In week two of the 2020 season, fans will get to see the Miami Dolphins take on the Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins are looking to bring their record to the .500 mark and get their first win while the Bills look to remain undefeated.
Williams VS White With Parker Ailing
With the question of whether or not Dolphins’ wide receiver DeVante Parker will be in the lineup on Sunday, Preston Williams and Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White will probably go head-to-head in this match up with one another.
Williams Looking to Build on 2019 Rookie Season
Williams is a young receiver that is looking to have a more productive season in 2020 then he did in 2019. As a rookie playing behind Parker, Williams was able to appear in eight games and start in seven of those appearances.
In 2019 his rookie season was cut short however, after Williams tore his ACL in November. Williams caught 32 passes for 428 yards and three touchdowns prior to his season exit. The key thing to remember about Williams was that he was not (and still is not) the main receiver for his team. He has his first year jitters out the way, so he can hopefully build on his rookie production and into a viable second option for quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to throw to.
Bills’ Anchor White Looking to Build on Interception Totals
White came into the league in 2017 and made an immediate impact for Buffalo.
He worked hard enough to get on the field in every game and start in all of them as well during his career. White has been a defensive anchor for the Bills during his three-year career and has managed 12 interceptions across that span. Additionally, he tripled his interception total from 2018 to 2019 (four in 2017, two in 2018, six in 2019). White also forced two fumbles last season, adding the two to his one from 2017.
White Tackling: Fade Away
Each season White has racked up at least 54 combined tackles, with also having more solo tackles than assisted. White tallied the most as a rookie, totaling 53 solo tackles and 16 assisted. For 2018 and 2019, White had 44 and 48 solo tackles respectively, while adding 10 assists each season.
Williams: One Career Meeting with Buffalo
In the two matchups the two players have had against each other, Williams has had some so-so performances against the Bills’ defense. In the first matchup, Williams caught the most passes for his team, catching six for 82 yards. White managed to record four tackles and one assist on the defensive side of the ball in the same game. The Bills’ defense kept Williams from scoring even though his catches on the day averaged more than 13 yards per reception. White and Buffalo ended up pulling away at the end to hand Miami a 31-21 defeat.
White’s Buddy, Tremaine Edmunds, Out Sunday
In match up number two, fans saw the Bills defeat the Dolphins 37-20. White was the best defender for his team in the win, recording six solo tackles that day while his teammate, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, recorded five tackles with seven assists. Due to his torn ACL, Williams did not make an appearance that day, but White and the Bills’ defense kept any of the Dolphins receivers from catching a touchdown pass in the game. Thankfully for Miami, Edmunds has been ruled out for Sunday’s game. However, unless the Dolphins switch things up on how their wide receivers attack the Bills defense, they’ll end up falling to them again on Sunday.
Seeing how Williams and White have matched up against each other and played throughout their careers, it may most likely be a runaway game for White in terms of who will have the better performance this weekend.
Williams Faces Tall Task if Parker is Out
For Williams’ sake, he needs fellow wideout Parker in the game. Parker is in danger of missing the contest due to a hamstring injury, but has turned in multiple contact practices this week, despite exiting early and being in danger of missing time after Sunday’s opener. He is officially a game-time decision, according to head coach Brian Flores and Friday’s injury report.
Dolphins WRs Must Do Better Than in New England
The Dolphin offense did not find a consistent rhythm that can prove to be tough for opponents in week one in New England. With White’s longer veteran experience, he could prove to be too much for Williams or any receiver to handle on Sunday.
If Parker does not play, or exits early, Williams has to be the No. 1 option on the receiving end for his team. Williams has the element of surprise that could outwit White’s defensive tendencies, but he’ll need to do better than catching two passes on seven targets from week one.
Kickoff between these two players and their respective teams will take place at 1:00 p.m. eastern on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
