We look at the plays that defined the Buffalo Bills heart-breaker

against the Miami Dolphins"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections NewsNotesOpinionAnalysisDiscussionPodcastNFL DraftSalary CapNotesPlays that defined the 2018 Buffalo Bills: at Miami DolphinsNew Harrison Phillips Jerseys Stitched ,61commentsWe look at the plays that defined the Buffalo Bills heart-breaker against the Miami DolphinsEDTShareTweetShareSharePlays that defined the 2018 Buffalo Bills: at Miami DolphinsWith the 2018 NFL season in the books, we look back at the year and our beloved Buffalo Bills. Every week is a story, and we bring this to you through the lens of key plays that defined each game. Your Week 13 match-up:Buffalo Bills at Miami DolphinsThe Bills had just completed their first two-game win streak of the season and were looking to extend it to three. The Dolphins had lost their last two and certainly looked beatable. The Bills more than doubled Miami’s yardage (415 to 175) and won the time of possession battle by nearly six minutes. Despite the skewed statistical output, key errors cost the Bills the game. Jordan Phillips tipped pass (Q1, 2:09)After allowing the Dolphins to score a touchdown on their opening possession, the Buffalo defense became stingy. This tipped pass by Jordan Phillips helped create the second 3-and-out after the Dolphins early score. The Bills scored on the ensuing drive (see below). The narrative to this game easily could have been the defense. The Dolphins only scraped together 60 rushing yards, 115 net passing, 15 first downs and only two third-down conversions all game. Josh Allen to Zay Jones touchdown (Q2, 11:53)Instead of the defense dominating the story, it was gaffes. A bad penalty day for both teams was especially so for the Bills. This clutch play from Josh Allen to Zay Jones should have been an immediate celebration for fans. On the play before however, a penalty on Wyatt Teller negated their first touchdown. A yellow flag on this play as well was cause for alarm. Luckily it was on the Dolphins and the play stood. Isaiah McKenzie muffed punt (Q2, 3:51)In the middle of the second quarter the Dolphins finally found another first down. A penalty-plagued drive resulted in a punt from their own side of the field. Miscommunication on special teams resulted in this muffed punt by Isaiah McKenzie. Recovered by Senorise Perry, it gave Miami excellent field position, which led to their second score of the game. This and two interceptions thrown by Josh Allen gave the Dolphins enough extra opportunities to come out with the win. Matt Milano defensive pass interference (Q4 White Doug Flutie Jerseys , 10:34)Did I mention that penalties were a problem? Buffalo had 13 penalties for 120 yards, including this defensive pass interference called on Matt Milano. Despite the flags and turnovers, the Buffalo Bills had pulled ahead by three points. Milano’s flag flipped the field, leading to the Dolphins’ winning score. Josh Allen incomplete to Charles Clay (Q4, 1:05)The Bills got the ball back and continued to shoot themselves in the foot. Working their way to medium-range field goal, two sacks led to a 55-yard attempt from Stephen Hauschka. He missed (there was a couple things working against him). Despite this and all the earlier troubles, the Bills were able to put the victory literally in their hands at the end of the game. Josh Allen heaved an incredibly long pass toward Charles Clay and...well maybe I don’t need to explain every play. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kirk Cousins delivered for the Minnesota Vikings the type of performance expected from, and demanded by, his big contract.Passing for 219 yards and three touchdowns over the fourth quarter and overtime at Green Bay, Cousins guided the Vikings back from a 13-point deficit to forge a tie with the Packers despite an interception and many other mistakes by the rest of the team.Given this was his first NFC North game and first on the road against Minnesota’s primary rival, there was a statement made that afternoon at Lambeau Field.“I’ve seen Kirk do those things before, so it just solidified what type of leader he is,” offensive coordinator John DeFilippo said. “You’re never out of the game.”The Vikings (1-0-1) are fifth in the NFL in total yards, entering Sunday against winless Buffalo. Cousins Doug Flutie Jerseys 2019 , however, was quick to point out the Vikings had only seven points through three quarters at Green Bay.“We’d love to be more explosive throughout the game as opposed to more concentrated to late in the game,” Cousins said. “We want to be an offense that can strike at any time, but also be a threat from the first quarter all the way through the last.”The Bills have a long way to go to get there, having handed their quarterback job to rookie Josh Allen during their blowout loss at Baltimore in the opener. The seventh overall pick in the draft showed some progress last week, but with an unsettled offensive line and a lack of game-breaking receivers, this season figures to be a steep learning curve for Allen.“All these trials and tribulations that I’m going to go through my rookie year,” he said, “are only going to help in the long run.”Here are some other key angles to follow for the Bills-Vikings game:MAKING THE CALLThe Bills were outscored 75-9 over their first six quarters until making modest improvement in the second half last week. What changed? Well, coach Sean McDermott took over the play-calling duty from defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, his long-time friend and mentor. They will collaborate now.“We’re going to do what we feel we need to do in games, and improve,” McDermott said, “and we look in every corner to improve.”The Chargers had 284 yards White Jim Kelly Jerseys , 17 first downs and 28 points in the first half, then just 65 yards, four first downs and three points in the second half.“That’s something that we can build on this week going in, just having the confidence of knowing we can stop teams from scoring,” said Tre’Davious White, one of only three healthy cornerbacks on the roster following the retirement of Vontae Davis and injuries to Phillip Gaines and Taron Johnson.FAMILIAR FACEFrazier took the adjustment in stride. He first began coaching with McDermott in 1999 with the Philadelphia Eagles.“We owe it to our players to give us the best chance to win, whatever it may be,” Frazier said, “and so that’s how I looked at it.”Frazier, of course, was the head coach for the Vikings for three-plus seasons after serving as defensive coordinator prior to that. This will be his first return to Minnesota for a regular-season game since his firing after the 2013 season.“Just a lot of good relationships back in Minnesota, a lot of fond memories,” Frazier said.BAILEY’S DEBUTIf and when Dan Bailey makes his first field goal on Sunday, the crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium will undoubtedly roar with an undertone of sarcasm after those three wide rights by now-discarded rookie Daniel Carlson against the Packers.Kicking trouble has hounded the Vikings throughout Mike Zimmer’s reign as head coach since 2014 Jim Kelly Jerseys 2019 , so they were relieved that a player with Bailey’s accomplishment and experience was available this week .The Bills have had more stability lately with Stephen Hauschka, who ranks fourth on the NFL’s all-time field goal accuracy list . Bailey is second. Hauschka, who was in training camp with the Vikings as a rookie in 2008, is 33 for 38 on field goal tries in 19 games with the Bills and has converted all 31 extra point attempts.“We are fortunate. Hauschka is very steady and a veteran who has kicked in big games,” McDermott said. “That was part of the reason why we picked him up.”MCCOY HURTINGThe Bills ranked sixth in the league last year in rushing yards, on the strength of a second straight 1,000-yard season by LeSean McCoy, but Bills running backs have only 108 yards on 31 attempts through two games. This has been a rough season so far for McCoy. He’s been working through a rib cartilage injury this week, when he was also named in a second case of alleged abuse brought forth by a former girlfriend .Minnesota’s defense is not an ideal opponent against which to get on track.“They’re a good team. It’s a challenge. If I’m good enough, I’ll go out there and compete,” McCoy said.NOT SO SPECIALVikings special teams coordinator Mike Priefer has been under pressure for more than just the place-kicking problems. The Packers blocked Matt Wile’s punt and turned it into a touchdown last week, the most glaring mistake that wasn’t a missed field goal.“We’re going to have to clean it up,” Zimmer said.