The Miami Dolphins fell short to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night, but despite the 31-10 loss, there were positives the team can build on moving forward this season.
We go Inside the Numbers, presented by BDO, to take a look at the most notable team stats, individual metrics, milestones and more from Miami's Week 2 matchup.
Achane Continues Strong Start to Sophomore Season
Running back De'Von Achane totaled a career-high 22 carries against the Bills and made the most of them. He ran for 96 yards (4.4 yards per carry), with the longest run of the night going for 17 yards.
Achane also tied his career high with seven receptions for 69 receiving yards. He caught a five-yard swing pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with 3:21 to go in the first for his first receiving touchdown and second total score of the season.
Achane joins Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard as the only three running backs to have recorded a game of at least seven catches and 22 carries since he entered the league in 2023. He is also the first Dolphins running back to record a game of 90-plus rushing yards and 60-plus receiving yards since Kenyan Drake did so against the New England Patriots in 2017.
The second-year running back is on a historic pace, as his 13 touchdowns through his first 13 career games are most by a Dolphins running back since at least 1970. His 13 total touchdowns are tied for fourth among NFL running backs in their first 13 career games since 1970, trailing only Eric Dickerson (20), Marcus Allen (16) and Fred Taylor (15). Both Dickerson and Allen are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Taylor ranks 17th all-time in rushing yards.
Through the first two games of the 2024 season, Achane has rushed the ball 32 times for 120 yards and a touchdown and has pulled in 14 receptions for 145 yards and a touchdown. His 14 receptions through the first two games of the season are the most by a Dolphins running back since 2004 (Lamar Gordon, 14).
With 920 yards, Achane has the most rushing yards by a Dolphins running back in the first 13 games of a career.
Third-Down Success
Entering the game, the Dolphins' third-down conversion rate against the Bills was just 32.8% since 2022, but this was not the case on Thursday.
Miami converted seven of its 15 third-down attempts, continuing an early-season positive trend, as the Dolphins converted eight times on 16 third-down attempts in Week 1.
Miami's 48.39% conversion percentage ranks eighth in the NFL so far this year. This is a step up from their 40.19% conversion rate in 2023.
Breakout Game for Smith
Miami added experienced and proven talent to its tight end room this offseason with the signing of tight end Jonnu Smith.
The veteran pass catcher had a quiet debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars, catching one pass for seven yards. Against the Bills, however, Smith was a primary contributor to the Dolphins' passing attack. He totaled six receptions for 53 yards, which is the most yards he's had in a single game since Week 16 of the 2023 season against the Indianapolis Colts. He eclipsed the 50-plus yard mark four times last season.
Smith was targeted seven times, which ties him with Achane for the most in the game.
Long Spearheads Miami's Defense
Linebacker David Long Jr. led all players with 11 tackles, two of which resulted in lost yardage. This was his first game with 11 or more tackles since Week 6 of the 2023 season against the Carolina Panthers. This was also Long's sixth game with multiple tackles for loss.
Other notables across the Dolphins' defense were linebacker Jordyn Brooks, who tallied six tackles (4 solo) and one pass defensed, and cornerback Kendall Fuller who totaled four tackles (2 solo) and one pass defensed.
Individual/Team Stats and Milestones
The Dolphins outgained the Bills in total yardage, 351-247. Miami has a chance in Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks to record at least 350 yards of offense in three-straight weeks for the first time since Week 11-14 of the 2023 season.
Several Dolphins achieved games-played milestones. Brooks appeared in his 65th career game, offensive lineman Aaron Brewer appeared in his 60th career game, offensive lineman Austin Jackson appeared in his 50th career game and offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg made his 40th career start and appeared in his 45th career game.
Rookie running back Jaylen Wright made his NFL debut, rushing the ball five times for four yards.
Wide receivers Grant DuBose and Robbie Chosen recorded their first receptions of the season. This was also the first career catch by DuBose, a seventh-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 2023 NFL Draft who the Dolphins acquired off of waivers on Aug. 28, 2024.
Quarterback Skylar Thompson completed 8-of-14 passes for 80 yards in his first appearance since Miami's 2022 AFC Wild Card game against the Bills.
For more analysis on Thursday's game, listen to the latest episode of Drive Time with Travis Wingfield.
