The Runner Sports
Home / Cities / Miami / Dolphins Embarrassed In Home Opener

Dolphins Embarrassed In Home Opener

There was no shortage of warning signs that the Miami Dolphins were in big trouble for their home opener against an angry and physical Buffalo Bills team in week 3.

But nothing could prepare onlookers for just how listless Miami would perform Sunday, as the Dolphins put forth their worst effort yet in a 41-14 drubbing at the hands of their AFC East rival.

The slow starts that plagued Miami in its first two games only got worse. By halftime, this one was over at 27-0. It’s another loss that leaves Miami, and its embattled coach Joe Philbin, 1-2 and searching for answers after a promising summer of preparation.

Rex Ryan’s Bills, meanwhile, have quickly erased their week 2 loss to New England. They move to 2-1 and face the New York Giants next week.

Buffalo’s defense intercepted Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill three times, while their offense, led by Tyrod Taylor, gashed the hosts for 270 yards … and that was just the first half.

Taylor and the Buffalo offense faced little resistance, run or pass, as the Bills opened gaping holes for 145 yards, while torching the Miami secondary through the air. For the second week in a row, starting cornerback Brice McCain was targeted often, and Miami paid the price.

Given a chance to start in his fifth season, Taylor continued to flash. He finished 21 of 29 for 277 yards and three touchdowns. This, against a Miami defense that registered no sacks and no turnovers.

That’s one sack on the season for the Dolphins, which came on the first drive of week 1 by rookie Jordan Phillips.

Any notion Miami had of a comeback after its best drive made it 27-8 to start the second half was squashed when Buffalo answered right back. Taylor hit Chris Hogan on a deep streak from 40 yards when over-to-top safety help Walt Aikens failed to arrive. Buffalo made it 34-8, and the air went out of Sun Life Stadium.

Using play action, Tannehill had earlier hit Rishard Matthews on play action crossing route for a 21-yard score. Matthews was a lone bright spot for the hosts, finishing with six catches for 113 yards and both Miami touchdowns.

Taylor put tight end Charles Clay to work on Buffalo’s first possession of the game. The former Dolphin caught three passes on the march, including wiggling for a 25-yard catch-and-run and the game’s first score that left multiple Dolphins grasping at air.

Another three-and-out by Miami followed and Buffalo went right back to work for a 14-0 lead. Wideout Sammy Watkins got behind McCain for a 41-yard streak. A few plays later, Taylor hit a wide-open LeSean McCoy on a 10-yard slant, where both Miami corner Brent Grimes and safety Reshad Jones went outside with a criss-crossing Watkins.

Linebacker Preston Brown had two of Buffalo’s interceptions, the first halting a string of 161 passes by Tannehill without one. Brown’s second theft came after heavy pressure had Tannehill reeling off-balance and was brought back 43 yards for a knockout score to make it 24-0.

Buffalo tailback Karlos Williams shared the running load with McCoy and the rookie made a hard case for increased work load going forward. His 41-yard romp late in the fourth finished the scoring and capsulized the day, with Miami’s front seven offering little resistance, and defensive backs taking bad angles.

Williams finished with 110 yards on 12 carries. Clay caught five passes for 82 yards and a score, while Percy Harvin caught seven for 66.

Miami now has to try to regroup under trying circumstances, as the team loses a true home game and flies to London on Thursday for a Sunday meeting with the New York Jets.

Author: Jeff Clyburn