It wasn't with the dominance we've become accustomed to around here when the Buffalo Bills play the Miami Dolphins, but Josh Allen and Co. found a way Sunday – thanks to the unlikeliest of heroes.
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It wasn't with the dominance we've become accustomed to around here when the Buffalo Bills play the Miami Dolphins, but Josh Allen and Co. found a way Sunday – thanks to the unlikeliest of heroes.
Bills kicker Tyler Bass made a career-long 61-yard field goal with 5 seconds remaining, giving the home team a wild 30-27 victory on a cool, sunny afternoon at Highmark Stadium.
Yes, that's a real thing that happened.
Buffalo Bills place kicker Tyler Bass (2) watches his game-winning field goal during the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
Bass has struggled this season – so much so that the team recently signed a kicker to the practice squad and briefly opened a competition – but he delivered on the biggest stage to bail out his team after the Dolphins had scored a tying touchdown with 1:38 remaining.
Quarterback Josh Allen threw for three touchdown passes against his favorite divisional punching bag, but he was uncharacteristically off target at times, finishing 25 of 39 for 235 yards. The last of Allen's three touchdowns went to No. 3 tight end Quintin Morris in the fourth quarter. It was easily the most improbable TD of the three.
On second-and-goal from the 2-yard line, Allen took the snap and was nearly sacked by two Miami defenders – but he had just enough time to get the ball out of his hands and into those of Morris, who came into the game without a catch this season.
Allen's first two touchdown passes came in the third quarter. The first went to Mack Hollins on fourth-and-goal from the Miami 2-yard line, and the second went to rookie running back Ray Davis on a wide-open swing pass against a Dolphins blitz. That play covered 63 yards. It was the longest touchdown pass to a running back by the Bills since Ryan Fitzpatrick connected with C.J. Spiller for a 66-yard score against the Jets in 2012.
But after Morris' touchdown, which gave Buffalo a 27-20 lead, the Bills' defense couldn't hold. Miami tied the score when quarterback Tua Tagovailoa connected with receiver Jaylen Waddle on a 7-yard score.
Tagovailoa, in his second start since returning from a concussion suffered in Week 2 against the Bills, finished 25 of 28 for 231 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but the loss dropped Miami to 2-6 on the season, basically extinguishing any hope the Dolphins had of somehow running down the Bills in the AFC East race.
Other observations:
2. Keon Coleman made a big mistake. The Bills’ rookie receiver had been on a roll coming into Sunday's game, with 195 yards receiving over the team’s past two games. Coleman, however, had a potential touchdown catch go through his hands inside the Miami 5-yard line in the second quarter. Making matters worse, Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey was there to grab the deflection for an interception. Coleman later made a 2-point conversion catch and had a 21-yard reception for his only catch of the game. He left late in the fourth quarter with an injury.
The team made wide receiver Amari Cooper inactive for the game because of a wrist injury. Cooper, who was hurt during last week's win over the Seahawks, practiced on a limited basis all week and was listed as questionable going into Sunday's game. Curtis Samuel was back in the lineup after missing the Seattle game because of a pectoral injury, but he was targeted just once and had no catches. (Samuel has 12 receptions this season.)
Without Cooper, the passing attack went through Khalil Shakir, who had 50 yards on a team-high six catches.
3. Jordan Poyer committed a huge penalty. The former Bills safety, released in March, hasn't played well this season in Miami, and he had a big miscue Sunday. The Bills were facing third-and-9 on their final possession, and Miami had a chance to get the ball back late – but Poyer committed a personal foul when he drilled Coleman with a helmet-to-helmet hit. The 15-yard penalty gave the Bills a first down at the Bills' 46-yard line, allowing them to get into range for Bass' miraculous field goal.
4. Kaiir Elam got his first start this season. Elam, the team’s 2022 first-round draft pick, was in the starting lineup in place of Christian Benford, who had to sit out because of a wrist injury. Benford participated fully in practice Wednesday before being limited Thursday and Friday.
Elam made a big play in the third quarter when he recovered a fumble by Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert that was forced by Bills nickel cornerback Taron Johnson.
Johnson had missed a couple plays in the first half of the game with an undisclosed injury but was able to return to make the big play on Miami’s first possession of the third quarter.
Elam was hurt with 4:52 remaining in the third quarter. The Bills’ cornerback was beat deep by Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill, who hauled in a 28-yard completion. Elam suffered a shoulder injury but was cleared to return and was back in the lineup late in the third quarter.
5. Bass had earlier struggles. The Bills’ kicker hit a pair of field goals in the first half, the first from 40 yards out toward the scoreboard end of Highmark Stadium, and the second from 49 yards away toward the tunnel end in the second quarter. They were Bass’ first two makes from 40-plus yards since he made a 50-yarder against Baltimore in Week 4.
Those good vibes didn’t last long, though. Bass missed an extra point in the third quarter after the Bills went ahead 12-10 on Allen's 2-yard touchdown pass to Mack Hollins. The Bills chased that point, getting a 2-point conversion from Coleman to increase their lead to 20-13.
6. Dorian Williams stayed in and stood tall. The Bills’ linebacker was evaluated for a head injury during the third quarter, but he returned to the field for Miami’s second offensive possession of the second half. Williams was all over the field for the Bills, making a game-high 12 tackles.
But injuries continued for the Bills. Veteran defensive ends Dawuane Smoot and Casey Toohill were both hurt in the second half. Smoot suffered a wrist injury in the third quarter and was unable to return. Toohill went down on the first play of the fourth quarter with a knee injury.
7. Von Miller made his return. The Bills’ defensive end was activated to the 53-man roster Saturday after serving his four-game NFL suspension. Miller jumped offside on a third-and-3 play in the third quarter, handing Miami a free first down on a play that ended with an incomplete pass. He had no tackles.
8. Edefuan Ulofoshio made his season debut. Ulofoshio, the Bills’ rookie linebacker, was active on game day for the first time this season. Ulofoshio was one of seven rookies in the Bills’ lineup, joined by draft picks Coleman, Cole Bishop, Davis and Javon Solomon, as well as undrafted free agents Joe Andreessen and Brandon Codrington.
Safety Mike Edwards, linebacker Nick Morrow, offensive lineman Will Clapp and defensive lineman Zion Logue were healthy inactives for the Bills, and fullback Reggie Gilliam missed the game because of a hip injury.
Miami was without cornerback Kader Kohou, safety Jevon Holland, running back Jeff Wilson Jr., cornerback Storm Duck, offensive lineman Andrew Meyer, tight end Julian Hill and defensive tackle Zach Sieler.
