A game against an AFC East rival desperate for a win came down to the right foot of a kicker who has been under a lot of scrutiny for his struggles this season. But Tyler Bass rose to the occasion on Sunday with a franchise record 61-yard field goal with five seconds left, giving the Buffalo Bills a 30-27 win over the Miami Dolphins at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo (7-2) trailed 10-6 at halftime, with only two field goals to show for three red zone possessions. The lead changed hands three times in the 3rd quarter, which ended with the Bills leading 20-13. In the 4th quarter, De'Von Achane tied the game with a touchdown run for the Dolphins (2-6). The Bills regained the lead on a touchdown pass from Josh Allen to Quintin Morris, but Miami answered with a Jaylen Waddle touchdown to tie the game at 27-27 with 1:38 remaining. On the ensuing possession, the Bills faced a 3rd-and-9. Josh Allen's deep pass for Keon Coleman fell incomplete, but an unnecessary roughness penalty against former Bill Jordan Poyer kept the drive alive. Buffalo managed to get down to the Miami 43-yard line, setting the stage for Bass, who missed one extra point earlier in the game and knocked one in off an upright. This time, Bass had no trouble, as his 61-yard field goal attempt had enough distance and went right down the middle to cap a dramatic win for the Bills.
Bass' game-winning field goal broke a team record previously held by Steve Christie, who made a 59-yarder in 1993. Josh Allen went 25-for-39 for 235 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in the win, Ray Davis caught a 63-yard touchdown pass, and Khalil Shakir led all Bills receivers with six receptions for 50 yards. For the Dolphins, De'Von Achane gained 121 yards from scrimmage and scored two touchdowns, and Tua Tagovailoa threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns.
Next Sunday, the Bills will head back on the road to face the Indianapolis Colts in a 1:00 PM kickoff.
Photos by the Buffalo Bills
