MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — De’Von Achane piled up 225 total yards and the Miami Dolphins’ defense delivered its most complete effort of the season in a stunning 30-13 upset over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami (3-7) defeated Buffalo (6-3) for just the third time in quarterback Josh Allen’s 17 meetings with the Dolphins, including the postseason.
The game didn’t start clean for Miami.
On the opening series, the Dolphins burned an early timeout and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw his 12th interception of the season — a deep ball intended for Jaylen Waddle picked off by Bills safety Cole Bishop. But the Dolphins’ defense answered quickly with a stop, and Achane began to take over.
Achane accounted for 58 total yards on Miami’s first scoring drive, and Tagovailoa capped it with a 9-yard pass to Malik Washington.
On the Dolphins’ next possession, Tagovailoa dropped a deep ball to Waddle for a 38-yard touchdown, giving Miami a 13-0 lead following a missed extra point. Waddle finished Sunday’s game with a game high 84 yards on 5 catches.
Miami’s defense, which entered the game allowing 27 points per game, controlled the first half. Minkah Fitzpatrick forced a fumble on Bills running back James Cook that JuJu Brents recovered, and Zach Sieler sacked Allen for a 6-yard loss on third down.
By halftime, the Dolphins led 16-0 and had held Buffalo to just 86 total yards — the Bills’ lowest output in any half this season. Miami had 221 yards at the break.
Allen was intercepted by Dolphins safety Ifeatu Melifonwu in the end zone early in the third quarter, preserving the shutout. The Bills didn’t find the end zone until the fourth, when Allen connected with Keon Coleman on a 35-yard touchdown.
Fitzpatrick then stopped Khalil Shakir short on a two-point try, keeping Miami ahead 16-6.
Momentum briefly swung when Tagovailoa was intercepted by Maxwell Hairston, but linebacker Jordyn Brooks stripped Allen on the ensuing Bills drive and Fitzpatrick recovered again.
Achane then delivered the backbreaker, cutting to daylight on a 59-yard touchdown run to put Miami up 23-6 with just over seven minutes left.
After a late Buffalo score, Achane sealed it with a 35-yard touchdown run — bringing his totals to 174 rushing yards on 22 carries and 6 receptions for 51 yards.
Tagovailoa finished under 200 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions, but Miami’s run game and defense carried the day.
Bradley Chubb, Zach Sieler and Willie Gay Jr. added sacks, and Miami’s secondary forced two takeaways. The Bills were shut out through three quarters for the first time this season.
Up next:
Miami will host the Washington Commanders next Sunday in Madrid, Spain, at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium — the first NFL game ever played there. Kickoff is set for 9:30 a.m.
Buffalo hosts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3) next Sunday.
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