The Buffalo Bills wrapped up the 2020 regular season with an absolute dominating performance against Miami, downing the Dolphins 56-26 at Bills Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
All the Bills had to do to clinch the No. 2 seed in the AFC Playoffs on Sunday was beat the Dolphins, and they took care of business. Buffalo will now not only host a first round playoff game, but will also have home-field advantage in the Divisional Round, should the Bills advance past Wild Card Weekend.
Buffalo's offense got off to a bit of a slow start, despite quarterback Josh Allen completing his first three passes on the opening drive. Everything looked to be clicking early on, but, the series was quickly thwarted by a Byron Jones interception near the sideline, turning the ball over to Miami.
The Dolphins would settle for a 49-yard field goal from Jason Sanders following Jones' pick. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds picked up his second sack of the season, with some help from defensive end Trent Murphy on third down to help hold Miami to just three points.
Allen bounced back from the interception early in the second quarter, connecting with wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie for a seven-yard touchdown, giving Buffalo a 7-3 lead. Allen also broke the franchise record for passing yards in a single season on the scoring drive with a six-yard completion to Devin Singletary.
Allen found McKenzie in the end zone again later in the quarter with a 14-yard pass to extend the lead to 14-3. The Bills drove 88 yards in eight plays in under three minutes to make it a two-score game.
The Isaiah McKenzie show wasn't over with just the pair of receiving scores. The receiver added to his already impressive performance with an 84-yard punt return touchdown, the first by a Bills player since 2014, stretching the lead to 21-3 with 5:22 remaining until halftime. McKenzie finished the game with six catches for 65 yards to go along with his two scores.
Miami managed to get inside Buffalo's red zone on the ensuing drive, but left points on the board, settling for another field goal from Sanders to cut the deficit to 21-6 late in the first half.
To some surprise, Allen returned to the field for the Bills' final drive of the second quarter. No. 17 and the offense struck quickly, going on a four-play scoring drive in under a minute of game time. Allen hit wide receiver John Brown with a bullet of a throw for a 32-yard touchdown, giving Buffalo a 28-6 lead with a minute left in the quarter. It was a lead the Bills would take into the locker room at halftime.
Allen's afternoon was over at halftime.
In just two quarters, Allen went 18-for-25, throwing for 224 yards and three touchdowns along with an interception. Brown, in his first game since Week 10, caught four passes for 72 yards along with his touchdown.
Stefon Diggs, who had a relatively quiet day, also rested the entire second half. Diggs still managed to lead all Buffalo receivers in catches, finishing with seven grabs for 76 yards.
Diggs also finishes the regular season as the league leader in receptions (127) and reception yards (1,535). It's the first time in franchise history a Bills player has led the NFL in catches or receiving yards in a single season. Diggs' 127 receptions in 2020 are also the sixth-most in a single season in National Football League history.
The Dolphins opened up the second half with their first touchdown drive of the afternoon. Myles Gaskin found the end zone on a one-yard run to cap the nine-play possession.
With the offense and special teams accounting for points already, the Buffalo defense stepped up and got in on the scoring as well. On Miami's first offensive play since Gaskin's touchdown, cornerback Josh Norman intercepted a Tua Tagovailoa pass and returned it 16 yards for a pick-six score, extending the Bills' lead to 35-13 midway through the third quarter.
Buffalo added to its lead early in the fourth quarter with an 18-yard touchdown run from Antonio Williams, the first of the rookie's career.
Matt Barkley, who took over quarterback duties for Allen in the second half, threw a beautiful pass to Gabriel Davis for a 51-yard gain that set up Williams' touchdown run. A pair of interceptions by safety Dean Marlowe bookended the running back's score as well.
Ironically, Williams would run for his second touchdown of the game not too long after Marlowe's second pick, extending Buffalo's lead to 49-13 with 11:55 to play.
Miami found the end zone two more times in the final 8:40 of the game. However, Barkley hooked up with Davis once again on a deep ball, this one a 56-yard toss that ended in Davis running into the end zone. The receiver's score gave the Bills a 56-19 lead with 6:18 to go.
Tagovailoa threw his only touchdown pass of the game with 2:47 left, a 25-yard throw to Malcolm Perry, making the score 56-26.
With the victory, the Bills finish the regular season with a record of 13-3, tying a franchise record for wins in a season and matching the team's best tally since 1991. Buffalo also finishes the regular season with a 7-1 record at home (with the only loss coming to the Kansas City Chiefs) and a 6-0 tally against AFC East teams, marking the first time they've ever finished a season undefeated against divisional opponents.
Buffalo has now won nine of its last 10 games, including six-consecutive victories. The hottest team in the NFL, arguably, now will gear up for the playoffs and the franchise's first home postseason game since December of 1996.
GAME SUMMARY
First Quarter:
- 3-0 MIAMI – Dolphins field goal (8:07) – Jason Sanders’ 49-yard field goal attempt is good
Drive info: 6 plays, 10 yards, 2:35
Second Quarter:
- 7-3 BUFFALO – Bills touchdown (12:09) – Josh Allen passes to Isaiah McKenzie for a seven-yard touchdown (Tyler Bass’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 7 plays, 50 yards, 3:19
- 14-3 BUFFALO – Bills touchdown (6:56) – Josh Allen passes to Isaiah McKenzie for a 14-yard touchdown (Tyler Bass’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 8 plays, 88 yards, 2:47
- 21-3 BUFFALO – Bills touchdown (5:22) – Isaiah McKenzie returns a punt for an 84-yard touchdown (Tyler Bass’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 3 plays, 4 yards, 1:34
- 21-6 BUFFALO – Dolphins field goal (1:44) – Jason Sanders’ 32-yard field goal attempt is good
Drive info: 9 plays, 61 yards, 3:38
- 28-6 BUFFALO – Bills touchdown (1:00) – Josh Allen passes to John Brown for a 32-yard touchdown (Tyler Bass’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 4 plays, 75 yards, 0:44
Third Quarter:
- 28-13 BUFFALO – Dolphins touchdown (11:08) – Myles Gaskin rushes for a one-yard touchdown (Jason Sanders’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:52
- 35-13 BUFFALO – Bills touchdown (8:20) – Josh Norman intercepts Tua Tagovailoa and returns it for a 16-yard touchdown (Tyler Bass’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 1 plays, 0 yards, 0:08
Fourth Quarter:
- 42-13 BUFFALO – Bills touchdown (13:44) – Antonio Williams rushes for an 18-yard touchdown (Tyler Bass’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 5 plays, 79 yards, 2:45
- 49-13 BUFFALO – Bills touchdown (11:55) – Antonio Williams rushes for a two-yard touchdown (Tyler Bass’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 3 plays, 25 yards, 1:37
- 49-19 BUFFALO – Dolphins touchdown (8:40) – Salvon Ahmed rushes for a 16-yard touchdown (Tua Tagovailoa’s pass to Devante Parker is incomplete, two-point conversion attempt is no good)
Drive info: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:15
- 56-19 BUFFALO – Bills touchdown (6:18) – Matt Barkley passes to Gabriel Davis for a 56-yard touchdown (Tyler Bass’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 1 plays, 56 yards, 0:09
- 56-26 BUFFALO – Dolphins touchdown (2:47) – Tua Tagovailoa passes to Malcolm Perry for a 25-yard touchdown (Jason Sanders’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:31
SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
The Bills will take on the No. 7 seed Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs next weekend. Indianapolis, coached by former Bills quarterback Frank Reich, defeated Jacksonville in Week 17, 28-14, to finish 11-5 and clinch the final playoff spot in the AFC.