The Miami Dolphins find themselves in second place in the AFC East for the first time in 2023, as the Buffalo Bills defeated Miami by a score of 48-20 Sunday afternoon in what was an all-around beatdown.
The game looked like it was going to be a shootout when the first four drives resulted in both teams trading touchdowns, making it a 14-14 tie early in the second quarter. However, it was all Bills the rest of the way. This game shows the Dolphins still have much to learn about themselves and how they’re going to compete with the top teams in the AFC moving forward.
Here are four things we learned from the Dolphins’ first loss of the season:
The running game was not as effective.
While the Dolphins are known for their explosive passing attack, the rushing attack, led by Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane, had been a key strength for the Dolphins in their 3-0 start.
Mostert came into the game with an NFL-best six rushing touchdowns, totaling 240 rushing yards on a 5.9 yards per carry average through the first three weeks.
Unfortunately, he had as miserable of a day as any running back could imagine on Sunday. Mostert recorded just nine yards on seven carries, fumbling twice with one resulting in a change of possession.
Achane was impressive in this game, once again showing his transcendent speed and big-play capability.
The Dolphins’ first two touchdowns were run in by Achane, and he made the most of his eight carries on Sunday, totaling 101 yards and those two scores which included a 55-yard burst early in the fourth quarter.
It looked as if the Dolphins were trying to keep up with the Buffalo pace with a pass-heavy offense. This proved to be an unsuccessful strategy, as the first half ended with the Bills up 31-14. Miami then had no choice but to try and stage a comeback through the air in the second half.
Getting the running game going earlier could’ve slowed the momentum of the Bills’ offense while providing rest for Miami’s defenders.
The Dolphins only handed the ball off seven times in the first half. If they had emphasized the run more in the first two quarters, the time of possession could’ve become a factor in the Dolphins’ favor.
The Bills are still the favorites in the AFC East
The Dolphins have been arguably the biggest storyline in the NFL as a breakthrough Super Bowl contender. They looked to be the clear favorites in the AFC through the first three weeks.
Miami had a chance in Week 4 against a perennial playoff team to prove they’re indeed the new kings of the AFC East.
Unfortunately, the opposite was proven. Buffalo was obviously the better team on both sides of the football and have now won three games in a row after the Week 1 overtime loss to the New York Jets.
The Bills’ offense didn’t commit a single turnover and only punted twice. Josh Allen has a reputation for inconsistency with his accuracy, making turnovers one of the easiest ways to beat the Bills. Failing to do so will allow this juggernaut offense to score a lot of points.
Buffalo’s defense proved, once again, why they should still be discussed among the best in the NFL. Tua Tagovailoa wasn’t able to get into a rhythm similar to previous weeks. He was sacked four times, two by defensive end Greg Rousseau, and he threw an interception on a bad decision.
The time of possession was almost a dead tie, illustrating how obvious it is that the team with better execution won the game.
The Dolphins must rebound quickly if they hope to stay in the race for the AFC East crown since the Bills are showing no signs of slowing down after their third consecutive win.
WR Tyreek Hill received a season low in targets
Hill didn’t have the dominant impact he’s accustomed to, as he caught just three passes for 58 yards on the day while only being targeted five times which are both season lows.
Hill is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL and had been one of the major keys to the Dolphins’ 3-0 start. The Bills made it a clear point to not allow him to get loose.
Buffalo’s defense was in Tagovailoa’s face all game, making it tough for the Dolphins to break off many big plays down the field.
The injury to tackle Terron Armstead made things even more difficult for Tagovailoa to operate under pressure. However, this shouldn’t have deterred the Dolphins from getting Hill involved, as he’s proven to be a threat out of the backfield and by way of screen passes.
An underwhelming game by Hill could’ve meant a larger impact for Jaylen Waddle, but Waddle’s numbers weren’t better than Hill’s, as the tandem each received just five targets, neither eclipsing the 100-yard mark.
In a game of this magnitude, Braxton Berrios shouldn’t lead the Dolphins in targets with both Hill and Waddle on the field.
Keeping Hill involved is a must for the Dolphins’ offense whether it’s big plays, screen passes or handing him the ball out of the backfield. Forcing opposing defenses to consistently focus on him should allow Tagovailoa the space he needs to work his magic.
Secondary issues
Buffalo’s offense was firing on all cylinders from start to finish.
Allen threw as many touchdown passes as incompletions (four), and he only needed to throw the ball 25 times for the Bills to score 48 points, as he was getting the ball out early and not allowing the Miami front seven to impact him.
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs dominated cornerback Kader Kohou, catching six passes for 120 yards and three touchdowns. Diggs’ most impressive touchdown came off of a broken tackle of Kohou which put the Bills up 28-14 with 3:12 left in the second quarter.
STEFON DIGGS: CONFIRMED DAWG.
📺: @CBS | @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/lyqTy1zYVx
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 1, 2023
Kohou also had a costly 43-yard pass interference penalty while covering Diggs. It was an obvious penalty, as Kohou didn’t play the ball, setting up the Bills perfectly for their third touchdown of the game. These mistakes by Kohou were probably the two biggest momentum drivers in the Bills’ building a three-score lead at the half.
This game shows why the Dolphins went out and traded for Jalen Ramsey in the offseason. The AFC is loaded with elite receiving talent that the Dolphins will likely have to overcome on their way to a potential Super Bowl appearance.
