It’s only the first weekend of November, but the Buffalo Bills are almost done with the AFC East race.
Josh Allen and the Bills topped the Miami Dolphins 30-27 on Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium. Allen led the Bills on a final game-winning drive before Tyler Bass kicked a career-long field goal to secure the victory with room to spare.
It looked like the Dolphins were going to force a quick punt after their game-tying touchdown, but a neutral zone violation and then unnecessary roughness on Jordan Poyer on Allen’s deep throw kept their drive alive. That set up Bass’ 61-yard field goal, which sealed their three-point victory.
The Bills have now swept the Dolphins this season and have a chance to officially clinch their division as early as Week 12. That’s something that’s only been done three other times in modern history. . The other three teams (the Eagles in 2004, the Patriots in 2007 and the Colts in 2009) reached the Super Bowl and lost in those respective campaigns. Buffalo also entered Sunday with a 3.5-game lead. The last 10 teams that had a lead that size or larger in Week 8 won their division.
The Bills had to recover from an early hole on Sunday in order to pull out the win. The Dolphins took a 10-6 lead at halftime after holding Buffalo to just two field goals in the first 30 minutes. Tua Tagovailoa also connected with De’Von Achane for a 14-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter. That touchdown came after Jalen Ramsey intercepted Allen at the goal line on the other end of the field.
But slowly in the second half, Allen and the Bills began to dig themselves out of that hole. Allen capped a long 11-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Mack Hollins after halftime, and then hit Ray Davis for a 63-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. Davis caught a short pass in the flat, broke a pair of tackles and made it to the end zone.
The Bills also converted the two-point attempt after that score, giving them a seven-point lead.
Although the Dolphins tied the game early in the fourth quarter after Achane ran for an 8-yard score, Allen and the Bills responded perfectly. They mounted a long 70-yard drive that Allen ended with a 2-yard throw to Quintin Morris.
Finally, after a slow start to the season, Jaylen Waddle finally scored his first touchdown of the year. Tagovailoa climbed the pocket and found Waddle wide open in the end zone with about 90 seconds left in the game, tying the game.
The score came after a 12-yard reception early in the drive and an apparent ankle injury after he took a spike directly into his leg.
That set up the Bills’ final drive and Bass’ game-winning field goal.
Allen was 25 of 39 for 235 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in the victory for the Bills, who are now 7-2 so far this year. James Cook led them with 44 yards on 10 rushing carries, and Davis had 70 receiving yards and a touchdown on just two receptions.
Tagovailoa was 24 of 27 for 255 yards with two touchdowns for the Dolphins. Achane had 63 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, and Tyreek Hill had 80 yards on four receptions.
This post will be updated with more information soon.
