Buffalo Bills (5-4) at Miami Dolphins (5-4)

Thursday, 8:25 p.m. ET, at SunLife Stadium, Miami, Fla. – TV: NFL Network

*TV announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson

*Keys to the game: Buffalo’s dynamic defensive line is the key to the Bills winning a fourth consecutive game with the Dolphins.

The Bills won the first meeting this season in September and have 10 takeaways in the four games they’ve won in the past five meetings.

With LT Branden Albert out, Miami must add extra blockers to preserve Ryan Tannehill. He has been sacked 18 times in five starts against the Bills. The quarterback isn’t getting enough help from his running game — a season-low 50 yards at Detroit in Week 10 — and was on receiving end of multiple big hits in the past two games.

Short drops and instant decisions are Tannehill’s best friend, using TE Charles Clay and forgotten possession WR Brian Hartline as trusted outlets.

Bills rookie WR Sammy Watkins (groin) will start after being bothered last week by the leg injury. He had eight catches for 117 yards and a touchdown in the first meeting. With Watkins back, QB Kyle Orton might take a few more chances, but he ultimately wants to move the chains and play it safe to put the game in the hands of his defense.

*Matchup to watch — Dolphins LT Ja’Wuan James vs. Bills DE Jerry Hughes: The Bills lead the NFL with 34 sacks; Hughes has 10 of them, with teams preoccupied with containing DT Marcell Dareus and DE Mario Williams. Hughes can wreck a gameplan with his speed. Miami doesn’t often use maximum protection but it might in this game, as well as using double teams and chip blocks.

*Player spotlight — Bills RB Bryce Brown: He lost a critical fumble last week but Buffalo knows based on recent history the road to winning at Miami requires a strong running game, averaging 145 yards during coach Doug Marrone’s three-game winning streak. Being a dual threat is key in the Bills’ offense because they rely on short passes.

*Fast facts: Nine of the 11 teams in the AFC with winning records are ahead of Buffalo and Miami in the playoff race. … The Bills rank last in the NFL in red-zone efficiency (41.2 percent) and had five field goals in the first meeting.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

Dominant defense should produce a low-scoring game but the playoff implications push the slight edge to the home team on a short week.

*Our pick: Dolphins 19-16