Buffalo’s offense drowns Dolphins as Diggs nabs three scores

The Buffalo Bills came into week four of the National Football League (NFL) season riding high after taking down the Washington Commanders for their second consecutive victory on Sunday, Sept. 24. But their matchup for the fourth week of the season was set to be much tougher. 

The Bills took on their division rivals the Miami Dolphins, who came into the game as the highest-rated offense in football. The same week the Bills took down the Commanders, the Dolphins erupted on the Denver Broncos and scored 70 points. It was the first time a team scored 70 in an NFL game since 1966.

The game also carried significant weight as both teams seemed destined to sit atop the AFC East division going into the playoffs, and an early season victory could play a large part in deciding number one versus number two in the final standings. The week four matchup on Sunday, Oct. 1, was billed as an offensive attack, and it lived up to it. 

Buffalo received the opening kickoff and took little time working their way toward the end zone. A 17-yard reception by receiver Stefon Diggs followed by an unnecessary roughness penalty against Miami put the Bills within 20 yards of a touchdown. The opening drive concluded on the next play as quarterback Josh Allen found receiver Gabe Davis on the right side of the field to put Buffalo up by a score early on.

The Dolphins answered right back, though, as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa put together a series of short passes to bring the team toward the goal line. A three-yard rushing touchdown by rookie running back De’Von Achane tied the game up with just over six minutes left in the first quarter. 

A collection of small plays set the Bills and running back Latavius Murray up for a 29-yard rush on the following drive to put the team right back into the endzone. After several short gains on the ground, Buffalo handed the ball over to running back James Cook who rushed it in for the team’s second touchdown of the game.

Miami tied the game right back up on the next drive, again, as the first drive of the second quarter began with Tagovailoa finding receivers Tyreek Hill and Braxton Berrios for 15-plus-yard receptions. Achane was able to find the endzone once more, as he took the left end for a ten-yard touchdown. 

With the game tied at 14 before the half, it was obvious that if the Bills wanted to win this game, they needed to continue scoring regularly. They did just that as they took over possession on offense and drove 79 yards down the field in less than three minutes thanks, in large part, due to a defensive pass interference call that brought them 43 yards downfield. Allen was able to find Diggs again as Buffalo took a 21-14 lead with ten minutes left in the first half. 

After three straight drives that resulted in quick punts, the Bills took over on offense and only needed one play to take a 14-point lead. Josh Allen found Diggs on the left side of the field before the receiver spun his way past multiple defenders en route to a 55-yard touchdown.

The team’s defense, which had been lackluster thus far, finally showed up when they retook the field, and linebacker Matt Milano tackled running back Raheem Mostert, forcing a fumble. The Bills’ offense took advantage once again and kicked a 53-yard field goal to put them up by 17 points before halftime. 

Out of the break, the Dolphins received the kickoff and drove the ball 75 yards and into the end zone on an 11-yard reception by Berrios. A failed two-point conversion allowed Buffalo to retain an 11-point lead.

A 33-yard field goal by Buffalo’s kicker Tyler Bass put the team back up by a two-touchdown advantage before the defense came back out on the field and took care of business once again, as safety Micah Hyde intercepted a pass to give the ball right back to the Bills’ dominant offense. 

Allen found two open receivers before once more looking in the direction of Diggs who caught his third receiving touchdown of the game, this time for 13 yards. It was the first three-touchdown game for Diggs since Sept. 19, 2022, against the Tennessee Titans. 

Buffalo was able to find the end zone one last time, on the first play of the fourth quarter, as Allen took the ball in himself on an 11-yard rush for his fifth touchdown of the game. The touchdown gave the Bills a 28-point lead and proved they truly were the team to beat in the AFC East.

After the huge divisional win, the Bills will head to London to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Oct. 8, at 9:30 a.m.