The Buffalo Bills secured a hard-fought 31-21 victory over the Miami Dolphins in a thrilling Thursday Night Football matchup. While the Dolphins put up a surprisingly strong fight, crucial errors ultimately sealed their fate. A pivotal roughing the punter penalty called on Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler gifted the Bills prime field position, leading directly to their go-ahead touchdown. Later, a crucial interception by Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard, resulting from Tua Tagovailoa's ill-advised throw under pressure, effectively ended Miami's comeback hopes.
Josh Allen led the Bills' offensive charge, completing 22 of 28 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns. He also showcased his running ability, adding 25 rushing yards on four carries. Dalton Kincaid, Jackson Hawes, and Khalil Shakir were the beneficiaries of Allen's pinpoint passes, each finding the endzone. James Cook provided a consistent ground game, rushing for 108 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, further bolstering the Bills' offensive dominance. The Bills outgained the Dolphins in total yards (360 to 276), although a missed field goal by Matt Prater in the first half kept the game surprisingly close for a while. Prater did however successfully kick a 48-yard field goal to solidify the win in the final seconds.
Despite their strong effort, the Dolphins' offense, while showing flashes of brilliance, ultimately fell short. Tua Tagovailoa completed 22 of 34 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns, but his costly interception proved a turning point. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle contributed their usual receiving prowess, but it wasn't enough to overcome the costly mistakes. De'Von Achane added a solid performance both rushing and receiving.
The win improves Buffalo's record to an undefeated 3-0, while Miami remains winless at 0-3. This game served as a stark reminder that even in a close contest, self-inflicted errors can be decisive in the NFL. The Bills' superior execution in key moments proved the difference in this electrifying Thursday night battle.
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Originally published at: https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/thursday-night-football-bills-get-help-from-dolphins-in-31-21-win
