Plays that defined 2020: Week 2—Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins

What if someone told you they had the audacity to miss a Buffalo Bills game? What if you could show them one play, and one play only, to recap the whole thing? What play would you choose? Welcome to Plays that defined 2020...

Week 2: Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins

After thoroughly besting the New York Jets, the Bills looked to set the tone early against another division foe. Two wins within the division is a great way to start a season. Unlike the Jets, Miami put up a fight. Not only did they keep most of the game close, they took the lead early in the fourth quarter. Fans worried if Josh Allen’s riveting first week was a mirage were treated to an even better performance. After the late lead by the Dolphins, Allen and the offense kicked into high gear. The first inklings that the Bills had separated from the pack were beginning to appear.

Ed Oliver sack (Q1, 11:06)

The Buffalo Bills’ defense was far from elite, showing some of the cracks that would plague them most of the season. However, when your opponent has a legitimate chance at a last gasp to take the lead, the stops that do happen matter. Buffalo had three sacks on the day, all of which contributed to an ended drive. This zero-yard loss courtesy of Ed Oliver embodies the “just enough” defense the Bills brought to this game and others.

Stefon Diggs touchdown (Q2, 11:46)

Stefon Diggs marked his first touchdown in a Bills uniform. You might notice I used an All-22 angle to show this. Most fans were unable to see this play live due to an interruption in the broadcast. That interruption carries over to the broadcast footage so here we are. This game had first touchdowns galore with Gabriel Davis and Reggie Gilliam catching their first for the Bills as well. Gilliam’s came on his first target as well, which is a heck of a start. I went with the Diggs touchdown as the new superstar went off for 153 yards and likely led to some sleepless nights for defensive coordinators hitting the game film to take on Buffalo.

Devin Singletary runs for 18 (Q2, 5:12)

The Bills didn’t lean on the run game much in 2020—this game included. However, an efficient day for Devin Singletary (5.6 y/a) and Zack Moss (4.6 y/a) meant the Dolphins struggled all game. This in turn made the passing game nearly unstoppable. This was the longest run from a Buffalo player all game, meaning one or two big plays don’t account for the higher-than-normal yards per carry.

John Brown touchdown (Q4, 3:17)

Despite flashes of potential, Josh Allen was often criticized for never being able to produce a 300-yard game in his first two seasons. He had gotten that monkey off his back the week before. Against Miami he tracked that monkey down and made it regret existing. With this pass, Josh Allen broke the 400-yard barrier with a total of 415 passing yards. This 46-yard touchdown to Brown was matched by one to Isaiah McKenzie and both took second fiddle to a 47-yarder to Diggs.

Onside kick recovery (Q4, 0:49)

With 49 seconds left on the clock and a timeout in their pocket, the Dolphins had a legitimate shot to score a touchdown for the win—and a pretty short path to a tying field goal. That is of course assuming they recovered this onside kick. Micah Hyde didn’t do a cool spin and run it in for a touchdown this time, but it’s a reminder of the old phrase: “Another year, another Micah Hyde onside kick recovery to beat a scrappy Dolphins team.”

It’s time to vote for the play that defined the game. Remember, it’s the play that best tells the overall story of this contest, not necessarily a favorite play or best highlight.

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