Facing dreary history, Dolphins likely without 2 key starters in Buffalo Sunday

Josh Allen had just come up short in a furious fourth-quarter comeback … in the Poinsettia Bowl. The quarterback was a sophomore at Wyoming the last time the Dolphins beat the Bills in Buffalo, Dec. 24, 2016.

Including postseason, Miami’s eight-game losing streak at Highmark Stadium is tied for the third-longest active stretch for a team on the road against a division opponent (the Giants have lost 11 straight at Philadelphia and the Colts have lost 10 straight at Jacksonville, per Elias Sports Bureau). Now a legitimate MVP candidate, Allen and the Bills (6-2) put that streak on the line when they host Miami (2-5) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS).

“They thrive on other people’s mistakes,” said Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, referring to Buffalo’s NFL-leading turnover margin, plus-11. “They’re literally challenging you to do right longer and take advantage of groups of players that are unable to execute down-in, down-out, and they do a masterful job of putting it on the other team to earn the win.”

And if the Dolphins can upset the Bills, they’ll need to do it without a pair of defensive starters. Safety Jevon Holland (hand/knee) and defensive tackle Zach Sieler (eye) haven’t practiced and are likely out this week, per insider Ian Rapoport. Miami still has safety Jordan Poyer, who signed with Miami after Buffalo released him in March. While Poyer is more familiar with Allen than other Dolphins defenders, the veteran said this week that snapping Miami’s streak will come down to details.

“You try to do one percent extra,” Poyer said this week, “and continue to stay the course and have that belief that things will turn. Because what a cool opportunity this week to go to Buffalo, an extremely well-coached football team. We’re excited, like I said, about the opportunity, so why not?”

Why not because Miami will also get Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill on the same field for just the fourth game this season. The Dolphins’ quarterback left the first Buffalo-Miami contest, Sept. 12, and missed the next four games with a concussion before returning for last week’s loss against the Cardinals.