The Buffalo Bills (2-0) proved a lot of people wrong in their 31-10 win over the Miami Dolphins (1-1) at Hard Rock Stadium in Week 2.
Coming into Thursday night’s divisional matchup, many were predicting the home team to come away with the win. In their defense, it does seem difficult to go on the road on three day’s rest to a different climate and come away with a win over a good football team. But, for the people who were picking the Dolphins just because they thought they were the better team, they couldn’t have been more wrong on Thursday night.
The Bills intercepted QB Tua Tagovailoa on the Dolphins’ first drive and then immediately went down and scored using a methodical approach from offensive coordinator Joe Brady. This sequence set the tone for the first half. In the first 30 minutes, the Bills intercepted Tagovailoa twice and James Cook scored three touchdowns. They went into the break up 24-10 and recorded a pick-six on the Dolphins’ opening drive of the second half to go up 31-10. They put the game away early in what was expected to be a close battle.
As you can imagine, the grades for Bills players in the 21-point victory should be very good.
Get the full report card below:
Quarterback: B+
Sep 12, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) reaches for Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
Josh Allen made some exceptional throws early on in the game when needed, but for the most part, he didn’t have to do a whole lot on Thursday night. The Bills’ defense was turning the Dolphins over and the running game was wearing the Dolphins down. For a quarterback who has had a recent history of having to play “hero ball”, having a slow day at the office is a great thing, especially while dealing with an uncomfortable left-hand injury.
Although he wasn’t the action-hero type of player we are used to seeing, Allen was still efficient. He threw just 19 passes on the night, completing 13 of them for 139 yards and 1 touchdown. He posted a passer rating of 107.1 and only had 2 carries for 2 yards.
Running back: A
Sep 12, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) runs for a touchdown past Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland (8) during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
James Cook was the star of the show on Thursday night and made a lot of fantasy players happy. He scored three touchdowns, which all came in the first half, and was a major reason the game was put to bed early.
Cook ran the ball 11 times for 78 yards (7.1 YPC), and caught his lone target in the passing game for a 17-yard touchdown. He had a 49-yard run for a touchdown late in the first half that sent the BIlls’ sideline into a frenzy and put the Bills in control of the game.
Rookie running back Ray Davis got his first extended work in the NFL, running 9 times for 29 yards, mostly as the game was already out of hand.
Ty Johnson didn’t see much work but he did come down with a catch that was the longest completion in the game, reeling in a 33-yard pass from a scrambling Josh Allen which set the Bills up for first-and-goal.
Receivers: B+
Sep 12, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) runs with the football against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Much like the play of the quarterback, the receivers weren’t required to add much production but were very efficient. Khalil Shakir led the way, catching all five of his targets for 54 yards. Tight end Dalton Kincaid caught all four of his targets for 33 yards. Shakir and Kincaid look to be the two that Allen will on this year.
Johnson, Davis, Cook, and Curtis Samuel each added one catch.
Offensive line: A
Sep 12, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The Bills were easily the more physical team Thursday night. They allowed a couple pressures in the passing game and had a handful of run plays met at the line of scrimmage, but overall they had a great game in Miami.
According to PFF, the o-line had their way in pass blocking reps, with five players grading out over a 66.0 which is stellar o-line play across the board. Spencer Brown led the way in that category with a grade of 77.4. The run-blocking grades weren’t as good but that can probably be chalked up to taking the foot off the gas in the later stages.
Defensive line: A
Sep 12, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane (28) runs the ball away from Buffalo Bills defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (92) during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
The Bills defensive line didn’t flash often Thursday night, as is usually the case playing the Dolphins who get the ball out quick. But when they did, it was impressive. They got home for two sacks, one each from Ed Oliver and Von Miller. Miller now has sacks in back-to-back weeks and is looking promising as a rotational piece whose role could grow. According to PFF, Miller was the Bills’ highest-graded player Thursday (90.7).
On the ground, the Bills had some trouble with some of the creative play designs from Miami. De’Von Achane had a good game, running for 96 yards on 22 carries at 4.4 per carry. But, the Dolphins were facing third and long too often to pound the ground all game.
Linebackers: A-
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 12: Damar Hamlin #3 and Baylon Spector #54 of the Buffalo Bills tackle Tyreek Hill #10 of the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter of the game at Hard Rock Stadium on September 12, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Linebacker and captain Terrel Bernard left the game on the first drive due to injury, which laid the way for Baylon Spector to play a ton of meaningful snaps in the middle of the defense. He stepped up big time in the run game. And, Dorian Williams was around the ball in the run game a ton as well. They each had 10 tackles to tie for the team lead.
Spector and Williams both struggled in pass coverage a bit, but the secondary was able to bail them out for the most part.
Secondary: A+
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 12: Ja’Marcus Ingram #46 of the Buffalo Bills runs the ball for a 31 yard touchdown after intercepting a pass thrown by Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter in the game at Hard Rock Stadium on September 12, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
The Bills secondary has had Tua Tagovailoa’s number for the past few years. And Thursday night was more of the same. Ja’Marcus Ingram had two interceptions and Christian Benford added a third. Benford and Rasul Douglas were steady all night in coverage on the boundary and picked their time to be aggressive in the zone.
Damar Hamlin had ten tackles to tie for the team lead as he and Taylor Rapp put a lid on the top of the defense, holding speedy WRs for Miami in check. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined for just 65 receiving yards.
Kaiir Elam, Mike Edwards, and Cole Bishop were all able to get a few snaps in towards the end.
Special teams: B
Sep 12, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott walks onto the field prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
Punter Sam Martin was put to use three times and had a solid outing, landing two inside the 20 and averaging 49.7 yards per punt. Kicker Tyler Bass had an inconsistent night, going 1-of-2 on field goals. He made a 43-yarder in the first half and missed a 45-yarder in the second half.
Last week, the Bills allowed the league’s first every dynamic kick return for a TD in NFL history. This week, every kickoff was booted in the end zone for a touchback.
