Returning Dolphins linebacker could be a difference maker

Even though the game might come down to how the Dolphins secondary plans to cover Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs in the absence of Miami cornerback Xavien Howard, who has been ruled out, the addition of Baker does carry important implications.

"The biggest challenge after missing four games with the sprained MCL is the speed of it, getting back out there," Dolphins LBs coach Anthony Campanile said, per the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's David Furones. "The benefit is he’s super smart, elite-level smart. It gives you a level of comfort as a coach."

Baker, a third-round draft choice out of Ohio State in 2018 by Miami, is the signal caller for the Dolphins and his six years of experience will help a defensive unit that must figure out how to deal with Bills quarterback Josh Allen. 

"Allen is just a beast of a guy, a physical specimen like John Elway was in the mid-80s to the mid-90s," Fangio said, per ESPNs Marcel Louis-Jacques. "He's just bigger, faster, cannon for an arm, tough."

With the Dolphins losing multiple Pro Bowl-caliber defenders to injury every week, the return of Baker should be a difference-maker for a team desperate to get a home playoff game, which will happen with a win against Buffalo.

Duke Riley substituted in for Baker over the last four weeks, but struggled mightily in coverage during the Dolphins blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday. Baker could be instrumental in implementing Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's scheme and should be an upgrade over Riley when covering Allen favorites in tight ends Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid.

Baker, who has recorded over 100 tackles in three campaigns, is also strong in run support and his insertion back into the lineup gives the Bills something to digest on short notice.