Our team and the NFL has done a great job with the protocols as far as what’s allowed,” said safety Jordan Poyer, who makes his offseason home in South Florida. “When we get to Miami, there’s no leaving. It’s a straight bubble. We’re going from the plane straight to the hotel and there’s no leaving the hotel. It’s a business trip, for sure, so that shouldn’t have any affect on anything. We’re going down there to handle business. It’ll be a little bit different in that aspect. Obviously, you can’t get out there and see your family and friends, but that’s just what it is.”

The Dolphins are allowing a limited number of fans inside Hard Rock Stadium. Beane said he discussed the situation with receiver John Brown, one of several Bills from the South Florida area. Brown was trying to secure a couple tickets to the game, but otherwise wouldn’t be able to connect with anyone from home.

“Everybody is having to adjust,” Beane said. “This is the new norm that we’re in. Everybody understands the bigger picture. Now that it’s off and running, we want to keep it going.”

Rowe has estimated the NFL’s protocols, which are close to 80 pages in length, have been revised about a dozen times from early July until last week.

“Every department head that’s traveling on the road, from strength and conditioning, video, trainers, equipment, media relations – we’ve all gotten together as groups periodically throughout this process … just to make sure there are no questions, no concerns and everyone is on the same page,” he said. “Health and safety comes first, and that’s where we’re at.”

The protocols have been working. From the period of Sept. 6-12, the league conducted 15,959 tests on 2,511 players and 24,520 tests on 4,926 other team personnel, with just two positive tests among players and five among personnel. Since the start of training camp Aug. 12, seven players and 24 team personnel have tested positive as part of the league’s daily testing (with the exception of game days).

“It's been very positive. I think it's even better than anyone could have expected,” Beane said. “I would imagine that goes all the way up to the commissioner. ... The league has done a great job of reminding us all to be vigilant. These protocols are tough, but we get them. Now it's just not relaxing.”

Here are predictions from the News' staff for Sunday's Bills-Dolphins game:

Vic Carucci

The Bills were an overthrown touchdown and two missed field goals from a more lopsided victory than their 10-point win against the New York Jets on Sunday.

After a week of smoothing some of the typical rough edges that season-openers bring, the Bills should be sharper against the Dolphins. Josh Allen looks comfortable at the controls of what has the makings of the most explosive passing attack the Bills have had since their Super Bowl era. All he needs to do is take better care of the ball, while protecting himself, on those big-chunk runs.

The Dolphins have some notable injuries. Their two top cornerbacks, Xavien Howard and Byron Jones, are hurting, and starting linebacker Elandon Roberts is in concussion protocol. No. 1 receiver DeVante Parker is also hurt. The Bills have some injury concerns, too, but likely nothing that will prevent them from proving, once again, they're the better team. Bills, 24-17.

Jay Skurski

The Dolphins’ rebuilding plan won’t start to take shape until Tua Tagovailoa takes over for Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback. The Bills could make that happen Sunday with a convincing win. There’s a good chance of that happening. Allen has played some of his best football against the Dolphins, and if Fitzpatrick is feeling generous like he was last week, the Bills’ secondary could be in for a big day.

Although Miami’s defense is improved, top cornerbacks Howard and Jones are hurting. That doesn’t bode well against a Bills’ passing offense that might at long last be able to keep up in the modern NFL. The Bills’ rushing offense struggled in Week 1, but should find more room against a Miami defense that offered little resistance against New England. Bills, 27-17.

Mark Gaughan

It’s a good test for Allen to see how well he can handle man coverage and blitzing tactics. Miami is “New England south” on defense, and they have the corners to try to match up with the Bills’ receivers. I like Cole Beasley to be a bigger factor this week, with six or seven catches. I think the Bills will hit at least one 30-plus pass downfield.

The Bills will need more out of the running backs this week, because Miami’s secondary is better than that of the Jets. Fitzpatrick is a gunslinger. He’s going to throw some passes in Tre’Davious White’s direction. Bills, 26-20.   

Jason Wolf

The Dolphins couldn't stop Cam Newton and the Patriots' rushing attack in the season opener. They're not going to contain Allen, nor will they be able to load up to stop the running game with Stefon Diggs and John Brown streaking down the field against a banged up secondary.

Expect Allen to have another big game on the ground and through the air, and running backs Devin Singletary and Zack Moss to churn out the yardage, as well.

The Bills could have problems on defense if Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano are unable to play, which could allow Miami to exploit the middle of the field, but the Dolphins could be missing Parker and won't be able to keep pace with Buffalo's offense. Bills, 31-17.

Rachel Lenzi 

The string of seemingly assured victories will continue for the Bills when they play the Dolphins. The Bills don’t just need a win, they need to prove a few things against another hard-luck team.

Allen needs to prove he can better protect the ball, and the run game outside of Allen needs to be more substantial, especially against the Dolphins, whose rush defense was pummeled last week for 217 yards (a Week 1 league-worst total) against New England, who, like the Bills, are a contender in the AFC East.

The Bills need this win to keep pace with the Patriots for the AFC East title. They also need to show the offense isn’t just one-dimensional. Bills, 21-14.

Cam Lewis’ work behind the scenes has paid off.

The Buffalo Bills officially promoted the cornerback from the practice squad to the 53-man roster Thursday, a sign of how far the University at Buffalo product has come in his second professional season.

“Cam Lewis came in every single day – comes in early – gets his film work in, gets his workouts in. Since he got here he’s been a guy everybody’s noticed making plays on and off the field,” safety Micah Hyde said. “The meeting rooms, he’s answering questions with confidence. That’s big as a young guy. Coach singles you out in a meeting room and you’re able to answer those questions quick, a lot of guys pay attention to that. I’m beyond excited for him.”

Lewis has made a big jump from his UB days. After spending the 2019 season on the Bills’ practice squad, he made a strong push for a roster spot this summer before falling just short. The Bills, though, once again signed him to the practice squad, and promoted him to the active roster for the season opener against the New York Jets – a move made easier by the relaxed rules due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lewis played on special teams against the Jets. With veteran Josh Norman on injured reserve and an open spot on the active roster, he got the call Thursday that every young player hopes for.

“Keep your head down and just work,” Lewis said. “Opportunity is going to come, and you’ve just got to make the most of that opportunity.”

Lewis has had plenty of time in coach Sean McDermott’s defensive system, so he should be ready to jump into the defensive lineup if called upon Sunday against the Dolphins.

“All our guys from first string to second string, third string, we’re all on the same page,” he said. “We all know the same communication, so it really doesn’t fall off from injuries and stuff like that.”

That mentality was instilled in him during his time at UB.

Coach Lance Leipold “brings in real tough guys,” Lewis said. “They earn every opportunity that they’re given. I feel like it’s just the mindset of that program. We’re really not that known, but we’re getting there and we’re going to work for everything that we want. Grinding mentality, that’s just how we operate.”

With Lewis added to the 53-man roster, the Bills added defensive tackle Brandin Bryant and linebacker Deon Lacey to the practice squad. Defensive tackle Chris Slayton was released from the practice squad.

…

Linebacker Matt Milano (hamstring) did not practice Thursday for a second straight day, calling into question his availability for Sunday’s game. Fellow linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (shoulder) was able to practice on a limited basis.

Wide receiver John Brown practiced fully after sitting out Wednesday with a foot injury. Reserve linebacker Tyrel Dodson was upgraded from limited to full participant with a neck injury, while fellow linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips missed his second straight practice with a quad injury. Quarterback Jake Fromm (not injury related), defensive end Jerry Hughes (calf) and wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie (hamstring) were listed as limited participants. Hughes and McKenzie were not on the injury list Wednesday, so their status at Friday’s practice will be closely monitored.

Defensive tackle Vernon Butler (hamstring) was a full participant Thursday for a second straight day after missing Week 1.

Early in Chan Gailey’s tenure in Buffalo, he acknowledged he didn’t like to hire assistant coaches whom he didn’t know well or with whom he hadn’t previously worked.

It’s a common attitude in pro football. The pressure is so great and the bunker is so enclosed, a head coach needs assistants he’s certain will work well with his group and who will bring complete loyalty.

Thus, it was surprising when Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores called out of the blue in January to hire the 68-year-old Gailey to be his offensive coordinator. Flores, 39, has no working history with Gailey.

“I was taken aback,” Gailey said.

That tells you how much Flores respects Gailey as an offensive mind.

Say what you want about Gailey’s tenure as Bills head coach from 2010 to 2012, but the guy knows offense. Gailey put Fred Jackson’s multi-dimensional talents on full display. He made Stevie Johnson a star. He turned C.J. Spiller loose for a 1,700-yard season. He got the most out of tight end Scott Chandler. Then he manufactured similar production with the Jets, helping Brandon Marshall to a career year and turning Chris Ivory into a 1,000-yard rusher.

Of course, he did it all with a non-elite quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick.

“Chan was always somebody who was tough to deal with schematically, and good situationally,” Flores said on a conference call this week. “Chan was definitely someone, whether he was in Buffalo or with the Jets, there’s a lot going on in the offense, from a personnel standpoint – 11 personnel, 10 personnel 21 personnel – you never knew from a game plan standpoint what you were going to get. And then I’ve just heard many great things about him as a teacher.”

The attack the Bills face Sunday will look familiar to Bills fans.

Gailey is good at scheming up spread offense. The Dolphins ran three receivers on 74% of their plays in the opening loss to New England via either 11 personnel (three wides, one tight end) or 20 personnel (three wides, two backs, no tight end). Gailey liked 10 personnel in Buffalo and New York (four wides, one back, no tight end), but didn’t show it vs. the Pats.

Gailey designs route combinations that get guys open quickly. The Bills will see a lot of 3-by-1 sets, with three receivers to one side, along with stack and cluster formations to help receivers get quick separation. The Bills’ cornerbacks are going to need sharp communication.

(Here's a play Gailey always has used in his arsenal, a corner route, or 7 route, out of a 3-by-1 set. This one is to tight end Mike Gesicki, lined up wide right. It went for an 18-yard gain against the Pats. Gailey also will run it out of an empty set, with the inside receiver running the corner route and the outside receiver running a hitch.)

It fits well with Fitzpatrick, whose strengths are his decisiveness and intelligence. Fitzpatrick is an anticipation passer with a quick trigger. He needs a quick trigger because he lacks elite arm talent. Of course, sometimes that gets Fitz in trouble, when he pulls the trigger and throws into double coverage, which happened on an interception in the red zone in New England. Or when he pulls the trigger and doesn’t expect a safety buzzing into the passing lane, which happened on another pickoff last week.

Gailey is flexible with his talent.

“I’ll never forget, Stevie Johnson in Buffalo was a guy that didn’t really play a whole lot,” Fitzpatrick told Miami reporters this summer. “And as soon as he got with Chan and Chan gave him the freedom to be creative on some of his routes and do some things that were a little unorthodox, it really catapulted his career.”

His tight ends were a non-factor in New York because they weren’t difference makers. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Gesicki is a former second-round pick. The Dolphins use him like a receiver, flexed out in the slot or alone, split wide in the 3-by-1 set.

The problem for Gailey this season is the Dolphins still are only one offseason into a rebuilding project. Miami needs more skill-position talent. The wide receiving corps mostly has to win with size, not separation. And the run-after-catch ability isn’t great, although smurf wideout Jakeem Grant is a 4.34 burner. He was limited in practice Wednesday by a calf injury, but was removed from the injury report Thursday.

Gailey might have lasted more than three years as Bills coach if he had figured out the defensive side of the ball. His good friend Dave Wannstedt let him down as defensive coordinator in 2012.

Man up: Josh Allen faces a very different challenge from last week, when the Jets showed a lot of two-deep safety looks. Like New England, the Dolphins will play a lot of man coverage. The Dolphins blitz a bit more than average. They ranked 11th last season, at 27.9%. Like New England, the Miami defense also will mix it up by dropping eight into coverage. Miami rushed three 21% last year, second most. When they’re blitzing and in man coverage, the opportunity will be there to make plays deep. Conversely, Miami faces a much different challenge than in Week 1. New England does not have a potent outside receiving corps. Pats QB Cam Newton threw just one pass last week that traveled 20 yards downfield and had only four others that traveled more than 10 yards downfield. Can the Bills create some explosive plays downfield?

The 30,000-foot view: Fitzpatrick is keeping the QB seat warm for Tua Tagovailoa, the No. 5 overall pick from Alabama. Tagovailoa seems like a good fit with Gailey because he’s well-suited to running a spread, precision passing offense. Tagovailoa doesn’t have elite size, at 6-foot, 217 pounds. He does not have elite arm talent. However, he has great accuracy. He’s a rhythm QB, who plants his back foot and gets rid of the ball. He’s a surgeon from the pocket, and he already makes anticipation throws. He has a high football IQ. By all accounts, he’s fully heathy after undergoing hip surgery last November. Yet given that injury, it’s probably good if Fitzpatrick plays at least the first half of this season. Whenever Tagovailoa gets on the field this season, he will be throwing to a receiving corps that is inferior to the one he had at Alabama. Tagovailoa threw to four first-round wideouts last year. Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs went sixth and 13th, respectively, in this year’s draft. Current ‘Bama wideouts DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle will be first-rounders in 2021.

Matchup watch

DeVante Parker vs. Bills CBs. Parker has been hindered by a hamstring injury the past couple of weeks, but it looks as though he’s playing. He’s Miami’s best wideout. Both he and the other outside receiver, Preston Williams, are 6-3, long, high-cut guys. Parker has 4.45 speed. He can go vertical, and he had 1,202 receiving yards last season. He went for seven catches and 135 yards vs. Buffalo in Miami last year and beat Tre White on a 45-yard slant-and-go route.

Stefon Diggs vs. Byron Jones. Miami gave Jones $16.5 million a year in free agency to team with Xavien Howard and give them two quality, man-coverage corners on the outside. Diggs will move around. Jones stayed on the defensive right side last week. We start to find out this week how much better the Bills are against man coverage.

Shaq Lawson vs. Daryl Williams. The former Bill made a great decision in signing with Miami, because the Dolphins’ scheme fits him perfectly. He’s going to be asked to play stout against the run. Miami doesn’t rely on its edge rushers to win with speed outside in a four-man rush. Like New England, the Dolphins manufacture rushes with stunts and games. Still, this is a good test in Williams’ bid to prove he’s a quality right tackle.

Stats for the road. Here are some Fitzmagic numbers. Miami’s 37-year-old QB is the only player in NFL history to throw a touchdown pass with eight different teams. He’s making $8 million this season, which brings his career earnings over 16 seasons to $71.5 million. He earned $26.5 million in his four seasons in Buffalo. He ranks 37th in career passing yards at 33,077, 38th in TD passes (210) and 50th in interceptions (164).

The NFL season is underway, and here are the News' selections for Week 2 from Jay Skurski, Mark Gaughan and Jason Wolf. Points spreads are from Thursday's News.

Here is the new look of our weekly picks with help from our new partner at tallysight.com.

Hooray. Josh Allen tossed for more than 300 yards last week for the first time in his NFL career, and only the third time dating back to his days at Wyoming. You can see the development in him with each game.

It’s a major reason the Bills went from a six-win team to the playoffs last season. Truth be told, Allen has enjoyed much more success on the road than at home, as evidenced by his lofty 9-4-1 against the spread mark in away games. And then there is head coach Sean McDermott’s stellar 16-3 straight up and 11-6-2 against the spread career mark as a favorite with the Bills.

Miami QB Ryan Fitzpatrick missed his go-to target DeVante Parker, who sat out the second half of last week’s game with a hamstring injury. And this note from Rod Serling’s "Twilight Zone": It’s hard to believe, but Fitzpatrick, now with this eighth different team, will pass Steve Young on the all-time career passing leaders list with 47 yards Sunday.

With the Fish floundering at 1-10 against the spread in games after tackling the Patriots, we’re on the Bills like hot Buffalo sauce on wings.  

Prediction: Buffalo over MIAMI by 10.

Marc Lawrence previews the NFL from a Vegas perspective. You can follow him online at Playbook.com or @MarcLawrence. 

Josh Allen’s running isn’t a problem by itself. Fumbling when he runs is.

That became an unavoidable focal point after he coughed up the ball on two of his 14 carries in the Buffalo Bills’ season-opening victory against the New York Jets on Sunday.

It shouldn’t have overshadowed the impressive work Allen did in notching his first 300-yard passing game and throwing for two touchdowns while completing 72% of 44 passes. It shouldn’t have even taken away from his ground production of 57 yards and a TD.

But it is receiving plenty of attention in practice as the Bills prepare to face the Miami Dolphins.

Granted, there’s a limit to how much of a true feel Allen can get for defenders trying to separate him from the ball when he’s going against teammates. Rule No. 1 for defenders in practice: “NEVER touch the quarterback!”

Still, there are ways to coach and teach ball security. The first, as Allen explained in a video call with reporters Wednesday, is constantly being mindful of the need to work on and develop good habits.

“Whether I break the pocket and run, making sure the ball’s tucked and where it’s supposed to be,” he said. “Two, it’s designed drills, which (quarterbacks) coach (Ken) Dorsey kind of puts us through and forces us to kind of get in weird positions, but also maintaining good ball security. You don’t get a lot of live reps at it, because it’s practice and we’re not really getting hit. But I think you can make strides in those two areas.”

“We’ve got to be better with our fundamentals, ball security in this case, (along with) blocking, tackling, throwing, catching,” coach Sean McDermott told reporters Wednesday. “So, we’ve got a lot of work to do in that regard. And Josh takes ownership of it. He’s aware of it. I appreciate his workmanlike effort around that.”

Allen has 14 fumbles in 29 career regular-season games. He had five in 12 games as a rookie in 2018 and seven in 16 last season. Allen also had two fumbles, losing one, in the Bills’ wild-card playoff loss at Houston in January.

It’s no shock that a ’18 draft classmate who also relies heavily on his legs, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, has 22 fumbles in 32 games (23 starts).

Cam Newton, the quarterback to whom Allen is most often compared because of their similar large physiques and power-running ability, so far has a high end of nine-plus fumbles in three seasons. He had no turnovers on the way to rushing for 75 yards on 15 carries in the New England Patriots’ win at Miami last Sunday.

“I mean, it’s just fundamental football,” Allen said. “It goes back to Pop Warner days of just holding on to the football and making sure that you’re going to the ground and you’ve got the ball in your hand. It’s really as simple as that. Sometimes, things happen that aren’t in your control. The second one (against the Jets), getting flipped, you put yourself in a tough situation there to hold on to the football.

“It’s knowing when to get down, it’s knowing when not to take extra hits. Especially on the first one. I had the first down secured. Maybe, instead of trying to get an extra couple yards, I go down, save us the ball and we get in position to score there.”

Maybe, though it might not be quite as simple as Allen makes it sound.

Former NFL quarterback Brady Quinn, for one, doesn’t see running with the ball as being all that natural for a quarterback – even when, as with Allen, he has the speed and athleticism to go along with a powerful, 6-foot-5, 237-pound frame.

“I think there's so many things that you're focused on outside of (ball security),” Quinn, a co-host on SiriusXM NFL Radio and a college football and NFL analyst for Fox Sports and CBS Sports HQ, said by phone. “And the whole keeping two hands on the football, it's such a farce. Look, you're going to have two hands on the football, and if one of these D-ends comes around the tackle and he's about ready to swat that thing down ... when you're standing there naturally relaxed, gripping the football, looking downfield to throw, even with another hand on the football, he's going to knock that thing out.

“The hard part for quarterbacks – especially in Josh’s case, because a lot of his rushing yards, not necessarily this past week, but last year, would come from drop-back passes where there's nothing there – is you want him to be a thrower first. So, he's not going to be tucking the football to run if he's if he's keeping his eyes downfield until the last second. He should be crossing that line of scrimmage, and then starting to tuck the football to run.

“It's not the first thing you're concerned about, like a running back. When a quarterback takes off, he’s potentially still looking to throw if it's a passing play. Not that that was necessarily (the case with) either of the two instances that happened, but that's the other reason why you're not thinking about ball security. You're thinking about where the football needs to be going. And until a defender gets close to you, that's when you're more conscious of ball security.”

Much of Allen’s running against the Jets, similar to Newton’s carries against the Dolphins, came on zone-read plays. Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll said he called about eight last Sunday, but that the decision to run was strictly Allen’s based on whether he thought a defensive end was crashing inside on the belief the running back was taking a handoff.

Quinn believes the approach can be risky, because it leaves the quarterback too exposed to contact. Given Allen’s ultra-fierce competitiveness and his belief that he can always be a difference-maker, the zone-read usually means he is going to run – especially when he's convinced he has fooled the end to create an opening outside.

Quinn thinks it makes more sense for the Bills to run a version of the “Flexbone,” often used by Army and Navy. It resembles a zone-read but puts a pulling lineman or tight end or running back as a lead blocker for a running QB.

“At least that way, Josh Allen’s got more protection,” Quinn said. “He’s not going to be subject to take a big hit from a linebacker, a D-end, someone in the front seven.”

As far as Quinn is concerned, Allen is far too valuable an asset for the Bills to lose to injury.

“He’s right where he should be, continuing to take strides and steps,” Quinn said. “I think he’s gotten better every single year. I love the kid. I love the talent, I love his ability, I love his overall personality. ... He's got some legitimate weapons. I just feel like now this is a great situation for him to really showcase what he's capable of.”

Welcome to another edition of the Bills Mailbag. Lots of questions this week, so let's get right to them ...

bk asks: If Tyler Bass misses two short field goals this week, do the Bills let him ride home on the plane, or do they just cut him immediately and leave him in Miami?

Jay: They’ll bring him home and give him another chance. It’s been interesting to watch coach Sean McDermott’s reaction to Bass’ struggles against the Jets. You can really tell he’s doing all he can to keep the rookie’s confidence up. The Bills made a big decision to go with Bass over veteran Stephen Hauschka, and they desperately don’t want that to blow up on them. Perhaps converting a pair of chip-shot field goals in the fourth quarter against the Jets got Bass on the right track. Until he comes through in the clutch, though, there are going to be serious questions about what the Bills really have at kicker.

IDiggIt asks: With Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds injured, why haven’t the Bills considered bringing back Lorenzo Alexander and Vosean Joseph?

Jay: Let’s start with Alexander: While he told my colleague, Jason Wolf, last Sunday that he would listen if the Bills called, there is no indication that has happened. Even though Alexander knows the defense inside and out, it would not be a quick process to bring him to Buffalo. He’d have to go through days of Covid-19 testing before he could join the roster, which made it impossible to have him ready for this week’s game. If it becomes apparent that Edmunds and/or Milano are going to be out long term, perhaps the Bills revisit the idea. Keep in mind, though, that Alexander was the first linebacker off the field last year. It’s unlikely the Bills see him as an every-down player at this stage of his career, which is what the team is losing with Edmunds and Milano out of the lineup. As for Joseph, we can safely deduce the team just doesn’t think he’s very good. He wasn’t re-signed to the practice squad after being cut, and instead of turning to him this week, the team brought in Deon Lacey for another tour of duty. Not every draft pick is going to be a hit, and it’s clear that spending a fifth-round pick on Joseph in 2019 did not work out.

Andrew Sexton asks: How will the Bills have to adapt without Matt Milano or Tremaine Edmunds playing this week?

Jay: As McDermott put it Friday, other players are going to have to step up. The expected starters are A.J. Klein and Tyrel Dodson. Athletically, that is a big step down for the Bills. The best way to overcome that is for the defensive line to dominate the line of scrimmage. That means cutting off running lanes and getting to Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick as quickly as possible. Dolphins running back Matt Breida is one of the fastest players in the NFL, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Miami offensive coordinator Chan Gailey use him in space. The Dolphins may also try to get tight end Mike Gesicki matched up on one of the Bills’ linebackers. If that becomes a problem for the Bills, they may need to use safety Jordan Poyer or Micah Hyde in coverage. There is no doubt losing Milano and Edmunds is going to be a big challenge for the Bills’ defense.

Alex M. asks: Would there be any benefit to trading Matt Milano during the season? I know we aren't paying him much right now. However, we can at least get something in return if he were to leave in free agency.

Jay: Under no circumstances should the Bills consider trading Milano this season. This is a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Trading a three-down linebacker midway through the season would be absolutely brainless on the part of General Manager Brandon Beane. Yes, the possibility exists that Milano could depart after the season in free agency. You deal with that problem then, though, not now. Milano is a huge part of what the Bills do defensively, and trading him would open a hole on the roster with no obvious answer to fill it. Keep in mind, on the Bills’ depth chart, Milano doesn’t even have a listed backup. Trading him does not make the team better in 2020, which is what every decision Beane makes should be about.

Chris Sandoval asks: If Matt Milano misses significant time, does this impact his potential contract extension? Have to be concerned about his availability if this team is a contender.

Jay: It could. Milano has a history of hamstring injuries, dating back to his college days at Boston College. Remember, he missed the Bills’ playoff game as a rookie with a hamstring injury. The Bills are going to get to the point they can’t pay everybody, especially if Josh Allen takes a big step forward and solidifies himself as a franchise quarterback. That would be a good problem to have, but it could lead to some tough decisions, like letting Milano walk in free agency.

Jeff Bagel asks: If the NFL Hall of Fame selection committee were to ever elect a journeyman, could there be a case for Ryan Fitzpatrick? He’s played for eight teams, thrown for more than 33,000 yards with 210 touchdowns and set nine NFL records.

Jay: If that hypothetical category were ever created, sure, but that would sort of defeat the purpose of a Hall of Fame, wouldn’t it? I’m all for the Hall being harder to get into – not easier. Fitzpatrick has had a remarkable career. He’s a good guy who has a way of winning over teammates and fans. He’s made a boatload of money. He’s used every ounce of talent that he’s been given. He’s not in any way a Hall of Famer, though.

John Jarzynski asks: Should we be concerned that A.J. Epenesa did not dress?

Jay: Not overly concerned. The top three defensive ends – Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison and Trent Murphy – are all established veterans. That leaves one spot for Epenesa and Darryl Johnson Jr. to fill. The Bills like Johnson on special teams, so at least for right now, that gives him the advantage. You can look at this one of two ways: The glass-half-full version is the Bills are so deep that they can afford to keep Epenesa sidelined. The glass-half-empty version is you’d like your second-round draft pick to be so good that he forces his way onto the field right away. Obviously, that hasn’t happened. The choice of Epenesa was clearly made with at least one eye toward the future, given that Murphy is in his final season. For right now, bringing Epenesa along slowly is OK in my mind.

Ed Helinski asks: What’s your thoughts on the Bills’ injury situation so far? Any surprises? Or is it about what you’ve anticipated because of lack of OTAs?

Jay: About what I’ve anticipated. Obviously, losing both Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds this week is a huge challenge for the defense. Outside of that, the team entered the season in fairly good shape. Josh Norman went down with a hamstring injury – you had to expect that type of injury would pop up after such a long offseason with no spring practices. Jon Feliciano’s torn pectoral muscle is another one of those injuries that can’t really be avoided. For the most part, the team has done a good job of controlling what it can control when it comes to injuries.

Shawn Sherman asks: What can the Bills do to not be so flat in third quarters? I find it difficult they can’t scheme after a full, halftime meeting.

Jay: I asked McDermott a variation of this question Friday. Here was his response: “A lot of things we need to work on, to your point, and that would be one of them. Last week, we came out, we went three-and-out on offense. You go back and say ‘Hey, OK, what do we need to work on? That's one of them. How can we get better at it?’ So ongoing process, ongoing growth mindset as far as that, especially coming out of that third quarter that we had.”

That’s a lot of words that can be boiled down to: Do better. Last year, the Bills were outscored by 11 points in third quarters, so it wasn’t an overwhelming points disparity, but it is an area with room for improvement.

Joseph Genco asks: Will Josh Allen’s fumbling trouble lead defenses to bait the Bills into running the read option and then take away the option, knowing they can A) get a hit on the QB and B) get a chance for a strip?

Jay: It’s a legitimate concern. Until Allen shows better awareness as a ball carrier, defenses are going to come after it. As for inviting the read option, that’s playing with fire in the sense that Allen can make things happen with legs, but savvy defenses may try to pull it off.

LDsports asks: Does it appear fans will be allowed in the stadium after the second home game? Is New York state ready to make a decision? If fans are allowed, would it likely be a lottery among season-ticket holders for the available seating?

Jay: I’m having a hard time understanding the rationale for not allowing a reduced-capacity crowd at this point. In an article published this week by my colleague, Sandra Tan, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz is quoted as saying that one of the big concerns is how to get people in and out of the stadium safely. With the number of gates available, it does not seem like that should be an insurmountable obstacle. Poloncarz also mentioned a concern about being able to safely evacuate the stadium should the need arise. If that situation were to occur, it seems to me the coronavirus wouldn’t exactly be the top priority at the time. It’s also frustrating to read that the region’s Covid-19 numbers need to drop … but there is not a specific target figure that would mean it’s safe for fans. That’s a lack of transparency that makes no sense. Poloncarz said the Bills have a good plan that would allow for reduced capacity at Bills Stadium. If that’s the case, it’s getting harder to justify fans being kept home. As for tickets, the team has not announced how those would be distributed, but either a lottery among season-ticket holders or going down the seniority list to gauge interest would be the fairest way of doing things.

C Rob asks: Is it cool to cover Gabe Davis? No one at USF could.

Jay: See, now this is uncalled for. I’m just going about my business, and then C Rob here cruises by the mailbag to leave this cheap shot. Come back Nov. 27, C Rob, and let’s talk after South Florida takes care of business*. (*-actually, probably, don’t come back because UCF has been owning USF lately).

Mike asks: Power rank the following Miamis: Miami Sound Machine, Miami Vice, Will Smith’s Miami -- “Bienvenido a Miami,” Miami Dolfans TD song, Miami Dolphins Kicker Ray Finkle in Ace Ventura.

Jay: 5. Miami Dolfans TD Song. The absolute worst. 4. Ray Finkle. Laces Out, Dan! 3. Miami Sound Machine. “The Rhythm is Gonna Get You” can still make you turn up the volume. 2. Miami Vice. Don Johnson made rocking a white blazer cool. 1. Will Smith’s “Miami.” South Beach, bringin’ the heat.

Louis Stromberg asks: Morning, Jay. Big call up for UB alum Cam Lewis to the active roster. Let’s show him some love, so please go ahead and power rank the following Cams: Cameron Diaz, camouflage, camels, guacamole, Campbell’s chicken noodle soup. Have a good weekend!

Jay: 5. Camels – They’re actually pretty cool, but spitting isn’t very nice. 4. Campbell’s chicken noodle soup – It reminds me of being sick. 3. Camouflage – Not much of a need for it here in Amherst. 2. Guacamole – A sign of how I’m evolving: I never liked avocado before, but now I can’t get enough of it. Wegman’s guacamole is second only to my wife’s home-made recipe. 1. Cameron Diaz – If you didn’t have a crush on her after “The Mask,” well, you’re lying. “There’s Something About Mary” still holds up, too. Have a great weekend!