Bills won’t overthink, overlook Dolphins QB Skylar Thompson
The Buffalo Bills are facing off against of the the teams that were considered the hottest in the NFL at one point in time.
Now, not so much.
The Miami Dolphins (9-8) are down to their third-string quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) has already been ruled out.
Advantage Bills (13-3) then, right? Take it easy then, Buffalo.
As professionals, that’s not how Buffalo’s locker room is looking at it. Instead, Bills head coach Sean McDermott is preaching that his team must worry about itself above all else.
“We control what we can control,” McDermott said via video conference. “We’re just focusing on the work. Obviously knowing give us some clarity.”
“Whenever you have a new player in a position it’s always challenging to a certain extent. But he’s played,” McDermott added.
Thompson started against the New York Jets in Week 18 and was 20-for-31 passing for 152 yards. He did not have a touchdown or interception but Thompson did record his first-career win.
From a player perspective, the more aggressive approach might be better suited.
Defensive end Shaq Lawson has had a scenic route in his NFL career. He’s a former first-round pick that’s been on multiple teams. Lawson said just because Thompson is a seventh-round rookie does not mean he’s to be taken as anything less than a No. 1 QB.
“He got the right to earn it in this league too,” Lawson said. “He was third-string, now he’s starting, so he did something right.”
Not to mention, the playmakers Thompson has? They’re second-to-none. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are a top-NFL duo at receiver.
Waddle has been a thorn in the Bills’ side this year. In 2022, the Dolphins receiver has five catches for 214 yards and a touchdown in two games against Buffalo.
But you still have to take Hill into consideration. While with the Kansas City Chiefs, he has smoked the Bills, specifically in the playoffs.
Cornerback Taron Johnson admitted those two alone are tough pieces to defend. You can’t even really study how to.
“Really just going over the tape, see what they did, kind of last game, see we what did, see what we can get better at,” Johnson said in the locker room. “It’s hard to prepare for it. You have to prepare for it when you’re out there.”
Nothing less should be expected from the locker room containing a team that’s been so close in recent years. Thompson and the Dolphins should get the Bills’ A-game on Sunday.
