The Buffalo Bills secured a heart-stopping victory over the Miami Dolphins, as Tyler Bass drilled a 61-yard field goal as time expired, lifting Buffalo to a 30-27 win in an AFC East showdown on Sunday. Despite the swirling doubts and recent scrutiny surrounding his consistency, Bass proved his mettle when it mattered most, delivering one of the most memorable kicks of his career. Bills head coach Sean McDermott showed unwavering confidence in Bass, sending him out for the daunting attempt with just five seconds on the clock. As Bass’ kick sailed through the uprights—and even reached the first row of fans in the end zone—the Bills clinched a crucial divisional win.
The showdown between Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa proved to be a high-stakes, back-and-forth duel. Both quarterbacks rose to the occasion, trading blows in a thrilling second half that featured seven consecutive scoring drives. Allen, who threw three touchdown passes after halftime, showed remarkable poise in directing Buffalo’s offense, while Tagovailoa matched him stride for stride, orchestrating a late Dolphins comeback to tie the game with under two minutes left.
Tagovailoa, recently returning from a four-game absence due to concussion, threw a clutch 7-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle with 1:38 remaining, completing an 11-play, 81-yard drive to knot the score at 27. But the Bills weren’t finished. Taking over at their own 30, Allen engineered a determined final drive, benefiting from two costly Dolphins penalties—a Chop Robinson offside on third-and-14, followed by a helmet-to-helmet hit by former Bill Jordan Poyer on Keon Coleman. With Buffalo now positioned near midfield, Allen’s final deep throw went incomplete, but he successfully set up the game-winning attempt.
For Bass, the 61-yard kick capped a game in which he tuned out external doubts and answered the challenge to his position. His consistency in the clutch was a testament to McDermott’s faith, and the decision to go for the win solidified his place as one of Buffalo’s most reliable weapons.
Buffalo‘s victory extended their dominance over Miami, completing a season sweep and marking their ninth consecutive home win over the Dolphins. With a 7-2 record, the Bills are off to their best start since 2020, sitting four games clear of the New York Jets atop the AFC East. The Dolphins, meanwhile, dropped to 2-6, despite playing what many on the team viewed as their most complete game of the season. It marked Miami’s third consecutive loss and the second straight week they were defeated on a last-second field goal, following a 28-27 heartbreaker against Arizona the previous week.
Buffalo‘s command of the division and their sights set on a fifth straight AFC East title make them formidable contenders as they approach the season’s halfway mark. For Miami, the narrow loss underscored both the team’s progress and the lingering challenges of closing out tight games, especially with Tagovailoa working back into form after injury.
As Bass’ field goal split the uprights and the Bills erupted in celebration, one thing was clear: Buffalo had once again showcased their resilience, strengthening their lead in the AFC East and adding another chapter to their rivalry with the Dolphins.
