Miami Dolphins predictions: Wait, how many NFL experts are picking the Bills to win?

What will the Miami Dolphins do for an encore against the Buffalo Bills? And will it be enough to cement their status atop the AFC East?

The Dolphins are the talk of the NFL after annihilating the Denver Broncos 70-20. The running backs were the big stars as veteran Raheem Mostert and rookie De'Von Achane scored four touchdowns apiece. It was Achane's first day as a prominent part of Mike McDaniel's offense, and he responded with 203 rushing yards.

And to top it off, Tua Tagovailoa could get Jaylen Waddle back Sunday as the receiver works his way back from a concussion that kept him from the blowout win against Denver. Could pass rusher Jaelan Phillips return as well?

Miami might be 3-0 but they still have to overtake the Bills, who beat them twice late last season, including in the playoffs (which Tagovailoa missed with a concussion). Josh Allen had a so-so week against Washington in Week 3, but 218 passing yards, a touchdown to Gabe Davis and a TD run was enough for a dominating 37-3 win of their own. That's because the Buffalo defense shut down the Commanders, with Gregory Rousseau, Leonard Floyd and company notching nine sacks and A.J. Epenesa returning an interception for a score.

So who will win this early showdown to decide who's in the driver's seat of the AFC East? Here's a look at what NFL experts and reporters are predicting:

Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY: Bills 27-23

"The Dolphins should be getting Jaylen Waddle back and are coming off of that explosive 70-point drubbing of the Bills. I think there is actually decent value in them getting points. But Buffalo’s defense will by far be the best Miami has played thus far and I think the Dolphins are due for an offensive regression to the mean. But, honestly, this is a fascinating matchup that I could see going both ways."

Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Bills 30-27

"The Dolphins and Bills should provide the expected epic battle between a red-hot offense and a scorching defense. The difference is Buffalo also can explode for big plays in its passing game with Josh Allen and Miami may be hurting too much at corner and wide receiver in relation to the hosts. Allen got his groove the past two weeks and the momentum carries here as the Bills restore themselves as AFC East favorites."

Brad Gagnon, Bleacher Report: Bills win

Gagnon was the only one of seven on Bleacher Report's panel to pick Buffalo. "Over and over again, teams are building hype and then hitting a bump in the road. Buffalo in Week 1, Baltimore and Dallas in Week 3," Gagnon wrote. "The Bills have their bump out of the way, while the Dolphins are due to hit theirs.

"This spot makes sense after all of the hoopla generated with that 70-point showing against Denver. The Dolphins haven't faced a defense remotely as awesome as Buffalo's, and home-field advantage should be big for Josh Allen and Co. Sunday afternoon."

John Breech, CBS Sports: Bills 34-31

"This game is giving us the unstoppable force (Miami's offense) against the immovable object (Buffalo's defense). The Dolphins have the NFL's highest-scoring offense and they'll be going up against a Bills defense that has surrendered the second-fewest points in the league through three weeks.

"I would break down how those two sides are going to do against each other, but I'm not going to, because I think this game is going to do come to the play of Josh Allen. If there is one team that Allen has absolutely dominated in his career, it's the Dolphins. ... If the Dolphins score 70 this week, Allen will make sure the Bills score 71."

Ali Bhanpuri, NFL.com: Dolphins 28-26

"Miami has to be a bit peeved to find itself 2.5-point dogs after its mercy-rule-worthy demolition of Denver last Sunday. Seventy points! That's more than 18 teams have totaled through three games. But in the Bills, the Fins face perhaps the only AFC squad outside of Kansas City capable of slowing them down -- or, at the very least, keeping pace. Thanks to a deep and highly productive D-line, Buffalo boasts the highest QB pressure percentage (50.2%) in the league despite blitzing at the second-lowest rate (15.7%), per Next Gen Stats. The success up front has allowed Sean McDermott to play nickel more than any team this year by far (98.6% of snaps), which, in turn, has helped Buffalo generate a league-leading seven picks. The defense will do its damnedest to give Josh Allen & Co. an opportunity to match blows with Miami's early MVP candidates, but the Dolphins' overall team speed (including Tua's TTT) eventually exhausts and overwhelms Buffalo."

Zoom! Miami Dolphins have the six fastest timed runs of this NFL season

Bill Bender, Sporting News: Bills 34-31

"Miami won the turnover battle in all three games last season, and Mike McDaniel's offense is clicking at an extraordinary level. Tua Tagovailoa leads the NFL in yards per attempt (10.1), and Josh Allen has taken just two sacks the last two weeks. Which defense takes the other quarterback out of their comfort zone?"

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Bills 28-23

"The Dolphins are flying high after scoring 70 last week, with an offense that has looked so good so far. But Buffalo has owned this series in recent years, and they are coming off a nine-sack day against Washington. The defense looks much improved over a year ago. That matters. Josh Allen is also back on track. Bills take it."

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Dolphins vs. Bills predictions: NFL reporters pick Week 4 game 2023