Game Recap

Bills 31, Dolphins 10 | Final score, stats to know + game highlights

Sep 12, 2024 at 11:50 PM

Dorian Alerte

Contributing Correspondent

Ja'Marcus Ingram had two interceptions including a pick six tonight. Miami Dolphins vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, September 12, 2024 at Hard Rock Stadium.

Location: Hard Rock Stadium

Final score: Bills 31, Dolphins 10

Records: Bills (2-0), Dolphins (1-1)

Next opponent: Bills vs. Jaguars on Monday, September 23 at 7:30 pm ET

The Bills (2-0) picked up an early divisional win when they beat the Miami Dolphins (1-1) 31-10 on Thursday night.

Running back James Cook got going early and ended the day with 78 rushing yards, two touchdowns on the ground and one through the air. Quarterback Josh Allen threw for 139 yards and 1 touchdown. Wide receiver Khalil Shakir led all Bills receivers with five catches for 54 yards. Safety Damar Hamlin, LB Dorian Williams and LB Baylon Spector led the defense in tackles with 10 each. Both DB Ja'Marcus Ingram and Christian Benford both caught interceptions, and Ingram ran one back for a touchdown.

1. Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers

Turnovers were the name of the game early for the Bills defense. After forcing no interceptions against the Cardinals, they were able to intercept Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa twice in the first quarter. This marked the first time in his career that Tagovailoa has been intercepted twice in the first quarter.

The first interception came on the first drive of the game when Tagovailoa was looking for WR Grant DuBose. Bills CB Christian Benford had excellent coverage and DB Ja'Marcus Ingram was able to pick off the deflection that set the offense up for their first touchdown of the game to RB James Cook.

The second interception of Tagovailoa came near the end of the first quarter. Tagovailoa overthrew a pass intended for WR Robbie Chosen that landed in the hands of Benford. The Bills then ran six plays that led to a K Tyler Bass field goal.

The Bills ended the evening with total three turnovers of the Dolphins.

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2. Let James Cook

After scoring no touchdowns in week one, RB James Cook found pay dirt three times in the first half, two on the ground and one through the air.

After the initial interception by Ingram, the Bills took over at the Dolphins' 37-yard line. The offense started to move the ball down the field and found themselves in a fourth-down-and-three situation. On the ensuing play, QB Josh Allen threw it short to Cook who ran the ball 17 yards for the touchdown.

After both teams took turns punting the football, the offense, aided by an unnecessary roughness flag, found themselves driving the football again. Allen found himself in some trouble on third-and-twelve and found RB Ty Johnson down the field, giving the offense first-and-goal from the one-yard line. Cook then ran the football in on the next play.

On his third touchdown of the first half, Cook broke loose up the middle, running for 49-yards, breaking away from a possible tackle from S Jordan Poyer, and flipping into the end zone.

3. Ja'Marcus' Big Day

Ingram made his impact known intercepting Tagovailoa twice, including taking one back for a touchdown.

Edge rusher A.J. Epenesa rushed Tagovailoa and forced him into a throw that landed right in the hands of Ingram. He took the interception back 31 yards to the end zone.

4. Taking advantage of short fields

The Bills lost the time of possession battle, and the amount of offensive plays run, but they took advantage of the turnovers that the defense forced, including a turnover-on-downs.

The first of the touchdowns occurred following the Dolphins first drive, after the Bills took over at the Dolphins 37-yard line and scored

The second score was a field goal from Bass, in which the Bills took over at Miami's 44-yard line.

After a turnover-on-downs, Cook exploded up the middle for a long 49-yard touchdown.

Ingram ran into the end zone for his second interception of the evening in the third quarter.

Sean McDermott is now 14-2 against the Miami Dolphins. Miami Dolphins vs Buffalo Bills, Regular Season, September 12, 2024 at Hard Rock Stadium.

5. Pressure at the right time

The Bills front seven had a strong showing, generating pressure in key moments during the game.

Even though they ended the day with 2.0 sacks, the pressure generated from the defensive line affected Miami's offense the entire game.

A rush from Epenesa led directly to the interception by Ingram.

When the Dolphins looked to have a promising drive after a 17-yard run from RB De'Von Achane, the defense held strong and forced the Dolphins into a fourth-down situation. On the fourth-down, DT Ed Oliver took Tagovailoa down to force the turnover-on-downs.

After Tagovailoa left the game in the third quarter, due to a concussion, backup QB Skylar Thompson found himself in another fourth-down situation, this time in the red zone. This time EDGE Von Miller took Thompson down giving the Bills offense the ball once more.

Key Stats and Facts:

The Bills improve to 14-2 vs Miami (including playoffs) under Sean McDermott.
The Bills have won seven consecutive regular season games, the NFL's longest active streak.
Josh Allen's 226 offensive touchdowns rank second among NFL players in their first seven seasons (passing Dan Marino & Peyton Manning).
Thursday night marked the first time the Bills have had multiple defensive INTs in the 1st quarter of a road game since 2014 Week 8 at the Jets (3 by Geno Smith).
James Cook became the first Bills player with a rush & receiving touchdown in Miami since Thurman Thomas in 1991.
Cook tied a team record for most first half touchdowns (3).
James Cook is the fifth Bills with 2+ Rushing TDs and at least one receiving TD in a game. Last one was Thurman Thomas in 1992.
Since 2018, the Bills are now 20-1 when leading by 14+ at halftime (only loss: 2022 Week 10 vs. Vikings in OT, including playoffs).
Von Miller tied Dwight Freeney (125.5) for No. 18 on the NFL's all-time sack list.

Scoring Plays:

9:55 1Q | BUF 7 MIA 0 | Josh Allen pass short left to James Cook for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

3:27 1Q | BUF 7 MIA 7 |Tua Tagovailoa pass short right to De'Von Achane for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

12:45 2Q | BUF 10 MIA 7 | Tyler Bass 43-yard field goal is GOOD.

6:27 2Q | BUF 17 MIA 7 | James Cook up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.

3:45 2Q | BUF 24 MIA 7 | James Cook up the middle for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

0:07 2Q | BUF 24 MIA 10 | Jason Sanders 34-yard field goal is GOOD.

9:37 3Q | BUF 31 MIA 10 | Tua Tagovailoa pass INTERCEPTED by Ja'Marcus Ingram at MIA 31. Ja'Marcus Ingram for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.