There was once a time when the Miami Dolphins were perceivably within striking distance of the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East.

Scratch that. They once had the Bills on verge of falling short of the division crown and booting them from the playoffs all together.

The year was 2023, and Miami had a three-game lead in the AFC East with five weeks remaining in the season. The Dolphins were given a 99 percent chance of winning the division at that point.

But a nightmarish blown two-touchdown lead late on a December Monday night sparked the downfall in 2023 that was capped by a home loss against the Bills to surrender the stronghold once held on the division that year.

The Bills have won five consecutive AFC East crowns. The Dolphins haven’t won the division since 2008.

And optimism isn’t h

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