The Dolphins went toe-to-toe with the Bills in Buffalo on Thursday Night Football for the fourth time in as many years. Unfortunately, Miami's efforts weren't enough. Similar to recent years, the Dolphins kept the contest a one-possession affair before the Bills made a game-clinching play.
It was the Dolphins' best performance of the season. But at 0-3, moral victories are difficult to claim.
"I'm never proud of a loss," Head Coach Mike McDaniel said. "We came here to win and I refuse to take moral victories as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. It wasn't good enough, so that's where I'm at."
- The Balance
By volume, the Dolphins offensive numbers weren't eye-popping, but they were efficient. Removing the 22-second possession at the end of the game, the Dolphins had the football eight times and scored 21 points. That's more than a full point higher than the NFL average of 2.2 points per possession.
One of the reasons for the shortened game (two possessions fewer than league average), was Miami's ability to sustain drives and chew clock. The Dolphins were 10-for-15 on third downs and found execution in a variety of ways.
Rookie running back Ollie Gordon II helped change the pace. He ran the ball nine times for 38 yards, including a perfect three-for-three conversions on third-down-and-short. That paired nicely with fellow running back De'Von Achane's 62 yards on the ground.
Achane had his usual success stretching the Buffalo defense, while Gordon II took advantage of the softened space inside.
Miami's balance extended beyond the run game. That approach helped open the passing game, primarily on out-breaking routes. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 22 passes on the night, 16 of those coming outside the numbers. This comes one week after Miami completed 20 passes outside the numbers, the two highest totals for Tagovailoa in his career.
- Strong on Third Downs
The Dolphins offensive balance produced one of their best days on third downs as they converted two-thirds of their 15 opportunities. The 10 conversions came at varying down-and-distances.
When it wasn't Gordon II hammering the ball over the line to gain in short yardage, it was wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle moving the chains. Both players caught five passes each. Four of Hill's receptions moved the chains on third-down with conversions of 4, 12, 10 and 3 yards. His other reception was a touchdown with an exceptional route and throw from Tagovailoa.
Waddle converted a fourth-and-4 with a 16-yard catch and a pair of third downs (one with 8 yards to go, one with 4 yards to gain) on the Dolphins penultimate drive with the game tied at 21.
Tagovailoa was responsible for eight conversions on his 13 third-down attempts, and one-for-one on fourth down. He completed 10 of the 13 passes for 70 yards and an 8-yard scramble on third-and-7.
- Tough Lessons
Despite all the good, Miami came up short late in the game. Tagovailoa was intercepted in a potential game-tying drive with 3:06 on the clock on a first-and-10 from the Buffalo 21-yard line.
"I thought I was in rhythm and timing of the play, seeing the flat defender go over the top of Jaylen (Waddle), Jaylen is turning around," Tagovailoa said. "I think that was a really good play by the defender, had some color in my face trying to maneuver the throw as well. Ten out of ten times, if we're looking at that same thing, I think I'd still try to work that timing of hitting that spot, and I think that the linebacker made a great play on that."
After a fast start from the Buffalo offense, the Dolphins made three consecutive stops in which Buffalo was only able to convert one first down. On the third possession, however, with the offense set to take the ball back with 10 minutes to play in a 21-21 tie, defensive tackle Zach Sieler collided with the plant leg of Buffalo punter Cameron Johnston for an automatic first down.
Buffalo was able to capitalize with a go-ahead scoring drive to take the lead, 28-21, with just over seven minutes to play.
Some of Miami's best players made some of the most critical mistakes. In addition to Sieler's penalty, linebacker Jordyn Brooks committed a personal foul in the game and Hill dropped a pass that could've been a 50-yard gain on a third down.
"If you had to pick as to whom you'd want to make mistakes like that early in the year – all things equal, if you had to pick and you're a supreme pessimist so you mandated it – it would probably be those types of players, the leaders of the team," McDaniel said. "For them – for the leaders, for the captains of the team – they desperately need me to hold those guys to absolute accountability in front of the whole team, because those same guys are going to be challenging and demanding that the players that they're captains of hold themselves accountable for things like that moving forward."
For more analysis, takeaways and breakdowns, download the Drive Time Podcast with Travis Wingfield, available on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
