The Buffalo Bills secured a 31-21 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night, moving to a 3-0 record for the season. Team captains quarterback Josh Allen and linebacker Terrel Bernard were key contributors in the win.
Head coach Sean McDermott commented on his team’s resilience after the game. “The Dolphins played a real good game and our guys made a couple more plays,” McDermott said. “I thought the grit, the mental toughness of our football team was on display throughout the game, in particular the fourth quarter.”
After taking a seven-point lead in the third quarter, Buffalo saw Miami tie the score early in the fourth. The Bills responded quickly when they capitalized on a roughing-the-kicker penalty against Miami. From the Dolphins’ 15-yard line, Allen threw a screen pass to wide receiver Khalil Shakir for a touchdown that put Buffalo ahead for good.
“It’s awesome,” Allen said after the game. “Khalil does everything the right way, constantly following the balls, constantly being in the right spots. He makes some unbelievable plays for us.”
Allen finished with three touchdown passes, reaching his 200th career passing touchdown with his throw to Shakir. His first two touchdowns went to tight ends Dalton Kincaid and rookie Jackson Hawes.
“Yeah, just extending the play, a little naked action,” Allen said about Hawes’s score. “[Hawes] did a good job of just staying in concert with me and just got the corner there. I think it was just cool to just kind of commit one way, and he stayed alive for me and made a play.”
On defense, Bernard made an important interception late in the fourth quarter as Miami threatened inside Buffalo territory.
“It’s honestly something that we have seen on tape. It’s a common route around the league,” Bernard said about his interception. “But, you know, I want to give a shoutout to Al Holcomb, the linebackers coach. He put [the play] on tape a few times. We’ve worked that play, our offense runs that play and he basically told me if I see it, go.”
Rookie defensive tackle Deone Walker also contributed by pressuring Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa during Bernard’s interception.
“When I came off to the sideline, I think that was the first thing that Ed told me. He said Deone won quick and got a pressure and made him get the ball out quick,” Bernard noted about Walker’s impact.
Bernard highlighted teamwork as essential: “So, it takes a full team effort. It’s hard to win in this league every week. That’s a good team, explosive offense, so to come out here on Thursday night on a short week and get it done, it feels good.”
