Payments proceed mastery of Miami in rout of Dolphins, who face uncertainty after Tua Tagovailoa’s damage

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Buffalo Payments rolled to one more victory over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday evening, utilizing three first-half landing runs by James Prepare dinner and two interceptions by Ja’Marcus Ingram to blast the Dolphins 31-10 at Onerous Rock Stadium.

The loss wasn’t Miami’s largest concern, although, as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion late within the third quarter. Tagovailoa was instantly dominated out after an evening wherein he threw three interceptions — one among which Ingram returned for a third-quarter landing. Now the Dolphins face an unsure future as they consider Tagovailoa, who has had concussion points previously.

Listed below are a very powerful issues to know from Thursday evening for each groups:

For a lot of Josh Allen’s profession, he has been the principle provider of Payments speeding touchdowns. That wasn’t the case on Thursday evening in an announcement AFC East win.

As Allen handled an damage to his left hand suffered on a landing run — or leap, extra particularly — in Week 1, Prepare dinner had a profession evening. His three touchdowns helped the Payments to a decisive victory over the Dolphins. In a single sport, Prepare dinner matched his speeding landing complete from each final season and the season prior (two in every).

Prepare dinner’s first landing got here on the primary drive of the sport — following the primary of two interceptions by Ingram — on a 17-yard landing move by Allen. The second was a 1-yard speeding rating within the second quarter and the third got here on Buffalo’s very subsequent offensive play. Prepare dinner darted 49 yards untouched into the tip zone to place the Payments up 24-7. Since ESPN started monitoring yards earlier than contact in 2006, Prepare dinner is the seventh participant with an untouched speeding landing of 49 yards or extra.

The workforce completed with 108 yards on the bottom, with Prepare dinner accounting for many with 11 makes an attempt for 78 yards and one reception.

Offensive coordinator Joe Brady continues to place an emphasis on working the ball, whereas Allen completed the sport finishing 13 of 19 passes for 139 yards and one landing.

It is a new solid of characters round Allen within the extensive receivers room, however this offense has proven early that it may possibly put up factors and benefit from alternatives.

Most shocking efficiency: The Payments have discovered success with defensive backups previously, however Ingram has made an absolute assertion by means of the primary two video games. Coach Sean McDermott stated Ingram would have been a wholesome scratch in Week 1 if defensive finish Dawuane Smoot wasn’t injured, however as a substitute Ingram performed within the dime bundle after nickel nook Taron Johnson injured his forearm and Cam Lewis shifted to nickel and defended the game-ending play. In opposition to the Dolphins, Ingram — an undrafted free agent from the College of Buffalo in 2022 who spent the earlier two seasons on the follow squad — placed on a present with two interceptions, together with a pick-six. Even when Johnson returns, Ingram must be given much more alternatives.

Pivotal play: Up 10-7, on third-and-12 from the Miami 34-yard line, Allen waited within the pocket, then ran out to his proper and uncorked a 33-yard throw throughout his physique to working again Ty Johnson. The spectacular throw arrange a 1-yard speeding landing by Prepare dinner on the subsequent play, giving the Payments a double-digit lead they by no means reliquinished.

Describe the sport in two phrases: Assertion maker. If there was any doubt the AFC East nonetheless runs by means of Buffalo, New York, it was eradicated with this decisive win on the highway. The Payments are 20-5 vs. the division since 2020 and, Allen’s file vs. the Dolphins is 12-2. Thursday additionally marked the Payments’ fifth-straight win, together with within the postseason, over Miami.

Promising development: The protection restricted massive performs. Tagovailoa went 0-of-4 on passes 15 yards downfield and 2-of-8 on throws 10 yards downfield. In Week 1, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray went 0-of-6 on passes of 10 or extra air yards. — Alaina Getzenberg

Subsequent sport: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (7:30 p.m. ET, Monday, Sept. 23)

A nightmare.

There is not any different technique to describe the Dolphins’ loss to the Payments.

Not solely did they lose for the tenth time of their previous 11 matchups with their AFC East rival, however they doubtlessly misplaced their quarterback for an undetermined period of time. Tagovailoa suffered a concussion late within the third quarter, after a success to the helmet stored him on the bottom for a number of minutes whereas gamers kneeled round him.

He was capable of stroll off the sphere and ultimately into the locker room below his personal energy. Moreover a collective gasp as Tagovailoa writhed on the bottom after the hit, Dolphins and Payments followers alike had been left surprised in an eerily quiet Onerous Rock Stadium.

Tagovailoa’s concussion historical past — two identified concussions in the course of the 2022 season — will probably imply he and the workforce shall be monitored over the subsequent 10 days with intense scrutiny. What occurs if he clears the NFL’s concussion protocol in time for Miami’s sport towards the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3? Would 10 days be sufficient for the Dolphins to really feel taking part in their franchise quarterback after one more head damage?

Maybe the Dolphins shut him down for longer, maybe a stint on injured reserve? Even longer than that? On the danger of sounding overly dramatic, nothing is off the desk because the Dolphins’ 2024 season has taken a grave flip.

Troubling development: For the second time in as many weeks, the Dolphins offense laid an egg within the first half. Tagovailoa threw his first interception of the season on Miami’s opening drive and threw his second two drives later. This might double as the largest gap within the Dolphins’ sport plan as a result of on each interceptions, Tagovailoa was concentrating on receivers he is not used to throwing to — Grant DuBose and Robbie Chosen. The one factor protecting the gang from going residence at halftime was a 78-yard efficiency from working again De’Von Achane. Miami did nearly every little thing improper that it probably may in a sport towards a workforce that it could not afford to make errors towards.

Describe the sport in two phrases: Utter catastrophe. The blowout loss was painful sufficient for the Dolphins to endure, however Tagovailoa struggling the third identified concussion of his profession doubtlessly places the rest of this season in jeopardy. Contemplating the occasions of the 2022 season, the workforce will probably be positioned below a microscope because it decides easy methods to deal with its franchise quarterback.

Prediction for subsequent week: The lone brilliant spot of Thursday’s loss was Achane’s efficiency. He assumed a featured function in Raheem Mostert’s absence, compiling 96 yards on 22 carries and Miami’s solely landing. No matter Mostert’s well being subsequent week, anticipate Achane to be closely featured in Week 3 towards the Seahawks — particularly if Tagovailoa would not play. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Subsequent sport: at Seattle Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 22)