Miami Gardens, Fla. (WGR Sports Radio550) - For the first time since September 2022, the Buffalo Bills find themselves on the losing end of a matchup with their AFC East rival Miami Dolphins, and this time, it wasn't pretty.
The Bills appeared disjointed offensively from the start, and failed to produce much of anything until it was far too late in a 30-13 loss on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida.
The Bills opened the game kicking off into the endzone to the Dolphins as Tua Tagovailoa and the offense started the game at their own 25-yard line and the defense came up with an interception by Cole Bishop.
After both offenses started off with no points, the Dolphins found the endzone first with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to Malik Washington.
With the Bills offense continuing to stall in the first half of the game, the Dolphins offense took advantage scoring the second touchdown with a 38-yard touchdown pass caught by Jaylen Waddle.
The Dolphins offense continued to march down the field when given possession but the Bills defense were able to hold them to just a field goal to go down 16 points with three minutes left in the first half.
The Bills offense again continued to struggle throughout the game and jogged off the field without scoring any points in the first half down 16-0.
Both offenses for each team stalled out during the third quarter as they each could not find the endzone heading into the final 15-minutes of the game.
After a completely silent third quarter Josh Allen and the offense were finally able to find the endzone to begin the fourth quarter as he connected with Keon Coleman for a 35-yard touchdown pass.
Following the Bills first score of the game their defense came up big with an interception by Maxwell Hairston half way through the fourth quarter to give the team a chance to get back into the game.
The Bills could not make the most of the turnover as they had a turnover of their own with the Dolphins capitalizing on a rare Allen fumble with a rushing touchdown of their own a few plays later to extend their lead 23-6.
Allen would then make up for his rare fumble mistake and march the offense down the field to throw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Hawes to cut into the deficit.
The Dolphins would respond to the Bills score with a long rushing touchdown of their own by Achane to regain their 17-point lead of the game late into the fourth quarter.
Allen would eventually get replaced by Mitchell Trubisky to finish the Bills last offensive drive that ended in a punt and the Dolphins would end up "kneeling-out" the game.
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SCORING RECAP
First Quarter:
- 7-0 MIAMI: Dolphins touchdown (4:49) - Malik Washington 9-yard touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa (Riley Patterson extra point attempt is good.)
Drive info: 12 plays, 92 yards, 7:27
Second Quarter:
- 13-0 MIAMI: Dolphins touchdown (14:52) - Jaylen Waddle 38-yard touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa (Riley Patterson misses extra point)
Drive info: 3 plays, 51 yards, 1:24
- 16-0 MIAMI: Dolphins field goal (3:03) - Riley Patterson makes 46-yard field goal.
Drive info: 10 plays, 67 yards, 5:59
Third Quarter:
- No Scoring Plays
Fourth Quarter:
- 16-6 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (12:36) - Josh Allen 35-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman.
Drive info: 8 plays, 98 yards, 4:24
- 23-6 MIAMI: Dolphins touchdown (6:31) - De'Von Achane 59-yard rushing touchdown.
Drive info: 2 plays, 62 yards, 0:39
- 23-13 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (3:36) - Jackson Hawes 26-yard touchdown pass from Josh Allen.
Drive info: 11 plays, 65 yards, 2:55
- 30-13 MIAMI: Dolphins touchdown (3:17) - De'Von Achane 35-yard rushing touchdown.
Drive info: 3 plays, 37 yards, 0:19
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME
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What's next:
The Bills will return home for a matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Sunday afternoon in Orchard Park. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.