Two Bills Drive

‘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.’

‘“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?”’

‘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.’

‘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).’

‘“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.”’

‘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.’