Bills Eliminate Dolphins From Postseason

     The Buffalo Bills defeated the Miami Dolphins 34-31 in the AFC Wild-Card Round at Highmark Stadium on Sunday. Both teams have not faced each other in the postseason since the 1998 AFC Wild-Card Game.

     It was the first playoff appearance for the Dolphins since the 2016 season. The Fins have reached the postseason just three times since 2002. 

     Buffalo scored on their second possession of the contest for a 7-0 lead at 7:57 of the first quarter. Quarterback Josh Allen threw a six-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dawson Knox on the front right side of the end zone. 

     Bills defensive back Dean Marlowe intercepted a pass and returned it to the Dolphins 23-yard line. Five plays later, former Miami Central and current Buffalo running back James Cook rushed from 12 yards away around the left side that gave them a 14-0 lead with 5:07 left in the first. 

     In the second quarter, Tyler Bass added a 33-yard field goal at the 12:46 mark for a Bills 17-point margin. The Dolphins responded as Jason Sanders booted a 40-yard field goal with 7:34 to go in the second and they trailed 17-3. 

     Miami defensive back Xavien Howard made an interception and brought in back to the Bills 48-yard line. It led to a Sanders 48-yard field goal with 2:15 left in the quarter and the Fins were down 17-6. 

     Dolphins punt returner Cedrick Wilson Jr. returned a punt 50 yards to the Buffalo 27-yard line. Sanders closed it to 17-9 as he converted on a 37-yard field goal with 1:15 remaining in the first half. 

     The Fins tied it up 17-17 with 33 seconds to go. Quarterback Skylar Thompson tossed a seven-yard pass to tight end Mike Gisecki in the middle of the end zone. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill caught a two-point conversion pass from Thompson. Bass responded on the Bills next drive with a 39-yard field goal with three seconds left in the second to give them a 20-17 halftime lead. 

     Miami regained the lead 24-20 just 61 seconds into the second half. Defensive lineman Zach Sieler recovered an Allen fumble and returned it five yards for a touchdown. 

     The rest of the third quarter would belong to Buffalo as they took a 34-24 lead. Allen connected a six-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cole Beasley on the left side with 5:18 remaining. On the Bills next possession, wide receiver Gabe Davis caught a 23-yard pass from Allen in the left side of the end zone with 2:07 left in the third. 

     The Dolphins cut the lead to 34-31 at the 10:53 mark of the fourth quarter. Running back Jeff Wilson plunged up the middle from one yard out for the score. Miami had one final chance to win the game, but they lost the ball on downs at their own 44-yard line with 2:22 to go.