Here are some takeaways from the Miami Dolphins’ unimaginable win over the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium:
You gotta play it ‘til the tip
With the Dolphins main, 21-17, punter Thomas Morstead booted a punt from his personal finish zone into the bottom of teammate Trent Sherfield, reducing the Dolphins’ result in 21-19 with 1:33 left. Morstead helped save the day along with his free kick that traveled to the Buffalo 6-yard line and was returned to the Bills’ 23-yard line. Buffalo wanted a game-winning subject aim and the Dolphins’ protection held. — Chris Perkins
Dolphins playoff probabilities now 76%
The Dolphins, based on the NFL, have a 76% probability of creating the playoffs with a 3-0 begin in a 17-game season. The Dolphins, after all, began 3-0 in 2013 and 2018 and missed the playoffs, however this 3-0 begin has a special really feel. Not solely are expectations larger, the crew is healthier and better-equipped to take care of altering expectations. The Dolphins have a tricky recreation forward at Cincinnati on Thursday, however if you happen to’re conserving monitor of tiebreakers the Dolphins are 2-0 in opposition to AFC East opponents and 3-0 in opposition to AFC opponents.
Dolphins offense nonetheless discovering itself
The Dolphins’ offense hasn’t scored greater than seven factors in any quarter this season apart from that spectacular 28-point exhibiting within the fourth quarter at Baltimore. It appeared the Dolphins would assault Buffalo’s secondary, which was lacking three starters from per week in the past (All Pro safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde, and cornerback Dane Jackson). But that didn’t occur. Dolphins broad receivers Tyreek Hill (two receptions, 33 yards) and Jaylen Waddle (4 receptions, 102 yards) had comparatively low-key contributions contemplating their high-spirited moments from earlier this season.
Dolphins protection nonetheless ballin’
Safety Jevon Holland had a strip-sack on Bills quarterback Josh Allen that defensive finish Melvin Ingram recovered on the Bills’ 6-yard line. The Dolphins started the day tied for tenth in pressured turnover with three. The Dolphins’ protection held Buffalo to an inexpensive level whole (17) and had an honest exhibiting total, limiting each Allen (41 of 62, 388 yards, two touchdowns, 94.0 passer ranking) and broad receiver Stefon Diggs (seven receptions, 74 yards).
Tua leaves briefly, then returns, answering sturdiness questions
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, whose harm sturdiness has been questioned, confirmed some toughness when he had his bell rung late within the second quarter. Tagovailoa was shoved down by linebacker Matt Milano and appeared to have his head hit the bottom. Tagovailoa stood up briefly, was wobbly, then went to the bottom and went to the locker room with trainers. Tagovailoa solely missed three performs (backup Teddy Bridgewater was 0 for two) and returned for the third quarter. Of course, with third-team quarterback Skylar Thompson inactive the Dolphins averted a doubtlessly nerve-racking scenario. It’s unclear who would have served as Bridgewater’s backup.
Right sort out shuffle
The Dolphins once more confirmed some depth at proper sort out, going 4 deep and doing OK in opposition to the likes of Bills cross rushers Von Miller and Greg Rousseau. When starter Greg Little went down within the second quarter with an obvious finger harm, Larnel Coleman was inserted in his place. But when Little went out once more within the third quarter, proper guard Robert Hunt shifted to proper sort out, and Robert Jones was inserted at proper guard. You may say Hunt was the fourth-team sort out contemplating Austin Jackson (ankle) was the starter for the opener and Little was his backup and Coleman was his backup. Little ultimately got here again and completed the sport.
Crossen makes TD-saving play, exhibiting extra secondary depth
Cornerback Keion Crossen, probably on the sphere as a result of Xavien Howard was being handled for cramps, confirmed off the Dolphins’ cornerback depth when he batted away what ought to have been a landing reception, saving 4 factors. Bills broad receiver Gabe Davis appeared to have overwhelmed Crossen within the third quarter for an 11-yard landing reception. But Crossen knocked the ball out of Davis’ palms on the final second. Buffalo ended up kicking a 30-yard subject aim for a 17-14 lead. But contemplating Howard and Byron Jones (Physically Unable to Perform listing) had been sidelined, the Dolphins confirmed good depth and fortitude in opposition to one of many NFL’s greatest offenses.
Bills followers know how you can get tickets
Buffalo followers, often called Bills Mafia, had been thick in Hard Rock Stadium. Bills followers may need comprised as a lot as 35% of the gang, probably whilst a lot as 40%. It was a formidable exhibiting from a bunch that often travels properly, and much more spectacular contemplating the Dolphins have soldout their season ticket allotment. Bills followers discovered a method to get tickets.
Melvin Ingram is a drive
Dolphins edge rusher Melvin Ingram made an influence on the sport amongst two sacks, a pressured fumble, a recovered fumble, and setting the sting (turning the run play inside). Ingram had a 6-yard scoop-and-score fumble restoration landing within the opener in opposition to New England. Although Jaelan Phillips has gotten off to a gradual begin, Ingram has been there to place some vitality into the Dolphins’ edge recreation.
Dolphins sit atop a hotly-contested AFC East
The Dolphins (3-0) are atop the AFC East. Of course, the battle was so closely-matched you possibly can argue both the Dolphins or the Bills are one of the best crew within the division proper now. But the Dolphins gained in order that they’re the kings. Both groups had harm points in Sunday’s recreation, the Bills’ accidents extra severe than the Dolphins’ accidents. Whatever the case, this matchup stirred extra intrigue for his or her December matchup.
Dolphins haven’t seen this type of a 3-0 begin since Dan Marino was taking part in
Miami began 3-0 in 2018, 2013 and 2002, however the newest time they began by successful their first three video games with not less than two of them division video games was 1998, in Dan Marino’s second-to-last yr taking part in. The solely coach who has had a Dolphins crew begin 4-0 is Don Shula. His groups completed that feat six instances in his 26 seasons teaching the Dolphins (1995, 1992, 1984, 1981, 1979 and 1972). — Steve Svekis
Dolphins protection had two performs within the opening minutes that haven’t been seen by Miami in opposition to Josh Allen
First, 250-pound Melvin Ingram was alone on an island within the left flat on the Dolphins’ 2 and had Allen chugging towards him full pace. Somehow, Ingram stayed squared up and put Allen on the bottom for a lack of a yard for what was technically a sack. The Bills behemoth quarterback isn’t stymied from scoring in that scenario. Yet, right here was Ingram, laying down an enormous marker relating to how stout the defensive effort could be from the aqua-and-orange. Then, Jevon Holland — per week after battling a pulling guard to a stand-still close to the aim line in Baltmore — obtained in on Allen for a strip sack that arrange the Dolphins’ first landing. The protection, who had performed good first halves final yr in opposition to Buffalo, put in a full recreation that introduced the Bills again into their realm after years of dominance by Allen and Buffalo.
You see one thing new day-after-day
Into my forty seventh yr watching the NFL, I can’t keep in mind having seen a crew’s offensive sort out truly name the primary timeout of the second half along with his crew trailing. That is what Terron Armstead did within the fourth quarter. The Dolphins DID go on to take a 21-17 lead. Then, got here play quantity two, in the identical quarter … a security when a punt bounces off the punting crew.
Eye-popping stat from the Baltimore miracle, half 1
When Tyreek Hill rolled up his 190 receiving yards and Jaylen Waddle his 171, it was the primary time in over 10 years that teammates had every caught 171 yards of passes in a recreation. That got here on Sept. 16, 2012, when the Giants’ Hakeem Nicks (199) and Victor Cruz (179) did it in opposition to the Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium. The solely different time it had been completed on the highway in the course of the Super Bowl period (since 1966) was 50 years in the past, and in addition in Baltimore. On Sept. 24, 1972, the New York Jets’ Rich Caster (204) and Eddie Bell (197) pulled it off.
Eye-popping stat from the Baltimore miracle, half 2
The Dolphins grew to become the primary crew to win a recreation when trailing by not less than 21 factors with 14 minutes left AND lose a recreation when successful by not less than 21 with that small period of time left on the clock (up 30-7 over the Jets at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., in 2000). Tampa Bay has blown two video games the place they led by not less than 21 factors after three quarters, and Dallas has gained two the place they trailed by not less than 21 when heading into the fourth quarter.Playoffs-vs.-the-Bills Tyreek Hill vs. Regular-Season-vs.-the-Bills Tyreek HillTyreek Hill, who has annihilated Buffalo the previous two postseasons (20 catches for 322 yards — 16.1 yards a catch — and a landing in two wins), has had a special expertise earlier than the calendar turns to January. Hill’s efficiency in his 4 regular-season video games in opposition to Buffalo: Nineteen catches for 157 yards (8.3 yards a reception) and 0 touchdowns. His groups improved to 2-2 in these video games.
Jaelan Phillips’ dry Septembers
The former University of Miami standout had performed six video games in September as a professional. In these roughly 220 defensive snaps, Phillips had logged no sacks and just one knockdown of the quarterback and one hurry. Dolphins Hall of Fame defensive finish/linebacker Jason Taylor, although, has proven the worth of endurance for a thinner, angular edge pass-rusher. Taylor started his profession with solely 17 sacks in his first 46 video games. And, none of these sacks pressured a fumble, a play he grew to become identified for, as, over the following 125 video games, he terrorized offenses for 100 sacks and 34 fumbles pressured, scoring six touchdowns and three safeties. Still, it’s an early reality that the season’s first month as been dry for Phillips.
On deck: At Cincinnati Bengals, Paycor Stadium, Thursday, 8:15 p.m.
The Dolphins head to southern Ohio on a brief week with a ton of “house money” of their pockets, at 3-0 and — extremely — arguably one of the best crew in soccer. Joe Burrow enters Week 4 having averaged being sacked 5.3 instances a recreation in his previous six contests, with a large number of further hits on him as he threw passes.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com