The Buffalo Bills needed a win against the Miami Dolphins to prove they are still a threat in the AFC East after a loss to the New England Patriots last week. The game came after the Patriots pummeled the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Jets lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, putting the Bills in prime position to stay right behind New England in the AFC East.
The game started off quick for the Bills thanks to a familiar face that the Dolphins and their fans no well. Tyrod Taylor found former Miami Dolphin tight end Charles Clay on three separate big plays including a touchdown on the Bills first drive. With Dan Carpenter's extra point the Bills were up 7 - 0 early in the first.
When the Dolphins offense returned to the field, the Bills defense stepped up and they were forced to punt again. When the Bills offense came back on the field, Tyrod Taylor's favorite target of the day, Charles Clay, came up with some big receptions again, leading to a LeSean McCoy 10-yard receiving touchdown. At the end of the first it was 14 - 0 Bills.
Dan Carpenter added a field goal five minutes into the second making it a 17-0 Bills lead. The Bills next score came after safety Bacarri Rambo blitzed up the middle untouched to get to Ryan Tannehill, causing him to lose the ball. Preston Brown intercepted it and ran back for a touchdown. After another Carpenter extra point, the Bills were ahead 24-0.
Ryan Tannehill tried to jump start the Dolphins but Bills rookie Ronald Darby intercepted his pass leading to an eventual Dan Carpenter field goal and a Bills 27 - 0 lead at the half.
Carpenter missed a 54-yard field goal in the third which gave the Dolphins the ball back. Ryan Tannehill connected for a 21-yard touchdown to Rishard Matthews on that drive to give Miami its first points of the game. A successful two-point conversion made the score 27 - 8 more than midway through the third.
The Bills would continue their onslaught as Tyrod Taylor would lead the Buffalo offense on an 11-play, 80-yard drive that ended in a 38-yard touchdown pass to receiver Chris Hogan. The Dolphins did score again on a touchdown with eight minutes left in the fourth but a missed extra point brought them to a 20-point deficit.
E.J. Manuel came in for the Bills with a little more than seven minutes left in regulation. His second play of the drive was handed off to rookie running back - a fifth round pick who is proving he should have been first round draft pick - Karlos Williams who ran 41-yards for the touchdown. Dan Carpenter's extra point was good making it the 41-14 where it remained.
The win brings the Bills record to 2 - 1 and the Dolphins fall to 1 - 2. The Bills take on the New York Giants (1-2) next week, while Miami plays the New York Jets (2-1) in London.