Bills Dominate Dolphins 31-21: Josh Allen and Buffalo Roll to 3-0 Start

The Buffalo Bills made it look easy against their AFC East rivals Thursday night, dismantling the Miami Dolphins 31-21 in what felt like a bigger blowout than the final score suggests. Josh Allen was surgical, the defense came up clutch when it mattered, and the Dolphins? Well, they’re now staring down an 0-3 hole that’s deeper than Lake Erie in January.

Allen was absolutely cooking in primetime, slicing through Miami’s defense like a hot knife through butter. The Bills quarterback completed passes to eight different receivers, threw three touchdown passes, and managed the game with the poise of a seasoned veteran who’s been here before, because he has.

What made Allen’s night even more impressive was his connection with the tight end room. For just the second time in his career, Allen threw multiple touchdown passes to tight ends in the same half, finding both Dalton Kincaid and Jackson Hawes for scores.

That’s the kind of versatility that makes defensive coordinators wake up in cold sweats.

The most telling stat? Allen faced just two third downs in the entire first half, a third-and-2 and a third-and-1. When your quarterback is operating with that kind of efficiency, you’re probably going to have a good night.

While Allen was dealing from the pocket, James Cook was absolutely punishing Miami’s defense on the ground. The running back finished with 108 yards rushing and a touchdown, consistently finding holes that seemed to open up like the Red Sea.

Cook’s 26-yard scamper in the first half was the longest play from scrimmage for Buffalo, showcasing the kind of explosive potential that makes this Bills offense so dangerous. When you can control the game on the ground and still have Allen throwing darts downfield, you’re operating on a different level.

The Dolphins showed flashes of brilliance, Tua Tagovailoa connected with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle for touchdowns, and they even managed to tie the game 21-21 in the fourth quarter. But in typical fashion for this struggling Miami squad, they shot themselves in the foot when it mattered most.

Zach Sieler’s roughing the kicker penalty was an absolute backbreaker. The Bills were punting, Miami’s defense had made a stop, and then, boom, a completely unnecessary 15-yard gift that led directly to a Buffalo touchdown. That’s the kind of undisciplined play that separates good teams from pretenders.

Just when it looked like Miami might actually pull off the upset, Terrel Bernard reminded everyone why the Bills are championship contenders. The linebacker read Tagovailoa’s eyes perfectly, jumped the route to Jaylen Waddle, and secured the interception that essentially ended Miami’s comeback hopes.

Tagovailoa had been relatively clean with the football all night, but when the lights got brightest, he made the kind of mistake that haunts quarterbacks. The throw was late, the read was obvious, and Bernard was there to capitalize.

With this victory, Buffalo extends their regular-season winning streak over Miami to seven games. Seven! At this point, the Dolphins might as well start planning their vacation during Bills week because they clearly have no answer for what Buffalo brings to the table.

The Bills are now 3-0 and looking every bit like the team that should run away with the AFC East. Meanwhile, Miami is 0-3, their coach is reportedly on the hot seat (though ownership claims they’ll be patient), and their season is already teetering on the brink of disaster.

This Bills team looks different. There’s a calm confidence about them, a sense that they know they belong among the elite. Allen is playing at an MVP level, the defense is making timely stops, and they’re getting contributions from unexpected places.

Thursday night wasn’t just another divisional win; it was a statement. The Bills are ready to take the next step, and if this performance is any indication, the rest of the AFC should be very, very worried.

For Miami? Well, there’s always next year. Maybe.