Buffalo Rumblings
The Bills most definitely do run the AFC East
The Buffalo Bills found themselves in a shootout with the Miami Dolphins in their AFC East showdown. While the Bills won the game, the Dolphins didn’t make it easy like they did in Week 2. With only two punts – one by each team – every drive was game changing. And game changing drives give fans plenty to Shout! about.
Buffalo won on an almost-walkoff field goal by kicker Tyler Bass. Bass’s career long and team record 61-yard field goal split the uprights and if it hadn’t been for the safety net would have kept going for another 10+ yards. While Bass has struggled this season (he entered the game at just an 80% completion rate), the angst among fans when he walked on the field with ten seconds left may have been unwarranted. It turns out, Bass is 9 for 9 on kicks in the last minute of a game. Five of those nine have been for the win.
Running back Ray Davis had a career-long on Sunday as well. His was for six points though, not three. Davis went 63 yards to the endzone on a catch and run. Longest by Buffalo RB since C.J. Spiller (66) in December 2012. Davis with 90 total yards from scrimmage.
Quarterback Josh Allen sandwiched his touchdown pass to Davis between ones to wide receiver Mack Hollins and tight end Quintin Morris. Allen’s three scores moved him past Joe Ferguson and into second place on Buffalo’s all-time list for most passing yards in a Bills’ uniform. Buffalo’s top three are now (3) Joe Ferguson with 181, (2) Josh Allen with 184, (1) Jim Kelly with 237.
In fact, Allen’s first touchdown of the day came on a fourth-and-one. The conversion, a touchdown to Hollins in the back of the end zone, was the 9th conversion on as many attempts for the Bills this season. Buffalo’s nine successful fourth down plays ties them with the Washington Commanders for most in the NFL this season.
The Bills defense struggled to keep Miami’s running backs in check for most of the game, but they still had some big moments. Greg Rousseau sacked Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa brining his career total to 21.5. It has only taken the 24-year-old Rousseau 55 games to get his plus-20 sacks making him the fifth fastest Bill to reach that mark in the past 40 years.
While the Bills struggled to stop Miami’s running backs for most of the game, in the third quarter, Taron Johnson punched the ball out his hands – his first forced fumble of the season after having a career high three last season - and Kaiir Elam was quick to jump on the ball for his first career fumble recovery. Elam has a total of five career turnovers (including playoffs) despite his limited playing time in the NFL.
The win was Sean McDermott’s 80th win as a head coach – all of which are in Buffalo....
