Pressure Point: Dolphins cling to shrinking hopes after latest loss to Bills

The detached view is the Miami Dolphins engaged the Buffalo Bills in just about the most entertaining afternoon of football one could hope to see.

Predictably, the Dolphins strung their fans along Sunday long enough to leave them gutted and heartbroken by yet another brutal defeat in the final seconds for the second week in a row.

Even after the Dolphins rallied for a tying touchdown in the final two minutes the outcome felt inevitable. The question was how would the Bills deliver the knockout punch?

Did anyone have a 61-yard field goal by struggling Bills kicker Tyler Bass on their parlay card?

Bass had not only been a sore spot for weeks, in this game he had missed one extra-point kick and banked another in off an upright.

But his long-range kick was javelin straight and true for a 30-27 Bills victory that was like a dagger to the heart for the Dolphins, who have lost six of eight.

Dolphins fall to 2-12 vs. Bills’ Josh Allen

Nobody could point to the outcome as any sort of surprise. The Bills have simply owned the Dolphins in the Josh Allen era.

The Bills’ quarterback is now 12-2 against Miami. With three touchdown passes Sunday, Allen has thrown 37 against the Fins, while they have intercepted him only eight times in those 14 games.

This one was different, though. Unlike the 13 previous encounters, when the Bills outscored them 443-248, the Dolphins went toe-to-toe with their tormentors all day.

Tua Tagovailoa was superb, completing 25 of 28 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns. They rushed for 149 yards, averaging 4.8 yards on 31 attempts. Overall, Miami had the edge in total yards 373-325 and time of possession.

They just couldn’t stop Allen, who led the Bills to three touchdowns and two field goals on Buffalo’s final five possessions.

Which left Miami buried deep in the AFC playoff pecking order.

Tua postgame: “We’re worried about the next opponent. We aren’t worried about playoffs. We’re trying to win out. #finsup pic.twitter.com/t5bwRXdBLS

— Josh Moser (@TheMozKnowz) November 3, 2024

Tyreek Hill: ‘We have to win out’

Yet, coach Mike McDaniel and the Dolphins will take heart in their improved play against their biggest nemesis.

Because, well, they still must play nine games in a season that is on life support. And also because they have plenty of company among sub-par teams.

Of the Dolphins’ eight remaining opponents (including the Jets twice), only the Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans currently have records above .500.

“We have to win out from here on out. That’s what it takes. I know all the guys are up for the task,” Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill said.

Pardon their fans if nobody is running out to wager on an upcoming Dolphins nine-game winning streak. They’ve been watching a Dolphins team this season that has a knack for finding various agonizing ways to lose.

On the final drive Sunday, safety Jordan Poyer, who played seven seasons for the Bills, got called for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Keon Coleman while breaking up a pass on third-and-long. That gave the Bills fresh downs near midfield.

Poyer’s mistake followed a neutral zone infraction on Dolphins rookie pass rusher Chop Robinson, who just a couple plays earlier recorded his first career sack.

With the Dolphins, it’s often one step forward and two steps back.

CHOP ROBINSON WITH HIS FIRST NFL SACK! pic.twitter.com/1mNHy9PLYV

— Dolphins Muse (@Dolphins_Muse) November 3, 2024

Another fumble by Mostert costly for Dolphins

Running back Raheem Mostert had his best game of the season with 56 yards rushing on 10 carries and two receptions for 32 yards. But he scuttled a promising drive to open the second half with yet another fumble, his fifth of the season (second lost).

The Bills followed the turnover with a 64-yard touchdown drive to regain the lead.

It was Mostert’s sixth fumble in his past 16 games.

“He’s got to fix that. … We can’t turn the ball over, especially to that team, and expect to win the football game,” McDaniel said.”

The Dolphins have fumbled seven times in the past three games, losing three of them.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins defense has struggled to create takeaways of their own. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey pulled off a timely one with an interception off a bobble by Coleman at the Miami 3 in the first half.

Tagovailoa then led a 93-yard touchdown drive, capped by 14-yard catch and run by De’Von Achane.

According to the CBS announcers, it was the longest touchdown drive by the Dolphins since 2018.

Tagovailoa superb since returning from concussion

Unfortunately, Ramsey’s interception was the only significant stop by the Miami defense, which was missing three starters. The Bills scored on six of their eight possessions.

Tagovailoa has revitalized the Miami offense in the two games since returning from the concussion that knocked him out of the first encounter with the Bills in Miami.

He completed four passes to Tyreek Hill for 80 yards Sunday. His best two throws of the game were to Jaylen Waddle on the Dolphins’ final touchdown drive — a pinpoint sideline pass on third-and-long and then for the tying touchdown while scrambling out of the pocket.

The composure in the pocket by Tua pic.twitter.com/0DoGT2QqJw

— Gump Cathcart (@bubbagumpino) November 3, 2024

Overall, Tua’s performance was one of the most efficient of his career. He finished with a passer rating of 124.9.

In two games since returning from injured reserve, Tagovailoa has completed 80 percent of his passes for 465 yards, three touchdown, no interceptions and a passer rating of 111.2.

All of which is uplifting for an offense that was moribund in his absence. But is there reason to believe Tua can lead the Dolphins out of a deep hole and into playoff contention with the defense headed in the opposite direction?

“We’re worried about the next opponent. We aren’t worried about playoffs,” Tagovailoa said after the game. “We’re trying to win out.”

The next opponent is the Rams in Los Angeles. Can’t afford to fall to 2-7.

“Our margin for error is zero,” defensive tackle Calais Campbell said.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.