The Bills spent Monday trying to square up a rough stretch up front, while Josh Allen pushed back on the idea that he’s anything less than fully healthy.
Allen said there’s no truth to the notion that he’s playing at less than 100%, even as the offense has dealt with pressure and hits early in the season. Head coach Joe Brady took responsibility for some of that burden, saying the protection issues are a group problem.
“We expect to have the best offensive line, there’s a standard in that room,” Brady said, via Bills Wire. “They’ll be the first admit Josh has been hit too often.
Some of that’s play call, some of it’s Josh holding onto it, some of it’s getting open. It’s a combination of everything.”
There was also an apology from Bills cornerback Maxwell Hairston after he declined to speak with reporters following Sunday’s loss to the Patriots. Hairston addressed the media on Monday and said the decision came from emotion.
“I let my emotions get the best of me. I didn’t want to say something I might’ve regretted,” Hairston said, via BillsWire.com.
Brady also gave an update on WR D.J. Moore, though not a definitive one. He said Moore is “going to be able to do everything he can to be able to rock this week.”
Brady added that Moore is the kind of player who changes things when he’s on the field.
“DJ (Moore) is a competitor. You see the difference with us with him on the football field. He’s going to do everything he can to play and we owe it to him to let see how he’s feeling and if he can play,” Brady said, via Sal Capaccio.
On the other side, Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis delivered a blunt message about his team’s start. He said the Dolphins need to stop leaning on excuses and focus on getting better.
“I mean, speaking of holding myself to the level of accountability I try to, it’s not good enough,” Willis said, via Dolphins Wire. “We don’t have any wins yet, obviously.
We can’t keep blaming stuff on us being young and still everybody being new, like that’s not a factor once the season starts. Yeah, that’s cool to say in the offseason when we’re building and growing, but I think we’ve done a great job continuing to grow each week.
I think we look like a way better team than we did when we went out against the Raiders. I think that we went a little bit backwards last week during the Vikings game.
I think we have to continue to improve and stay on that path upwards. Yes, it’s okay to make mistakes, but we have to fix those mistakes and be able to continue to grow in these situations that we find ourselves in.”
In Other News...
Dolphins May Be Ignoring A Week 5 Mismatch They Need
Miamis offense spent too much of Week 4 watching from the sideline, and the lack of possession time left Malik Willis and Greg Dulcich with far fewer chances to make an impact. Dulcich had flashed the week before, and his role has become worth watching as the Dolphins try to squeeze more production out of a passing game that has not always had enough snaps to find a rhythm.
The next matchup offers a route to solve at least part of that problem, since Cincinnati has been especially vulnerable to tight ends in the passing game. If Miami leans into Dulcich more often, the usage could tilt in a way that better fits the opponent and give the Dolphins a cleaner path to opening up the field for Willis and the rest of the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Get A Crucial Chance To Stop Their Slide In Week 5
The Dolphins return home in Week 5 looking for anything that can stop a four-game skid, and the timing at least gives them a game with some pressure on both sidelines. Cincinnati comes in off back-to-back losses of its own, so this is not exactly a heavyweight meeting between two teams feeling good about themselves. Miami will need to make the most of the chance, especially with the Bengals still working through their own issues on offense.
There is also some uncertainty around Cincinnatis top pass catchers, which could reshape how the matchup unfolds if the Bengals are missing key help at wide receiver. Even so, the betting market is still leaning toward the visitors, with FanDuel Sportsbook installing Cincinnati as a 6.5-point favorite. For a Dolphins team trying to regain some traction, this looks less like a comfort spot and more like a test of whether home field can finally matter again. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Fans Know These Bengals Wins Still Hit Different
The Dolphins meetings with Cincinnati have produced plenty of moments that still linger for Miami fans, from a memorable 1973 playoff game to a series of regular-season wins that helped build a long edge in the matchup. Miami owns a 17-9 all-time regular-season record against the Bengals, and that history has been shaped by standout performances from the likes of Dan Marino, Bob Griese, Mercury Morris and Brent Grimes, along with a few quirky finishes that made the rivalry feel a little bigger than the standings suggested.
Theres also a coaching connection and a handful of defensive plays that still get mentioned whenever these teams line up again, which is part of why the Bengals have never felt like an ordinary opponent for the Dolphins. Miami is trying to snap a two-game losing streak in the series, and for a fan base that remembers the better chapters so clearly, the chance to add another one carries a little extra weight. [Read more 🡒]