With 1:49 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Dolphins leading 21-17, the crowd erupted as the team was one play away from a crucial defensive stop on fourth-and-goal, which they earned when quarterback Josh Allen’s failed pass was poorly thrown.
Miami overcame its AFC East opponents, the Bills, 21-19, after they regained control following a safety, maintaining their perfect record and winning their eighth straight game at Hard Rock Stadium, the Dolphins’ longest winning streak since the 1980s.
Buffalo (2-1) came into the game with commanding victories over the Tennessee Titans and the Los Angeles Rams, defeating them by an average of 27.5 points.
The Dolphins, though, rose to the occasion. Miami (3-0) under first-year head coach Mike McDaniel continues to dominate after a remarkable 21-point comeback last week against the Baltimore Ravens on the road.
While running back Chase Edmonds led the Dolphins with two rushing scores, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 186 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown. Jaylen Waddle also exceeded 100 yards (102) for the second week in a row.
Miami disputed a 28-yard grab by Buffalo wide receiver Stefon Diggs on the opening play of the game after he dropped the ball as he hit the ground, which the Dolphins recovered.
Diggs was ruled to have been injured through contact, and the Bills completed their 75-yard drive shortly after when quarterback Josh Allen handed the ball to running back Devin Singletary on fourth-and-goal for a two-yard score.
The Bills’ subsequent possession, though, resulted in a fumble. On third down, safety Jevon Holland stripped Allen from behind, and linebacker Melvin Ingram recovered his second fumble of the year on the six-yard line for Buffalo. After that, Edmonds tied the score at seven with his first touchdown as a Dolphin on a one-yard run.
Wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie’s eight-yard touchdown catch for the Bills to start the second quarter was followed by another response from Miami.
On the drive, Tagovailoa completed all five of his passes, finding wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who both had catches of 17 and 11 yards. In order to knot the game again at 14, Tagovailoa eventually connected with wide receiver River Cracraft on an 11-yard in-breaking route in close coverage. In last week’s game against Baltimore, Cracraft, who joined Miami in February, grabbed his first touchdown pass.
The Dolphins forced the Bills to punt on their subsequent possession, something they had never done all season in the first half.
The score was 14-14 at the break.
With his 500th reception of his career, Tagovailoa completed a 22-yard pass over the middle to Hill to start the second half.
After a 9:22 drive in which the Dolphins’ defense kept Allen from reaching the end zone, the Bills were forced to make a 30-yard field goal to take the lead at 17-14.
The momentum immediately changed as the fourth quarter got underway. Before Waddle made it to the Bills’ 40 after his 32-yard reception, which was greeted by raucous applause from the crowd, Buffalo’s Tyler Bass missed a 38-yard field goal attempt.
On third-and-22 a short while later, Tagovailoa connected with Waddle deep over the center of the field for a 45-yard gain to enter the end zone. Assisted by a Buffalo unnecessary roughness flag, Edmonds scored again to give Miami a 21-17 lead a few plays later.
On third-and-22 a short while later, Tagovailoa connected with Waddle deep over the center of the field for a 45-yard gain to enter the end zone. Assisted by a Buffalo unnecessary roughness flag, Edmonds scored again to give Miami a 21-17 lead a few plays later.
The Miami defense then kicked into gear, halting Buffalo on its following two drives to secure the victory.
