The Buffalo Bills handily controlled the Miami Dolphins in their most convincing win of the 2019 season. It wasn’t all perfect, and there may have been a touch of skepticism at times throughout the game, but the Bills move to 7-3. Here are my five takeaways from the game:
Devin Singletary featured early
It wasn’t milking the clock at the end of the game. Ten carries in the first half for 61 yards eclipsed his total number of carries from all of last week (8). He finished with just 15 carries, largely due to his two fumbles in the game, but 75 yards means he was again at five yards per carry. Both fumbles were recovered by the Bills, but that could put the rookie back in the doghouse. He added one fourth-quarter catch for four yards.
Brian Daboll should stay in the box
For the first time all season, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll called the plays from the coaches’ box. He had been on the sideline to this point. The Bills came through with their best offensive performance of the year in terms of yardage, yards per play, and points. It probably didn’t have anything to do with his shave, but that mustache was pretty cool, too.
Sacks on the beach
Each Bills defensive tackle had a sack; Star Lotulelei, Ed Oliver, Corey Liguet, and Jordan Phillips all brought down Ryan Fitzpatrick. Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds combined for one. Shaq Lawson added a fourth-quarter takedown, too, along with Jerry Hughes. Seven in all for Buffalo as their pass rush finally got home to bring down the QB. Phillips has seven on the year now, inflating his free-agent value this offseason.
Holy hell, kickoff coverage
The Miami Dolphins had their way with the Bills on the kickoff team. Miami recovered an onside kick, ran back a kickoff return for a 101-yard touchdown, and allowed another 49-yard return to Jakeem Grant. Danny Crossman is the Dolphins’ special teams coach and Heath Farwell hasn’t done much to show why he replaced the former Bills special teams coach.
Most complete game of the year
For the first time this season, the Bills put together a complete team win. The offense nearly doubled their season average. The defense held the Dolphins to 13 points. Josh Allen was efficient through the air and on the ground and John Brown had a career performance. The running game clicked. Buffalo protected the ball. The defense forced turnovers. This is the game so many fans were waiting for so we need to appreciate it when we get it.