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. 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 with a big defensive stop, coming up with an interception of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. On a third down play, Tagovailoa tossed a deep pass that ended up in the arms of safety Cole Bishop for the pick.
However, Buffalo's first offensive drive after the turnover was fruitless, as the Bills went three-and-out and punted the ball away.
The Dolphins were the first to find the end zone on their next drive, capped off with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to Malik Washington.
The Bills offense, once again, faltered on their next drive, failing to convert on a 4th-and-1 just past midfield after quarterback Josh Allen failed to find tight end Jackson Hawes on a toss up pass into double coverage.
The Dolphins made Buffalo pay after the turnover on downs, and put Buffalo in quite a hole early in the second quarter. This time, it was Tagovailoa finding wide receiver Jaylen Waddle deep for a 38-yard touchdown pass. A missed extra point by kicker Riley Patterson extended the Dolphins' lead to 13-0.
After both teams exchanged punts, the Bills appeared to finally find their groove offensively before a costly fumble by running back James Cook killed a drive deep into Miami territory.
The Dolphins offense marched back down the field again, but the Bills defense were able to hold them to just a 46-yard field goal from Patterson to make it a 16-0 contest with three minutes left in the first half.
Buffalo, once again, continued to struggle offensively throughout the game, and ended up jogging off the field without scoring any points in the half.
The Bills opened the second half with a long 14-play drive, chewing 9:01 off the clock, but it ended in disaster with Allen throwing a red zone interception to Dolphins cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu on a pass intended for tight end Dawson Knox.
After forcing a Miami punt on its first drive of the second half, the Bills finally found the end zone as the clock bled into the fourth quarter. Allen was able to connect with wide receiver Keon Coleman for a 35-yard touchdown pass to close the gap to 16-6 after a two-point conversion attempt by the Bills is unsuccessful.
The Bills defense then came up with a big interception by rookie cornerback Maxwell Hairston halfway through the fourth quarter to give Buffalo a chance to get back to within a possession with a score.
However, a back-breaking fumble on the next drive essentially ended all hope of any comeback for the Bills. On a 3rd-and-1 tush push, Allen managed to find a hole and keep his feet moving for extra yardage. However, Allen then coughed up the ball, resulting in a Dolphins recovery at the Dolphins' 38-yard line.
Just two plays later, the Dolphins rubbed the salt into the Bills' wound with a 59-yard rushing touchdown from running back De'Von Achane to extend their lead to 23-6.
It took just 2:55 of game clock for the Bills to make it back into the end zone, as Allen managed to fire a 26-yard touchdown strike to Hawes to make it a 23-13 game with 3:36 remaining.
The Dolphins responded in turn with another long touchdown run from Achane, this time from 35 yards out just three plays into the drive to help give Miami some breathing room late.
With 3:17 left and the game out of reach, the Bills elected to sit Allen the rest of the game and put in backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky to finish the contest.
After a three-and-out from the Bills, the Dolphins were able to kneel out the remainder of the clock to secure the 30-13 victory.
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SCORING RECAP
First Quarter:
- 7-0 MIAMI: Dolphins touchdown (4:49) - Tua Tagovailoa fires a 9-yard strike to Malik Washington for a touchdown. (Riley Patterson's extra point attempt is good.)
Drive info: 12 plays, 92 yards, 7:27
Second Quarter:
- 13-0 MIAMI: Dolphins touchdown (14:52) - Tua Tagovailoa tosses a 38-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle. (Riley Patterson's extra point attempt is no good)
Drive info: 3 plays, 51 yards, 1:24
- 16-0 MIAMI: Dolphins field goal (3:03) - Riley Patterson's 46-yard field attempt is good.
Drive info: 10 plays, 67 yards, 5:59
Third Quarter:
- No Scoring Plays
Fourth Quarter:
- 16-6 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (12:36) - Josh Allen connects with Keon Coleman for a 35-yard touchdown pass. (Buffalo's two-point conversion attempt is unsuccessful)
Drive info: 8 plays, 98 yards, 4:24
- 23-6 MIAMI: Dolphins touchdown (6:31) - De'Von Achane breaks free for a 59-yard rushing touchdown. (Riley Patterson's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 2 plays, 62 yards, 0:39
- 23-13 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (3:36) - Josh Allen fires a 26-yard touchdown strike to Jackson Hawes. (Matt Prater's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 11 plays, 65 yards, 2:55
- 30-13 MIAMI: Dolphins touchdown (3:17) - De'Von Achane escapes for a 35-yard rushing touchdown. (Riley Patterson's extra point attempt is good)
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 return home for a matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Sunday afternoon in Orchard Park. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Highmark Stadium on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.