Dolphins @ Bills
Final Score: BUF 30 – MIA 27
Writer: Chris Helle (@ChrisHelleQBL on Twitter)
A rematch of Week 2 from these AFC East teams was an exciting back-and-forth game with five lead changes. Both teams settled for punts on their opening possessions, but a 29-yard return from Brandon Codrington set up the Bills for a 40-yard field goal. Miami responded with a 50-yard drive but was also forced to settle for 3. Josh Allen got his team deep in the red zone before a deflected pass to Keon Coleman was intercepted by Jalen Ramsey on the 3-yard line. The Dolphins fed their running backs and marched down the field before Devon Achane took a screen 14 yards to the house. The Bills responded through the air as Allen got his offense back into scoring positions, but two questionable holding penalties pushed the Bills back out to Miami’s 31 before setting for another field goal. Coming out of the half with a 10-6 lead, Miami fed three straight plays to Raheem Mostert, who fumbled the ball on Buffalo’s 40-yard line. Buffalo ensued with a well-balanced attack capped by a 2-yard 4th-down conversion touchdown pass to Mack Hollins. A missed extra point attempt proved to be meaningful as the Dolphins responded with a chip-in field goal to take a 13-12 lead. Just two plays later, Allen hit Ray Davis on a swing route, who broke an open field tackle and took it the distance for a 63-yard touchdown, followed by a Coleman 2-point conversion. There was a flashback to Week 2 as Tua Tagovailoa dove head first to convert a 4th down attempt, though luckily, he safely avoided contact this time. Achane’s shiftiness through traffic yielded another Dolphins touchdown to tie the game at 20 a piece early in the 4th. Buffalo’s offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, was dialed in as the Bills systematically moved down the field, and Quintin Morris brought in Buffalo’s 3rd straight touchdown. Miami was able to put together an impressive drive to respond, and after seeming to be shaken up from an injury, Jaylen Waddle caught the game-tying touchdown. With only 1:38 on the clock, the Bills were able to get to Miami’s 43-yard line – but that was enough for Tyler Bass to knock home the game-winning 61-yard field goal.
Up
- Tyler Bass – Props to the man who, despite some sloppy weather, knocked home the go-ahead 61-yard field goal with 5 seconds left on the clock.
- Jonnu Smith – From the outside, you’d think Jaylen Waddle is this team’s second receiving option outside of the backfield, but Jonnu had his number called consistently throughout the game.
Down
- Ty Johnson – Ray Davis had a big touchdown today and was getting goal-line carries later on.
- Jaylen Waddle – He caught a touchdown late in the game to salvage what would have been a total bust of a game. He also appeared to be shaken up on a play late in the fourth – it didn’t keep him from going back in the game, but it’s something to monitor.
Miami Dolphins
Quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa: 25/28 231 Yards, 2 TDs | 2 Attempts, 3 Yards
Despite taking the loss, Tua played extremely well. Many of his passes were short screens, but he was able to connect on deeper throws down the field to Tyreek Hill. He threw only three incompletions (one of which he threw into the ground on a broken screen) without turning the ball over. One of the deep shots to Hill was poorly placed, and had he led Tyreek enough, it could have been a bigger play or even a touchdown. Nonetheless, Miami falls to 2-6, but at least Tua has this offense back into gear with scoring and big play potential.
Running Back
De’Von Achane: 12 Attempts, 63 Yards, 1 TD | 8 Targets, 8 Receptions, 58 Yards, 1 TD
Raheem Mostert: 10 Attempts, 56 Yards, 1 fumble | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 32 Yards
Jaylen Wright: 6 Attempts, 18 Yards
When this offense is clicking, De’Von Achane is quite unstoppable. His shiftiness through traffic always seems to at least gain a few extra yards, if not find more space for breaking off a huge gain. Miami also loves to get him involved in the passing game to guarantee him having room to work with on swings, screens, and wheels – one of those screens he took 14 yards to the house. It was also refreshing to see Raheem Mostert healthy, as his strong but smooth running is almost always guaranteed to return positive yards. He fumbled early in the game, but that didn’t seem to affect his involvement – somewhat unfortunate for Jaylen Wright, who did not get many opportunities behind his two healthy counterparts.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Tyreek Hill: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 80 Yards
Jaylen Waddle: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, -4 Yards, 1 TD
Jonnu Smith: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 46 Yards
Odell Beckham Jr.: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 15 Yards
Durham Smythe: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 4 Yards
Malik Washington: 0 Targets | 1 Attempt, 9 Yards
Hand in hand with Tua’s return are the big plays to Tyreek Hill. He comes behind Achane in his involvement, but the deep balls are an integral part of this offense. He caught only one short hitch route, with the other 3 receptions each going for over 20 yards. Seeing a surprisingly similar role as Achane is Jonnu Smith, who is targeted on screens and in the flat intermittently throughout the game – he’s definitely someone to keep an eye on as this offense is figuring itself out with each passing week. Also, don’t be fooled by Jaylen Waddle’s negative net yards on the day. He didn’t get his first target until the 4th quarter but caught a 7-yard touchdown to tie the game up. Unfortunately, his negative yards came from the desperation laterals at the end of the game, where he unwisely ran backward somewhere around 20 yards before being tackled.
Buffalo Bills
Quarterback
Josh Allen: 25/39 235 Yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT | 2 Attempts, 7 Yards
Tua may have had the better completion percentage to end the day, but Josh Allen was just as clinical through the first three quarters. He was very collected as he went through his progressions and often took wise checkdowns before letting the pressure get to him. His lone interception should have actually been a touchdown, but Keon Coleman let the ball bounce off his hands into those of the defender on the 3-yard line. Allen also had a 20-yard touchdown rush get called back from a debatable holding call. Joe Brady leaned heavily on his star QB in the second half, and this moderate stat line was surprising to write down after having watched the game. The eventual return of Amari Cooper should help to boost him back into elite production.
Running Back
James Cook: 10 Attempts, 44 Yards | 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 25 Yards
Ray Davis: 4 Attempts, 20 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 70 Yards, 1 TD
Ty Johnson: 3 Attempts, 23 Yards
The main positive to take away from this game for James Cook’s managers is his involvement in the passing game. He’s losing some snaps and carries to Ray Davis and Ty Johnson, but at least Allen is checking down the ball more or hitting him on swing routes out of the backfield. If the number two behind Cook was determined today, it was Ray Davis. He looked much more explosive on his runs, and he broke off a huge 63-yard touchdown for the Bills to take the lead late in the 3rd.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Amari Cooper: DNP
Khalil Shakir: 7 Targets, 6 Receptions, 50 Yards
Dalton Kincaid: 10 Targets, 4 Receptions, 32 Yards
Mack Hollins: 5 Targets, 5 Receptions, 30 Yards, 1 TD
Keon Coleman: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 21 Yards
Dawson Knox: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 5 Yards
Quintin Morris: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 2 Yards, 1 TD
Curtis Samuel: 1 Target, 0 Receptions
Luckily, the absence of Amari Cooper didn’t prevent the Bills from walking away with a win. Dalton Kincaid walked away as the team’s leading target, but he was credited with a few throwaway balls from Allen. There were a few other passes that were low and difficult balls he could have caught and a corner route in the endzone that was thrown out of reach. Khalil Shakir remains the sure-handed go-to guy for Allen, as he brought in almost all of his targets on some screens, hitches, and curls. Most of Mack Hollins’ receptions came late in the fourth, as was Keon Coleman’s two-point conversion. The touchdown from Quintin Morris doesn’t bode well for the slew of receiving options behind the more heavily involved Shakir, Kincaid, and Cooper.