The Buffalo Bills defeated the Miami Dolphins, 34-31, in a turbulent, wild, and chaotic fashion in their Wild-Card matchup.
Turnovers, momentum swings, and aggressive enjoy calling had been 3 significant themes of this contest.
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The Charges commenced the game in a dominant vogue, jumping to a 17-direct in the 1st quarter.
Tight conclude Dawson Knox was on the obtaining stop of a stellar pass from quarterback Josh Allen to open up the scoring for Buffalo. Allen extended the perform, rolled out to his ideal, and fired a go behind the helmet of defender Jerome Baker. Knox held his toes in bounds, providing the game’s very first significant engage in:
The concentration on this participate in put together with Dawson Knox’s capacity to stay with the play as Josh Allen waits for an open up window – wow. Masterpiece of a landing! pic.twitter.com/BCCrjgXFNb
— Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) January 15, 2023
Operating back again James Prepare dinner followed up with a touchdown on the future drive. Prepare dinner ran for 12 yards on a misdirection to give the Expenditures a two-score guide.
Allow James cook dinner!
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/pPxmoOQM16
— Buffalo Costs (@BuffaloBills) January 15, 2023
The Costs ongoing to move the ball at will versus the Dolphins. Both equally groups ended up aggressive, with Miami enjoying a terrific deal of deal with-zero and protect-1 protection. Josh Allen worked to carve up the Dolphins defense. Buffalo held a significant gain in total yards just after the very first quarter (172-19).
On the other hand, the intense nature caused difficulties for the Expenses. Having said that, Buffalo’s offense struggled with execution, earning various problems. Josh Allen threw two interceptions, supplying the Dolphins a opportunity to claw their way back again into the video game.
Miami chipped away at the Bills guide, as Miami kicker Jason Sanders produced 3 consecutive discipline aims. Miami closed the initially half with a speedy four-perform generate, culminating with a landing move to Mike Gesicki. Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson linked with Tyreek Hill on a two-issue conversion to tie the recreation.
Turnovers ongoing to be a concept for the Expenses. Miami took its 1st lead of the video game following recovering a Josh Allen fumble. The scoop-and-rating place the Dolphins up 24-20 early in the third quarter.
Buffalo struggled to move the ball on their subsequent drives. The Expenses ongoing to be aggressive with their playcalling, opting to drive the ball down the discipline and acquire their shots versus guy coverage.
The Expenditures gained a reward from the Dolphins, as Thompson threw and ill-guided move on third-and-18. The move was picked off by Kaiir Elam. Buffalo discovered their rhythm on offense, moving the ball effectively and ending the drive with a six-property pass to Cole Beasley.
Cole Beasley’s very first vocation playoff landing!
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/wQJJWzQZyA
— Buffalo Expenses (@BuffaloBills) January 15, 2023
The Costs drove down on their next push, this time finishing yet another 5-engage in push. This time, Gabe Davis designed a marvelous capture in the conclusion zone. The Charges at the time once again experienced a 10-place direct and appeared to be in the driver seat.
At the time once more, Miami clawed their way back into the video game. Buffalo’s defense could not get the big perform to consider the Dolphins off the industry. Instead, the Dolphins went on an 11-participate in, 75-property generate concluding with a one-yard landing operate by Jeff Wilson.
The defenses then shut down any offensive progress for the remaining 11 minutes of the match. When the team necessary it the most, the Bills protection held strong, stopping Miami’s late demand.
The Expenses protection did a wonderful occupation at keeping Miami’s playmakers less than command. Tyreek Hill caught 7 passes for 69 yards, even though Jaylen Waddle caught only three balls for 44 yards.
Buffalo gave up only 42 yards on the floor. The Expenses, for the most element, created Thompson search like a 3rd-string quarterback. Thompson finished the day 18-of-45 for 220 passing yards, a landing pass, and two interceptions. Nevertheless, there were being moments where by Thompson designed superior plenty of passes to preserve the Dolphins in the match.
Buffalo’s offense was predicated on currently being aggressive. Even though the Payments had some good results looking for the major engage in, Buffalo settled for very low-percentage passes considerably also typically. This led to turnovers and 5 drives ending with punts.
There have been various matters to really like from this recreation for Buffalo. The workforce gutted out a different near video game. Stefon Diggs was dominant early in the activity. Diggs and Gabe Davis eclipsed the 100-lawn mark in getting. Cole Beasley caught his 1st profession playoff touchdown. Khalil Shakir manufactured several nice grabs out of the slot. Dawson Knox located the stop zone the moment once again.
Defensively, the Costs registered 4 sacks. Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds were being a pressure to be reckoned with all activity. Elam and Dean Marlowe registered interceptions.
Even so, there are a number of things that the Expenses will want to repair relocating ahead in the playoffs. Allen, while building numerous excellent passes, neutralized the solid performance with 3 fumbles and two interceptions. The offensive line gave up seven sacks. And, the playcalling abandoned the run match when it appeared important to revisit it.
Buffalo will know their destiny soon after the Cincinnati-Baltimore activity Sunday evening. The Charges will host the recreation as the No. 2 seed.