Bills hold off rallying Dolphins to advance to AFC divisional round

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Payments held off the charging Miami Dolphins and received their wild-card matchup Sunday, 34-31, at Highmark Stadium.

Allen wanted two landing passes within the third quarter and to cease the miscues to get again on prime after going up 17-0 early within the second quarter. The Buffalo protection additionally needed to put a cease to a rallying Miami offense that was making huge performs down the stretch.

The star quarterback completed 23 of 39 with 352 passing yards and three landing passes. He additionally had two interceptions and misplaced a fumble that resulted in a landing. Two Buffalo huge receivers have been over 100 yards receiving as effectively.

Stefon Diggs had seven catches for 114 yards. Gabe Davis had six catches for 113 yards and a landing. Devin Singletary led Buffalo with 41 yards on the bottom on 9 carries.

On the opposite aspect, Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson had 220 yards on 18-of-45 passing. He had a landing cross and two interceptions. Tyreek Hill had seven catches for 69 yards and Salvon Ahmed had three catches for 4 yards. 

The Payments acquired out to a sizzling begin.

Allen discovered tight finish Dawson Knox for a 6-yard landing to go up 7-0 early. It was the fifth straight sport with a landing catch for Knox. He joined Eric Moulds, Steve Johnson and Lee Evans for essentially the most consecutive video games of at the very least one receiving landing in workforce historical past, in keeping with ESPN Stats & Data.

Working again James Prepare dinner would put the Payments up 14-0 with a 12-yard landing run. Prepare dinner completed with 39 speeding yards. 

Buffalo acquired off to begin within the second quarter with a Tyler Bass 33-yard subject aim to go up 17-0. Earlier than the half was over, Miami would begin their run.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson (19) alerts through the first half in opposition to the Buffalo Payments, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Orchard Park, New York.
(AP Photograph/Adrian Kraus)

The Dolphins acquired three consecutive subject objectives from Jason Sanders to chop the result in eight factors. Thompson would then discover Mike Gesicki for a 7-yard landing cross, and a two-point conversion would tie the sport up.

BILLS’ JOSH ALLEN INVOLVED IN SKIRMISH WITH DOLPHINS’ CHRISTIAN WILKINS IN PLAYOFF GAME

Gesicki would end with two catches for 15 yards.

Buffalo would reply with one other Bass subject aim and took a three-point lead into the half.

The Dolphins briefly took the lead within the third quarter due to an Allen fumble. The quarterback misplaced the ball and defensive lineman Zach Sieler was on it. He scooped the soccer up and returned it for a landing, giving the Dolphins a four-point lead. That may be the final time they’d it.

Allen would discover Cole Beasley for a 6-yard landing cross to regain the lead. Then he would throw a dart to Davis on a 23-yard landing to get some cushion.

Dolphins operating again Jeff Wilson Jr. ran the ball into the tip zone for a landing to chop the result in three factors. However Thompson couldn’t get Miami to inside field-goal vary to tie the sport up on Miami’s subsequent drive.

The Dolphins would flip the ball over on downs.

Buffalo Payments huge receiver Cole Beasley is congratulated by quarterback Josh Allen after his landing catch through the second half in opposition to the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, in Orchard Park, New York.
(AP Photograph/Joshua Bessex)

Buffalo is again within the divisional spherical of the NFL playoffs for the third consecutive season.

Miami continues to be and not using a playoff win for the reason that 2000 season.