Josh Allen threw three touchdown passes and linebacker Terrel Bernard came up with a game-saving interception in the closing minutes as the Buffalo Bills extended their dominance over the Miami Dolphins with a 31-21 victory on Thursday Night Football.
With the Dolphins driving for a potential game-tying score late in the fourth quarter, Bernard diagnosed Tua Tagovailoa’s dropback, cut in front of Jaylen Waddle, and picked off a deflected pass at Buffalo’s 21-yard line with three minutes left. Rookie defensive tackle Deone Walker, filling in for the injured Ed Oliver, tipped the throw to set up the interception and secure Buffalo’s seventh straight win against its AFC East rival.
“Just instinct and preparation,” Bernard said. “I saw the look, trusted my keys, and Deone made the play up front that gave me a chance.”
Allen finished 22 of 28 for 213 yards, tossing three touchdowns to three different receivers. He delivered the go-ahead score with 7:17 remaining, a 15-yard strike to Khalil Shakir that capped a drive extended by a costly Miami penalty.
The key sequence came midway through the fourth quarter, with the game tied at 21. Facing fourth-and-7 near midfield, the Bills punted — but Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler was flagged for roughing punter Cameron Johnston. The 15-yard penalty flipped the field and kept the drive alive. Shakir scored five plays later to put Buffalo ahead for good.
Dalton Kincaid hauled in a 20-yard touchdown in the first half, and rookie tight end Jackson Hawes notched his first career score on a 5-yard pass, highlighting a diverse passing attack.
Allen improved to 14-2 in his career against Miami with 43 touchdown passes in those games. He also reached another milestone, becoming the fastest quarterback in NFL history to record 301 scrimmage touchdowns, doing so in his 127th outing — one game quicker than Patrick Mahomes.
James Cook powered the ground game, rushing for 108 yards on 19 carries and scoring on a 2-yard plunge in the second quarter. In the process, he became the first player in 36 games to top 100 rushing yards against Miami’s defense. Cook also extended his streak of consecutive regular-season games with a rushing touchdown to seven, tying a franchise mark shared by Cookie Gilchrist and O.J. Simpson.
For Miami, the defeat deepened a troubling start. The Dolphins fell to 0-3 for the first time since 2019, despite moving the ball efficiently. They converted 10 of 15 third downs, but costly mistakes — including penalties and the late turnover — proved decisive.
Tagovailoa finished 23 of 34 for 146 yards with two touchdown passes, connecting with Waddle and Tyreek Hill, while Ollie Gordon added a 2-yard rushing score. Yet his interception, the lone turnover of the game, loomed largest.
“I don’t regret the read,” Tagovailoa said. “Bernard made a great play. That’s football.”
Tagovailoa now has 10 interceptions in 10 career games against Buffalo. His head coach Mike McDaniel, meanwhile, faces mounting pressure. After guiding Miami to the postseason in each of his first two years, McDaniel is 8-13 since a Wild Card loss to Kansas City in 2023.
The Bills (3-0) continued their mastery at Highmark Stadium, winning their 13th consecutive regular-season home game, now just two shy of the franchise record set during the 1990-91 seasons. They’ve also taken 14 of their last 15 matchups with Miami, including the playoffs.
Dolphins: Host the AFC East rival New York Jets on Monday Night Football (Sept. 29). Bills: Continue their three-game homestand against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Sept. 28.
