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'Up there with the big boys': Miami continue their struggles against Buffalo

Roar Guru
3rd November, 2021
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Roar Guru
3rd November, 2021
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The struggling Miami Dolphins took on the Buffalo Bills in an AFC East divisional match-up.

The score was tight most of the game in a very low-scoring affair as there was only a field goal apiece scored in the first half.

A moment in the game that was so crucial was when the Dolphins were inside the Buffalo red zone with around 30 seconds remaining in the first half. Tight end Mike Gesicki accidently came in contact with the ball while it was snapped before the Bills were able to recover it.

Buffalo were able to come out of the gates firing in the second period as they went on a long, 13-play drive before quarterback Josh Allen scored the first touchdown of the day when he threw an eight-yard pass to a wide-open Gabriel Davis.

Buffalo then hit the end zone once again on their very next drive as Allen found Stefon Diggs down the middle of the field for a 19-yard reception.

The Dolphins tried to forge a late comeback as Tua Tagovailoa dived in for a one-yard touchdown.

However the Bills’ offence was too good in the end as they scored a field goal plus six more points through a Josh Allen scramble for a late touchdown to seal the win.

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

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It was an offensive struggle once again for Miami as they were able to come up with just 11 points and rushed for as little as 68 yards.

It was a mediocre day for 2020 draft pick Tua Tagovailoa as he threw for just over 200 yards, completed zero touchdowns plus a single interception.

There were improvements that we have seen from the Dolphins, as their defence stepped up in the first half.

But they allowed 18 points to be scored against them in the second half. Miami’s defence has been horrible all year round as they are ranked the worst in the league in the defensive category.

They have averaged 116 rushing yards and 291 passing yards scored against them each game this season.

The Dolphins overall have had an extremely ugly start to their season as they won their first battle, however they have now lost seven consecutive games.

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Although they could possibly be favourites heading into next week’s game against the Texans, who may even be looking worse than Tagovailoa’s team at the moment.

On the other hand, the Buffalo Bills recorded their fifth win in their last six games. Their defence was once again unbelievable as they only allowed under 70 rushing yards and just over 200 throwing yards.

They only let the Dolphins into their red zone three times and conceded points on only one of those trips.

Josh Allen wasn’t at his best, although he was still on the better half of the quarterbacks this week. He threw for 249 yards and two touchdowns plus rushed for a strong 55 yards along with a rushing touchdown.

The Bills’ offence took a whole half to get going but luckily for them the league’s number one defence was able to hold out Miami to just a field goal in the first period.

If the Bills were up against a top offence like the Bucs or the Cowboys, they would likely find themselves having a big lead against them at halftime. But once again they were lucky to have this slump against such a struggling offence.

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Looking ahead on their schedule, the men in blue and red have two games that they will be red-hot favourites for as they take on the Jaguars and the Jets.

This three-week period is what some would call three free wins and the first third of the mission is complete after this game.

The one game that I have circled on the calendar is still far away. On December 13, they take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They will almost have to be perfect if they want to come out with the win.

Overall, the Dolphins’ playoffs chances are certainly gone. I understand that we are only halfway through the season but I would not be surprised if they start tanking if they don’t achieve success within the next few weeks.

Looking on the other side of things, the Bills are now 5-2 and are up there with the big boys of the AFC.

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