The Buffalo Bills continued their dominance over the AFC East rival Miami Dolphins with a commanding 31-10 victory on Thursday night in Miami.
Buffalo improved to 9-1 against the Dolphins over the past five seasons, including playoffs — the most wins by any team against a single opponent since 2020. After a competitive first quarter, the Bills took control, fueled by a defense that stifled Miami’s offense even before quarterback Tua Tagovailoa left with a concussion.
Sean McDermott’s defensive unit was relentless, producing three interceptions, two sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and forcing four turnovers on downs — including a pivotal one in the second quarter. They also limited Miami to a 47% third-down conversion rate and just 1-of-4 in the red zone. The Dolphins’ 10 points marked the second-lowest total in a game under head coach Mike McDaniel.
“We played our brand of football, but there’s still work to be done,” McDermott said postgame. “It’s about continuing to refine our identity and build on what we’re trying to achieve.”
Buffalo’s offense, led by quarterback Josh Allen, managed only 247 total yards and 13 first downs, but capitalized on excellent field position. Three of their four scoring drives started in Dolphins’ territory. “We probably didn’t rack up a lot of yards, but putting up 31 points shows the defense had our back tonight,” Allen noted.
Despite a revamped secondary and key injuries, including the absence of linebacker Matt Milano and nickel Taron Johnson, the Bills’ defense remained formidable. Even after linebacker Terrel Bernard left with a pectoral injury, the unit maintained its high level of play. Backup cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram stepped up with two interceptions, including a game-changing pick-six.
“I was just doing my job, and the ball fell right into my hands,” said Ingram, who recorded his first career interceptions in just his seventh NFL game. McDermott praised his performance: “Ja’Marcus stepped in, made big plays for us, and that’s what happens when you work hard.”
Veteran Von Miller also continued his resurgence, notching his second sack in as many weeks and reaching 125 career sacks, a milestone achieved by only 19 players since individual sack tracking began in 1982.
McDermott’s defense, known for limiting explosive plays, held Miami to just one play of 20-plus yards. Since McDermott took over in 2017, the Bills have allowed the fewest such plays in the league. Through two games this season, the defense has demonstrated a knack for high-impact moments — sacks, turnovers, and negating big plays — despite giving up some yardage.
With their “next-man-up” mentality and McDermott’s strategic leadership, the Bills continue to show resilience and versatility, setting the tone for another promising season.
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