ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Excessive expectations had been placed on the Buffalo Payments coming in to yet one more divisional matchup.
However the Miami Dolphins gave the Payments their greatest shot and stored the double-digit favorites shut many of the method.
With simply over three minutes remaining within the sport and the Payments holding a 28-21 lead, Miami drove downfield to Buffalo’s 21-yard line. Then, the Payments’ protection did what it does greatest and got here away with an opportune takeaway.
Simply as he jumped on a fumble late within the Week 1 win over the Baltimore Ravens, on first-and-10, linebacker Terrel Bernard picked off quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on a move supposed for broad receiver Jaylen Waddle. Rookie defensive deal with Deone Walker pressured Tagovailoa, together with getting his arms up because the move was thrown, to assist drive the takeaway. The stadium erupted as Bernard returned the interception 24 yards, establishing the Payments’ offense to shut out the sport, which it promptly did, ending the following drive with a 48-yard subject aim. The Payments beat the Dolphins 31-21 and improved to 3-0.
The win marks the twenty fifth consecutive sport for the Payments with out shedding the turnover battle (together with playoffs), the longest streak in NFL historical past.
The Payments now have 11 straight division wins at dwelling — the longest streak because the New England Patriots gained 17 straight from 2009 to 2014.
Listed below are an important issues to know from Thursday night time for each groups:
Buffalo Payments (3-0)
What to make of QB efficiency: General, Allen had a robust day, not turning the ball over and orchestrating spectacular drives — along with throwing three landing passes to get 200 on his profession.
The Dolphins, nevertheless, took away the Payments’ capability to get the ball downfield. Allen didn’t full a move thrown greater than 10 yards downfield (0-1). That is the primary time in his profession he has failed to finish one in a sport (min. 10 whole move makes an attempt), and the shortage of downfield passing assault handicapped the offense at instances.
Development to look at: Third-down protection. The Payments completed the primary two weeks of the season with the most effective third-down protection within the league (6-22, 27.3%). That completely evaporated vs. the Dolphins.
The Payments struggled to get off the sector as Miami transformed 10 of 15 third-down alternatives, together with quite a lot of third-and-longs, and one fourth down. It performed a big position within the Dolphins staying within the sport.
Turning level: The roughing the kicker penalty on the Dolphins with 10:20 remaining within the fourth quarter. Payments punter Cameron Johnston received able to punt the ball on what seemed to be a 3rd consecutive drive ending in a punt for the Buffalo offense, however he was hit as he accomplished the kick by the Dolphins’ Zach Sieler (it was really a very good punt that landed on the Miami 2-yard line).
A penalty was referred to as that prolonged the Payments’ possession, they usually took the chance to place collectively a landing drive and retake the lead on 15-yard move from Allen to broad receiver Khalil Shakir.
Subsequent sport: vs. New Orleans Saints (1 p.m. EST, CBS)
Miami Dolphins (0-3)
This was not a group that has give up on its coach, or its season.
The Miami Dolphins entered Thursday night time’s sport in opposition to the Buffalo Payments on a three-game shedding streak courting again to final season, and coach Mike McDaniel confronted intense scrutiny and hypothesis about his job safety all through the week. Followers will not be any happier after yet one more loss to the Payments, nevertheless it was a gutsy efficiency for a Dolphins group that entered the sport as a 12.5-point underdog.
There aren’t any ethical victories within the NFL, particularly not if you’re 0-3 with two losses to division opponents. However McDaniel’s job is secure for one more week — and it is a large one. A loss to the New York Jets on “Monday Night time Soccer” might be an excessive amount of for the Dolphins to beat in what ought to be a decent AFC wild-card race; it may additionally mark the tip of group proprietor Stephen Ross’ endurance with the present regime.
What to make of the QB efficiency: Tagovailoa performed risk-averse soccer for probably the most half, however he had his shining moments. He led a 16-play drive to tie the sport simply earlier than halftime, changing three third downs within the course of.
His second landing move was anticipation at its best, as Tyreek Hill hadn’t even damaged free earlier than Tagovailoa floated the ball to a spot in the long run zone. It wasn’t typically probably the most aesthetically pleasing soccer from a $51 million quarterback, however he took care of the ball and did not give away possessions to a Payments group that made Miami pay for turnovers final season.
Development to look at: Rookie working again Ollie Gordon II was a coaching camp darling and the group’s clear main rusher this preseason — however he logged solely three carries in Miami’s first two video games.
Gordon surpassed that with 4 carries on the opening drive Thursday and completed with a comparable workload to starter De’Von Achane. With their newfound thunder to Achane’s lightning, the Dolphins rushed for a season-high 116 yards.
Gordon’s utilization has to change into a recurring theme for a Dolphins offense that struggled mightily to run the ball in Weeks 1 and a pair of.
Most stunning efficiency: The Dolphins’ protection really received some stops! It entered Thursday’s sport having allowed factors on 13 of 15 possessions to begin the season. Miami practically surpassed that within the second half alone.
The Dolphins appeared to file stops on three straight possessions within the third and fourth quarters however gave the ball proper again to Buffalo after a roughing penalty on the following punt. Bradley Chubb is quietly off to a robust begin this season after lacking all of 2024 — he has recorded sacks in three consecutive video games.
Subsequent sport: vs. New York Jets (Monday, 7:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
