The Buffalo Bills showcased their impressive form on Thursday Night Football, defeating the Miami Dolphins 31-21 at Highmark Stadium. With this victory, the Bills have established themselves as the only remaining 3-0 team in the NFL, enjoying an extra three days of rest as they prepare for Week 4. Remarkably, Buffalo has now won ten consecutive games against Miami when competing at Highmark Stadium.
Prior to this matchup, the history between these two teams in Orchard Park, NY, was tightly contested, with three of the last four games decided by three points or fewer. Thus, Miami's double-digit spread seemed intriguing, particularly given their slow start to the season. Miami's early performance was indicative of their potential, as they scored a touchdown on their first drive and remained competitive throughout the game, forcing Buffalo to maintain their focus and execution.
In a standout performance, Josh Allen continued to shatter records, becoming the fastest quarterback to reach 300 total touchdowns (including playoffs). He surpassed the previous record held by Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes, who achieved this milestone in 129 games. Allen's impressive stats include 46 games with three or more touchdowns, tying him with Mahomes for the most in the NFL since 2018.
Despite entering this game with several key injuries, including Ed Oliver and Matt Milano, Buffalo’s depth was on display. Practice-squad call-ups Zion Logue and rookie Keonta Jenkins stepped up, contributing significantly on a short week.
The Bills managed a total of 60 offensive snaps for the game, with notable contributions from several key players:
O. Torrence (G) - 60 snaps (100%) S. Brown (T) - 60 snaps (100%) D. Edwards (G) - 60 snaps (100%) C. McGovern (G) - 60 snaps (100%) D. Dawkins (T) - 60 snaps (100%) J. Allen (QB) - 60 snaps (100%) K. Coleman (WR) - 45 snaps (75%) J. Cook (RB) - 40 snaps (67%)It was particularly noteworthy to see Allen participate in every offensive snap, especially as he played through a nose injury that required him to wear a visor for the first time since college. He completed an impressive 79% of his passes, amassing 213 yards and three touchdowns, improving his career record against Miami to 12-2.
Running back James Cook also shone, recording his second consecutive game with over 100 rushing yards and maintaining a significant 67% snap count. Cook has scored four touchdowns in three games, averaging 5.4 yards per carry, which has contributed to his increasing role in the offense.
The effectiveness of the running game can be attributed to the offensive line and offensive coordinator Joe Brady's strategic use of two- and three-tight-end sets. Dalton Kincaid has emerged as a key player, leading all Bills pass-catchers with five receptions, 66 yards, and two touchdowns this season.
Defensively, the Bills recorded 61 snaps, with players like C. Bishop and T. Bernard logging 100% of the snaps. However, the Bills' defense faced challenges as they allowed Miami to convert multiple third-down attempts, going 10-for-15 throughout the game. The defensive line struggled to apply pressure consistently, a significant concern given Miami's offensive line struggles.
Despite these challenges, linebacker Terrel Bernard recorded his sixth career interception, which ultimately sealed the win for Buffalo. With Milano sidelined, Dorian Williams stepped up, recording his most snaps of the season.
On special teams, the Bills utilized a total of 26 snaps, with R. Gilliam leading the way with 23 snaps. The unit contributed effectively to the overall game strategy, rounding out a comprehensive team effort in their victory over the Dolphins.
As the Buffalo Bills prepare for their next matchup, they look to build on their strong start and maintain their momentum as one of the top teams in the NFL.
