The Miami Dolphins faced their division rivals, the Buffalo Bills, last night on Thursday night football in HardRock stadium. The Dolphins were coming off a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Dolphins have lost 11 of the last 12 meetings versus the Bills, who have assumed a big brother role on them.
The Dolphins started the game on offense but would be without running back Raheem Mostert due to injury who had 21 touchdowns last year. They would have to rely on their second-year running back, De’Von Achane, who averaged 7.8 yards per carry last year as a rookie.
The team’s offense–which last year was rated number one in yards per game and top three in scoring– has started this season looking like a shell of themselves with the team only scoring 20 points last Sunday. This trend would carry over to this game as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa would throw an interception after wide receiver Grant Dubose would drop the pass and tip it to a Bills defender. Tagovailoa would end the day throwing three interceptions. Tagovailoa has been the main reason why the offense has struggled throughout the year as he has been unable to maintain a large target share with his playmakers or on his throws, throwing it inaccurately.
Early in the game, the defense would be put in a bad field position because of one of Tagovailoa’s interceptions. The Bills took advantage of this, scoring a touchdown making the score 7-0. The offense relied on the explosive trio Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De’Von Achane to make plays. The latter of the three scored on the drive after Tua Tagovailoa threw him a check-down pass and made a defender slip which parted the seas open for a touchdown.
The defense was led by veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell and defensive back Jalen Ramsey along with young studs Jalen Phillips and Jevon Holland. They would force Buffalo to a three-and-out the following drive giving the offense a chance to score and take the lead. However, Tagovailoa would overthrow wide receiver Robbie Chosen on a comeback route leading to another of his interceptions.
The Bills would be limited to a field goal making the score 10-7 Bills. The offense would continue to struggle throughout early in the 2nd quarter. The Bills took advantage of this, driving downfield leading to another touchdown for Bills running back James Cook putting the score 17-7.
Something of note is the fact the Dolphins’ pre-snap movement did not phase the Bills one bit. Usually, the Dolphins build off their pre-snap motion but in the first half, they could not get anything going. Moreover, After another unsuccessful drive, the Bills would get a one-play touchdown from running back James Cook who ran for a 49-yard touchdown for his third touchdown in the first half alone.
The second half would start horribly with the Bills getting a pick-six. On the ensuing drive, Tagovailoa was hit by Bills safety Damar Hamlin leading to him being taken out of the game with his fourth concussion in two years. Tagovailoa was able to limp off with no assistance. This forced backup quarterback Skylar Thompson to go in for the remainder of the game. The rest of the second half left nothing of note besides Dolphin captain and offensive tackle Terron Armstead leaving the game due to injury, and going to the locker room.
The looming question is what will happen to Tua Tagovailoa? Well, that’s something that still needs to be answered. This is his fourth concussion in his NFL career and after working hard all off-season to lose weight so he can become more mobile, it may have all been for nothing. As of now, Skylar Thompson will get next week’s start next Sunday against the Seahawks in Seattle on Sep. 22.
