Miami Dolphins (3-0) – Buffalo Bills (2-1): 21-19
Sometimes winning the battle of the clock is not synonymous with victory. The Bills were in possession of the ball for 41 minutes this Sunday in Miami but it was the Dolphins who retained their invincibility. An ultra courageous defense, some big plays in attack and several missed opportunities by the Bills allowed the Floridians to chain a third victory against their competitor from the AFC East.
Josh Allen resists the pressure
Pitting two of the most explosive NFL attacks of the start of the season, this clash between the Dolphins and the Bills wastes no time getting started. First game of the match, Josh Allen (42/63 passing, 400 YDS, 2 TDs, 47 YDS rushing, 1 fumble lost) connects with Stefon Diggs (7 REC, 74 YDS) for a gain of 28 yards. The Buffalo star quarterback then relies on Reggie Gilliam and Devin Singletary (9 REC, 78 YDS, 1 TD) to advance his team, and the latter finds the end zone on a fourth down (0-7). The tone is set !
Josh Allen will nevertheless become disenchanted fairly quickly. On the next Bills drive, he lost the ball on a sack from Jevon Holland, which allowed the Dolphins to equalize barely three games later on a run from Chase Edmonds (7-7). Throughout the first half and while Buffalo’s attack – very aggressive – practically only used the aerial game (32 passes, 7 carries), Allen was manhandled several times by the Florida defense, which sack three times.
On the other side of the ball, while you might think the Dolphins were going to take advantage of Buffalo’s decimated backline to string together big plays in the air, dragsters Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are relatively quiet. But Tua Tagovailoa (13/18, 186 YDS, 1 TD) is helped by a pretty effective running game and finds other solutions in the red zone, such as receiver River Cracraft. The latter responds to that of the Bills Isaiah McKenzie (7 REC, 76 YDS, 1 TD), who had restored the advantage to Buffalo during the previous drive with two big plays (14-14). Sean McDermott’s men have an opportunity to take the lead on a field goal in the last moments of the first period, but manage the clock badly.
Jaylen Waddle comes out of the box, Miami defense with courage
Shaken just before half-time, Tua Tagovailoa had to briefly give way to Teddy Bridgewater but is operational for the start of the second half. However, he sat on the sidelines for nearly ten minutes in the third quarter watching Josh Allen guide the Bills from their own two-yard line into the red zone. An interminable drive that Buffalo however does not manage to conclude under the blazing sun of Miami, the visitors thus having to be satisfied with a field goal (14-17).
Leaving three extra points at the start of the last quarter on a missed field goal, the Bills offer a great opportunity for the Dolphins to come back to their height or even pass in front for the first time in the game. It was specifically at this point in the match that Jaylen Waddle (4 REC, 102 YDS) came out of his box: a reception of 32 yards first, then 45 yards then, all that to allow Edmonds (2 TD ground) to give the advantage to Miami (21-17).
Can the Dolphins defense, inevitably tired after having already spent 31 minutes in total on the ground, secure this result against the latest attacks from Josh Allen? Whether through his arm or his legs, the quarterback from Buffalo continues to wear down the Floridians, but he is the one who will crack in the end. Because after guiding the Bills just a few yards from the promised land, he misses on a fourth attempt to McKenzie. This is the turning point of the game. Even if Buffalo still receives a final opportunity to snatch victory after a … butt punt from Miami, the Bills actually start from too far to obtain a field goal. 21-19 final score, the offensive coordinator of Buffalo Ken Dorsey loses it, the defense of Miami can finally breathe!
A crazy end to the game and Miami wins ✅#BUFvsMIA
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— DNA of Sports.com – NFL News 🏈 (@DNA of Sports) September 25, 2022
