Dolphins vs Bills final score, immediate reactions as Buffalo sweeps Miami in 2024

The Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills faced off in Week 9. We reacted as the game played out.

The Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills completed their 2024 season series in Week 9, following up the Bills 31-10 victory over Miami in Week 2. The Dolphins performed better in this game than they did in that contest, but could not end the five-game losing streak at the hands of the Bills, extending the streak to six games.

The game went back and forth throughout the afternoon, but when Miami needed one stop, they could not get it. Instead, the Dolphins fall to 2-6 on the year and looking like they are more in line for an early draft pick than a team that should be a factor in the AFC playoff picture.

The Bills, meanwhile, position themselves to an early claim on the AFC East division title in what was expected to be a down year in Buffalo.

Final Score

Dolphins 27 – 30 Bills

First Quarter Reactions

1. The Dolphins put the Bills offense on the field first – always dangerous with the struggles the team has had with quarterback Josh Allen. But, it worked out. A three-and-out forced by some good run stuffing and then the pass rush from rookie Chop Robinson gives Miami the ball early. Very good first series – but the defense is going to have to play like that all game long.

2. Running back De’Von Achane opens Miami’s drive with a seven-yard run, then quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw short to wide receiver Tyreek Hill for six yards. Tagovailoa then set up the questions and comments, however, as he dropped the shotgun snap. During the week, Tagovailoa told the media catching a snap, is “not as easy as what it looked like sitting down on your couch eating chips.” The snap seemed to be straight to him, but he took his eyes off it and let it slip, leading to another fumble and a one-yard loss. A pass to wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr., the veteran’s first reception this season, could not make up for the wasted play and Miami would have to punt. Tagovailoa cannot be making mistakes on something so basic to his job.

3. The punt and coverage seemed off for some reason and the Bills are able to return it for 30 yards. Starting at the Miami 37-yard line, the Bills quickly moved down to the Miami 15-yard line, but on 3rd-and-3, Buffalo tried a designed run for Allen, but linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah was able to break through the line and stuff the run for a seven-yard loss. The Bills settled for the field goal. Bills 3-0.

4. Miami just cannot get out of their own way. The second play of the drive was stopped due to a false start penalty on tight end Durham Smythe. They received a break from the referees when the Bills were called for an unnecessary roughness penalty that did not seem to be anything close to unnecessary roughness – if it was, it might have been on Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert for initiating the helmet-to-helmet contact. On 3rd-and-1 from the Bills’ 20-yard line, Miami tried a run up the middle with Mostert, but it was stuffed for a one-yard loss as Smythe was shoved into the backfield. Miami tied the game with a field goal. Tied 3-3.

First Quarter Score: 3-3

Second Quarter Reactions

5. Buffalo’s first two plays of the possession ended the first quarter, setting up a 1st-and-10 at the Bills’ 45-yard line to start the second quarter. On a 2nd-and-9 from the Bills’ 49-yard line two plays later, the Dolphins seemed unsure if they should attack a scrambling Allen or wait for him to make a move up field. The quarterback pumped the ball three times before throwing a 15-yard pass to tight end Dalton Kincaid. Miami has to do better than allow Allen that much time. Four plays later, on 1st-and-10 from the Dolphins’ 11-yard line, Allen looked for a quick slant to Keon Coleman, but the receiver hit the ball into the air and cornerback Jalen Ramsey picked off the pass. The Dolphins’ defense bent as far as it possibly could, but they came away with the turnover and now the offense needs to make Buffalo pay.

6. The Dolphins started the drive at their own three-yard line and turned to the running game to get them moving. After a one-yard run on first down, Mostert picked up 15 yards and 12 yards on the next two plays. Tagovailoa threw his first pass of the drive two plays later, picking up 10 yards targeting tight end Jonnu Smith. A return to the ground game saw Achane pick up 10 yards. Miami continued to gauge the Bills defense, particularly on the ground, to move the ball down to the Bills 14-yard line. Tagovailoa then dumped the ball into the flat to Achane, who cut across the face of the defense for the touchdown. Of the 97 yards gained on the possession, 64 came from the rushing attack. If Miami can continue to have that kind of success with the running game and then complement it with a big-gain pass, they may be able to keep up with Buffalo today. Dolphins 10-3.

7. The Bills looked to respond before the end of the half, starting at their 30-yard line with 3:20 remaining. A couple of completed passes before the 2-minute warning pushed them forward 12 yards. A couple of penalties on Miami later, and Buffalo was down to the Miami 35-yard line. After a 13-yard pass to wide receiver Mack Hollins for a first down, the Dolphins forced the Bills into a 3rd-and-12 at the Miami 25-yard line. Allen scrambled out of a sack for a 14-yard gain and setting up the Bills with 1st-and-10 at the Miami 11-yard line with 41 seconds left in the half. Two holding penalties and three incomplete passes led to a Bills field goal. The Dolphins got lucky with the holding calls, negating an Allen run for a touchdown on one of them. Miami knelt to kill the clock after the kickoff. Dolphins 10-6.

Second quarter score: Dolphins 10-6

Halftime Thoughts

Is this….nope. I cannot say it. Let’s just say I may not be feeling negatively about what is happening right now.

The Dolphins have established that they can run the ball seemingly at will. They have to keep that up. Keep the run game going, then start to add in the deep passing attack. This is playing into what the Dolphins want to do. Can they keep it up?

The defense is getting to Allen, they just need to get him down now. Chop Robinson is having a good game – even if he is not getting a sack. The Bills are double-teaming him a lot. Can he break through for the first time in his career?

Third quarter reactions

8. Miami opened the second half where they left off in the first half, handing the ball off for a big gain. Mostert picked up seven yards on the first play, just missing breaking it for a huge gain due to a desperation arm tackle attempt. After a 15-yard pass from Tagovailoa to Mostert, Mostert picked up eight yards on a good, patient run, letting the blocks form in front of him – but he was stripped as he was tackled and the Dolphins lost the ball. Rough for Mostert right now. Everything about that play was right – except the ending.

9. The Bills started the drive with two passes to tight end Dawson Knox, then turned to the ground game for four straight plays, picking up 34 yards and moving down to the Miami 19-yard line. Five plays later, on 4th-and-Goal, Allen found Hollins for the touchdown. The extra point kick flew wide left, however. Bills 12-10.

10. Miami split the drive between passing and running plays, starting with a 15-yard pass to Smith, then a Mostert run for seven yards. The highlight of the drive was a 28-yard pass to wide receiver Tyreek Hill along the sideline for a toe-tapping catch. Two runs and a screen pass would only pick up six yards on the next three plays, however, leading to a Miami field goal. Dolphins 13-12.

11. A seven-yard run from running back Ray Davis gave Buffalo a 2nd-and-3 play, with Allen then throwing a pop-pass to Davis, who turned it into a 63-yard touchdown. The Bills converted on the two-point attempt. There is not a lot of reaction to have on a 52-second possession. The Dolphins just missed on tackles, allowing Davis to work his way down the field. Bills 20-13.

12. The drive opened with 2:06 remaining in the quarter and Miami at their own 30-yard line. A five-yard run from rookie running back Jaylen Wright, followed by a seven-yard carry, moved Miami toward mid-field. The quarter ended after a 27-yard catch and run on a crossing route by Hill.

Third quarter score: Bills 20-13.

Fourth Quarter Reactions

13. A false start penalty set Miami back into a 1st-and-15 to start the final period. Achane picked up seven yards on a run to get about half of what Miami needed. After two short passes, Miami faced a 4th-and-3, with Tagovailoa diving for the first down. Tagovailoa then threw a pass in the flat to Smith, who turned it into a 12-yard gain before Achane ran eight yards for the tying score. Great drive from the Dolphins. Systematic, smart, and efficient. The defense needs to make a stop now, but the offense answered Buffalo’s score perfectly. Tied 20-20.

14. Allen came out throwing for the Bills, picking up 11-, 21-, and 14-yards on three straight passes before a four-yard run – from Allen. The Bills were down at the Miami 20-yard line in a flash, and continued their march forward. On a 3rd-and-6, Miami appeared to hold Buffalo out of the endzone, but a defensive hold was caught and gave the Bills a first down. After a run for one yard from the Miami two-yard line, Allen somehow flipped a ball into an open spot in the endzone with tight end Quintin Morris coming away with the catch. Bills 27-20.

15. Miami got the ball back with just over six minutes remaining in the game and down a touchdown. If they are going to spark their season, they have to start it right here. Achane picked up 12 yards, then Tagovailoa to Hill added another 19 yards. Five plays later, Miami faced a 3rd-and-7, with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle catching his first pass of the day on a 13-yard gain along the sideline and a Dolphins’ first down. Achane ran for no gain, taking the clock to the two-minute warning, but the play may have cost the Dolphins. Waddle was injured on the play, taking a cleat to the leg. After the break, Waddle returned to the game after the bleeding on his calf stopped. Achane picked up 18 yards a on pass to the flat, giving Miami 1st-and-Goal from the 5. Achane lost two yards on a pitch to the right. After a Bills timeout, Tagovailoa was flushed from the pocket and rolled to his right, finding Waddle crossing across the endzone for the touchdown. What a roller coaster of a drive for Waddle, who made hist first catch, was cleated and left the game, only to come back and score the tying touchdown. Tied 27-27.

16. The Dolphins left 1:38 on the clock, turning to the defense to try to keep the game and their season alive. The drive started with a sack – Robinson and Campbell splitting the takedown, giving rookie Robinson his first half sack for his career -then defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand knocked down the pass attempt. After a false start by Robinson changed and 3rd-and-14 into a 3rd-and-9, Allen looked deep to Coleman, with safety Jordan Poyer called for unnecessary roughness on a helmet-to-helmet hit as he broke up the pass. The free first down moved Buffalo near midfield and kept their hope for the win alive. Several quick, short passes later, the Bills lined up for a 61-yard field down – with Tyler Bass nailing the kick and giving the Bills the lead. Miami’s defense did what they need to to get the ball back to the offense, but the Poyer hit changed everything. Bills 30-27.

17. Tagovailoa looked deep, but had to dump the ball short to Achane on the final play of the game. He waited for someone to come back to start a lateral play, eventually throwing the ball to Waddle, who ran backwards for a 24-yard loss.