Josh Allen had a few costly turnovers in the win. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images As much as it was good to see Thompson playing aggressive early, the Dolphins could ill-afford to turn the ball over cheaply but the rookie quarterback did just that on their next drive.
An interception immediately put the pressure back on the Miami defence and Cook turned on the jets to rush 12 yards for the home side’s second score of the game.
A Tyler Bass field goal then extended Buffalo’s lead out to 17 while Thompson and Miami started to get some drives together, stalling near the red zone though.
It meant the Dolphins turned to kicker Jason Sanders as three-straight field goals reduced the deficit to 17-9 heading into the final few minutes of the game.
That in itself would have been a win for Miami, who had done well to keep it a one-score game but two turnovers from Buffalo then flipped the half on its head.
The second interception from Allen proved the most costly, turned into a seven-yard touchdown for tight end Mike Gesicki and successful two-point attempt to level the game.
A late Bass field goal meant the Bills took a 20-17 lead into halftime but another turnover saw that buffer quickly evaporate once the second half got underway.
QB’s first half interception nightmare | 01:27
In this instance Miami recovered an Allen fumble deep in Buffalo territory to score and take the lead for the first time in the game, 24-20.
It was always going to be a matter of time before the Bills hit back though and once again it was a Thompson interception that put Buffalo in prime position to do just that.
Miami almost held Buffalo to a field goal but a scrambling Allen rushed for a first down on a 3rd-and-8 before finding Cole Beasley for the go-ahead score with five minutes left in the quarter.
The task became that much tougher for rookie Thompson after the Bills extended the lead to 34-24 late in the quarter, with Beasley again making a crucial play in the lead-up to the score.
Once again it was a third-down completion for Allen, connecting with Beasley for a 29-yard catch before passing deep for a 23-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Gabe Davis.
The Dolphins though were not just going to fold having taken it to the Bills for three quarters, instead responding with a touchdown of their own after a brilliant play call by McDaniel.
Miami had struggled to get Waddle involved through the air so instead McDaniel got it to the dynamic wide receiver on the reverse, pulled up just short at the one-yard line.
Running back Jeff Wilson Jr. then punched it in on the very next play to put the Dolphins within one field goal of levelling the game once more.
Jeff Wilson Jr. scored a touchdown. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images Miami then stood tall in defence to deny the Bills points after a 31-yard pass to Khalil Shakir put Buffalo in a strong position to add a field goal, if not a touchdown, to the board.
In the end though, Miami’s inexperience showed when it mattered most, with poor clock management seeing a delay of game push the Dolphins back from a manageable 4th-and-1.
Thompson was then unable to complete the pass to keep the drive going for Miami, who were plucky in defeat but left wondering what could have been as Buffalo survived a big scare.
