The Buffalo Payments reminded the NFL they’re the defending AFC East champions on Sunday after they smacked the Miami Dolphins within the mouth and by no means gave the Dolphins an opportunity to reply. The Dolphins had been taken out of rhythm and appeared completely completely different from the workforce that put up 70 factors on the Denver Broncos every week earlier than. It was an entire dismantling by the Payments all sport lengthy.
The sport was ugly from a Dolphins fan perspective. Each time the Dolphins did discover any sense of optimistic momentum, they might make an unforced error and undo all the things. Whether or not it was a fumble, an interception, or a penalty, Miami spent the day tripping over themselves nearly as a lot as they tripped over the Payments.
Buffalo imposed their will on the Dolphins and Miami may do nothing to cease it.
Listed below are our quick reactions from simply an unpleasant day for the Dolphins.
Ultimate Rating
Dolphins 20 – 48 Payments
Rapid Put up-Sport Reactions
Every part superb Miami did in Week 3 to dominate the Broncos, they did the other on Sunday towards the Payments. Sacks, interceptions, fumbles, penalties, all of it went unsuitable for Miami. They’d no reply for the onslaught from Josh Allen and the BIlls’ offense, in addition to the stress and confusion created by the Buffalo protection.
The Dolphins bought smacked at the moment, with the Payments trying to make a press release. Buffalo succeeded in making that assertion and Miami now heads again to South Florida in search of solutions. Buffalo’s domination of the Dolphins, particularly in Buffalo, continues and it doesn’t seem there may be any simple reply proper now.
This was a pure butt-kicking by the Payments, and Miami couldn’t make any changes that labored. We could have extra on this sport all through the week, however proper now, it’s time to lick our wounds and take a look at to determine what simply occurred.
First Quarter Reactions
The Payments began the sport with the ball at their very own 25-yard line after a touchback on the kick from Miami. Buffalo started the sport with operating again James Prepare dinner selecting up eight yards, then continued to look to the bottom sport to maintain Miami’s protection off steadiness. An pointless roughness penalty on a 17-yard cross from quarterback Josh Allen to extensive receiver Stefon Diggs added 15 extra yards and arrange the Payments within the redzone. Allen then threw to extensive receiver Gabe Davis down the sideline for the landing and an early lead. Payments 7-0.
The Payments clearly got here out trying to set up the run and maintain a few of the stress off of Allen. An eight-play, 75-yard drive featured 4 runs and 4 passes, with Allen connecting on all 4 makes an attempt. The Dolphins protection can not permit the Payments to dink and dunk early as a result of they’ll take the large play after lulling the protection to sleep.
Miami began the drive with two passes from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to tight finish Durham Smythe, selecting up 30 yards on the passes. Miami then began getting the remainder of the offensive weapons concerned within the sport, with operating again Raheem Mostert carrying the ball for 2 yards, extensive receiver Jaylen Waddle making a tip-drill catch for 11 yards, extensive receiver Tyreek Hill selecting up 19 yards on a reception, operating again De’Von Achane catching a cross for seven yards. Then Achane punched it in from three-yard out for the rating. Tied 7-7.
This would possibly simply be the observe meet everybody anticipated. The Dolphins went 77 yards in seven performs to tie this up and bought everybody concerned. If Miami can maintain this up on offense, this can be one other enjoyable sport.
The Payments got here again with the operating sport main the best way. Prepare dinner and Latavius Murray mixed for 45 yards on 5 carries as Buffalo continued to assault the center of the Miami protection. Allen was capable of throw for 35 yards on the drive, utilizing the specter of the run – together with an Allen scramble for 3 yards – to open up the passing sport. Payments 14-7.
Miami can not afford to let the Payments run the ball like this. They’re merely smacking the Dolphins’ protection within the mouth proper now, and the Dolphins aren’t responding. Miami’s offense can maintain them within the sport, however the protection must discover a method to cease the run. After all, in the event that they promote out to cease Prepare dinner and Murray, Allen will use the single-coverage on Diggs and Davis to carve up the deep a part of the sector. It’s a pick-your-poison kind of scenario, however defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has to make some adjustment.
The Dolphins ended the primary quarter with a 20-yard cross to Hill and a one-yard run from Mostert.
The primary quarter is the offensive shootout anticipated. Miami’s protection wants to regulate, however the offense looks like it’s in rhythm and able to maintain the stress on Buffalo.
Second Quarter Reactions
Mostert opened the second interval with a spotlight catch over two defenders, in some way skying to seize the ball and maintain Miami transferring down the sector. The following play featured the primary incomplete cross of the sport – by both workforce – with Hill making the catch, however the protection capable of shove him out of bounds earlier than he was capable of get each ft again down. A few performs later, Miami face a Third-and-8, however Tagovailoa was capable of rifle the ball to extensive receiver Braxton Berrios for 15 yards and a primary down. From the 10-yard line, Tagovailoa handed the ball to Achane who discovered the endzone for the second time on the day. Tied 14-14.
This actually goes to be a observe meet all day lengthy. The landing run, with Achane lined up at receiver and Hill lined up at operating again was a wrinkle Miami added to the offense. This sport looks like one that may come all the way down to who has the ball final.
The Payments took to the air for the drive, beginning with Allen throwing to Diggs on first down for 16 yards, then deep to Diggs with a cross interference name handing Buffalo 43 free yards. The Payments had been then capable of transfer all the way down to the Dolphins’ six-yard line and appeared to attain on a run, however an unlawful formation penalty backed them to the Dolphins’ 11-yard line. Allen then discovered Diggs on the purpose line for the rating and Buffalo reclaimed the lead. Payments 21-14.
Significantly, that is merely a shootout. 5 minutes into the second quarter and each groups have had one incomplete cross.
Miami couldn’t get out of their very own method on the subsequent possession, beginning the drive with an unlawful formation, then on Third-and-12 getting flagged for a false begin penalty. On Third-and-17, Mostert took a five-yard display cross, then fumbled the ball. Fortunately, Berrios recovered, and Miami punted on the three-and-out possession.
The Payments protection was capable of make a cease. Miami’s protection must do the identical or Buffalo will begin extending the lead and making it not possible to return again. Want one thing to occur right here.
The drive began with a 22-yard cross from Allen to Murray down the left sideline, however then a three-yard loss from Prepare dinner as defensive sort out Zach Sieler burst via the road for the run stuff set the Payments again. An eight-yard cross from Allen to Diggs was backed up by a batted cross on the line of scrimmage and the Payments had been compelled to punt.
The protection lastly had a solution, however the punt was downed on the six-yard line. Miami’s offense must get out of the shadow of the endzone.
Achane picked up three yards on first down, then took a cross for 5 yards on ship down. On Third-and-2, Tagovailoa was unable to attach with Mostert and Miami punted once more.
Three straight punts from these two groups and a second-straight three-and-out for Miami. This isn’t what Miami must be doing proper now and they don’t seem to be going to maintain up with the Payments enjoying like this. And now add within the concern of left sort out Terron Armstead being injured and heading straight into the locker room and this might get ugly quick.
The Payments instantly reap the benefits of the scenario. After a four-yard run from Prepare dinner, Allen threw quick to Diggs who broke a sort out from Kohou and scored on a 55-yard catch and run. Payments 28-14.
Why are the Dolphins single-covering Diggs with Kohou?
Tagovailoa threw to Mostert for 9 yards on the primary play, however an incomplete cross on second down arrange a 3rd down try. Mostert took the pitch, was stopped two yards behind the road of scrimmage, then misplaced the ball with the Payments recovering.
Miami is solely imploding proper now. That third down run was gradual growing and gave the Payments loads of time to chase after Mostert. That’s the second fumble by the operating again at the moment. Nothing appears to be working proper, and the Payments are doing an amazing job of preserving Miami off steadiness on either side of the ball.
Miami stuffed Prepare dinner within the backfield for a one-yard loss because the clock wound all the way down to the two-minute warning. Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel was then capable of get to Allen and get the sac. After a Miami timeout, the Payments took a shot down the sector, however the ball fell incomplete. The Payments settled for a 53-yard area purpose from Tyler Bass. Payments 31-14.
Holding the Payments to a area purpose after they began on the Miami 31-yard line is a optimistic, however the Dolphins are in bother proper now. They must get Hill and Waddle going if they’ll come again on this sport.
Miami began the drive with Tagovailoa being sacked. Two passes that picked up 10 yards left the Dolphins dealing with a 4th-and-4, main to a different three-and-out punt.
Utterly out of kinds proper now.
The Payments knelt to finish the half.
Halftime Reactions
This began because the marketed shootout. Then, the Payments determined they needed to make it one-sided. Miami has no response for something Buffalo is doing on offense or protection proper now. This feels just like the San Francisco 49ers sport final yr that simply ended the optimistic begin to the yr for Miami.
Miami has 20 speeding yards and averages lower than three yards per carry – every week after speeding for 350 yards.
Loads wants to vary at halftime. Can the Dolphins get issues re-started after they get the ball to open the second half?
Third Quarter Reactions
Miami opened the half with the ball and a determined want to seek out some rhythm. The primary play appeared very like the primary half, with the ball batted down on the line of scrimmage and the Dolphins going nowhere. A seven-yard cross adopted by a Tagovailoa scramble for 3 yards transformed the primary down and gave Miami some momentum. Miami continued to maneuver the ball, turning to Achane for the bottom sport and Hill and Waddle via the air, finally transferring all the way down to the Payments’ 11-yard line earlier than Tagovailoa discovered Berrios within the endzone for the rating. Miami did not convert on the 2-point attempt. Payments 31-20.
Okay, the Dolphins offense began working once more as a result of they began going to their important playmakers. Can the protection cease the Payments now to get Miami again into the sport?
A five-yard run from Prepare dinner and a six-yard catch from tight finish Dalton Kincaid was adopted by Allen being pressured and needing to throw the ball away, solely to discover a extensive open Prepare dinner down the sideline and a 48-yard achieve. After a four-yard run and a seven-yard sack, with Van Ginkel recording his second of the sport, Allen ran for 4 yards and arrange a Bass area purpose. Payments 34-20.
What is occurring? Even when Miami seems set to make an enormous play, it in some way turns right into a 48-yard achieve for Buffalo. The protection must determine this out, proper now. Not less than they held them to a area purpose.
The primary play of Miami’s drive featured a low snap that Tagovailoa needed to choose up after which throw away as he was practically sacked. The second play featured Tagovailoa throwing too excessive for extensive receiver Robbie Chosen and security Micah Hyde intercepted the ball.
Nope. Nothing in any respect good on that drive. The Payments can basically finish this sport proper right here.
Beginning on the Dolphins’ 25 yard line, the Payments backed up 4 yards on a run stuff from Van Ginkel. Allen then took to the air connecting on passes of 9 yards, seven yards, and 13 yards, with Diggs catching the final cross for the rating – his third landing reception of the sport. Payments 41-20.
Miami got here out of halftime wanting like they had been in rhythm and scoring a landing. Six minutes later and they’re down 21 factors. That is ugly. Miami can not cease the Payments and wishes assist determining their offense proper now too.
The Dolphins’ drive began at their very own 25 with a 19-yard cross from Tagovailoa to Hill. Mostert then ran for six yards, adopted by a two-yard loss on a run. Tagovailoa then threw to Berrios who dove for the sticks, however was dominated simply quick – a ruling that stood when challenged by the Dolphins. On 4th-and-1, Tagovailoa appeared towards Hill however was sacked earlier than he may throw the ball and Miami turned it over on downs.
Why one other slow-developing play on fourth down?
The third quarter ended as Allen discovered Davis alone down the sector for a 34-yard achieve.
Fourth Quarter Reactions
Allen then ran it in for an 11-yard landing on a designed run. Payments 48-20.
Approach too simple. Miami has no reply for something. The Payments try to make a press release following Miami’s 70-point efficiency final week. They’re taking it to Miami and they’re ensuring the Dolphins depart Buffalo realizing that is nonetheless the Payments’ division.
Achane picked up 55 yards on the primary down play for the Dolphins, lastly getting the workforce transferring once more. He then got here again with an eight-yard achieve on the subsequent play. Within the redzone, Mostert took the carry up the center of 4 yards and a primary down. Tagovailoa then discovered Waddle for the landing, however an ineligible man downfield penalty backed the Dolphins up. Miami accomplished a seven-yard cross earlier than an incompletion arrange Third-and-Purpose from the six-yard line. One other incomplete cross as Tagovailoa focused Achane within the endzone led to a Miami fourth-down try. The drive ended with a sack of Tagovailoa.
Will that Achane run show to be something of a spark for the Dolphins?
Guess it is not going to. Miami bought shut and even bought into the endzone, however as soon as once more, they can’t get out of their very own method, making it even simpler for the Payments to proceed to dominate them.
The Payments went three-and-out on the subsequent drive, giving Miami again the ball after the punt.
Celebrating the three-and-out is just not even price it. The Payments are taking their foot off the gasoline pedal and Miami is barely maintaining at this level.
Miami appeared to maneuver down the sector, beginning with a 17 yard cross to Waddle, then an 11 yard run from Berrios. Tagovailoa then discovered fullback Alec Ingold on a wheel route for 23 yards. A delay of sport penalty backed up Miami, with a sack two performs later including to the issue. On Third-and-17, a holding penalty backed up Miami much more, resulting in a 4th-and-23 play a few snaps later. A defensive offsides penalty moved Miami ahead 5 yards, however a 16-yard pas to Cedrick Wilson was not sufficient to transform and Miami turned over the ball on downs.
At this level, it’s simply window dressing. Hill and Waddle aren’t even within the sport.
The Payments ran the ball 4 occasions to get the clock all the way down to the two-minute warning, then knelt thrice to finish the sport.
