Bills at the Miami Dolphins recap

This game was out of reach until just under one minute to play

What would have been a party pooper for the Bills making the playoffs the Miami Dolphins had a shot to win it at the end.

The Miami Dolphins got the ball first and went three and out with Jay Cutler nearly getting picked off. The defense didn’t do much better allowing the Bills to score a TD on their first drive with TE Nick O’Leary who got wide open for 26 yard TD on a lazy double move. 7 – 0

David Fales took over at quarterback with Jay Cutler still healthy (Fales getting playing time was planed in advance) Kenyan Drake had a big 32 yard run that highlighted the first drive nearing the red zone where they went for it on fourth down. It was converted on an extra effort after the catch by DeVante Parker. They also went for a second fourth down conversion attempt that failed. Also of note were the fouls committed during this failed drive.

Starting on their own 15 yard line after getting the ball on downs the Bills got backed up from a tackle for a loss on the RB by Andre Branch. A Dolphins offside foul gave it right back. Former Dolphin Charles Clay got a third down conversion by being wide open from Stephone Anthony. Clay did the same with T. J. McDonald, add in a nice run from the backup RB the Bills were near the end zone. However this drive ended with a FG 10 – 0.

The next Dolphins drive ended quickly with a sack. And the Bills had fair field position to start from but sputtered on offense. The 35-year-old ageless wonder Cam Wake got his tenth sack of the season on a third and ten play ending the drive.

Miami Dolphins on the next drive was all runs with Kenyan Drake converting a third down and even Senorise Perry getting in the act. But on the next third down Fales overthrew his target from near midfield (he overthrew a lot)

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Bills had the ball around the sixteen yard line and started doing their own running but ended with having to punt. Miami got the ball on the twenty getting off a quick run for a short gain before the two-minute warning of the first half. After a short pass to Jarvis Landry the Bills use a timeout. On 3rd and 4 Fales took off running but ran sideways out-of-bounds making no effort to get to the marker, resulting in a punt.

After the punt the Bills started near their own twenty with around a minute and a half left. A short run and then a sack split between Wake and Branch put them at 3rd and 9. Clay got the first down with a minute to play. Jordan Phillips tipped the next pass. Bills QB ran with the ball Stephone Anthony stripped the ball, Dolphins had it recovered but a foul on wake negated it. A deep pass from near midfield was nearly picked off by Xavien Howard, after some pressure on the QB the Bills had to punt with the Dolphins getting the ball with mere seconds left, they ran MarQueis Gray then knelt down score 10 – 0 at the half.

The second half opened with the Bills driving the ball and RB LeSean McCoy getting hurt but otherwise running for good yards and connecting on some passes. But despite this they had to kick and make a FG of 49 yards 13 – 0.

On the next Dolphins drive Fales started to get on mark but missed snap counts and miscommunications came back as it had most of the game resulting in having to punt. The Bills moved the ball past midfield then threw to the end zone where Cordrea Tankersley tried to cover the WR but got covered in yellow flags for PI. The next play the Bills used a DT as a FB to score from one yards then failed on the two point conversion 19 – 0.

Fales looked to warm up again hitting Parker on a 23 yard deep slant, then almost had it picked off going back to him in the left corner of the end zone. And still couldn’t get all the way on the same page with the receivers as they ended up getting a FG the first score of the game as the third quarter neared the end.

Fullback Tolbert started steamrolled the Dolphins defense with McCoy out of the game for the Bills. Their second RB Murphy also got good runs as he had earlier in the game. This drive ended in a FG 22 – 3.

Jarvis Landry got a nice reception followed by Kenny Stills, back to Landry as he ties his record for catches in a season of 110. This drive went right downfield sans one foul as the fourth quarter neared the seven minute mark. A minute later Landry caught a pass near the left side of the end zone and lost the ball stretching out for the TD but was ruled down. The next play Landry scored a TD on a shovel pass, scrums broke out and when the dust settled both Drake and Landry got tossed from the game, two point conversion failed 22 – 9.

With six minutes to play the Bills ended up having to punt and the Dolphins used a time out during it. This turned out closer to five minutes after a delay of game foul on the Bills. During this drive Cameron Malveaux got his first sack.

The Dolphins moved the ball aided by Jakeem Grant staying open and acting as a drop off on a third down conversion where Fales had pressure. Many players got involved moving the ball like RB De’Veon Smith and TE A. J. Derby to get the TD. 22 – 16.

An onside kick was good for the Miami Dolphins with just under two minutes to play. Neville Hewitt drilled the would be Bills player that almost caught it. Bobby McCain recovered the ball. This made the fourth onside kick of the season making NFL history.

A drive to win the game went to midfield with just under a minute. On 2 and 9 Fales got picked throwing where no receiver was only about four Bills players.

Missing in action

Clean play: There were fouls fast and furious from all over and of all kinds by the Dolphins this game.

Walt Aikens: now I see why he is primarily used on special teams as his coverage skills are lacking.

Cordrea Tankersley: looked horrid trying to cover also fouling and might be better as a backup once Tony Lippett comes back next season.

As advertised

Cameron Wake: gets his tenth sack on the season making it back to back seasons at age 34 and 35. However his face mask foul was costly negating a would be turnover for the Miami Dolphins.

Pleasant surprises

David Fales: got a lot of playing time taking over on the second series. Some media chatter has this possibly being a dress rehearsal for him with sites on becoming the new backup QB. He overthrew the ball a lot in the first half but got better in the second half, however it was a struggle to get on the same page with would be ball catchers up until the final few drives of the game. Overall it was mixed results but not enough to go on.

Ph-injury report: Kiko Alonso had some cobwebs knocked loose when he went helmet to helmet with WR Zay Jones and left the game near the start of the second half. He was later deemed questionable with a neck injury.

Game observations

– Jay Cutler only played in the first drive that went three and out.
– Around the start of the second quarter the Dolphins had about eight fouls with half of them being pre snap.
– Hard to assess a would be backup QB with missed snap counts and miscommunication.
– The Dolphins went for it on fourth down a lot this game even passing on getting easy FG’s probably to get a better look at QB Fales and try to get him used to NFL game play.
– Many would be sacks were missed this game with QB Taylor getting loose.

Final: Miami Dolphins lose this one 22 – 16. And didn’t ruin the Bills party like it’s 1999. Cincy just scored late keeping the Bills playoff hopes alive going back to 1999 the last time they were in it.