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| Image Credit: AI-generated graphic by ChatGPT (OpenAI) |
Headline: Miami, September 19, 2025 — The NFL has seen several rivalries throughout the decades but few are so intense, emotional, and historic as the one between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins. The Bills vs Dolphins all-time record is not just a series of numbers on a scorecard, but it is the tale of several decades of rivalry, great players, nail benders, and the stigma and glory of two teams that shaped various periods of football in the AFC East.
The First Years of the Competition.
Miami Dolphins was established in 1966 and became members of the AFL before its entry into the NFL in 1970. The original AFL team, the Buffalo Bills, which started in 1960, already made a name as a hard competition. The competition took serious pace in the 1970s when the team under coach Don Shula took off the AFC East.
Between the years 1970 and 1980, Dolphin enjoyed massive winning series over Bills, winning 20 consecutive matches. This time is still one of the most imbalanced in the history of NFL rivalry. During those years, the Bills vs Dolphins all-time record was so much tilted towards Miami and the streak became a point of sourness with the buffalo fans.
The 1980s: A shift in power
The 1980s brought change. Although Miami was still competitive with a quarterback, Dan Marino, Buffalo was starting to re-invent itself with such players as Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas, and Bruce Smith. The competition became more intense with the Bills beginning to win more regularly and reverse the fortune in head-on battles.
At the start of the decade, the Bills vs Dolphins all-time record remained on the Miami side, but the margin had already started to decrease.
The 1990s: Buffalo’s Dominance
The 1990s can be remembered as the golden era in Buffalo. The Bills had four consecutive excellent bowls (19901993) under coach Marv Levy and the K-Gun offense of Jim Kelly. The Bills also enjoyed a huge advantage over the Dolphins in this decade, which also featured the playoffs.
A widely known encounter was in the 1990 AFC Divisional Round, when the Bills beat Miami 44, 34. The next major event was in 1992 when Buffalo defeated Dolphins 29-10 in the AFC title game and got their ticket to another Super Bowl.
In the 1990s, the competition was commonly a struggle to be the top AFC team, and the superiority of Buffalo helped tip the Bills Dolphins all-time record towards balance.
The 2000s: Contests on Both Teams.
The early 2000s was a challenging period for both franchises. Miami had it hard following the retirement of Marino, and Buffalo had to withstand playoff droughts. Although both teams were having a hard time, the competition did not erase its emotional value.
Both the Bills and the Dolphins did not always vie for the championships all through this time, yet matches between them were usually playoffs, particularly in the wild-card races.
The 2010s: A Competitive Balance.
The rivalry became hot again in the 2010s, as both sides demonstrated glimpses of competitiveness. Miami created a solid defense, whereas Buffalo started to recreate its team with draft picks and coaching decisions.
The news of the arrival of head coach Sean McDermott and quarterback Josh Allen in Buffalo welcomed a beginning. At the close of the decade, the Bills had started enjoying renewed momentum as a competitor, and with Allen with his might and athleticism, Buffalo became habitually playoff contenders.
The 2020s: New Competition in the AFC East.
The 20s of the 21st century have given a new push to the competition. Miami picked quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and the Bills turned into a powerhouse under Josh Allen. These two teams have since engaged in important matches that have involved playoff spots.
The recent games of Buffalo and Miami have become exciting and unpredictable due to dramatic attack by the former and defense by the latter. The all-time record of Bills vs Dolphins is very close, and each time they meet another chapter is added to this legendary rivalry.
Famous Competitors in the Industry.
Miami Dolphins:
Dan Marino, Larry Csonka, Jason Taylor, and Zach Thomas.
Buffalo Bills:
Bruce Smith, Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Stefon Diggs, and Josh Allen.
All these stars provided drama to games and made their mark in the history of the rivalry.
Statistical Breakdown:
The Bills vs Dolphins all-time record according to the latest 2025 season standings is almost even, with each of these teams alternating supremacy over the various decades. The early runs of Miami put them at the lead, yet the good performance of the Buffalo in the 1990s and 2020s has put the two on equal terms.
Total Games Played: 120+
Wins in Miami:
Little advantage in the initial history of the rivalry.
Buffalo Wins:
Huge relative gain of last several decades.
Meetings in the playoff:
5 (Buffalo leads the postseason history).
Fan Perspective:
To the fans in Buffalo and Miami, this competition is not about football but about pride, identity and history. Defeating Miami is particular in Western New York and defeating Buffalo is the opportunity to experience the glory of the Shula and Marino years once again in South Florida.
Looking Ahead
However, the 2025 NFL season is in progress, and both teams are looking forward to the playoffs. Buffalo still has a high-tempo offense led by Josh Allen, but Miami is hoping Tua Tagovailoa and their electric receiving group can eventually be the source of consistency. The subsequent several games can turn out to be decisive in the context of the current AFC East competition, as well as the future of the rivalry.
The Bills vs Dolphins all-time record will continue to change, yet one thing is definite, and that is, the rivalry between the two is one of the most passionate, dramatic and historical rivalries in NFL history.