Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - For the second time this season, the Buffalo Bills earn a key divisional win over the Miami Dolphins, and did so in dramatic fashion thanks to kicker Tyler Bass.
Despite some struggles already this season, the veteran kicker came up in the clutch with a late 61-yard go-ahead field goal to help secure a 30-27 win over the Dolphins on Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
The Bills received the opening kickoff, but the drive did not go as planned with a three-and-out. After a solid punt by Sam Martin, the Dolphins got to work within their own 20-yard line.
Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins offense moved down the field for a first down on their opening drive, but that was about it. The Bills defense stood thanks to a Greg Rousseau sack and Rasul Douglas pass breakup to force a punt.
Allen and the Bills were able to paper cut their way down the field on the following drive, eventually putting the first points on the board. The Miami defense made their stand and on a third down run by Allen, forcing a 40-yard field goal attempt from Bass.
In an attempt to keep pace with Buffalo, Tagovailoa and company sliced their way through the Bills defense, setting themselves up to score their first points of the game. Buffalo made their stand, though, as safety Taylor Rapp and defensive tackle Eli Ankou stuffed a third down run by Raheem Mostert, setting up a 39-yard field goal from Jason Sanders to tie the game at 3-3.
As the second quarter began, the Bills offense finally found a rhythm. They were able to carve their way again through the Miami defense and get back into scoring range.
Unfortunately for Buffalo, the drive ended inside the Dolphins' red zone without any points on the board due to a costly turnover. Allen looked to rookie Keon Coleman on an option route, but the pass went right through the wide receiver's hands. After the ball bobbled around for a brief moment, veteran Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey snatched it out of the air to come away with an interception.
The Dolphins then made the Bills pay on the turnover, driving 95 yards down the field, mostly thanks to Mostert and De'Von Achane in the backfield. Miami finally found pay dirt with Tagovailoa connecting with Achane for a 14-yard touchdown pass.
Needing a quick answer as the first half drew to a close, the Buffalo offense did get back into scoring position, and thought they had a touchdown of their own to tie the game. However, a pair of questionable holding calls, including on an Allen 15-yard run that would've been a touchdown, pushed the Bills back and forced Buffalo to settle for a 49-yard Bass field goal.
Both teams entered the locker room for halftime with the Bills trailing Miami, 10-6, and the Dolphins opening the third quarter with the football.
Just three plays into Miami's opening drive of the second half, the Dolphins were able to get past midfield once again thanks to Mostert. However, that's as far as the Dolphins got after Bills nickel cornerback Taron Johnson punched the ball out, forcing a fumble that was recovered by cornerback Kaiir Elam.
And just like the Dolphins in the second quarter, the Bills made Miami pay on the following offensive drive.
In 11 plays that chewed 6:23 off the third quarter clock, the Bills took the lead thanks to an Allen one-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mack Hollins with the team facing a 4th-and-goal situation.
The Bills were only able to add six points on the scoreboard, though, as Bass ended up missing his extra point attempt wide to the left.
This started a back-and-forth slugfest between the Bills and Dolphins that would last throughout the remainder of the game.
The Dolphins continued to run the ball all over the Bills, as the Buffalo defense could not contain either Mostert or Achane. Meanwhile, the passing game for Miami seemed non-existent until Tagovailoa took a deep shot to connect with wideout Tyreek Hill for a 28-yard gain.
However, Miami ended up only getting as far as the Bills' three-yard line, setting up a go-ahead 29-yard field goal from Sanders to give the Dolphins a 13-12 advantage.
It was a very quick answer for Buffalo, and it was rookie running back Ray Davis doing much of the heavy lifting.
After a seven-yard run to begin the drive, Davis then took it the rest of the way on the very next play, reeling in a short Allen pass and turning it into a 63-yard touchdown.
Looking to extend the lead back to seven, the Bills went for the two-point conversion, which Allen successfully converted by finding Coleman in the back of the end zone to make the score 20-13.
Miami continued to run the ball successfully and move down the field, back into scoring position. After converting a fourth down thanks to Tagovailoa on the ground, Achane finished the drive off with an eight-yard touchdown run for his second score of the afternoon.
On the next Buffalo drive, the offense went on another longer drive that chewed away 5:56 of game clock in the fourth quarter. This drive ended up with the Bills re-taking the lead when Allen flipped a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Quintin Morris.
Bass' extra point almost missed again, but it hit the inside of the left upright and banked in to give Buffalo a 27-20 lead with 6:18 remaining in regulation.
Miami, once again, stuck to the run on their next drive, cutting through the Bills defense like a hot knife through butter. Tagovailoa was able to mix in a couple of big connections through the air with Hill for 19 yards and another 18-yard pass to Achane.
Then with less than two minutes remaining on the clock, Tagovailoa was able to help even the score again with a seven-yard strike to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. Sanders' extra point attempt made the score 27-27 with just 1:38 remaining on the clock.
That gave the Bills just enough time to get into scoring position, and set Bass up for the game-winning kick with time running out on the clock.
The Dolphins had their chance to force a Buffalo punt and take over with some time remaining on the clock, but a third down unnecessary roughness penalty on former Bills safety Jordan Poyer extended the drive for the home team.
Eventually, the Bills got as far as the Miami 43-yard line with 10 seconds remaining on the clock for Bass to seal the deal with a franchise record 61-yard field goal. Even through the struggles earlier in the game, Bass was able to stay composed and kick the ball right through the middle of the uprights and with plenty of distance to give the Bills a 30-27 lead.
Following the kickoff, Miami was only able to work with five seconds on the clock. After connecting short with Achane, the Dolphins resorted to the lateral game to try and get the ball downfield for a game-winning touchdown. However, Rousseau was able to seal the Bills win with a big tackle of Waddle for a huge loss deep in Miami territory.
With the win, the Bills improve to 7-2 on the 2024 season, a feat that hasn't been reached since the 2020 season. It also helped Buffalo complete the season series sweep of the Dolphins following a win earlier this year in Week 2 in Miami.
----------
Game Summary:
First Quarter:
- 3-0 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (6:34) - Tyler Bass' 40 yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 7 plays, 15 yards, 3:53
- 3-3: Dolphins field goal (1:23) - Jason Sander's 39-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 10 plays, 49 yards, 5:07
Second Quarter:
- 10-3 MIAMI: Dolphins touchdown (3:26) - Tua Tagovailoa passes short to De'Von Achane for a 14-yard touchdown. (Jason Sanders' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 15 plays, 97 yards, 8:21
- 10-6 MIAMI: Bills field goal (0:12) - Tyler Bass' 49-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 16 plays, 39 yards, 3:08
Third Quarter:
- 12-10 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (7:20) - Josh Allen passes short and to the left to Mack Hollins for a 1-yard touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is no good)
Drive info: 11 plays, 64 yards, 4:18
- 13-12 MIAMI: Dolphins field goal (3:02) - Jason Sanders' 23-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 10 plays, 65 yards, 4:18
- 20-13 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (2:17) - Josh Allen connects with Ray Davis for a 63-yard touchdown. (Buffalo's two-point conversion attempt is successful)
Drive info: 2 plays, 70 yards, 0:52
Fourth Quarter:
- 20-20: Dolphins touchdown (12:20) - De'Von Achane rushes to the right for an 8-yard touchdown. (Jason Sanders' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 10 plays, 70 yards, 4:53
- 27-20 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (6:24) - Josh Allen passes short to Quinten Morris for a 1-yard touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 11 plays, 70 yards, 5:56
- 27-27: Miami touchdown (1:45) - Tua Tagavailoa passes short to Jalen Waddle for a 7-yard touchdown. (Jason Sanders' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 11 plays, 81 yards, 4:36
- 30-27 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (0:10) - Tyler Bass' 61-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 11 plays, 27 yards, 1:28
----------
SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
----------
Up next: The Bills head to Indianapolis to take on the Colts next Sunday with a 1:00pm kickoff. Looking to put another one in the win column.
The Bills head back on the road next Sunday to face the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. EST, and can be heard on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.