Nightmare Scenario

By Mike Rifkin

There was a lot of pressure on the Miami Dolphins Thursday night to change the narrative and finally beat their division rival Buffalo Bills. Instead Thursday was a worst case scenario for the Dolphins. They got beat by the Bills 31-10 and on top of that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa got hurt in the third quarter with a concussion. The game becomes secondary, because everyone hopes Tua is okay, but after what occurred during the 2022 season, one has to wonder if we have seen the last of Tua? 

The biggest story was the Bills defense. They forced three Tua interceptions including a pick six. The Bills defense also didn’t allow Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to beat them, the two combined for seven catches for 65 yards. 

Offensively the Bills got three touchdowns from James Cook (two rush, one receiving) and 95 total yards. Josh Allen was only 13-19 for 139 yards and a touchdown, but that was enough. But if you read my pregame for this game, I said the Dolphins defense had to watch out for Allen’s legs, and Allen made quite a few plays with his legs, not by running the ball but by extending plays that lengthened Bills’ drives. The Dolphins’ defense couldn’t lay a hand on Allen. 

For the Bills they have won 11 of the last 12 over the Dolphins and remain the favorite in the AFC East. But the biggest story is what happens next with Tua. I think it’s safe to say he’ll miss next week’s game in Seattle, but who knows what the future holds. But the Dolphins are going to look at getting help at the quarterback position. The Dolphins go to Seattle and the Bills will host the Jaguars on Monday night.