Kicker Tyler Bass (R) of the Buffalo Bills shoots a field goal in the game against the Miami Dolphins at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, December 17, 2022. /CFP
The Buffalo Bills defeated the Miami Dolphins 32-29 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Saturday, to secure their 11th win of the season and the first team in the American Football Conference (AFC) to qualify for the NFL playoffs.
Saturday's game was a contest between two top quarterbacks (QBs), Josh Allen of the Bills and Tua Tagovailoa of the Dolphins. Allen's advantage is in his cannon arms that threw 25-for-40 to produce 304 yards and four touchdowns (TDs) as well as his incredible athleticism that allowed Allen to rush for 77 yards with 10 carries.
Four different players, tight ends Dawson Knox and Quintin Morris, running backs Nyheim Hines and James Cook, connected with Allen for the four receiving TDs. After Knox cut their deficit to two points (29-27) at 9:02 in the fourth quarter, Allen ran into the end zone to complete a two-point conversion to tie the score.
Quarterback Josh Allen (#17) of the Buffalo Bills passes in the game against the Miami Dolphins at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, December 17, 2022. /CFP
Tagovailoa doesn't share Allen's 1.96-meter height, 108-kilogram weight, power or his athleticism, but Tagovailoa reads the opponents' field better than most in his position and can often find the best target before throwing a deep pass to get big yards or a TD.
That's why Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill make a perfect pair. Though Hill did generate many yards – but he scored a TD – thanks to the tight defense he faced, his distracted enough attention from the Bills so other teammates could receive passes more easily from Tagovailoa who threw for 234 yards and two TDs.
Meanwhile, running back Raheem Mostert made key contributions to the Dolphins' offense by rushing 17 times for 136 yards.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (#1) of the Miami Dolphins scrambles out of the pocket in the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, December 17, 2022. /CFP
It began to snow much more heavily when the Bills tied the score at 29-29. Though Tagovailoa managed to pass for three straight first downs in the following drive of the Dolphins, his control of the ball was affected by the weather, especially when the Bills' defensive team began to press the pocket harder.
The Bills were on the offensive side again when there were nearly six minutes left in the fourth quarter. It took them 15 plays to drive 86 yards to the good distance for a field goal and the Bills made good use of every second on the field. When kicker Tyler Bass stood in front of the ball at 25 yards, there was no time left for the Dolphins to do anything in regular time.
Bass made his shot for the Bills to secure the key victory at home.
Other games on Saturday (away teams come first):
Quarterback Kirk Cousins (#8) of the Minnesota Vikings passes in the game against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, December 17, 2022. /CFP
Indianapolis Colts 36-39 Minnesota Vikings
Fans at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday, witnessed the biggest comeback win in regular season history. The Vikings presented every way one could imagine to turn the ball over in the first half and trailed 33-0.
However, the situation took a dramatic turn from the third quarter. Having scored seven plays – four field goals and three TDs – in the first two periods, the Colts saw their offensive momentum stop at a 52-yard shot made by kicker Chase McLaughlin. By contrast, the Vikings’ QB Kirk Cousins woke up in the second half and began to run offense like a three-time Pro-Bowler. He threw four TDs in the two periods and then connected with tight end T.J. Hockenson for a two-point conversion to tie the score 36-36 before the game entered overtime (OT).
Both sides completed eight plays but scored nothing in their first drive during the OT. The Vikings used six plays to move 60 yards forward for kicker Greg Joseph to make a 40-yard field goal, granting the home team thew historic win.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns passes in the game agaisnt the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, December 17, 2022. /CFP
Baltimore Ravens 3-13 Cleveland Browns
The Ravens' star QB Lamar Jackson continued to sit out Saturday's game at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, due to knee injury. His substitution Tyler Huntley passed 17-for-30 for 138 yards, no TD and an interception. The team's only scoring play was a 53-yard field goal by kicker Justin Tucker.
In his third game for the Browns this season, QB Deshaun Watson completed 18 of his 28 passes to produce 161 passing yards and one TD in the third quarter after connecting with wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones in front of the end zone.