Of Miami’s three losses this season, fans in all likelihood took this one the hardest. In part because of how the team lost but also because of when and who they lost to. Coming into the game fresh off of their bye week and two straight losses to the Saints and Ravens, the ‘phins and their fans were banking on a win against the division rival Buffalo Bills.
The game began about as poorly as conceivable as Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw a pick six to give the Bills an early seven point lead. Another gaffe by Dolphins special teamer Don Jones negated a 70+ yard punt and instead gave the Bills good field position which was quickly turned into another touchdown. Still in the first quarter, Miami drove the length the field only for Tannehill to throw another interception on a woefully underthrown pass that was picked off in the end zone.
However, the Dolphins would rally back in the second quarter riding a resuscitated run game which they’d been unable to find prior to this game. Tannehill would also recover and throw two touchdowns to send the game into halftime trailing by a score of 17-14.
For all the world, it appeared that momentum had swung in Miami’s favor and that trend would continue in the opening period of the second half as the Dolphins would would score the only touch of the quarter to take a tenuous four point lead.
Buffalo added a field goal to their tally to trim Miami’s lead to only a point, but their offense, as was the case for the most of the second half, was anemic and without the help of a turnover, it appeared the unit would have trouble scoring on their own. Luckily for them, though, the Dolphins would give them that help as Dolphins right tackle Tyson Clabo gave up his second half of the game resulting in a fumble by Tannehill, instantly putting Buffalo in position for a game winning field goal with less than three minutes left in the contest.
Buffalo would go on to make the game winning kick with only 30 seconds left on the clock and despite some last-second theatrics by return man Tyler Thigpen, Miami lost by only two points, dropping their record to 3-3 on the season.