The Buffalo Bills have taken over the lead in AFC East division winner odds after a 31-10 win over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football.
Beyond the standings, Miami’s defeat could prove costly. Tua Tagovailoa was forced to leave the game with a concussion in the third quarter.
Buffalo entered the game slightly behind the Dolphins in odds to win the division, but the lines have shifted substantially since Thursday’s developments.
Buffalo rises, Miami falls in AFC East odds
In advance of the game, the Dolphins held a slight edge over the Bills in AFC East betting odds. Buffalo is now comfortably atop the board at +105, with Miami tumbling to third place at +500.
The New York Jets have moved into the second spot at +200, with the New England Patriots in last at +2800. New York travels to face the Titans on Sunday, while New England is home for the Seahawks. The Jets are 3.5-point favorites at Tennessee, and New England is 3-point dogs at home against Seattle for their Week 2 odds.
The Bills have had a stranglehold on the division in recent times, winning it the last four seasons in a row. The Dolphins finished second last year and secured a wild card slot, the team’s second straight trip to the postseason.
Looking ahead to next week, the Bills are home for Jacksonville. Afterward, it’s a challenging three-game road trip in which they take on the Baltimore, Houston, and the Jets.
The Dolphins travel cross-country next weekend to face the Seahawks. They’ll then have a home date with the Titans and two on the road versus the Patriots and Indianapolis.
Skylar Thompson came on in relief of Tagovailoa and appears likely to be under center when the Dolphins play at Seattle in Week 3. Miami does not have another QB on the active roster, but veteran Tim Boyle is on the practice squad.
Bills hammer Dolphins as Tagovailoa exits early
The Bills walked onto the field as 2.5-point road underdogs. The game followed a different script as Buffalo dominated the action for a convincing victory.
After a tied opening quarter, the Buffalo offense kicked into overdrive in the second frame and entered halftime with a commanding 24-7 lead.
In the third quarter, the situation got even worse for the Dolphins. After colliding with Bills’ defensive back Damar Hamlin, Tagovailoa hit the back of his head against the turf.
He was ruled out for the rest of the game with a concussion. This is the third confirmed concussion for Tagovailoa in his pro career, leading to concerns over his status moving forward.
For the Bills, James Cook was the star of the show with 95 combined yards and three trips to the end zone. The defense also did its part, highlighted by a pick-six by Ja’Marcus Ingram in the third quarter.
