McDaniel steady as 0-2 Dolphins prepare for prime-time clash with Bills.

The Miami Dolphins are off to a rocky 0-2 start, with fans flying banners calling for Mike McDaniel’s job and a short week ahead of a trip to Buffalo — a place he’s yet to win as head coach. Through it all, McDaniel insists he’s unfazed.

“Buffalo,” McDaniel said when asked about the outside noise. “This business is result-based. My job is to focus on Buffalo and the Miami Dolphins.”

That focus will be tested Thursday night in prime time against the five-time defending AFC East champion Bills (2-0), who have beaten Miami 13 times in their last 14 meetings. The Dolphins haven’t won in Buffalo since 2016.

Miami’s offense, once McDaniel’s calling card, has sputtered after a 2-6 finish last season cost them a playoff spot. The Dolphins opened 2025 with a 33-8 flop in Indianapolis and followed with a mistake-filled 33-27 loss to New England. Communication breakdowns, sloppy execution, and defensive lapses have been glaring.

The defense, once a top-five unit, has been especially troubling — ranked 26th overall and giving up 33 points per game. Opponents have scored on 13 of 15 possessions, not counting kneel-downs. “I feel like we’re either too conservative or not sound enough up front,” tackle Zach Sieler admitted.

The Bills, meanwhile, look sharp. Josh Allen, last year’s MVP, rallied Buffalo from 15 down in Week 1 against Baltimore and coasted past the Jets in Week 2. He’s 12-2 lifetime against Miami with 37 touchdown passes — his most against any opponent. Still, Allen brushed off history. “None of that matters,” he said. “It doesn’t have any bearing on this week.”

Allen will wear a visor Thursday after bruising his nose last week, joking he’s now “the third Bosa brother.” His coach, Sean McDermott, dismissed Miami’s struggles as irrelevant to Buffalo’s preparation. “It’s an unfortunate part of our business for anyone to go through,” he said of McDaniel’s job speculation. “We focus on improving every day.”

McDaniel, who grew up watching the Dolphins-Bills rivalry in the early 1990s, knows what to expect from Buffalo’s fans. “They’re nice people who black out during football,” he said with a grin. “They say a lot of things.”

For Miami, Thursday night is more than just Week 3. It’s a chance to reset their season — and perhaps quiet the turbulence swirling around their head coach.