Dolphins Drop Week 11 to Buffalo, 37-20

Inept Run Game Dooms Dolphins

The Dolphins seemed to relapse to the terrible football they played in September. Miami managed just 23 yards on the ground today.

Kalen Ballage started his fourth game of the year for the Dolphins and gained just nine yards on nine carries. He did score a touchdown, though.

“It’s tough to win in this league if you can’t run the football,” said Dolphins’ first-year head coach Brian Flores after the game.

Disastrous Defensive Effort

Dolphins defenders struggled mightily. Poor tackling, miscommunications in the secondary, and missteps versus the run plagued the Dolphins all afternoon.

The Bills, as a result, did whatever they wanted on offense. Buffalo churned out 168 rushing yards on 34 carries. Rookie Devin Singletary led the way with 75 yards on 15 carries. Quarterback Josh Allen gained 57 yards and rushed for a touchdown, too.

Allen also threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 21 of 33 passes. Receiver John Brown set a season-high in receiving with 137 yards on nine receptions. Brown also caught two touchdowns in this one.

Buffalo’s defense dominated the line of scrimmage throughout. They limited the Dolphins to 1.8 yards-per-carry and sacked Miami quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick seven times.

Special Teams a Bright Spot

There were few bright spots for the Dolphins in this one. One of them, though, was the play of the Special Teams.

Kicker Jason Sanders covered his own onside kick late in the second quarter. With the Dolphins trailing 16-7, Flores called for the onside kick, and Sanders converted it on his own.

It was only the second successful onside kick attempt in the NFL this season. On the season onside kick attempts were 1 for 29.

While the play swung momentum in Miami’s favor, it wouldn’t last. Receiver Allen Hurns fumbled on the next play from scrimmage.

Jakeem Grant returned a kickoff 101-yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter for the Dolphins. It was Grant’s fourth career punt or kickoff return, making him the franchise’s all-time leader in that category.

The only other bright spot for Miami in this one was the play of receiver DeVante Parker. The fifth-year wideout hauled in a season-high seven receptions for a career-high 135 yards.

The Dolphins (2-8) travel to Cleveland for a Week 12 matchup against the Browns (4-6). Buffalo (7-3) hosts the Broncos (3-7).

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