MIAMI GARDENS ― The Miami Dolphins were massive underdogs at home to the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills entered the game with a 16-2 record in their last 18 games against Miami and seven consecutive victories.
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen had a career record of 14-2 against the Dolphins.
None of it mattered. The Dolphins stunned the Bills, 30-13, on a glorious Sunday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium, keeping their season alive.
Coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa entered the game under tremendous pressure, as general manager Chris Grier was recently let go.
Tagovailoa completed touchdown passes to Malik Washington and Jaylen Waddle.
De’Von Achane had 59-yard and 35-yard touchdown runs and rushed for 174 yards.
And Jordyn Brooks, Jack Jones, JuJu Brents, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Zach Sieler were excellent for the Dolphins defense in a remarkable performance.
Buffalo is 6-3. The Dolphins are 3-7.
Could a run to 6-7 be possible with Washington, the Saints and Jets up next?
Here are our Instant Grades for Dolphins vs. Bills
Quarterback
Tagovailoa completed a short touchdown pass to Malik Washington to cap a 92-yard drive in the first quarter.
Miami’s first drive was not as successful. The Dolphins had a false start and a timeout before they even ran a play. Then on third down, Tua was intercepted.
Later, Tagovailoa had an incredible 38-yard deep ball touchdown to Waddle for a 13-0 lead.
Tua had two interceptions but they essentially served as third-down punts.
Grade: B+
Running Back
Miami got Jaylen Wright and Achane involved early, before Ollie Gordon II played. Wright had an impressive 18-yard carry in the second quarter.
The Dolphins had received trade offers for Achane, according to national reports.
Achane was a threat on the ground and in the air, as usual, with more than 200 total yards.
Achane sealed the game with a 35-yard touchdown run.
He is Miami’s clear MVP.
Grade: A
Wide Receiver
Malik Washington caught a 9-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
Waddle caught a 38-yard touchdown for a 13-0 lead in the second quarter.
The Dolphins had received trade offers for Waddle, according to national reports.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine converted a third down in the fourth quarter.
Grade: B+
Tight End
With Darren Waller and Julian Hill out, Miami elevated Hayden Rucci and also used offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill and fullback Alec Ingold at tight end.
Grade: C-
Offensive Line
The Dolphins allowed no sacks through three quarters and were effective in the run game.
Grade: B+
Defensive Line
Benito Jones was offsides on a 4th-and-1 in Miami’s end of the field in the second quarter. Jones was later flagged for holding.
Zach Sieler had a third-down sack in the second quarter, his first of the season.
The Dolphins held Bills running back James Cook to 21 rushing yards in the first half, 53 total for the game.
Grade: B+
Linebackers/Edge
Jordyn Brooks continues to be aggressive and physical in the middle of the Miami defense. Brooks forced a fumble in the fourth quarter and finished with 12 tackles.
Bradley Chubb was penalized for holding. Later, Chubb had a sack.
Willie Gay had a sack.
Grade: B
Defensive Backs
JuJu Brents made his first start at cornerback for Miami, filling in for the injured Rasul Douglas. Miami chose Brents over Ethan Bonner and Jason Marshall, Jr.
Brents and cornerback Jack Jones made a few nice tackles in the run game. Brents had good coverage on a third-down incompletion in the second quarter. Later in the quarter, Brents recovered a fumble by Cook punched out by Jones.
Brents did so very well it should be hard to remove him as starter next week. When Brents left with a trainer, Ethan Bonner was beaten for a touchdown to make the score 16-6. Brents returned.
Minkah Fitzpatrick moved from safety to nickel corner when the Dolphins needed a third cornerback. Fitzpatrick had a deep breakup in the first quarter of a fourth-down pass by Josh Allen. Fitzpatrick also had a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter.
Later, Fitzpatrick stopped a Bills 2-point conversion.
Ifeatu Melifonwu intercepted Josh Allen in the end zone to end Buffalo’s first drive of the second half.
Grade: B+
Special Teams
Dolphins kicker Riley Patterson missed an extra point.
Jake Bailey had a punt down to the Bills’ 2-yard line.
Grade: B+
Coaching
Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver had a good plan to slow Allen and the Bills offense. Head coach and offensive play-caller Mike McDaniel had a nice balance of run-pass and has kept his team in the game mentally. This was a stunning upset.
Grade: B+
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins instant report card after stunning upset of Buffalo Bills | Schad
Reporting by Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
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