For Tyreek Hill and the Miami Dolphins, this week involves managing personal challenges alongside the responsibilities of professional football. Hill has become a focal point in a nationwide conversation regarding police use of force, following an incident where Miami-Dade County police officers pulled him from his sports car, forced him face-down on the street, and handcuffed him during a traffic stop near the Dolphins’ home stadium.
Just hours before the Dolphins kicked off their season, Tyreek Hill was involved in a police incident, but he later took to the field and caught an 80-yard touchdown, helping Miami stage a comeback win against Jacksonville. Hill celebrated by pretending to be handcuffed. Now, Hill and the Dolphins must regroup to face the Buffalo Bills, who have won 13 of the last 15 matchups between the two teams.
Hill described the upcoming Thursday night AFC East rivalry game as a way to cope with the “shell-shocking” events he recently experienced, stating, “Football is how I escape from a lot of things. It’s how I separate myself from past traumas. I’m not going to mix the two.”
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa highlighted the importance of the game but stressed the need for perspective, saying, “When we act like football is the most important thing, we lose sight that what Tyreek went through is something many people face. That’s a life thing.”
The Bills have dominated the Dolphins in recent years, averaging 31.7 points against them since head coach Sean McDermott’s arrival in 2017. Quarterback Josh Allen has been named AFC Player of the Week five times after playing Miami, boasting an 11-2 record with 41 touchdown passes against the Dolphins.
