"There was once a time when the Miami Dolphins were perceivably within striking distance of the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East. Scratch that. They once had the Bills on verge of falling short of the division crown and booting them from the playoffs all together. The year was 2023, and Miami had a three-game lead in the AFC East with five weeks remaining in the season. The Dolphins were given a 99 percent chance of winning the division at that point."
"But a nightmarish blown two-touchdown lead late on a December Monday night sparked the downfall in 2023 that was capped by a home loss against the Bills to surrender the stronghold once held on the division that year. The Bills have won five consecutive AFC East crowns. The Dolphins haven't won the division since 2008. And optimism isn't high that the Dolphins can turn it around and take the AFC East in 2025."
"Buffalo kept most of its roster from last season intact, and what really matters in western New York, anyway, is that Josh Allen, the reigning MVP who usually torches Miami, is still behind center there. But the Bills made additions to their defense with defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi, linebacker Michael Hoecht and brought back veteran cornerback Tre'Davious White while drafting cornerback Maxwell Hairston. Offensively, they gave Allen a big-bodied wide receiver in Joshua Palmer, a St. Thomas Aquinas High alum."
Miami held a three-game AFC East lead with five weeks remaining in 2023 and had a 99 percent chance to win the division, but a blown two-touchdown lead late in a December Monday night and a subsequent home loss to Buffalo triggered a collapse. Buffalo has won five consecutive AFC East crowns while Miami's last division title was 2008. In 2024 Buffalo finished 13-4 and Miami 8-9, with the Dolphins missing the playoffs after back-to-back wild-card berths. Buffalo retained most of its roster, kept MVP Josh Allen, added defensive pieces and receiver Joshua Palmer, leaving Miami likely competing for a wild-card.
Read at Sun Sentinel
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