The Dolphins were on the edge of the red zone in the waning moments of Thursday's game against Buffalo, trailing by a touchdown. Although a turnover put an end to the comeback bid, Miami was sharp in critical moments.
We go Inside the Numbers, presented by BDO, to take a look at the most notable individual metrics, milestones and more from the Dolphins first prime-time contest of the 2025 season.
Best on third down
The Dolphins converted eight of their first 10 third down opportunities against the Bills, finishing the night 10-for-15 against a Buffalo team that entered the game with the best third down defense in the NFL (27.3 percent). It was the third time under Head Coach Mike McDaniel the Dolphins had double-digit conversions on third down.
The performance gave the Dolphins the NFL's best conversion percentage at 54.3 (19-for-35). Dallas (52 percent) and San Francisco (51.7 percent) are the only other teams in the NFL converting more than half of their third downs.
Longest touchdown drive since 2012
Those conversions on third down kept the offense on the field for the majority of the second quarter. Covering more than six minutes of game clock and 16 plays, Miami recorded its longest touchdown drive since a 21-play touchdown march against the New York Jets on January 1, 2012.
Hill and Waddle find the end zone
Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle caught a touchdown to cap that 16-play drive with a three-yard strike from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. It represented his second-straight game with a touchdown after scoring against New England in Week 2, and it marked his first time catching a touchdown pass in back-to-back games since Weeks 5 and 6 of the 2023 season against the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers.
Meanwhile, fellow wideout Tyreek Hill scored his first touchdown of the 2025 season, a game-tying visit to pay dirt in the fourth quarter. It was Hill's 90th-career touchdown from scrimmage, making him the fourth active player to reach that mark since he entered the league in 2016 (Derrick Henry, Davante Adams and Mike Evans).
Tagovailoa extends touchdown streak
Tagovailoa threw a pair of touchdowns against Buffalo. It was his fifth-consecutive game with multiple touchdown passes against a divisional opponent, the longest-active streak in the NFL through Thursday night's game.
Tagovailoa has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 39 of his last 40 games and a touchdown in 18-conseuctive games, the second-longest streak in the NFL (Lamar Jackson, 26).
Offensive line clean sheet
Miami's offensive line was stout against the Bills, as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was not sacked all night. It marked the first time the Dolphins' line didn't allow a sack in a game since November 28, 2024, at Green Bay. Patrick Paul, Jonah Savaiinaea, Aaron Brewer, Kion Smith and Larry Borom started the game and Daniel Brunskill entered as a replacement in the second half.
Mr. Thursday, Bradley Chubb
Linebacker Bradley Chubb picked up his third sack of the season, bringing down Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen on third down for a loss of seven and forcing a field goal that was missed. He became the first Dolphin to record a sack in each of his first three games of the year since Trace Armstrong recorded four-straight games with a sack to start the 2000 season.
In four career games on Thursdays, Chubb has tallied 8.0 sacks and averages 2.0 sacks per game, the most by any player on Thursdays since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
Milestones and Achievements
Linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Bradley Chubb recorded their 75th career starts, while offensive lineman Larry Borom played in his 50th career game. Safety Jordan Colbert made his NFL debut.
