In a game that was tabbed as a must-win for the Miami Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills had other ideas. Amassing 390 total yards including 203 yards with C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson combined, the Bills just showed they just wanted to spoil the playoff hopes of the Miami Dolphins. With this win, the Bills improve to a 6-9 record and the Dolphins fall to an 8-7 record, teetering on the presipice of a .500 record.
Offensively for Miami, Ryan Tannehill had his worst performance this season getting sacked 7 times, 89 yards passing, no touchdowns, but no interceptions. In addition, the Miami running game failed to make space of what the defense was giving them and seemed to run backward as opposed to forward with only 14 yards rushing. Surprisingly, the Dolphins receivers who seemed to catch almost everything on this three game streak failed to catch quarterback Ryan Tannehill's passes. To that end, three dropped passes by Brian Hartline came at the wrong time when the Dolphins were trying to get first downs and move the chains. Lastly, the offensive line was atrocious and failed to give Ryan Tannehill a clean pocket resulting in seven sacks and a right leg injury to Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill has now been sacked 58 times.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Dolphins defensive line and linebackers were seemingly run-over by the Bills running backs and short scrambles by quarterback Thad Lewis. One interception was produced by Nolan Carroll late in the first half however stopping the run decimated the Dolphins chances of winning the field position battle and a lack of opportunities for the Dolphins offense to get the ball back in the second half.
In all, the Bills produced an old school game plan by running the ball versus the Dolphins and sacking the quarterback. The Dolphins left a lot of plays on the field by not being able to protect their rising QB Ryan Tannehill and bottom line the Dolphins showed up to Buffalo ill-prepared to win this game.
This week in Miami expects to be a rough one and an opportunity to correct their mistakes as they take on the Jets, who are playing for their own pride and a chance to win a game for their embattled head coach, Rex Ryan.
Next week's game at this point doesn't bring the intrigue that a Dolphins win today would have brought, however there is still one more game and beating the Jets next week could put the Dolphins at 9-7 with no playoffs.
Disappointing sure, but progress with many opportunities for change is better than anyone expected in Miami.
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