Bills-Dolphins final score: Buffalo ekes out 23-21 road win

Dan Carpenter kicked a 31-yard field goal with 34 seconds remaining, and the Buffalo Bills did enough defensively to eke out a 23-21 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Week 7.

Carpenter's game-winning field goal was set up by a sack-strip from Mario Williams, who dislodged the ball from Ryan Tannehill (with Kyle Williams recovering) with roughly three minutes remaining in the contest. The Bills picked up a crucial first down running the football on the ensuing drive, forcing Miami to spend all three timeouts prior to Carpenter's game-winning kick.

Fred Jackson picked up that aforementioned key first down, playing through an early knee injury and making several big plays for the Bills. Those included a short touchdown run to give the Bills an early 14-0 lead; Jackson finished the day with 36 tough yards on 11 carries. His efforts, and a gritty ground performance overall (90 yards was a season low, but big yards came in key spots) helped the Bills overcome a rough game from Thad Lewis, who completed 21-of-32 passes for 202 yards with an interception.

Buffalo's defense made the key plays in this victory. Nickell Robey intercepted Tannehill on Miami's opening drive and returned it for a touchdown, giving the Bills a 7-0 lead less than two minutes in. Aaron Williams also had an interception in the first half, and Williams recorded two sacks (he's up to 10 now in seven games), including the momentum-shifting play that set up Buffalo's game-winning points.

The Bills are now 3-4, have the first division win of Doug Marrone's career in hand, and have ended a six-game road losing streak. They'll need all the momentum they can get heading into next weekend's road trip to New Orleans.