Location: New Era Field, Orchard Park, N.Y.
Regular season records: Buffalo (6-10), Miami (7-9)
In a nutshell:
Buffalo saved its best offensive outing of the season for last.
The team put up a season-high 42 points on the Dolphins in their 2018 season finale, avoiding the season sweep against their division rival.
Josh Allen led the way offensively, finishing the game with 17 completions for 224 yards and three touchdowns. He also picked up 94 yards and two scores on the ground, accounting for 319 of the Bills' 381 net yards.
Aside from a rough few moments in the second quarter, Buffalo's defense was tremendous on Sunday, holding Miami to 14 points and 225 net yards. Tremaine Edmunds constructed what was arguably his best outing of the season in the win, totaling 10 tackles, one interception, and one sack.
Kyle Williams played well in his final professional game, recording three tackles. He even caught a pass on offense.
With the win, the Bills improved their record to 6-10.
How it went down:
- A massive 46-yard completion to Chris Ivory gave Buffalo a fresh set of downs at Miami's one-yard line early in the first quarter. On first-and-goal, the Bills lined Kyle Williams up at the fullback position. The veteran defensive tackle pushed quarterback Josh Allen over the goal line to give Buffalo the early lead (7-0).
- Tremaine Edmunds' second career interception allowed the Bills to set up shop deep in Miami territory. On the first play of the drive, Allen found Zay Jones on a short reception. The second-year wideout juked out a defender and strolled into the end zone to give Buffalo an early two-score lead (14-0).
- Miami constructed a methodical drive near the end of the first half, an 11-play, 51-yard series that took three and a half minutes off the clock. The Dolphins found the end zone with a trick play, as wide receiver Kenny Stills passed the ball to quarterback Ryan Tannehill for a three-yard score (14-7).
- Dolphins S Reshad Jones intercepted an Allen pass with less than one minute remaining in the half, taking the ball into the end zone. Miami tied the game with a Jason Sanders extra point (14-14).
- Buffalo retook the lead early in the second half when Allen found Robert Foster in the end zone for a five-yard score. Allen showcased his athleticism on the 10-play drive, rushing for 38 yards (21-14).
- Buffalo took possession of the ball at Miami's 23-yard line after Shaq Lawson forced a Tannehill fumble. LeSean McCoy capped off the 5-play drive with a nine-yard touchdown run (28-14).
- The Dolphins slowly marched down the field late in the third quarter, eventually making their way into the red zone. Buffalo's defense stood tall with its back against the wall, however, keeping Miami out of the end zone and forcing a 29-yard Sanders field goal (28-17).
- Buffalo padded its lead midway through the fourth quarter. The scoring drive can perhaps best be described as the "full Josh Allen experience," as the rookie found Zay Jones for a 21-yard completion before scoring on a 30-yard scramble (35-17).
- The Bills wasted little time in finding the end zone on their third drive of the fourth quarter. The two-play, 52-yard drive culminated with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jones (42-17).
Subplots:
- Josh Allen made history on Sunday, setting the record for most rushing yards by a Buffalo quarterback in a single season. He surpassed Tyrod Taylor, who rushed for 580 yards in 2016.
- Allen scored two rushing touchdowns on Sunday, tying Jack Kemp's record for most rushing touchdowns scored by a Buffalo quarterback in a single season (8).
- Shaq Lawson recorded two sacks on Sunday, the first multi-sack game of his career.
- Levi Wallace recorded a career-high eight tackles in the win.
- The announced attendance for the game was 67,420.
- Inactive for the game were QB Derek Anderson, WR Deonte Thompson, RB Keith Ford, CB Ryan Lewis, LB Julian Stanford, DE Eddie Yarbrough, and OG Vladimir Ducasse.
