The Thursday night game between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins started with Miami on offense as Buffalo deferred after winning the coin toss. The Dolphins offense drove down the field on that first drive behind an injury ridden revamped offensive line, which surprisingly, protected Miami's quarterback Ryan Tannehill on passing plays and opened running lanes for running back Lamar Miller. The Dolphins' first drive stalled in the red zone and Miami had to settle for a field goal.
The Bills' first drive yielded similar results and after the possession exchange, the score was tied 3–3. On Miami's second drive, Tannehill tried to make the best of a would be coverage sack and ran the ball but he fumbled and the Bills took over. Buffalo again marched right down the field but again had to settle for a Dan Carpenter field goal. The half ended with the Dolphins' last possession of the half coming to a halt and at the end of two quarter, the Bills led the Dolphins by the score of 6–3.
Miami has owned the 3rd quarter this season, and they would again shine in this period. Buffalo received the kick off of the second half but failed to score. The same would happen to Miami on their next possession, but on their next possession, Buffalo's Dan Carpenter kicked another field goal bringing the score to 9–3. On their next shot on offense, the Dolphins scored the first touchdown of the game when Ryan Tannehill, after marching the Dolphins down the field, connected with wide receiver Brandon Gibson on a bootleg fake, which put Miami ahead with less than 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Later in the same period, Buffalo's quarterback Kyle Orton, threw an incomplete pass from the end zone and was flagged for intentional grounding, which gave Miami another 2 points from the safety. Rookie emerging star for the Dolphins, Jarvis Landry, fielded the ensuing punt, but fumbled the ball on Miami's side of the field as the quarter ended with Miami now leading Buffalo by the score of 12–9.
Dan Carpenter again attempted another field goal which would've tied the game early in the 4th quarter, but his kicked sailed wide right, and on Miami's next drive, Tannehill connected for another touchdown pass, this time to Jarvis Landry, which brought the score to 19-9. Kyle Orton was unable to convert on 3rd or 4th down and turned the ball over to Miami on downs. Caleb Sturgis kicked another field goal for Miami, which brought the score to what would eventually be the final number of 22-9 as Miami was finally breaking a losing streak against Buffalo.
The Dolphins' new offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, called a dynamic game and put a game plan together which managed to slow down the Bills' number one ranked defense in sacks. Not enough perhaps can be said about Lazor's play selection in the face of a depleted and reshuffled offensive line going against such formidable opponents. Rookie Jarvis Landry had yet another eye opening game even when one considers the task the Dolphins were facing. Tannehill, still hobbled by injuries, was fearless and efficient as was Lamar Miller, who was himself nursing a separated shoulder and still managed to get 86 yards on 14 carries. Buffalo's Kyle Orton was also efficient in the loss but with so many of his top weapons missing from the game, he did all he could but fell short. Miami now moves to 6-4 on the year as Buffalo falls to 5-5.