Day 199, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Bills Game 2 Review

In reviewing Miami's 31-28 loss to Buffalo in the second game of the season, I came away encouraged by the 'Fins progress from the opener. While a Debbie Downer segment of the fanbase is already lamenting a lost season at 0-2, the Dolphins feel closer to being a factor in the AFC East than I would have thought based on reaction and game updates.

Offense

• Continuing the trend from Week 1, the offensive line held up well in pass protection, but receivers got little to no separation.
• Mike "G-Sick" Gesicki is turning into a thing. I would like to see him be more aggressive after the catch, but he has come light years in his ability to make contested grabs.
• Myles Gaskin is slowly growing on me. He's not a flashy, big-play back, but he runs hard for his size and does everything pretty well.
• Slinger Ryan Fitzpatrick looked much better than he did in the season opener, routinely side-arming strikes on crossing patterns underneath and generally keeping the Dolphins in the game. He took a lot of hits in this one, but one word keeps coming to mind: gamer.
• Isaiah Ford is fearless and runs good routes, and his emergence has been not only a pleasant surprise but a needed development considering the depleted Miami receiver corps and the struggles of Preston Williams.
• Miami began to establish the run as the second half progressed. Matt Breida likely needs more touches, but ball security can be a concern with him. Jordan Howard has emerged as the goal-line back, and his hard-running style offers a nice complement to Gaskin and Breida.

Defense

• The two biggest and most pervasive issues for the 'Fins continued to be a nonexistent pass rush and poor tackling.
• Rookie nickel Noah Igbinoghene got eviscerated by Stefon Diggs in this game. It appeared he was unfairly matched up with Diggs at times, and the results were somewhat predictable but still devastating.
• Buffalo ran a lot of pick plays, especially on underneath routes. I was (un)surprised that at least a couple weren't called.
• High-priced corner Byron Jones was hurt somewhere within the first couple of plays, immediately causing problems in the Miami secondary.
• It was discouraging and embarrassing to see Buffalo doing pretty much anything it wanted offensively.
• Josh Allen was inaccurate -- as is his trademark -- but his receivers were so open that his off-the-mark throws still resulted in first downs in seemingly every third-down situation.
• For laughs, Allen also trucked like three of our defenders on a run at one point, pouring whiskey in the wound.
• End Emmanuel Ogbah had a number of pressures and did record a sack, but Allen extended way too many plays.
• The unit seemed to settle in as the game progressed, but missed chances at sacks and turnovers haunted this game. Giving up two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a very winnable game shows how much work is yet to be done.

Special Teams

• Punter Matt Haack had a big game, uncorking a 63-yarder at one point that dramatically shifted field position. He pinned Buffalo inside the 20-yard line with three of his five punts, averaging 52.4 yards per kick.
• Jason Sanders absolutely crushed his 52-yarder just before halftime, then added a 45-yarder later, in addition to converting both extra points. Sanders is quietly becoming on of the AFC's top kickers.
• Jakeem Grant couldn't do anything with his two punt return opportunities. I hope we're getting closer to Lynn Bowden Jr. getting a shot in this area.

Momentum Plays

• After a stellar punt pinned the Bills deep early in the game, Buffalo responded with a shockingly easy 97-yard drive that served as a bit of a gut punch to the visitors.
• The game coverage was interrupted by a power outage during a key replay review of a 26-yard Preston Williams catch, with the broadcast returning with the score 14-7 (missing a TD for either side).
• After the 'Fins stopped Buffalo on 3rd-and-10 that could have been an intentional grounding by Josh Allen, a phantom holding call extended the Bills drive.
• A long field goal just before the half miraculously got the Dolphins within a touchdown at 17-10 despite the contest feeling a blowout in Beefalo's favor.
• After cutting the lead to 17-13, Miami had a first-and-goal from the Bills 1, but Williams dropped a fourth-down touchdown that would have swung the game. Gutting.
• A few plays later, Kyle Van Noy dropped into a passing line and nearly grabbed a pick on the Buffalo 10-yard line.
• Despite dominating the third quarter, Miami couldn't quite grab control of the game.
• Following an uncalled late hit on Fitzpatrick (there were a couple of these), Howard powered in to establish a 20-17 Miami lead.
• After Van Noy was exposed in pass coverage for a long first down, Ogbah missed a sack, allowing the Bills to make a miraculous catch for the go-ahead TD, 24-20.
• A dismal Miami "drive" followed, leading to an immediate punt and a controversial catch by Diggs that was somehow upheld on replay, setting up the play of the game:
• The 'Fins massively priced cornerback Xavien Howard dropped a gift interception with 3:17 left. Allen misfired on a long throw, leaving X to run under a balloon for a game-turning pick, but the ball -- and the contest -- slipped through his hands.
• Soon after, Howard coasted on Buffalo's game-clinching touchdown after Bobby McCain blew a coverage to hand the score to the Bills. Ugly look by two of the vets that Miami is counting on in the defensive backfield.