NFL

Bills 31, Dolphins 10

Entering last evening, this contest figured to be a closely-contested battle of two AFC East heavyweights. It was far from that.

The Bills, through two games, look to be the second-best team in the loaded AFC. Sure, Buffalo defeated a rebuilding Arizona team in Week 1 and a flat Miami team last night, but the Bills are firing on all cylinders, despite significant shakeups over the offseason.

The one constant on Buffalo’s roster, though, is Josh Allen. The quarterback entered 2024 as the best signal-caller in football this side of Patrick Mahomes, and this could finally be the year Allen takes home MVP honors. The passer, for the second game in a row, didn’t stuff the stat sheet through the air, but still dominated. Allen finished 13-for-19 for 139 yards and a touchdown.

It’s going to be a committee approach in terms of who catches balls from Allen this season, but if last night was any indication, James Cook will be the lead dog among Buffalo’s skill position players on offense. Cook totaled three scores in the first half of this win.

With Matt Milano already potentially sidelined for the season, the Bills had a few questions at linebacker. Those questions will now be exacerbated after Terrel Bernard left this contest with an injury. Moving forward, Sean McDermott’s defense will need to lean on its front, with Greg Rousseau, Ed Oliver and Von Miller assuming more responsibility. Oliver tallied three tackles and a sack last night.

On the surface, Miami is in decent shape — 1-1 is nothing to worry over — but Tua Tagovailoa’s health is concern No. 1 in South Florida. Losses to division rivals can be overcome. Traumatic brain injuries cannot.

At this juncture, it’s fair to wonder when the quarterback will return. Week 3 at Seattle is almost certainly a no, and considering Tagovailoa’s worrisome history with head injuries, a lengthy absence is in play. Before he exited this loss, the 26-year-old struggled, going 17-for-25 for 145 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.

Tagovailoa was a problem for the Dolphins last night, to be sure, but he didn’t receive much help. Miami’s front struggled to pass protect all night — a substantial dip from the unit’s strong performance in Week 1. Mike McDaniel will need more from Terron Armstead and his cohorts next week.

NCAAB

2025 five-star SG Isiah Harwell commits to Houston

In recent years, Houston has established itself as a top program in the country under Kelvin Sampson. Five consecutive Sweet 16 appearances will do that, but one thing missing for the Cougars — for the most part — has been landing blue-chip recruits out of high school. Sampson added Jarace Walker in 2022 as a five-star prospect, and now Harwell, the No. 10 recruit for 2025, follows. If Houston maintains its elite culture, while starting to recruit at a higher level, the program will have a good chance at winning its first national championship.

MLB

Cardinals 6, Reds 1

It’s been a middling season at best for the Cardinals, but Andrew Kittredge has been an unsung success in his first season in St. Louis. After spending parts of seven seasons with the Rays, the right-hander has emerged as a weapon out of the Cardinals’ bullpen. Kittredge recorded five outs in this win, earning him hold No. 33 of 2024.

Rockies 4, Tigers 2

Detroit was surging in the AL wild-card chase, but it gave this contest away. At 75-72, the Tigers need every win they can get, particularly games at home versus cellar dwellers like the Rockies. A.J. Hinch will likely lament plenty of things from this affair, but how about just four hits for Detroit against a Colorado team that has allowed 839 runs this season?

Astros 6, Athletics 3

Every conversation centered around the best offensive catchers in MLB needs to include Yainer Diaz. The 25-year-old started slow this year, but after finishing 3-for-4 yesterday, Diaz is hitting .301. This outburst comes a season after the catcher batted .282 as a rookie. Buy stock in Diaz.