The Dolphins score a lot, but defense can't stop Bills offense as team falls short 30-27

C. Isaiah Smalls II, Miami Herald on Nov 3, 2024

Published in Football

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

The Miami Dolphins came into Highmark Stadium with nothing to lose.

Sure, they haven’t beat the Buffalo Bills in upstate New York since 2016 but at 2-5, the Dolphins needed a win to stay afloat in the playoff race. And they might’ve gotten the dub if it weren’t for Tyler Bass, who hit a 61-yard field goal with under 10 seconds left that lifted the Buffalo Bills over the Dolphins 30-27.

Despite yet another efficient day for Tua Tagovailoa and the offense, the Dolphins defense just couldn’t stop Josh Allen in the second half as the Bills scored on all four of their positions, including three touchdowns. Tagovailoa finished the day having completed 25-of-28 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns. Allen completed roughly 64% of his passes for 235 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.

The Dolphins’ best drive occurred in the second quarter. After Jalen Ramsey intercepted a josh Allen pass in the redzone, the Dolphins proceeded to go 97 yards – in large part due to their rushing attack – to score on a 14-yard pitch-and-catch to De’Von Achane to go up 10-3. A Bills field goal just before halftime cut the Dolphins’ lead to 10-6.

After only 16 points in the first half, both offenses came out firing in the second, scoring a combined 41 points.

The Dolphins were hampered by a costly turnover at the start of the second half. With the ball in Buffalo territory and the run game once again cooking, Raheem Mostert coughed up the rock courtesy of a Taron Johnson strip. The Bills would score a touchdown on the subsequent possession — a 1-yard catch from Mack Hollins on fourth down — beginning a streak of three consecutive touchdown drives for the Bills.

The Dolphins’ streak of at least 150 rushing yards halted at three games after falling one yard shy. Although Tagovailoa was ultra efficient, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle weren’t super involved until the second half. Hill finished with four catches for 80 yards while Waddle had just two catches for -4 yards and a touchdown, though the Alabama receiver being tackled behind the line of scrimmage on the final drive of the game contributed to his number..

Achane once again had a stellar game as both a rusher and pass-catcher, accumulating a combined 121 yards with two touchdowns, one on the ground and the other through the air.

____