The Buffalo Bills stretched their unbeaten start to the NFL season with a gritty 31-21 victory over divisional rivals Miami Dolphins on Thursday night.
Despite their dominance in recent years, the Bills were pushed all the way in this encounter, never leading by more than seven points until Matt Prater’s late field goal finally sealed the win with 22 seconds left on the clock.
Miami fought back through Tyreek Hill’s touchdown to level the game at 21-21 early in the fourth quarter. But Buffalo responded as Josh Allen found Khalil Shakir for his third touchdown pass of the game — the 200th regular-season touchdown pass of Allen’s career.
With three minutes remaining, Miami looked set to tie again as they marched to Buffalo’s 21-yard line. But linebacker Terrel Bernard intercepted Tua Tagovailoa’s pass — the game’s only turnover — to swing the momentum back to Buffalo.
That key defensive play set up kicker Prater, who calmly slotted a 48-yard field goal to secure the win.
Josh Allen: 3 TD passes, including a shovel pass to rookie tight end Jackson Hawes.
James Cook: 108 rushing yards, matching a team record with his seventh consecutive regular-season game scoring a rushing touchdown.
Dalton Kincaid: Early touchdown catch to give Buffalo momentum.
Terrel Bernard: Crucial interception to deny Miami a late comeback.
Buffalo coach Sean McDermott praised his team’s resilience:
“I thought the grit, the mental toughness of our football team was on display throughout the game, particularly in the fourth quarter there.”
Meanwhile, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel refused to take positives from the narrow defeat:
“I’m never proud of a loss. We came here to win and I refuse to take moral victories… it wasn’t good enough.”
Buffalo Bills: Now 3-0 and looking every bit the Super Bowl favourites, having won 13 of their last 14 regular-season meetings against Miami.
Miami Dolphins: 0-3 for the first time since 2019, piling pressure on McDaniel as they face another divisional test against the New York Jets next week.
Bills: Host the New Orleans Saints in Week Four.
Dolphins: Face AFC East rivals New York Jets in a must-win clash.
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