The Buffalo Bills played the Miami Dolphins for the second time this season and for the second time they control the game from the beginning and defeat the Dolphins. The Bills game plan was the same, run the football using LeSean McCoy and Karlos Williams.  Buffalo did just that on the way to a 33-17 victory to end a three game losing streak at home at Ralph Wilson Stadium. It was their first win at the Ralph since Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts.

The scoring started in an odd way when Ryan Tannehill was not ready for the center’s shotgun snap. The ball hit him in the hands and bounced in the end zone and rolled out the back for a safety. The Bills would follow up that safety with a long 48 yard touchdown run by LeSean McCoy to go up 9-0 after the first quarter.

Early in the second, Tannehill and the Dolphins seemed to get in a rhythm as he led a drive to cut the Bills lead to 9-7, but the Bills would respond. They would score ten unanswered points to go up 19-7. As time was winding down in the half, Dolphins Head Coach Dan Campbell decided to try for a touchdown rather than a field goal at the Buffalo Bills 1 yard line. Stephon Gilmore made a great play on the slant pass and the Bills gained a lot of momentum with that stand at their goal line.

The Dolphins would cut the lead to 19-14 early in the third quarter, but the Bills once again had the resolve to respond. Tyrod Taylor moved to his right and threw a deep pass to Sammy Watkins who made a beautiful catch in the end zone for a 44 yard touchdown. The referees may have missed a holding call, but the touchdown stood and Buffalo took a 26-14 lead into the fourth.

In the fourth, the Bills would ultimately seal the game with another long touchdown run. This touchdown was a 38 yard run to the left by Karlos Williams. Buffalo had an outstanding 266 yards rushing in the game with great running by LeSean McCoy, Karlos Williams and Tyrod Taylor all contributing. Jerry Hughes was the defensive star for Buffalo as he had two sacks and in the third quarter, one of those sacks proved to be huge. Hughes sacked Tannehill and also stole the ball from him to shut down the Dolphins drive early.

With the loss, Miami will have a very difficult time trying to make the playoffs with a 3-5 record. Buffalo is now back fully in the race and will have a huge game this Thursday against the New York Jets. Whoever wins that matchup will have a great chance to make the playoffs.