Buffalo Bills overwhelm Dolphins for fifth consecutive win over Miami
By newsnyork
For so much of Josh Allen's career, he has been the main supplier of Bills rushing touchdowns. That wasn't the case on Thursday night in a statement AFC East win.
As Allen dealt with an injury to his left hand suffered on a touchdown run -- or leap, more specifically -- in Week 1, Cook had a career night. His three touchdowns helped the Bills to a decisive victory over the Dolphins. In one game, Cook matched his rushing touchdown total from both last season and the season prior (two in each).
Cook's first touchdown came on the first drive of the game -- following the first of two interceptions by Ingram -- on a 17-yard touchdown pass by Allen. The second was a 1-yard rushing score in the second quarter and the third came on Buffalo's very next offensive play. Cook darted 49 yards untouched into the end zone to put the Bills up 24-7. Since ESPN began tracking yards before contact in 2006, Cook is the seventh player with an untouched rushing touchdown of 49 yards or more.
The team finished with 108 yards on the ground, with Cook accounting for most with 11 attempts for 78 yards and one reception.
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady continues to put an emphasis on running the ball, while Allen finished the game completing 13 of 19 passes for 139 yards and one touchdown.
It's a new cast of characters around Allen in the wide receivers room, but this offense has shown early that it can put up points and take advantage of opportunities.
Most surprising performance: The Bills have found success with defensive backups in the past, but Ingram has made an absolute statement through the first two games. Coach Sean McDermott said Ingram would have been a healthy scratch in Week 1 if defensive end Dawuane Smoot wasn't injured, but instead Ingram played in the dime package after nickel corner Taron Johnson injured his forearm and Cam Lewis shifted to nickel and defended the game-ending play. Against the Dolphins, Ingram -- an undrafted free agent from the University of Buffalo in 2022 who spent the previous two seasons on the practice squad -- put on a show with two interceptions, including a pick-six. Even when Johnson returns, Ingram should be given even more opportunities.
Pivotal play: Up 10-7, on third-and-12 from the Miami 34-yard line, Allen waited in the pocket, then ran out to his right and uncorked a 33-yard throw across his body to running back Ty Johnson. The impressive throw set up a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Cook on the next play, giving the Bills a double-digit lead they never reliquinished.
Describe the game in two words: Statement maker. If there was any doubt the AFC East still runs through Buffalo, New York, it was eliminated with this decisive win on the road. The Bills are 20-5 vs. the division since 2020 and, Allen's record vs. the Dolphins is 12-2. Thursday also marked the Bills' fifth-straight win, including in the postseason, over Miami.
Promising trend: The defense limited big plays. Tagovailoa went 0-of-4 on passes 15 yards downfield and 2-of-8 on throws 10 yards downfield. In Week 1, Cardinals