Close. So very near being the best upset in franchise historical past.
The Miami Dolphins rallied from a 17-0 deficit in Buffalo, and took the sport to the top in a 34-31 loss within the playoffs.
Here are 10 ideas on the sport:
1. Play of the sport: Third-and-19. Dolphins’ 8-yard line. Leading 24-20 within the third quarter. This is the choice the quarterback Skylar Thompson and coach Mike McDaniel need again. Instead of a calling a draw play or brief go after which punt, Thompson threw deep into double protection and was intercepted by Buffalo’s Kaiir Elam, who returned it to the Dolphins 33. This will get to situational soccer — in addition to understanding your personnel. You don’t need to lose a recreation proper there with a rookie overdoing it. That interception gave struggling Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen a brief area and introduced a nervous Bills fan base some hope. Five performs later, he threw 6 yards to Cole Beasley for a landing and Buffalo took management of the sport once more.
2. What might need been the play of the sport: Defensive coordinator Josh Boyer has been questioned concerning the effectiveness of his blitzes, however this was a day his protection did virtually the whole lot to avoid wasting the day (after a brutal first quarter, that’s). When security Eric Rowe blitzed in Sunday’s third quarter, it modified the tone of the sport. Allen didn’t see Rowe, whose hit jarred the ball from Allen and despatched it rolling on area. Defensive sort out Zach Sieler picked it up and on the Buffalo 5-yard line and ran in for the landing and a 24-20 Dolphins lead. You may see the upset in that second — no less than for a little bit bit.
3. Second-guess of the day: Look, the Dolphins’ battle erases any arduous questioning. And McDaniel confirmed he can lead a workforce this season proper to this last recreation once they performed with a third-string rookie quarterback. But … how did they’ve to make use of three time-outs within the second half as a result of performs didn’t appear to be getting in from McDaniel rapidly sufficient. Even worse: They obtained a delay-of-game penalty in a game-on-the-line fourth-and-1 that resulted right into a fourth-and-6 play that modified the whole lot (Thompson threw incomplete). It’s on such particulars days are misplaced. Buffalo then obtained the ball with 2:22 left and … the Dolphins had no time-outs to cease the clock in a 34-31 recreation.
4. Josh Allen threw two interceptions within the second quarter, misplaced the ball within the third quarter on Zieler’s landing and was sacked seven instances. That’s a giant day for Boyer’s protection. All this was the very first thing that needed to occur for the Dolphins to have an opportunity Sunday. Mistakes are a part of Allen’s recreation as he completed third within the league in interceptions (14) this season. Allen saved going for the home-run throw towards a Boyer protection that saved tempting him to throw that ball. It labored early however Boyer’s protection gave the Dolphins an opportunity. There’s a superb risk this was Boyer’s final recreation with Miami, however it was a nice one for him. Allen can’t be in any respect pleased with how he performed. He accomplished 23-of-39 passes for 354 yards, three TDs and the 2 interceptions.
5. If the thought was to lighten Thompon’s load, that didn’t work. The Dolphins ran for simply 42 yards on 20 carries. And the receiving? Jaylen Waddle didn’t provide you with greater than 100 yards of catches on Sunday. Two got here within the dismal first quarter when the Dolphins fell behind 17-0. Waddle flat-out dropped a deep go on the Dolphins opening collection. On one other, he had his arms on however couldn’t come down with in site visitors, which was the identical factor within the third quarter on one other deep ball. Tyreek Hill dropped a slant sample within the first quarter, too. Here’s the purpose: The finest gamers left plenty of yards on the market on the sphere on a day once they needed to be good to have an opportunity. Those contributed to Thompson finishing one in every of his first eight passes and the Dolphins having 19 yards of offense within the first quarter to the Bills’ 172 yards. Waddle made his first catch with 9 minutes left within the recreation after which made an excellent, 25-yard catch with simply over 4 minutes left on a third-and-10 play. Thompson accomplished 18-of-45 passes for 220 yards, a landing and two interceptions.
6. Stat of the sport: Dolphins 18 factors off turnovers, Buffalo 14 factors off turnovers. The first half of this recreation confirmed the trail to an upset, however the issue is the Dolphins couldn’t play a clear recreation themselves.
7. Xavien Howard capped an up-and-down season by getting uncovered early earlier than making a giant play. Maybe it was the knee concern that precipitated him to overlook the New England recreation two weeks in the past (he additionally had groin points a lot of the season). Maybe his recreation, at 29, is dropping off. But this hasn’t been the Howard of the previous couple of years and Buffalo went proper at him. Stefon Diggs was two steps open and working free for a 68-yard landing on the game-opening play however Allen overthrew him. Diggs beat Howard once more within the first quarter for a 54-yard catch to arrange the Bills’ first landing. Diggs had 5 catches (on 5 targets) for 96 yards within the first quarter. Again: The Dolphins wanted their finest gamers to be at their finest to have an opportunity on this recreation. Howard did come again with an interception and return within the second quarter that led to a area objective and 17-6 recreation. What now for Howard? He’ll be again. His contract says that a lot. He’s only a $10 million cap hit, however would value $23 million towards he cap if he’s reduce (and be $33 million in useless cash).
8. The Dolphins obtained one thing more to contribute to their near-upset: Great particular groups. This was one thing lacking a lot of the season. But Jason Sanders made all three area targets (lengthy of 48) and Cedrick Wilson Jr. had a 50-yard punt return to arrange one of many area targets to make it a 17-9 Buffalo lead. That punt return was the longest in franchise playoff historical past. The particular groups haven’t been good for a lot of video games this season. They have been nice today.
9. Quick hits:
* Left sort out Terron Armstead gutted out one other begin, needed to come out briefly reportedly for his hip harm and returned to the sport.
* The one factor a home-field benefit helps is the snap depend. The Dolphins offense had 4 pre-snap penalties.
* Mike Gesicki obtained to bounce.
10. The Dolphins advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Tua Tagovailoa is “expected to return as the Miami Dolphins’ starting quarterback for the 2023 season.” It’s a wise message to place out. There’s no motive to assume the Dolphins count on anything earlier than this season is even over. Tagovailoa ought to return, too, and this sort of assertion quiets some waters. But let’s be actual: There’s an offseason to measure simply what different choices the Dolphins have.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com