Payments proceed mastery of Miami in rout of Dolphins, who face uncertainty after Tua Tagovailoa's damage

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Buffalo Bills rolled to yet one more victory over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night time, utilizing three first-half landing runs by James Cook and two interceptions by Ja’Marcus Ingram to blast the Dolphins 31-10 at Arduous Rock Stadium.

The loss wasn’t Miami’s greatest concern, although, as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion late in the third quarter. Tagovailoa was instantly dominated out after an evening by which he threw three interceptions — certainly one of which Ingram returned for a third-quarter landing. Now the Dolphins face an unsure future as they consider Tagovailoa, who has had concussion points up to now.

Listed here are an important issues to know from Thursday night time for each groups:

For a lot of Josh Allen‘s profession, he has been the principle provider of Payments dashing touchdowns. That wasn’t the case on Thursday night time in an announcement AFC East win.

As Allen handled a left-hand damage suffered on a landing run — or leap, extra particularly — in Week 1, Prepare dinner had the night time of his profession, as his three touchdowns helped information the Payments to a decisive victory over the Dolphins. In only one sport, Prepare dinner matched his dashing landing whole from each final season and the season prior (two in every).

Prepare dinner’s first landing of the night time got here on the primary drive of the sport — following the primary of two interceptions by Ingram — on a 17-yard landing go by Allen. The second was a 1-yard dashing rating within the second quarter, and the third got here on Buffalo’s very subsequent offensive play, as Prepare dinner darted 49 yards untouched into the top zone to place the Payments up 24-7. Since ESPN started monitoring yards earlier than contact in 2006, Prepare dinner is the seventh participant with an untouched dashing landing of 49 yards or extra. All of his touchdowns got here within the first half.

The crew completed with 108 yards on the bottom, with Prepare dinner accounting for many of them in ending with 11 makes an attempt for 78 yards, along with the one reception.

Offensive coordinator Joe Brady continues to place an emphasis on working the ball, whereas Allen completed the sport finishing 13 of 19 passes for 139 yards and one landing.

It is a new forged of characters round Allen within the huge receivers room, however this offense has proven early that it might probably put up factors and benefit from alternatives.

Most shocking efficiency: The Payments have discovered success with defensive backups up to now, however Ingram has made an absolute assertion by means of the primary two video games of the season. Coach Sean McDermott stated that Ingram would have been a wholesome scratch in Week 1 if defensive finish Dawuane Smoot wasn’t injured, however as a substitute Ingram performed within the crew’s dime package deal after nickel nook Taron Johnson injured his forearm and Cam Lewis shifted to nickel and defended the game-ending play. Towards the Dolphins, Ingram — an undrafted free agent from the College of Buffalo in 2022 who spent the earlier two seasons on the Payments’ observe squad — placed on a present with two interceptions, together with a pick-six. Even when Johnson returns, Ingram must be given much more alternatives.

Pivotal play: Up 10-7, on the Payments’ fourth drive when the crew actually began to interrupt away. On third-and-12 from the Miami 34-yard line, Allen waited within the pocket, then ran out to his proper and uncorked a 33-yard throw throughout his physique to working again Ty Johnson. The spectacular throw arrange a 1-yard dashing landing by Prepare dinner on the following play, giving the Payments a double-digit lead that the crew by no means regarded again from.

Describe the sport in two phrases: Assertion making. No matter doubt about whether or not the AFC East nonetheless ran by means of Buffalo, New York, was eradicated with this decisive win on the highway. The win places the Payments 20-5 vs. the division since 2020 and improves Allen’s file over the Dolphins to 12-2. Thursday additionally marked the Payments’ fifth-straight win, together with within the postseason, over Miami.

Promising pattern: The protection limiting huge performs. The Payments have made it some extent defensively to try to take away offenses from getting huge performs downfield, which was particularly notable Thursday going in opposition to the velocity that the Dolphins current. They’ve finished that efficiently within the first two video games of the 2024 season. Tagovailoa went 0-of-4 on passes 15 yards downfield and 2-of-8 on throws 10 yards downfield. In Week 1, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray went 0-of-6 on passes of 10 or extra air yards. — Alaina Getzenberg

Subsequent sport: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (7:30 p.m. ET, Monday, Sept. 23)

A nightmare.

There is not any different technique to describe the Dolphins’ loss to the Payments.

Not solely did they lose for the tenth time of their previous 11 matchups with their AFC East rival, however they doubtlessly misplaced their quarterback for an undetermined period of time. Tagovailoa suffered a scary concussion late within the third quarter, after successful to the helmet saved him on the bottom for a number of minutes whereas gamers kneeled round him.

He was fortunately capable of stroll off the sector and ultimately into the locker room below his personal energy. Moreover a collective gasp as Tagovailoa writhed on the bottom after the hit, Dolphins and Payments followers alike have been left surprised in an eerily quiet Arduous Rock Stadium.

Tagovailoa’s concussion historical past — two recognized concussions throughout the 2022 season — will doubtless imply he and the crew shall be monitored over the following 10 days with intense scrutiny. What occurs if he clears the NFL’s concussion protocol in time for Miami’s sport in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3? Would 10 days be sufficient for the Dolphins to really feel taking part in their not too long ago topped franchise quarterback after yet one more head damage?

Maybe the Dolphins shut him down for longer, maybe a stint on injured reserve? Even longer than that? On the threat of sounding overly dramatic, nothing is off the desk because the Dolphins’ 2024 season has taken a grave flip simply two weeks in.

Troubling pattern: For the second time in as many weeks, the Dolphins offense laid an egg within the first half. Tagovailoa threw his first interception of the season on Miami’s opening drive and threw his second two drives later. This might double as the most important gap within the Dolphins’ sport plan as a result of on each interceptions, Tagovailoa was concentrating on receivers he is not used to throwing to — Grant DuBose and Robbie Chosen. The one factor maintaining the group from going residence at halftime was a 78-yard efficiency from working again De’Von Achane. Miami did nearly the whole lot flawed that it presumably might in a sport in opposition to a crew that it could not afford to make errors in opposition to.

Describe the sport in two phrases: Utter catastrophe. The blowout loss was painful sufficient for the Dolphins to endure, however Tagovailoa struggling the third recognized concussion of his profession doubtlessly places the rest of this season in jeopardy. Contemplating the occasions of the 2022 season, the crew will doubtless be positioned below a microscope because it decides deal with its franchise quarterback.

Prediction for subsequent week: The lone vibrant spot of Thursday’s loss was Achane’s efficiency. He assumed a featured function in Raheem Mostert‘s absence, compiling 96 yards on 22 carries and Miami’s solely landing. No matter Mostert’s well being subsequent week, anticipate Achane to be closely featured in Week 3 in opposition to the Seahawks — particularly if Tagovailoa does not play. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Subsequent sport: at Seattle Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 22)