<
        >

          NFL Nation

          Dolphins' defense gearing up to slow down Bills' LeSean McCoy

          Bills running back LeSean McCoy needs just 39 rushing yards to reach the milestone of 10,000 rushing yards in his career. Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire
          • James Walker, ESPN Staff WriterDec 14, 2017, 07:30 PM
            Close
            • A Temple graduate and Hyattsville, Maryland, native who lives in Miami
            • Joined ESPN in 2008
            Follow on X

          DAVIE, Fla. -- Coaches rarely make pre-game predictions, but Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Matt Burke offered one for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills.

          “[LeSean McCoy] is going to make somebody miss -- you can write that one down now,” Burke said. “Someone is going to miss a tackle in this game.”

          In order for the Dolphins (6-7) to win their third straight game -- and keep alive their slim playoff hopes -- they know they have to stop Buffalo’s five-time Pro Bowl running back.

          McCoy needs just 39 rushing yards to reach the milestone of 10,000 rushing yards in his career. That likely will come Sunday against Miami. But the Dolphins want to make sure McCoy doesn’t reel off his signature big runs that demoralize defenses.

          The Bills are 7-6 and currently hold the final wild-card spot in the AFC. It’s no secret they are going to ride McCoy down the stretch. He is coming off a season-high 156 rushing yards and a touchdown in Buffalo’s overtime win last week over the Indianapolis Colts.

          “It’s going to be a team effort, obviously,” Burke said. “I think he’s the best in the league at making people miss. He’s unpredictable in terms of where he’s taking runs. He’ll jump cut and bounce pretty much anything. Everyone is going one way and he’ll stop on a dime and take it back the other way. It’s not going to be a one-man thing.”

          Here are some other notes Thursday for Miami:

          • The Dolphins hope to get running back Damien Williams back for Sunday’s game. Williams missed the past two weeks with a shoulder injury that he suffered in a Nov. 19 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is currently Miami's third-leading rusher.

          • Dolphins Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh played all 61 snaps last week against the Patriots. He registered three tackles, a sack and two additional quarterback hits.

          • Miami receivers Jarvis Landry (745 yards) and Kenny Stills (751 yards) have a chance to both get 1,000-receiving yards this season. It would be an impressive feat considering the Dolphins have had quarterback injuries and issues this season.