Miami Dolphins at Bills recap

The Bills have had the Miami Dolphins number going on a decade now it continued this game.

This was a game that could have set up a leapfrog effect toward getting into the playoffs for the Dolphins but it is the Bills that still have a chance to get in.

First drive: the Bills got the ball after the Dolphins deferred after winning the coin toss. The bills drove to midfield gaining a few first downs by converting on third downs. Things got easier for the Bills after reaching midfield as they moved with ease and the Dolphins defense wilted stopping the run and defending the pass, the defense even committed a foul on the TD play the Bills scored on 0 – 7.

Dolphins first series was a flop as old bad habits came back with undisciplined play from Laremy Tunsil making a foul and Jay Cutler being inaccurate with his passes.

The Dolphins defense showed up to play in the Bills second drive that went nowhere. It featured a sack by Ndamukong Suh and good supporting play from Charles Harris who got his first start by having to replace Andre Branch who did not play this game.

Much like the Dolphins defense showing up the second time so did the offense which featured a nice run from Kenyan Drake who had a burst of speed getting around the right side for a play of 32-yards. But a sack on Cutler on third and five in the red zone near the goal line forced them to settle for the FG 3 – 7.

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The Bills failed on the next drive in which Terrence Fede got a would be sack but the Dolphins chose to take the penalty that was called on the Bills.

Miami Dolphins next offensive drive was long but with some interesting moments, Jarvis Landry had a nice run out of the backfield running to the left, Drake bumped into Cutler on a hand off but showed good field vision being able to still gain positive yards. Cutler ran for a first down by converting a third down. Gase opened up the playbook somewhat but they still ended up having to settle for the 41 yard FG making it 6 – 7.

On the next drive for the Bills they drove downfield and scored on what many in the media called a pick play pass that went for the TD making the score 6 – 14.

With about six minutes to play in the first half the Dolphins drive was slow to develop, Jarvis Landry picked up a third down conversion but this drive ended in a punt leaving the Bills with two and a half minutes to play in the first half. For the first play a pass of 29 yards to former Dolphins player Charles Clay the defense made Bills QB Tyrod Taylor look all pro. The defense almost held the Bills to a FG but the would be failed third down conversion was negated by a foul on Alterraun Verner. The Bills ended up score a TD making it 6 – 21 leaving 33 seconds in the first half.

Down by 15 the Dolphins needed a good start the second half but delivered a dud in the form of a Cutler interception. The only saving grace here is that the Bills would turn the ball back over on downs when they failed to convert on fourth down.

One Jakeem Grant run later the Dolphins were at midfield but got bogged down there. After a Cutler interception the Bills player returned it down to the Dolphins 24 yard line he had lost the ball but it bounced right back to him. After some mutual fouls the Bills got the FG making it 6 – 24.

As the third quarter wound down Cutler reverted to being an inaccurate passer again. Landry made a one-handed grab but came up short of the first down forcing a punt. The Bills ended up punting from around midfield and downing it on the one yard line. Landry got a first down then DeVante Parker caught one for 36 yards. Fifteen yard penalty on Landry, pass to Parker again. Cutler went to pass on third down but the ball slipped from his hand resulting in a punt.

After a Bills failed drive the Dolphins had an odd drive where they were first and 35 at one point but it was quick and aided by a Bills foul that made it half the distance to the goal where Julius Thomas dropped a would be TD. But on the next play Drake ran it in making it 13 – 24.

The Bills had a failed drive again with just over two minutes to play and Cutler tried to pick up where he left off with Parker again. But instead he got the first reception with Kenny Stills on a short pass after many missed long ones throughout the game. He missed Stills long again and on the next play had the ball knocked from his hand making it forth and long which was converted on a pass to Landry. Drake converted the next first down at the 14 yard line nearing one minute to play and no time outs but the Dolphins couldn’t get the TD on this 17 play drive a FG made it 16 – 24 with 39 seconds to play.

Miami Dolphins onside kick was successful! With 36 seconds to play and needing a TD and two point conversion to tie the game Cutler throws his third and final interception of the game.

Missing in action

Laremy Tunsil: committed a foul on the first failed series.

Jay Cutler: was inaccurate passing on the first failed series and later on near the end of the game.

Alterraun Verner: had a foul that might have meant the difference of a TD or a FG late in the first half. The foul came on a would be failed third down conversion.

Report Tyrod Taylor was hobbled: he looked spry running all game even running it in for a TD.

As advertised

Ndamukong Suh: got the sack on the QB during the Bills second failed series. Update it was given to Cameron Wake who also got three tackles for losses this game.

Pleasant surprises

DeVante Parker: started coming on making good catches and plays on a drive until Cutler had the ball slip out of his hand on third down killing it.

Phi- injury report: Charles Harris got banged up having to leave the game but did return late in the second quarter. T.J. McDonald went out with a shoulder injury near the end of the game.

Phin facts: Tyrod Taylor’s career stats playing the Miami Dolphins:
84-126-0 INT, 1,173 yards, 9 TD’s. Passer rating: 115 ( his career rating vs. everybody else: 88.2.)
35 carries for 166 yards, 2 TD’s.

Game observations

– Cutler might have had some buffalo wings over on the sidelines as he kept dropping the ball in and around the pocket and had three interceptions.
– Xavien Howard got a sack this game.
-Miami Dolphins committed almost ten penalties along with three interceptions, hard to win like that.
Much like the Pats record playing here the Bills have had the same type of thing playing the Miami Dolphins in general.

Final: 16 – 24 with this loss went a fair chance of getting into the playoffs.