It was a game the Bills had to have after dropping two in a row, but for Buffalo it played out much the same way as last week’s game in Dallas. They fell behind early and never recovered as they were blown out 35-8 by the Dolphins in Miami.
“I wish I could give you an explanation,” said head coach Chan Gailey. “I cannot give you an explanation of how we played effectively earlier in the year and we’re not playing effectively now and we lost that one as a team every phase had problems, real problems.”
Buffalo’s offense showed good rhythm early getting off to a good start with a couple of big plays. 
“First drive we went down there and didn’t convert on third down and kicked a field goal and then from there it was downhill,” said Ryan Fitzpatrick. “Obviously we’re searching for a lot of answers right now. We have a lot of questions as to why this is happening and what we need to do to get better and it wasn’t a good day.”
Miami would answer the Bills field goal drive with an even longer possession going 87 yards on 12 plays, including a big 3rd-and-12 conversion by Matt Moore with a 19-yard back shoulder throw to Brian Hartline to set up 1st-and-10 at the Bills 12-yard line. Three plays later Moore hit Anthony Fasano for a one-yard touchdown reception and a 7-3 lead with three minutes left in the first quarter.
After a three-and-out by Buffalo’s offense, Miami would put together another scoring drive and again the Bills were victimized for a big play. On a 2nd-and-8 from the Miami 43, Moore hit Charles Clay over the top for a 46-yard pass play. Reggie Bush took it in from five yards out two plays later to give the Dolphins a 14-3 advantage.
The Bills offense would only compound the problem as a Fitzpatrick pass on 3rd-and-8 from Buffalo’s own 16 went in and out of the hands of
“Embarrassing,” said
After both defenses got a couple of stops Buffalo’s offense would turn the ball over deep in their own territory again. On a 3rd-and-10 from their own 18 a Fitzpatrick pass intended for
“It wasn’t a very good performance for us offensively,” said
Buffalo got a lift heading to the locker room as Fitzpatrick moved the offense down the field in their hurry up with just 1:32 on the clock and no timeouts. Dave Rayner then boomed a 56-yard field goal attempt through the uprights for a 28-6 score at the half.
The Bills special teams would play a part in Buffalo’s third-straight defeat as a failed blocking assignment allowed Miami to block a
“We didn’t block out the way we were supposed to,” said Gailey.
Buffalo had two scoring opportunities to cut into Miami’s lead with a pair of possessions inside the 20, but came up empty both times as the Dolphins forced a turnover on downs with a stop on 4th-and-14 at the Miami 19 and a 4th-and-goal at the Miami one-yard line.
“We got down there and couldn’t run the ball like we wanted to,” said Fred Jackson, who finished with a season-low 17 yards rushing. “Give them credit, they made plays when they had to and they came out with a good game plan.”
The Bills only second half points came on a safety when
Buffalo failed to convert a third down on 12 opportunities, marking just the sixth time in team history the offense failed to move the chains once in a game.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever been through that ever,” said Gailey. “If you’re 30 percent you normally lose. When you’re that bad you’ve had a pitiful day.”
With the loss the Bills fell to 5-5 on the season into a tie with the Jets for second place in the AFC East. The Jets host the Bills next Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
