Battle for the AFC East: Bills vs. Dolphins Games & Rivalry History

Update (August 10): This article has been updated with the latest matchup information for Bills vs. Dolphins.

When Do the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins Play Next?

The Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins face off twice during the 2026 NFL regular season. Beyond the two rivalry matchups below, find Buffalo Bills tickets and Miami Dolphins tickets on their respective team pages, along with schedule information.

• Sunday, November 22, 2026: Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills – Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, New York at 1:00 p.m. ET
• Sunday, January 3, 2027: Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida at 1:00 p.m. ET

Are the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins Rivals?

Yes, the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins have a rivalry within the National Football League. Both the Bills and the Dolphins compete for supremacy within the AFC East, and play each other twice a season. The winner of the AFC East gets an automatic bid into the NFL playoffs, which adds a layer of ferocity to the rivalry between these two historic clubs. Both clubs have also had recent success, so the competitiveness of their rivalry has increased a notch.

Who are the Buffalo Bills’ Biggest Rivals?

The Buffalo Bills’ biggest rivals are their foes that they share the AFC East with: The Miami Dolphins, the New England Patriots and the New York Jets. The rivalries with the Patriots and Jets are also fiercely competitive because they are also geographically-based, meaning the three clubs compete with one another for fans as well as bragging rights. The Bills also have historic rivalries with the Tennessee Titans, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Who are the Miami Dolphins’ Biggest Rivals?

Despite being the geographical outlier, the Miami Dolphins’ biggest rivals are their peers in the AFC East: the Buffalo Bills, the New England Patriots and the New York Jets. The Dolphins also have geographic rivalries with their fellow Sunshine State franchises: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Finally, the Dolphins have historic rivalries with the Indianapolis Colts and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Game Results Between the Bills & Dolphins

The Bills and Dolphins played their first game against one another on September 18, 1966 when the Bills thumped Miami, 58-24. Between 1966 and 2025, the two franchises met 125 times, with Miami holding a narrow head-to-head edge: 63-61-1. However, Buffalo has handled Miami comfortably in playoff matchups, winning four out of five games against the Dolphins, including the 1992 AFC Championship game.

Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins History

The history between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins dates back to a rivalry that began brewing in the American Football League. Buffalo beat Miami in their first two games against each other by a combined score of 87-24. However, Miami exacted their revenge, winning three out of the next four games. Thus, the rivalry began.

Following the NFL–AFL merger, Miami went on one of the most impressive runs of dominance across the NFL. However, the Dolphins’ dominance of the Bills was especially impressive: Miami won all 20 games against Buffalo in the 1970s, a perfect 20-0. They won games in every form and fashion, from the 1971 dominance at home 34-0 to the 1979 escape at Buffalo 9-7.

Things evened out in the ’80s, with Buffalo claiming nine out of 20 games, then Buffalo went on a run of dominance in the NFL of their own. While they have never claimed a Super Bowl title, Buffalo won four consecutive AFC Championship titles and in doing so, beat Miami 15 out of 24 times. This also included three playoff victories over the Dolphins.

Entering 2026, Buffalo has continued their impressive run against Miami, winning 11 out of 13 games since 2020. While Miami beat Buffalo 21-19 at home in 2022 to split the regular season head-to-head, the Bills got their revenge in the AFC Wild Card Round, winning 34-31.

Where Do the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins Play?

Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens outside of Miami-Dade has been the home of the Miami Dolphins since 1987. The stadium has a unique, flat-top roof with four spires and an open roof. With a maximum stadium capacity of 80,120 (record-setting at the 2013 BCS National Championship Game), the stadium has hosted a number of additional events outside of Dolphins home games, including the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, the Miami Hurricanes football team, and the Orange Bowl.

The Buffalo Bills play at Highmark Stadium, which opened in 2026. Located south of downtown Buffalo in Orchard Park, New York, Highmark Stadium upholds the Bills’ legacy for harsh winters and snow games with its open-roof design. Highmark Stadium holds a seating capacity of 60,108, which can expand up to 66,000 with standing room.

How can I buy last-minute Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins tickets?

Looking for last-minute tickets to Bills vs. Dolphins today? Ticketmaster is a great place to buy last-minute tickets to Bills vs. Dolphins games. If you’re shopping for Bills vs. Dolphins tickets tonight, all NFL tickets purchased through Ticketmaster are 100% verified and instantly delivered to your phone — so you can buy tickets right up until kickoff. You can also view available seats and purchase last-minute Bills vs. Dolphins tickets this weekend on Ticketmaster up to an hour after kickoff.

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