The Dolphins dropped a heartbreaker Sunday night to division rival Buffalo to cap the Bills’ comeback in the AFC East. As a banged-up Dolphins roster gest ready for the postseason, here are the takeaways from the 21-14 loss:
1. Not enough consistency in the biggest games
The regular season finale for Miami was all too similar to the rest of the games this year against the NFL’s top teams. The Dolphins finished 1-5 vs. clubs with a winning record, most of which followed a common script.
For the second straight week, and the second time against Buffalo this season, the Miami offense went cold in the second half. Four straight possessions ended in punts, the most consecutive punts for the Dolphins this season. Miami didn’t have a second-half series last longer than four plays.
Then, needing 50 yards with more than 80 seconds remaining, a drive that looked promising to start ended in an interception.
“If you lose to two good teams down the stretch, you leave yourself vulnerable to say you can’t beat good teams, which will be the case until you do,” Head Coach Mike McDaniel said. “My opinion on winning football games against records that aren’t above .500, it’s irrelevant. That narrative will occur until you do things to change it.”
Fortunately, the Dolphins still have one more chance this season to re-write that script.
2. Wilkins leads dazzling defense effort
The Miami defense allowed just 14 points to one of the NFL’s most dangerous offenses, including three takeaways off quarterback Josh Allen. Miami intercepted Allen twice in the end zone and a Christian Wilkins strip-sack and recovery at the end of the third quarter put Miami in prime position to take a two-score lead in the game’s final period.
Wilkins and Zach Sieler led the charge inside, while the next-man-up mentality provided another spark off the edge. Already down Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb, Miami lost Andrew Van Ginkel early in the…
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