ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The phrase “resilient” was used typically this week to clarify the Buffalo funds.
On Sunday, their skill to fight — and win — in shut video games was on full current in direction of the Miami Dolphins. The funds bought here again after surrendering a 17-level lead to defeat the Dolphins 34-31 and advance to the divisional spherical.
Buffalo funds
The woes that had damage the funds in video games all season prolonged have been evident on Sunday with questionable offensive playcalling, drops by receivers and turnovers, which allowed the Dolphins to maintain round.
Contributions from sudden sources went a very good method for the funds, with rookie cornerback Kaiir Elam having fun with a large position — which included an interception — inside the sport. huge receiver Gabe Davis had thought of one of his biggest performances of the season with six receptions for 113 yards.
The funds averted what would have been thought of one of many worst losses in franchise historic previous, however they’ve a lot to scrub up in a quick interval of time.
Pivotal play: Linebacker Tyrel Dodson averted disaster when he recovered a muffed punt inside the third quarter with the funds main 27-24. Returner Nyheim Hines referred to as a very good catch however was unable to collect it with the ball bouncing forward, however Dodson snatched it amid a pile of gamers.
due to Dodson’s restoration, the funds have been in a place to drive down the sphere and rating on a 23-yard touchdown go from Josh Allen to Davis. If the Dolphins had recovered, they’d have had the ball on the Buffalo 32-yard line with a chief alternative to at the very least tie the sport.
Troubling pattern: Allen accomplished the common season with a league-extreme 19 turnovers, however his postseason historic previous was usually clear coming into Sunday, with simply one interception and one fumble misplaced in six profession playoff video games. That modified in direction of the Dolphins.
The quarterback had a tough stretch inside the center two quarters, throwing two interceptions — although one supposed for huge receiver Cole Beasley did not appear to be on Allen — and fumbling, which resulted in a Dolphins touchdown. Allen additionally had a fumble inside the fourth quarter recovered by proper sort out Spencer Brown. in direction of greater offenses, these turnovers might be season-enders for the funds.
QB breakdown: whereas Allen’s three turnovers are a critical concern, he made some massive throws in key moments. The Dolphins’ stress was efficient, sacking Allen seven instances, tying his profession extreme.
Too typically all by the sport, Allen took photographs downfield that fell incomplete, stalling funds drives. Allen and offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey additionally have been unable to get huge receiver Stefon Diggs involved inside the second half, with one goal and nil receptions after he caught seven passes for 114 yards inside the essential half.
Amid the struggles, Allen grew to become the essential funds quarterback with three playoff video games of 300-plus passing yards and three passing touchdowns.
Silver lining: funds safety Dean Marlowe is doing a safe job filling in for Damar Hamlin, particularly contemplating Marlowe was a healthful scratch for the 5 video games earlier to starting final week. Marlowe picked off rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson on a go supposed for huge receiver Tyreek Hill inside the essential quarter. The decide arrange rookie working again James put together dinner‘s 12-yard touchdown 4 performs later, giving the funds a 14-zero lead.
It was Marlowe’s first interception since 2020. The funds will want him to step up as a consequence of the postseason continues with safety Micah Hyde nonetheless at the very least per week away from a potential return. — Alaina Getzenberg
Eye-popping NextGen stat: Allen’s fifty two-yard go to Diggs inside the essential quarter had a completion probability of 15.6% — in all probability the most inconceivable accomplished go of Allen’s profession.
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Tempers flare between Dolphins and funds
Christian Wilkins and Josh Allen get heated after a funds interception ensuing in a quantity of flags.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins went down swinging, at the very least; they definitely made issues consideration-grabbing.
the largest playoff underdog in NFL historic previous stormed again from a 17-level first-half deficit to finally take a quick lead early inside the third quarter, however finally the quick-handed Dolphins might not cling on of their loss to the funds. The loss ends a season that, at one level, appeared to have not any ceiling till accidents to key starters, collectively with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, took their toll.
This sport was speculated to be an unmitigated blowout — and it definitely regarded desire it’d stay as a lot as expectations when the funds raced out to a 17-zero lead to start the sport. regardless of being pressured to go along with rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson in his first profession playoff start, Miami hung round prolonged ample to current the dwelling crowd at Highmark Stadium an appropriate scare.
The Dolphins now enter the offseason with each optimism and skepticism. Tagovailoa solidified himself as a plus starter when healthful, however he missed the greater an component of six video games with two documented concussions and nonetheless should quiet considerations regarding his prolonged-time period availability over the course of a full season. First-yr coach Mike McDaniel snapped the franchise’s 5-yr playoff drought, however enhancements should be made to a run sport that ranked twenty fifth in dashing yards per sport and a protection that accomplished twenty first in defensive anticipated factors added after ending eighth in that class in 2021.
Miami might very effectively be roughly $7 million over the wage cap for the 2023 season and has selections to make on Christian Wilkins, Mike Gesicki and Byron Jones (who missed your full 2022 season however represents an $18.eight million cap hit subsequent season).
The Dolphins and their fan base might spend a very good interval of time this offseason questioning “what if,” however they will not want to shock if this staff mailed in its first playoff sport since 2016. Their effort was by no means in question.
Describe the sport in two phrases: shut name. As in, the funds virtually suffered thought of one of many extra embarrassing playoff defeats in latest reminiscence — at dwelling to a Dolphins staff having fun with a third-string rookie quarterback. If something, it serves as a reminder that nothing is needless to say inside the NFL.
QB breakdown: Thompson regarded like a rookie making his first profession playoff start. there have been moments of brilliance, however he took longer than 2.5 seconds to throw on 22 of his go makes an try and threw a sport-altering interception deep in his personal territory that arrange the funds for an simple touchdown. Granted, his receivers dropped passes all by the day, and notable downfield drops by Jaylen Waddle and Gesicki might have altered this sport in a critical method. each statements might very effectively be true: Thompson bought little assist from his offensive playmakers, and he additionally did not play notably effectively.
Promising/troubling pattern: The Dolphins’ protection over the previous few seasons has been predicated on creating turnovers, however they ranked second-to-final inside the NFL this season in takeaways. Sunday’s efficiency was a return to that philosophy. Defensive coordinator Josh Boyer was unafraid to ship fixed stress at Allen, forcing three turnovers that every led to factors for Miami. On a day when their offense might not get a lot going, the Dolphins performed excellent complementary soccer. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
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