Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins Match Player Stats (Nov 3, 2024)
The Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins match player stats tell a story that’ll make your head spin. Miami dominated nearly every statistical category on November 3, 2024, yet still walked out of Highmark Stadium with a gut-wrenching 30-27 loss. Tyler Bass drilled a 61-yarder with five seconds left, and suddenly none of those stats mattered.
Table of Contents
Game Overview: When Numbers Lie
Miami controlled the stat sheet but Buffalo controlled the scoreboard. That’s football for you.
The Dolphins rolled up 373 total yards. Had the ball for nearly 32 minutes. Converted three of four red zone trips into touchdowns. Still lost. Meanwhile, Buffalo scraped together 325 yards, went just 2-for-5 in the red zone, and somehow pulled out their seventh win.
This wasn’t just another AFC East game either. Buffalo’s win pushed them to 7-2 and basically buried Miami’s division hopes at 2-6. Six straight losses to Buffalo now. Nine straight at Orchard Park. Those numbers sting way more than any stat line.
The Weather Factor Nobody’s Talking About
Perfect conditions in Buffalo? That’s rare for November. Clear skies, minimal wind. Bass probably doesn’t make that career-long boot in typical Buffalo weather. Both quarterbacks threw with precision you rarely see this late in the season at Highmark.
Quarterback Battle: Tale of Two Halves
Josh Allen’s Rollercoaster Ride
Allen’s first half? Rough. Real rough. That red zone pick to Jalen Ramsey killed a promising drive. Buffalo settled for two field goals inside Miami’s 20. Classic case of leaving points on the board.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 25/39 |
| Completion % | 64.1% |
| Passing Yards | 235 |
| Touchdowns | 3 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Passer Rating | 95.6 |
| Sacks Taken | 1 |
| Longest Pass | 63 yards |
But here’s where Allen showed why he’s elite. Three touchdown passes after halftime. Zero picks. That 14-yard scramble on 3rd-and-12? Vintage Allen. Kept the chains moving when Buffalo desperately needed it.
Tua’s Near-Perfect Day Goes to Waste
Tagovailoa was surgical. Seriously. 25 completions on 28 attempts? That 89.3% completion rate marked a career high. No turnovers. Found eight different receivers. Did everything right except win.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 25/28 |
| Completion % | 89.3% |
| Passing Yards | 231 |
| Touchdowns | 2 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Passer Rating | 124.9 |
| Sacks Taken | 1 |
| Yards Per Attempt | 8.3 |
The difference? Protection. Buffalo’s revamped O-line, with David Edwards earning PFF’s highest grade (91.2), gave Allen time to find those second-half touchdowns. Miami’s line played well too, but couldn’t generate the same explosive plays downfield.
Ground Game: Miami’s Hidden Advantage
The Dolphins absolutely mauled Buffalo on the ground. 149 yards to 94. Nearly doubled their carries too.
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De’Von Achane | MIA | 12 | 63 | 5.3 | 1 |
| Raheem Mostert | MIA | 10 | 56 | 5.6 | 0 |
| James Cook | BUF | 10 | 44 | 4.4 | 0 |
| Ty Johnson | BUF | 3 | 23 | 7.7 | 0 |
| Ray Davis | BUF | 4 | 20 | 5.0 | 0 |
Key Moment: Mostert’s fumble in the third quarter. Guy was averaging 5.6 yards per pop, moving chains, then Taron Johnson punched it out. Momentum killer.
Achane though? Special player. 121 total yards, two touchdowns. Kid’s got that burst Miami’s been missing. Problem is, one fumble overshadowed all that production.
Receiving Corps: Big Plays vs Consistency
Ray Davis’s 63-yard catch-and-run TD? Longest by a Bills running back since C.J. Spiller in 2012. One play. Changed everything. That’s what Buffalo does. They wait, wait, wait… then boom.
| Player | Team | Receptions | Yards | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyreek Hill | MIA | 4 | 80 | 20.0 | 0 |
| Ray Davis | BUF | 2 | 70 | 35.0 | 1 |
| De’Von Achane | MIA | 8 | 58 | 7.3 | 1 |
| Jonnu Smith | MIA | 5 | 46 | 9.2 | 0 |
| Khalil Shakir | BUF | 5 | 39 | 7.8 | 0 |
Tyreek Hill’s 80 yards marked his best output since Week 1. Finally looked like the Cheetah we know. Problem? No touchdowns. Meanwhile, Buffalo spread it around to eight different guys. No Amari Cooper either. That’s depth.
The Von Miller Factor
First game back from suspension for Miller. Only played 21 snaps but his presence mattered. Miami’s O-line had to account for him every play. Opens up lanes for Greg Rousseau, who notched Buffalo’s only sack. Sometimes impact goes beyond the stat sheet.
| Player | Team | Tackles | Sacks | INT | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorian Williams | BUF | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Rousseau | BUF | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Taron Johnson | BUF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jalen Ramsey | MIA | N/A | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Chop Robinson | MIA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Williams was everywhere. 12 tackles. Filled every gap. Kid’s becoming a problem for opposing offenses.
Special Teams: From Goat to Hero
Bass missed an extra point after Mack Hollins’ touchdown. Bills fans groaned. Here we go again, right? Buffalo even brought kickers to practice during the week. Message sent.
| Kicker | Team | FG Made/Att | Longest | XP Made/Att |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Bass | BUF | 3/3 | 61 | 2/3 |
| Jason Sanders | MIA | 2/2 | 39 | 3/3 |
Then Bass steps up with ice in his veins. 61 yards. Franchise record. Steve Christie’s 31-year mark? Gone. Redemption tastes sweet.
Brandon Codrington’s 29-yard punt return set up Buffalo’s first score too. Special teams won this game. Period.
The Momentum Shifts That Decided Everything
First Quarter: Felt like a chess match. Field goals. Cautious play-calling. Both teams feeling each other out.
Second Quarter: Ramsey’s pick changed everything. Miami marched 97 yards after that. Longest scoring drive since 2018. Mike McDaniel was dialing up the perfect mix of run and pass.
Third Quarter: The fumble. Mostert coughed it up, Bills recovered. Four plays later? Allen to Hollins. Touchdown. Just like that, Buffalo led.
Fourth Quarter: Pure chaos. Seven straight scoring drives between both teams. Achane’s 8-yard TD run. Allen finding Quintin Morris with defenders draped on him. Waddle’s game-tying catch with 1:38 left.
Then came the penalties…
Coaching Decisions That Mattered
McDaniel went aggressive. Fourth-and-4 from Buffalo’s 21? Tua scrambled for exactly 4 yards. Challenged. Upheld. Gutsy call that led to Achane’s touchdown.
Sean McDermott? Ice cold. Sent Bass out for a 61-yarder without hesitation. That’s trust. That’s believing in your guy when everyone else doubts. McDermott’s 80th career win ties him with some legendary coaches. This one might’ve been his gutsiest.
Those Killer Penalties
Two flags. 20 yards. Game over.
Chop Robinson jumped offsides on 3rd-and-14. Should’ve been 4th-and-long. Instead? First down Buffalo.
Next play, Jordan Poyer drills Keon Coleman helmet-to-helmet. Another 15. Suddenly Bass is attempting from 61 instead of 70+.
Poyer playing against his former team too. That one hurt extra.
Red Zone Reality Check
| Category | Miami | Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 373 | 325 |
| Yards Per Play | 6.2 | 5.5 |
| First Downs | 26 | 24 |
| Third Down % | 50% | 50% |
| Red Zone TD % | 75% | 40% |
| Penalties | 8-57 | 4-40 |
| Time of Possession | 31:53 | 28:07 |
Buffalo’s 40% red zone efficiency nearly cost them. Left 8 points minimum on the field between Bass’s missed XP and Allen’s pick. Championship teams don’t survive playing like that usually. But Buffalo found a way.
Miami? Clinical. Three touchdowns on four red zone trips. That’s how you’re supposed to finish drives. Just couldn’t get that one last stop.
Injury Report Impact
Buffalo playing without Christian Benford forced rookie Kaiir Elam into his first start. Kid held up, even recovered that crucial fumble.
Miami’s missing pieces hurt more. Jevon Holland. Kader Kohou. Zach Sieler. That’s three defensive starters. Showed in the second half when Allen started cooking.
Playoff Picture Implications
This loss basically ended Miami’s division hopes. 2-6 with six straight losses to Buffalo? That’s a wrap. They’re fighting for a wild card at best now.
Buffalo? Sitting pretty at 7-2. Four-game cushion in the division. Already swept Miami. Path to another AFC East title looking clear. But in the AFC, home-field advantage matters. Every win counts.
Check out how this compares to other division races in the Washington Commanders vs Dallas Cowboys match player stats.
The Numbers That Actually Mattered
Forget total yards. These decided the game:
- 2 – Consecutive penalties on Miami’s defense
- 61 – Yards on Bass’s game-winner
- 89.3 – Tua’s completion percentage… in a loss
- 6 – Straight Buffalo wins over Miami
- 40% – Buffalo’s red zone TD rate (almost fatal)
- 5 – Seconds left when Bass kicked
What Nobody’s Talking About
Miami hasn’t won in Buffalo since 2016. Think about that. Eight years. Different coaches, different players, same result. There’s something psychological happening here.
Also, this marked Miami’s second straight loss on a walk-off field goal. Arizona got them the week before. That’s brutal for team morale.
Key Takeaways That Matter
- Stats don’t win games: Miami dominated time of possession, total yards, red zone efficiency. Still lost.
- Clutch trumps consistency: Allen’s three second-half TDs > Tua’s steady excellence
- Penalties at the worst time: Those 20 yards gifted to Buffalo? Season-altering.
- Special teams ain’t so special: Unless they win you games. Ask Tyler Bass.
- Division games hit different: Records, stats, logic? Throw it all out.
FAQs About Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins Match Player Stats
Q: What was the final score of the Bills vs Dolphins game?
A: Buffalo Bills 30, Miami Dolphins 27. Tyler Bass hit a 61-yard field goal with 5 seconds left for the win.
Q: How long was Tyler Bass’s game-winning field goal?
A: 61 yards. Set a new Bills franchise record, breaking Steve Christie’s 59-yarder from 1993.
Q: What was Tua Tagovailoa’s completion percentage?
A: Career-best 89.3%. Completed 25 of 28 passes. Nearly perfect… except for the final score.
Q: How many touchdown passes did Josh Allen throw?
A: Three. All in the second half after throwing a first-half interception in the red zone.
Q: Who led the game in rushing yards?
A: De’Von Achane with 63 yards plus a touchdown on 12 carries. Added 58 receiving yards and another score.
Q: What was Miami’s record after this loss?
A: Dropped to 2-6. Third straight loss. Season slipping away fast.
For more details, check the official NFL game summary or compare with other recent thrillers like the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles match player stats.
Looking at these Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins match player stats, you realize football’s beautiful cruelty. Do everything right, control the game, dominate statistically… and still lose on one swing of a kicker’s leg. That’s why we watch.
