The Miami Dolphins are making strides in their rebuilding effort. The Buffalo Bills are not -- and, as a result, their coach is firmly on the hot seat.
Those are the conclusions that can be drawn from Miami’s 24-10 win over the Bills at Sun Life Stadium on Sunday.
Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill did a solid job of managing the offense, throwing for 130 yards and two touchdowns -- including a pretty over-the-shoulder TD pass to Reggie Bush. Bush had 107 yards from scrimmage (65 yards rushing, 42 yards receiving) and three touchdowns and Miami’s defense forced four turnovers to help the Dolphins improve to 7-8.
The Bills (5-10) shot themselves in the foot on offense throughout the course of the game. Buffalo was poised to score on its first drive before a Stevie Johnson fumble was recovered by the Dolphins in Miami territory. H-back Dorin Dickerson lost a fumble early in the third quarter for Buffalo, and the Dolphins scored to go up 21-3 on the following drive. On Buffalo’s next drive, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick lost another fumble following a Cameron Wake sack.
With a 15-32 record as Buffalo’s head coach, Chan Gailey was asked after the game if he was worried about his job status.
“No, I worry about getting better and playing to our abilities, which we haven’t done,” Gailey said. “That’s my responsibility to get that done. We’re not there. I think we have a chance, but we’re not there.”
When the game turned: The game turned after Johnson’s first-quarter fumble. Miami scored on the ensuing drive and was in control after that. For Miami, it helped that Buffalo’s offense was stuck in neutral throughout the afternoon -- save for a 62-yard run from RB C.J. Spiller -- and the Dolphins’ lead was never in danger.
Highlight moments: Spiller’s 62-yard run was a thing of beauty. With the ball at the Bills’ 15, Spiller juked to his right and made a hard cut upfield at the 20. Pretty soon he was off to the races; he would have gone all the way for a touchdown had he not been tripped up by an arm tackle from Miami DE Olivier Vernon. For the Dolphins, Tannehill’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Bush was perfectly floated to the left side of the end zone.
Top-shelf performances:
- Dolphins RB Reggie Bush -- 107 yards from scrimmage (65 yards rushing, 42 yards receiving), 3 TDs
- Dolphins RB Lamar Miller -- 73 yards on 10 attempts
- Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill -- 13 of 25, 130 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs; six rushes for 44 yards
- Bills RB C.J. Spiller -- 138 rushing yards on 22 carries, 4 receptions for 35 yards
- Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick -- “It was a very, very frustrating first half. ... Early on, again, pre-snap penalties, which had nothing to do with the noise or anything. It’s just stuff that’s elementary that we should have done a better job [with]. Turning the ball over when you have some stuff going, that’s the kind of stuff that really hurts you as an offense.”
- Bills coach Chan Gailey -- “We dropped some passes that hurt, we couldn’t get any momentum going. A couple penalties hurt us, but if we would’ve just executed the way I think we’re capable of executing we would’ve been OK. We should’ve had points a couple times in the first half.”
Injury update: Bills -- TE Scott Chandler was carted off early with a left knee injury. “Scott doesn’t look good at all,” Gailey said after the game. “I saw Scott on crutches.” CB Stephon Gilmore left the game with a head injury but was able to return. H-back Dorin Dickerson was carted off late with a right leg injury. He tweeted after the game that he will return next week. Dolphins -- CB Sean Smith left the game with a left knee injury and did not return.
Going forward: Bills -- Buffalo ends another losing season with a home game against the New York Jets. Dolphins -- The Dolphins were officially eliminated from the playoffs following Cincinnati’s win over Pittsburgh. Miami finishes its year on the road at New England.
For more updates on the Bills, follow correspondent Mark Ludwiczak on Twitter @CBSBills and @MarkLud12.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Miami Dolphins from blogger Dave Carey, follow @CBSDolphins