In the Miami Dolphins’ first playoff look in six years, the sport — and their effort — didn’t disappoint.
But following a comeback to take a lead from beginning down 17 factors, the Dolphins, thought of two-touchdown underdogs behind third-string rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson, couldn’t pull off the historic upset.
The division-rival Buffalo Bills received a back-and-forth second half to take down the upstart Dolphins, 34-31, in an AFC wild-card playoff recreation on Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium.
The Dolphins (9-9), who along with making their first playoff look because the 2016 season, had been in a postseason recreation for simply the second time in 14 years and third in 21 seasons, stay winless within the playoffs since 2000.
“We were very aware that no one really gave us a shot,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel mentioned. “That was positively an additional motivating issue — not that we wanted every other motivation.
“Heartbroken for the guys because they didn’t want their season to end and did everything they could, but it’s part of the sometimes hard learning lessons that are appropriate when you have high expectations, high dreams, high goals.”
Said Thompson, who was beginning as a result of beginning quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missed a 3rd consecutive recreation within the concussion protocol and backup Teddy Bridgewater was solely out there in an emergency on account of a finger harm: “We’re all hurt right now. Nobody in that locker room wanted to lose.”
Buffalo (14-3), taking part in impressed soccer for security Damar Hamlin, who collapsed on the taking part in discipline in Cincinnati and suffered a cardiac arrest two weeks in the past, advances to the divisional spherical of the playoffs.
Sticking with the closely favored Bills till the top, the Dolphins had a late alternative squandered on account of a number of points managing the play clock.
“It’s something that obviously will be a point of emphasis in the offseason, but there’s compounding variables,” McDaniel mentioned of the game-management snafus. “There was some crowd noise that had to do with mishearing some digits of the wristband. There was some issues within the huddle of communication and getting to the line of scrimmage.”
The final miscue in getting set created a delay-of-game penalty that turned a fourth-and-inches into fourth-and-6 earlier than an incomplete go turned the ball over on downs to the Bills, who then ran out the clock.
Although the Dolphins had been outgained, 423-231, Miami competed with Buffalo because of opportunistic play defensively in creating three pivotal takeaways, one for a rating.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen was intercepted twice and misplaced a key fumble, however he completed 23 of 39 for 352 yards and three landing passes. Stefon Diggs had seven catches for 114 yards, largely within the first half, and Gabe Davis had six receptions for 113 yards and a landing.
Thompson went 18 of 45 for 220 yards, a landing and two interceptions in his postseason debut and third general begin of his profession.
“It’ll be important to remember this feeling that we have right now in the offseason and get to work,” Thompson mentioned.
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill had seven receptions for 69 yards to steer Miami. Jaylen Waddle went for 3 catches and 44 yards, all within the fourth quarter.
The Bills, responding to a 24-3 Miami scoring run between the top of the primary half and begin of the second, scored back-to-back third-quarter touchdowns with Allen discovering Cole Beasley after which Davis for touchdowns.
An odd choice to throw deep on third-and-19 from Miami’s personal 8-yard line with a lead backfired. An interception by Kaiir Elam, a Palm Beach County product from Benjamin High, positioned the Bills 33 yards away from the top zone for the primary of these scores.
“It was a bad decision on my part,” Thompson mentioned. “Just got to know the situation there.”
Following the Davis landing, the Dolphins, after struggling to maintain an extended drive all through, went 75 yards in 11 performs, capping the collection with Jeff Wilson pounding a 1-yard landing into the top zone.
The Dolphins took a 24-20 lead a few minute into the second half. Big defensive sort out Zach Sieler picked up a fumble and returned it 5 yards for his first profession landing after security Eric Rowe stripped Allen of the ball.
“It just felt great to be able to get our opportunity to keep going, try to get the momentum shift,” Sieler mentioned.
Down 17-0 deep into the primary half, Miami rallied for 17 unanswered factors to tie earlier than Buffalo kicked a discipline purpose to enter halftime up, 20-17.
Following a run of three consecutive Jason Sanders discipline targets, Miami obtained into the top zone for the primary time Sunday with 33 seconds left within the half, when Thompson fired a 7-yard landing go to tight finish Mike Gesicki and adopted it with a profitable two-point conversion to Hill.
Miami obtained that chance after intercepting Allen deep in Buffalo territory when security Jevon Holland got here up with a go that was initially damaged up by cornerback Kader Kohou. Between two of the sphere targets, cornerback Xavien Howard, in a mostly-rough first half the place Diggs ate him up, intercepted a deep go meant for John Brown and returned it 49 yards into Bills territory. Another discipline purpose was arrange because of a 50-yard punt return by Cedrick Wilson Jr.
The Bills scored first on their second offensive collection Sunday. Allen hit Diggs, beating Howard deep in single protection, for a 52-yard connection that put Buffalo on the Miami 6-yard line. A fast Allen go on the transfer to his proper that discovered tight finish Dawson Knox culminated the drive with a landing. Knox made a powerful one-handed catch with a knee in the long run zone.
Then, Thompson made his first mistake as a rookie in a playoff environment. He was late to throw to a crossing Hill and had a go intercepted by security Dean Marlowe, who got here off his beneath protection.
The turnover gave the Bills nice discipline place, establishing rookie working again and Miami Central High grad James Cook for a 12-yard landing on a sweep to the left. Outside linebacker Melvin Ingram caught with Allen on the handoff, and inside linebacker Elandon Roberts couldn’t catch the quicker Cook. It put Buffalo up, 14-0, within the first 10 minutes of Sunday’s motion.
Miami missed a possibility on its first drive after beginning Sunday afternoon by turning the Bills over on downs. Waddle dropped an open go deep that ended up hitting off his shoulder pad on a well-thrown ball by Thompson that was his first postseason throw.
The drops continued for Miami all through the primary half with Hill and Jeff Wilson Jr. additionally contributing.
Miami collected a franchise playoff-record seven sacks. Sieler led the way in which with two.
The Dolphins’ final playoff victory is stays the towards the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 30, 2000.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com