‘Given the circumstances, Bass’ kick Sunday was the unlikeliest in team history. That’s because of the struggles he’d had leading up to it – including a missed extra-point attempt earlier in the day, as well as a bank-shot PAT that went through after it ricocheted off the left upright.’
Archives for November 4, 2024
Ryan O’Halloran: Bills will be better by winning ‘total grind’ of game over Dolphins
‘All together now, Bills fans. Join your team’s players, coaches and staff. E-x-h-a-l-e. Take a deep breath. Maybe many deep breaths. And then enjoy what you saw on a perfect afternoon of weather and competition.’
Using key reserves like Ray Davis, Mack Hollins, Bills prevail: ‘We’ll eat off the floor if we have to’
‘“You look around the league, most teams have a star or two or three, right?” head coach Sean McDermott said. “And so the team really to me, the journey is well, how, who’s gonna step up for us, right? At critical moments of a game or critical moments of the season, who are the players that are gonna kind of come from the depth of the roster and step up into starting roles and play and perform at the level that we need them to, for us to win?”’
Three questions: How lucky were the Bills to win this game against the Dolphins? That and more
‘The Bills scored 30 points, but they could have – should have – scored 41. They gave away seven points when Keon Coleman dropped a pass at the Miami 3 that was intercepted. They settled for a field goal when a 21-yard scramble touchdown by Allen was called back by a dubious holding penalty on O’Cyrus Torrence. And on the previous play, Dion Dawkins was flagged for holding when he put Chop Robinson to the ground with a legal snatch-trap move. That was an unlucky sequence.’
Takeaways from Bills’ wild win over Dolphins: Game balls to Tyler Bass, Ray Davis, Taron Johnson and more
‘It took a bit for the Bills’ offense to get humming in the first half. Their first nine plays gained 4, minus-1, 0, 1, 3, 11, 2, 5 and minus-7 yards. They didn’t have an explosive play (a pass of at least 16 yards or a rush of at least 12) in falling behind 10-6 at halftime. They finished the game with five explosive plays (two passes and three rushes).’
Plays that shaped the game: How Josh Allen and Quintin Morris improvised on a key Bills touchdown
‘“I don’t think it surprises me anymore,” Morris said. “Josh is just going to find a way to make a play. Just keep my eyes on him and we locked eyes, and I’m blessed he gave me the chance to make a play.”’
Report Card: Bills’ win over the Dolphins wasn’t flawless, but special teams get high marks
‘The Dolphins definitively won the battle in the trenches, rushing 31 times for 149 yards. Frankly, it felt like more than that, as Miami ball carriers consistently had big holes to run through. De’Von Achane gained 63 yards on 12 carries and scored a touchdown, and Raheem Mostert added 56 yards on 10 carries. Mostert, however, had a costly miscue when he fumbled on the opening drive of the third quarter. Nickel cornerback Taron Johnson forced the fumble and Kaiir Elam recovered the key takeaway. Safety Taylor Rapp dropped Mostert for a 1-yard loss on a third-and-1 run play in the first quarter, forcing the Dolphins to attempt a 39-yard field goal. Elam also had a tackle for loss in run support, as did defensive end Greg Rousseau. The Bills got just one tackle from Ed Oliver and two from Austin Johnson. Defensive tackles Eli Ankou and DaQuan Jones did not make any tackles. Linebacker Dorian Williams was active for the Bills with a game-high 12 tackles.’
Bills break Dolphins’ hearts with Tyler Bass’ improbable 61-yard field goal
‘Then you mix in the fact that Miami was so overdue to get one over on the Bills after losing 12 of the 14 games between the teams since Sean McDermott took over as head coach in Buffalo, it felt like it was Miami’s time and sure enough, the Dolphins played their best game of the season.’
Bills report card: Tyler Bass bails out Buffalo for stressful win over Dolphins
‘Not a great day for the offensive line as it struggled to move the Dolphins out of the way. James Cook had just 44 yards on 10 carries, one of them a 13-yarder, while Ty Johnson had 17 of his 23 yards on one carry. Those helped inflate the Bills’ average per carry to 4.9 yards, but it was not easy out there.’
Teammates ecstatic over Bass’ game-winner, profess confidence
‘“We knew it was going to be a low kick just so T-Bass could put a little juice on it,” Brown said, recalling the play in the locker room. “Protection was good.”’
Bills-Dolphins takeaways: Tyler Bass sets new franchise record with game winner
‘The Bills’ passing offense found it hard to generate explosive plays for most of the afternoon against the Dolphins’ defense. That’s when Davis took a short pass from Allen to the house for 63 yards, giving the Bills the lead back in the third quarter. Davis had to split a pair of defenders and broke the only potential tackle on his way to the end zone. Starting running back James Cook still led all Bills runners in carries, but Davis continues to make the most of his opportunities. He touched the ball five times in the game and totaled 90 all-purpose yards to lead all Bills players.’
How the Bills’ belief in Tyler Bass led to epic game-winning field goal
‘The Bills have maintained their belief in Bass throughout his struggles, but that didn’t stop general manager Brandon Beane from bringing in competition two weeks ago after Bass missed a 47-yard field goal and an extra point in a close, 23-20 win over the New York Jets. Buffalo signed kicker Lucas Havrisik to their practice squad, putting Bass on notice.’
The latest on Bills’ Keon Coleman injury: Dolphins’ Jordan Poyer defends ‘clean play’ on rookie WR
‘“What can you do? I don’t know,” Poyer said. “I felt I had a great post-break and he went up for the ball. I literally didn’t stop my feet. I felt like I hit him right where I was supposed to hit him. The refs didn’t think so. It is what it is.”’
Bills’ Tyler Bass plays hero with 61-yard field goal to lift team past Dolphins (Encouraged/worried)
‘Run defense: Buffalo may need to find some help upfront with the trade deadline looming. Buffalo failed to set the edge against the Dolphins consistently and struggled on the interior. Both of Miami’s backs averaged over five yards per carry on the ground.’
Chiefs superstar has Bills Mafia’s back, defends chicken wings after Dolphins TE throws shade
‘“He lying… Bar Bill wings go crazy,” Jones wrote.’