ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — After the snow began slipping at the start off of the fourth quarter, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Expenditures uncovered them selves in their factor in opposition to the warm-temperature Miami Dolphins.
The AFC-leading Charges (11-3) overcame an 8-level deficit with Allen overseeing scoring drives on the closing two possessions, capped by Tyler Bass hitting a 25-garden industry purpose as time expired to propel Buffalo to a 32-29 victory Saturday night.
The Costs wrapped up their fourth consecutive playoff berth, and fifth in six seasons underneath mentor Sean McDermott.
The decisive industry target sparked a raucous celebration before a snowball-throwing group, with Bass, receiver Stefon Diggs and left deal with Dion Dawkins diving head-initially and sliding on their chests on the snow-slicked field.
“Almost like it was all intended to materialize, appropriate?” claimed Poyer of a lengthy-forecasted lake result snowstorm finally earning its arrival. “Josh requires the offense down and the snow starts falling down. It was really variety of surreal. It was a fun, entertaining atmosphere, though.”
Allen, meantime, referred to Mother Nature’s arrival as a mere coincidence. He as an alternative credited all those all-around him for stepping up, particularly when the offense experienced cooled through a 3rd quarter in which Buffalo finished 4 consecutive drives with punts, and right after Allen ended the fifth drive with a fumble.
“That 3rd quarter is not where by we wished to be,” Allen explained. “But I believed our protection performed a heck of a game in the next 50 percent, in particular, and then T-Bass at the conclusion. He’s nails.”
Allen threw a 5-garden go to Dawson Knox and the quarterback then leaped over the line for a 2-position conversion to tie it 29 with 9:02 remaining. Allen lost command of the ball, but a replay review confirmed he crossed the target line ahead of fumbling.
Allen then oversaw a 15-play, 86-garden generate that ate up the last 5:56 to set up Bass’ discipline purpose.
Allen threw four touchdown passes to boost his vocation complete to 171 (including just one obtaining), and tie previous Miami quarterback Dan Marino for the most by an NFL participant in the very first 5 seasons of his vocation.
In winning its fifth straight, and 3rd in a few weeks about a divisional opponent, Buffalo also inched closer to clinching its third consecutive AFC East title by constructing a three-earn guide over Miami.
“Can’t win a Super Bowl except if you make the playoffs. Which is objective No. 1 down,” Allen claimed of a workforce that entered the year with Tremendous Bowl aspirations and, many thanks to tiebreakers, has the inside keep track of to end initial in the AFC standings.
The Dolphins (8-6) entered the weekend in second spot and as the AFC’s sixth seed. They’ve now lost 3 in a row in their bid to qualify for the postseason for the initially time because 2016.
“We experienced a pretty superior general performance versus a incredibly, quite superior crew,” Dolphins mentor Mike McDaniel stated. “I know a ton of men and women would like to make it about the temperature, but our team under no circumstances did.”
The problems ended up much the opposite from the Dolphins’ 21-19 gain more than Buffalo in Miami in September, when the game-time temperature was 89 degrees.
This time, the Costs made use of the dwelling-industry aspects to their gain in an outing they nearly bobbled absent.
The Dolphins took the lead on Tua Tagovailoa’s 20-lawn touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill with 2:30 left in the third quarter. Miami’s generate was prolonged by Buffalo’s Cam Lewis currently being flagged for roughing punter Thomas Morstead soon after the Expenses stopped the Dolphins on a 3-and-out at midfield.
Miami then capitalized on Allen currently being sacked and dropping a fumble, which was compelled by Jaelan Phillips and recovered by Christian Wilkins at midfield two plays into the fourth quarter. The turnover set up Jason Sanders hitting a 47-garden industry aim.
Tagovailoa finished 17 of 30 for 234 yards and two touchdowns, which include a 67-yarder to Jaylen Waddle. Raheem Mostert finished with 136 yards speeding, although backup Salvon Ahmed ran for 43 yards, like an 11-garden TD.
Despite the reduction, the Dolphins offense showed signs of rediscovering its groove. After combining for 527 yards offense in getting rid of to San Francisco and the Los Angeles Chargers on consecutive weekends on the West Coast, Miami completed with 405 yards towards a Buffalo protection which entered the weekend ranked ninth in the NFL in yards authorized.
“I imagined we as a group dealt with the factors rather effectively for a workforce that arrives from 80-diploma climate,” Tagovailoa claimed. “I’m very happy of the way our staff leaders stepped up in this sport. I imagine our workforce is taking a phase in the proper path.”
Allen completed 25 of 40 for 304 yards, and matched a career very best with 4 touchdowns passing. Nyheim Hynes, Quintin Morris and James Cook every single experienced TD catches.
Allen showed off his fearless potential on in no way supplying up on a enjoy with his 4-yard touchdown pass to Cook dinner to set Buffalo up 21-13 to cap a 12-perform, 82-lawn travel as time expired.
Experiencing to start with-and-intention with eight seconds remaining, Allen waited in the pocket just before staying flushed to his correct. Two actions from going out of bounds, and as time had expired, Allen observed Prepare dinner by itself in the again of the stop zone.
Injuries
Dolphins: DB Keion Crossen returned just after hurting his knee in the very first 50 %, and then left with a knee injuries in the fourth quarter.
Expenditures: C Mitch Morse did not return soon after staying evaluated for a head damage in the second half.
UP Following
Dolphins: Host Green Bay on Christmas Day.
Costs: At Chicago on Saturday.
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