The Bills have to deal with a quick turnaround after Sunday's victory as they travel to Miami to face the Dolphins in a Thursday night divisional matchup. Thursday's game starts at 8:15 pm on Prime Video and WKBW in Buffalo.

Under head coach Sean McDermott, the Bills are 13-2 (including the playoffs) against the Dolphins. The Dolphins are coming off a close 20-17 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"We have a ton of respect for them and they're well coached, very talented with the receivers," McDermott said before Wednesday's practice. "And it extends beyond the two receivers, so it'll be a high-level evening right there. They're very familiar with us, we think we have some with them, but it's just two good teams going against each other, and we look forward to it and I'm sure they are as well."

Bills QB Josh Allen wore a glove on his left-hand during practice after injuring it on Sunday, but was a full participant during practice, per the injury report. When reporters asked how his hand was, Allen said he was ready to go.

"Just trying to be as normal as possible," Allen said. "Felt like I threw it well today and was able to do all the things, so ready to go."

PREPARING FOR ALL-PRO PO

When Allen and the Bills land in Miami, they will see a familiar face in longtime S Jordan Poyer, who was a captain for the Bills defense in the 2023 season.

Poyer played for the Bills from 2017 through the 2023 season, catching 22 interceptions during his time. He also earned All-Pro Honors in 2021.

"I got a lot of love for him, so it's gonna be, it's gonna be fun," Allen said. "First and foremost, I think, you know, going against really good competitors and really good players is it brings out the best in people. But at the same time, like, there's gonna be some, some friendly jabs, and, you know, hopefully I just don't let him tackle me, or the other word, I won't even say it. So, you know, it's, it's fun to go against guys that you have a lot of love and respect for, and I've got a lot of love and respect for him… He's one of the best ever to put on a Bills uniform."

Multiple players, including DB Cam Lewis and LB Terrel Bernard, spoke about the love and respect that they have for Poyer, especially for teaching them the defense while they were coming into their own.

"Po was like a big brother to me," Bernard said. "He spent a lot of time helping, teach me this defense. Teaching me what it means to be a Bill. I've got a lot of love and respect for him, and you know I can't wait to see him. It's gonna be a fun competitive game, and I can't wait to get out there."

Lewis joked with reporters saying that Poyer better not get an interception.

"He better not pick the ball off or I'm gonna have to fight him," Lewis teased. "No, but it's gonna be good, man. I miss two-one, Big Po. He's been a big part of my development as a player, him and Micah (Hyde). You know, I miss those guys. But now we're enemies right now, Thursday, so it'll be all love after the game."

McDermott also spoke about the impact that Poyer had for the Bills defense and some of the difficulty that comes with a player that knows the defense so well.

"He knows so much of what we do. He's got the playbook, right? You know, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe I should've tried to get that from him before he left here," McDermott laughed. "I can't say enough good things about Jordan. I love him. I know we're playing against each other. I'm coaching against him this week. I just want the best for him and his family, always."

SPEED TO BURN

The Bills know that they will have their hands full when it comes to dealing with the speed that the Miami Dolphins possess on their offense, but Bernard and the defense are ready for the challenge that they present.

"I think the scheme that we're putting in just formation awareness and personnel awareness, … really how they're trying to get them the ball," Bernard said. "I think as long as we go into the game understanding that aspect of it, we can put a roof over it. We can get everybody to the ball and make them drive the length of the field, as opposed to creating big plays."

The pass rush will also face difficulty as Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is one of the fastest QBs when it comes to getting rid of the football quickly.

"Whenever it goes over 2.4 seconds, 2.5 seconds, we got to be there knowing that we won't get a lot of opportunities to rush," EDGE Von Miller said. "And obviously you want to, push the pocket, get in his face… But he is going to get the ball off fast. It's just whenever opportunity presents itself for us to rush and get back there, we got to make it work."

McDermott said on Tuesday the Bills will be without CB Taron Johnson who is dealing with a forearm injury. He is confident that his staff will be ready with the players that they have to step up when they are called upon.

"I think it's the way that we develop the players, hopefully not just the player but the person, with our development staff, our medical and training staff, our strength and conditioning," McDermott said. "And then you've gotta have the DNA for us to develop it too. Something as simple as being coachable is huge. It sounds pretty basic and not maybe sexy in this case… (Having ) guys like Cam (Lewis), love it. It's not just because of one person or one department but it's all of us working together."

DIVISION RIVALRY REIGNITED

The last time these two teams saw each other was Week 18 of the 2023 regular season when the Bills won 21-14 and secured their spot in the playoffs and won the AFC East. The Bills know how much this game can mean for them to get an early win in the division.

"Last year you saw it came down to the final game, so hopefully we can win column early this year and prevent that," C Connor McGovern said. "But it's always a big game, when we play divisional opponent."

Allen loves the rivalry within the AFC East and believes that it is all good for football.

"The AFC East is a tough division," Allen said. "We know that. I think everybody knows that. And to win this division, you gotta get a beat your in-division teams and rivals, and that's how we see it. So, we gotta just try to find a way to go 1-0 whatever way that may be."