Dolphins' Pass Defense vs. Bills' Passing Attack

Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

The Dolphins will face rookie quarterback EJ Manuel for the first time in Week 16. Manuel has yet to develop into a highly productive passer, and that likely won't change on Sunday against a Dolphins' secondary that is fairly solid when healthy. If cornerbacks Brent Grimes and Nolan Carroll, who each left Sunday's win over the New England Patriots with injuries, return to the lineup, there's no reason to believe Manuel will be a difference-maker for Buffalo.

Manuel has only thrown for over 200 yards in four of the 10 games he's played thus far, after all. Unlike many rookie quarterbacks, however, Manuel rarely loses games for his team. He's only thrown nine interceptions in 10 games, which is very impressive for a first-year quarterback. Excluding Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger, the Dolphins have picked off every quarterback they've faced in 2013, though. The rookie could easily be their next victim.

Stevie Johnson will be the most difficult cover for the Dolphins, but the three-time 1,000-yard receiver is in the midst of a considerable down year. He only has 597 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 2013 while only managing a mere four yards on one catch in Week 15.

This matchup heavily favors the Dolphins, but it would only favor them to a lesser degree if either Grimes or Carroll suffer a setback and are unable to play or aren't 100 percent.

Edge: Miami

UPDATE: EJ Manuel and Stevie Johnson have been ruled out for Sunday's game. Thad Lewis will start at quarterback for the Bills.

Dolphins' Rushing Attack vs. Bills' Run Defense

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

For the second consecutive week, the Dolphins will face one of the league's most susceptible run defenses. Although Miami never abandoned the run until late in both halves in Week 15, it wasn't able to consistently gash New England's injury-depleted front seven on the ground. With an average of 3.9 yards per carry, the Dolphins only accumulated 89 rushing yards. A 13-yard Mike Wallace end-around was the team's most productive run of the day.

Miami will have to do much better against a Buffalo defense that is conceding 127.3 rushing yards per contest, which ranks 27th in the league. Daniel Thomas left Sunday's game with an ankle injury and appeared to sit out practice on Tuesday for the Dolphins, so they might need to get the job done with a heavy-dose of Lamar Miller. Miller's consistency is certainly in question, as it has been all season, but he does have some big-play ability.

It will be up to the Dolphins' makeshift but improved offensive line to spring him into the second level of the defense for some productive runs. Like Miami, Buffalo has a talented defensive line but still struggles to stop the run. The key will be Mike Pouncey and Sam Brenner consistently blocking into the Bills' leaky linebacker corps and Miller showing off his acceleration by hitting holes with explosiveness when they become available.

Edge: Miami

Dolphins' Run Defense vs. Bills' Rushing Attack

Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

The Dolphins' run defense has been underachieving all year. Despite three stud defensive tackles and a defensive end rotation that does an adequate job of setting the edge, Miami ranks 22nd defending the run through 14 games. Back in Week 7, though, the Dolphins' defense had one of its best showings against the run all season as the Bills only averaged 3.0 yards per carry.

It was believed that Buffalo running back C.J. Spiller wasn't 100 percent healthy at that point in the year, however. Spiller only managed 11 yards on six carries during that game but has since surpassed 100 yards twice. His performances have seemingly been all or nothing. Spiller has averaged over 9.0 yards per carry twice during the second half of the season but also under 3.0 yards per carry three times. The Dolphins will look to make it four games with under 3.0 yards per carry on Sunday.

Miami's front seven will also need to account for Fred Jackson. Jackson has yet to rush for over 100 yards in any game this season for the Bills, but he leads them with seven rushing touchdowns.

If the Dolphins can keep the Bills' rushing attack in check on Sunday afternoon they should be able to dominate this game defensively. Playing with an extra defender in the box in order to stop the run and force Manuel to throw the ball down the field on most earlier downs would be a wise strategy for the Dolphins to employ.

Edge: Buffalo

Dolphins' Passing Attack vs. Bills' Pass Defense

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Tannehill is playing the best football of his young career and is the biggest reason why the Dolphins are two wins away from the postseason. But the Bills aren't an ideal matchup to continue his surge. The 219.1 passing yards per game Buffalo concedes ranks 6th in the entire league.

Statistically, the Bills have the league's top pass rush while the Dolphins own the league's worst pass protection. Buffalo sacks the quarterback an average of 3.5 times per game, which is more than any other team, and Tannehill is brought down an average of 3.6 times every week, which is more than any other player. That alone should be a reason for concern, especially with the way Miami pass protected this past Sunday.

After steady improvement in recent weeks, the Dolphins returned to their old ways against New England by surrendering four sacks. Running backs Miller and Thomas did a poor job of picking up blitzes and were a big reason why Tannehill rarely had a clean pocket to throw from. The Bills only sacked No. 17 twice back in Week 7, though. And although those two sacks were a huge reason why the Dolphins lost, as the second forced Tannehill to fumble late in the fourth quarter, the offensive line wasn't quite the revolving door the matchup projected it to be.

Tyson Clabo's turnaround at right tackle suggests Miami could do a better job of giving Tannehill time on Sunday. He was the one responsible for both sacks versus Mario Williams and the Bills in October. Jerry Hughes, who has emerged in recent weeks with seven sacks in his past seven games, also must be contained. But if the Dolphins can give Tannehill adequate time on most attempts he could certainly continue his late-season tear. The Bills' secondary is solid but does possess weak spots.

Edge: Push

Special Teams

Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

The Dolphins haven't been getting much help from the game's third phase in 2013. Only four other teams have less efficient special-teams units than the Dolphins, according to Pro Football Focus. The Bills, who rank 30th in special teams by the site, are one of those four teams, though.

Punter Brandon Fields has done a great job of swinging field position in the Dolphins' favor all year, and former Dolphin kicker Dan Carpenter has been a reliable 27-of-30 on tries thus far for the Bills. Neither team is very dangerous in the return game. It's a matchup of two below average special-teams units.

Edge: Push