Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - It didn’t play out the way most envisioned, but the Buffalo Bills survived the AFC Wild Card Round with a 34–31 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
The win for Buffalo helps the team advance to the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs for the third-consecutive season.
When they win, regardless of how it happened, I get to start with my playoff Arrows Up:
ARROW UP:
Kaiir Elam interception
With the Bills down 24-20 midway though in the third quarter and the Dolphins facing 3rd-and-19, the rookie stepped up in a big way with an interception to get the ball back.
That play helped set the Bills up for the go-ahead touchdown.
DE - Boogie Basham
The Bills' second-year defensive end it was all over the field, and in the Dolphins backfield consistently.
Basham finished with five total tackles, including a sack, plus two quarterback hurries.
LB - Matt Milano
Just days after being named an AP First-Team All-Pro, Milano showed why he’s such an important piece of the Bills defense.
Milano finished Sunday's Wild Card game with 10 total tackles, including two sacks, and added three quarterback hurries.
Devin Singletary’s final run
With the Bills needing a first down to close out the game, or possibly have to give the ball back to the Dolphins with just 30 seconds left, Singletary powered forward and carried three defenders with him for a first down that sealed the win.
Stefon Diggs’ first half
Diggs was terrific in the first half, catching seven passes for 114 yards.
WR - Gabe Davis
“Playoff Gabe” showed up with a six-catch, 116-yard performance, which included a terrific catch for, what wound up being, the game-winning score.
QB - Josh Allen
Allen had a few passes he’d like back, but finished with 352 yards passing, including three touchdowns. He also added 20 yards rushing for a 372-yard day.
Total defense
The Bills allowed only 231 yards of total offense by the Dolphins, who averaged a woeful 3.3 yards per-play and went only 4-for-16 (25%) on third down.
The Dolphins had only 42 yards on the ground, averaging just 2.1 yards per-carry.
Penalties
The Bills were penalized just twice for 13 yards.
Red zone offense
The Bills scored 3-for-4 (75%) times inside the Miami 20-yard line.
ARROW DOWN:
Tyler Bass kickoff
Just after the Bills made it 17-0, Bass miskicked the ball on the kickoff, which caused it to go out of bounds. That gave the Dolphins terrific field position at their on 40-yard line, and they later scored a field goal on their next drive.
Dawson Knox drop
The Bills were ready to go up 21-0 when Josh Allen stepped up and hit Knox for, what would have been, a second touchdown catch. However, Knox bobbled the ball just slightly, causing it to touch the ground. It was called incomplete, and the Bills were forced to settle for a field goal.
Khalil Shakir drop
With just inside two minutes remaining in the first half and facing a 3rd-and-8, Allen launched a rocket to Shakir for, what would have been, a huge 54-yard gain. However, the rookie dropped it.
The Bills were then forced to punt.
Second quarter
The Bills led 17-0 with 12:46 left in the second quarter.
From there, several self-inflicted moves, including drops and special teams mistakes, allowed the Dolphins to score 17 points to tie the game.
Miami scored on four-straight possessions in the quarter.
No Diggs in second half
After Diggs caught seven passes for 114 yards in the first half, he was completely shut out in the second half, and only had one target over the final two quarters.
Seven sacks allowed!
Pass protection was an issue for the Bills' offensive line. They allowed seven sacks on the afternoon of Allen.
Running game
While the Bills did run for 107 yards overall, they only averaged 4.1 yards per-carry.
Play calling when up in fourth quarter
With the Bills leading by three points in the fourth quarter, they received the ball with 10:53 remaining. Allen took too deep shots to Davis that fell incomplete, and then was sacked on third down.
The Bills punted the ball away after three plays and only 59 seconds off the clock.
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