Buffalo 33, Miami 17
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, November 8, 2015
Where: Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Temperature:
49°
Head Official:
Carl Cheffers
Attendance:
70214
By The Sports Xchange
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – For the first time in weeks the Buffalo Bills were rested and healthy. The combination produced the kind of result coach Rex Ryan promised was coming.
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor and Sammy Watkins came back from injuries, rookie running back returned from a concussion, and starting running back LeSean McCoy showed he's recovered from an early-season hamstring injury in helping the Buffalo Bills to a 33-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
The win evened Buffalo's record at 4-4 and ended a three-game losing streak at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
"We think we have a lot of talent. We had so many injuries that we haven't necessarily seen it," Ryan said. "When we're healthy, we're going to be pretty tough."
Watkins and McCoy both had their best games as members of the Bills and became the first duo to have a 100-yard rushing and 100-yard receiving performance in the same game since Sept. 15, 2013 against Carolina.
After missing three of Buffalo's last four games with separate injuries to his calf and ankle, Watkins caught eight passes for a career-high 163 yards and a 44-yard touchdown.
"For the most part, when I'm healthy, I can go out there and make plays," Watkins said.
McCoy rushed for 112 yards, his first 100-yard performance as a Bill, and scored on a 48-yard run. He left the game in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury, but said afterward he could have gone back in if needed.
He wasn't needed with his backup, Williams, rushing for 110 yards and two touchdowns, giving the Bills' two 100-yard rushers in the same game for the first time since a Dec. 9, 2007 win over Miami.
"The offensive line really kicked butt today," McCoy said. "I shouldn't use the word bully, but they really bullied up front."
Taylor returned after missing two games with a sprained knee and completed 11 of 12 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown.
With their second straight loss, the Dolphins dropped into last place in the AFC East at 3-5 overall and 0-4 in division games. Miami is now 2-2 under interim coach Dan Campbell.
"That was certainly not the way we wanted it to go or expected it to go," Campbell said. "We have to get a little momentum back."
Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill was 27 of 36 passing for 309 yards. He did not throw an interception, but had a costly fumble. Running back Lamar Miller rushed for two touchdowns.
"We were able to move the football pretty much consistently all game," Tannehill said. "We just didn't score enough points. We have to be able to finish drives and get the ball in the end zone."
Buffalo built an early 9-0 advantage and led 19-7 at halftime. But the Bills seized control of the game late in the third quarter.
Miami had marched 80 yards on the opening drive of the second half and Miller's second 1-yard touchdown run made it 19-14. With the Dolphins driving into Buffalo territory later in the third quarter, Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes sacked Tannehill and forced a fumble that he recovered at the Dolphins 40.
"We had the screen called there and they did a good job defending it," Tannehill said. "I was trying to throw it away and that's when they got me."
That led to Watkins' hauling in the 44-yard touchdown pass from Taylor to make it 26-14 at the 2:29 mark of the third quarter. The Dolphins had accepted a holding penalty on the previous play, which, had they declined, may have forced the Bills to attempt a 52-yard field goal.
Williams would score on a 38-yard run three plays after McCoy went down, making it 33-14 with 8:44 left to play.
Andrew Franks made a 48-yard field goal for Miami with less than four minutes remaining, but the Bills recovered the ensuing onside-kick attempt.
The Dolphins' squandered a scoring opportunity at the end of the first half, driving 86 yards before throwing two incomplete passes from the 1-yard-line as time ran out.
Williams' 11-yard touchdown run followed Watkins' juggling 63-yard reception and put the Bills up 19-7 heading into halftime. Dan Carpenter had kicked a 43-yard field goal on Buffalo's previous drive.
The Dolphins drove 85 yards and cut their deficit to 9-7 on Lamar Miller's 1-yard touchdown plunge early in the second quarter.
The Bills took the lead in the blink of an eye. A holding penalty on a punt return put the Dolphins at their own 6 to start their opening drive. Center Mike Pouncey's high snap on the first play slipped through Tannehill's hands and out of the end zone for a safety.
Almost as quickly, McCoy made it 9-0 with his 48-yard touchdown run 6:10 into the game. Starting his run out wide, McCoy cut inside a block by rookie right guard John Miller and accelerated for his longest gain of the season.
NOTES: Williams became the seventh player in NFL history to score a touchdown in each of his first five games. Williams missed Buffalo's previous three games with a concussion. ... Bills DB Leodis McKelvin started at safety in his first game after being activated off the reserve/non-football injury list. ... Dolphins CB Brian McCain returned after missing the past two games with a knee injury but did not start. ... Dolphins Rookie RB Jay Ajayi made his season debut after missing the first seven games with a rib injury. ... Buffalo's Pro Bowl DT Kyle Williams did not play because of a knee injury.
Top Game Performances
Team Stats Summary
|
Yards |
Scoring |
Defense |
Team |
Tot |
Rus |
Pas |
TD |
FG |
INT |
Sck |
FF |
Miami
|
397 |
106 |
291 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3.0 |
0 |
Buffalo
|
420 |
266 |
154 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
2.0 |
1 |
Upcoming Games
-
Buffalo will play their next game on the road against N.Y. Jets. The Bills have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .800 after a loss.
-
Miami will play their next game on the road against Philadelphia. The Dolphins have a W/L % of .333 after a win and .400 after a loss.