Buffalo 31, Dolphins 14 (Final); Miami suffers crushing defeat

[Note: The latest Dolfan Satisfaction Meter poll is up and running in a separate blogpost just above this one. Vote!] 

FINAL: Click here for my column off Miami's hope-damaging loss.

FOURTH Q: Henne suffers third INT of quarter in final seconds ..... Henne INT'd again, with 1:37 to play, this one leadfing to 7-yard Fred Jackson TD run. Dolphins lose. A crusher ..... Chad Henne hit as he threw and intercepted with 2:31 to play. Next play: 51-yard TD pass to Terrell Owens, who beat Vontae Davis ..... Bills hit a 56-yard FG and lead 17-14 with 3:35 to play! ..... Porter with another big sack. The Good Joey showed up today ..... Miami punts from own end zone and Bills have it at Dolphin 39 with 5:59 to play. Uh oh ..... Jason Taylor's hand in a huge sack, then a Joey Porter sack on next play. Defense coming up big on that one ..... The hot chocolate at The Ralph, it's above average! ..... Nate Jones with a crushing special-teams tackle for Miami. Hurt just to watch it ..... Fred Jackson 3-yard TD run and Buffs tie it 14-14 early in fourth.

THIRD Q: Third quarter ends with Buffs on Miami's 16 and threatening ..... Dolphins up 14-7 on Ricky Williams 1-yard run off direct snap in Wildcat. Ricky now over 100 yards rushing (105). Somewhat daring 4th and 1 call earlier in drive, converted by Polite. Would have been a 45-yard FG try with wind at back. Gamble paid off.

HALF: Sometimes 7-7 at the half is a great game, sometimes a boring one. This one leaning toward the latter I'd say. Henne an efficient 9-for-13, Williams with 79 yards rushing on 15 carries. Miami

SECOND Q: Ginn drops a pass. Or did that go without saying? ..... Yeremiah Bell interception brings us near the half ..... Ryan Fitzpatrick bolts right for 31-yard TD run. Oh my. Reggie Torbor seemed to have the angle for a tackle but was out-run ..... Randy Starks turning into a pocket-busting mon-stah ..... Brian Hartline 4-yard TD pass from Chad Henne and Dolphins up 7-0 early in second. Artfully lobbed into corner of end zone where only Hartline could get it. Hartline now has more TD catches this season (2), than Ginn, Bess and Camarillo combined.

FIRST Q: Scoreless first. And wondering if that TD Miami gave away will come back to haunt? ..... Buffs blow a 44-yard FG wide right, after a fairly impressive drive petered out following the Miami turnover ..... Oy! Dolphins inside Buffs' five and Ricky Williams intercepted in end zone on pass out of Wildcat. I like the Wildcat; it has served Miami well. But that sure didn't seem like the time or place for the Dolphins to find out if Ricky can throw. They did, unfortunately. And a near-certain 7-0 lead disappeared. Ricky's previous of two career pass attempts: 2000 ..... Buffs three-and-out to start game.

PREGAME: Flew into Buffalo this morning and just got to The Ralph, better late than never. Jake Grove inactive. Weather better than Jake. Gorgeous, sunny day, and mild for a near-December up here. Miami catching a break from Ma Nature.

Original post:

I'm in Buffalo as you read this, wearing way too much clothing. I would resemble the Michelin Man in silhouette, for when the temperatures dip into the 30s, I start layering to excess. I hate the cold. You could not pay me enough to live in Buffalo. OK, enough of my misery.

The Dolphins (5-5) try to get up over .500 for the first time all season against the struggling Bills (3-7). I'm on record predicting a 23-19 Miami win, but nervously. Think it'll be tough. This is hardly a sexy game from a national vantage but it's huge for Miami. A win makes playoffs seem reasonably in play; a loss makes the postseason feel like an extreme longshot.

Your thoughts on today's game welcome here before, during and afterward.

Join us for our Unofficial Semi-Live Boutique Blog starting just before kickoff.

Watch for the latest Dolfan Satisfaction Meter poll in a separate post soon after the final whistle.

Comments

[Jimbo]

go Dolphins!!

Steelers don't have much of a chance against Ravens without QB BEn Rothlisberger.

Pulling for Saints to beat Pats. Saints secondary is beat up tho. Breese & Brady should entertain a shootout.

[mike1]

I'm going for NE to help with 72 Phins preservation. This year's Phins will not win the division anyway. 72 Phins come first above anything else.

[Jimbo]

Dolphins have to win this game, they know it too. A win will give them the div record of 4-1. This magnifies next weeks game against NE. Winning both will give the Fins a 5-1 divisional record and tie breaking advantage over the Pats.

Every game left for Miami is must win. All are AFC teams and ALL are still in the playoff picture.

Ending with a 9-7 record probably won't secure a playoff spot. In retrospect tho, the way the team jump out early season losing, losing a few key starters, this season showed a lot to be happy about. Many of the younger players and players brought for backup depth have done much better than expected.

[OC Dolphin]

Greg,

I've got news for you buddy. You would look like the Michelin Man wearing nothing more than a thong. A visual, I might add, far worse than the 25 layers of clothing you are wearing now;-)

[IMAWriterRobJ]

Fins annoying habit of slow starts was partly excusable due to schedule..Chargers, Colts.
But this must not be NEXT year. Injuries are killers this year. 9-7 would be a terrific statement of Fins toughness and Mgt. resourcefulness.
Lose Gin, get Golden Tate.

[mike1]

Texans blowing a nice lead over the Colts. If Indi wins, there is no one else to stop them in the reg. season.

[mike1]

I agree with Cote. Having Ricky throw in that situation was not the right time. Ronnie he is not. They could've has P White give it a shot.

[naplesjackpatsfan]

I am stuck with the jets panthers game. Can anybody tell me how jake dellhomme keeps his job. This guy is god awful. Sanchez hurt his knee, they put on a brace, comes back in throws an int.

[rogperu]

need play on d

[Tom]

Turn out the lights the playoff dream is over.

[Jimbo]

losing to buffalo. easiest game left on the schedule. there goes any playoff hope.

[Jimbo]

this yr is done.

[mike1]

Disastrous day. Phins 72 not looking likely to last. Good chance now that 18-0 Saints meet 18-0 Colts. Texans completely blew it.

I can't watch the Miami game. But apparently, our famed pass defense is at it again.

[Tom]

OMG we suck. Buffalo? Unbelievable. I almost pulled the trigger earlier today on Dec 13 and Dec 27 tickets for the Jville and Houston games. Glad I didn't now. What a complete waste that would have been.

Why is Ted Ginn, the softest player in the NFL, still in the game?

[the shadow knows]

boys,

missed most of the game; the game was blown on the first drive on a ridiculous call to pass so close to the goal line. absurd decision and the dolphin defense reliably breaks down in the fourth quarter- anything to do with the age of the outside linebackers?

[OC Dolphin]

Never mind the push-off these glamor receivers like TO and Moss are aloud to make. Forget the phantom roughing the passer crap, or even the clipping and holding calls never made. Disregard the bonehead Henning Wildcat pass call at the 4 when you have been running it down their throats all drive long.

Bottom line: Dolphins played like they didn't need to show up. They played with little heart, if any.

Very disappointing to say the least.

[mike1]

I didn't see the game. What was the phantom roughing the passer?

Colts have no one to beat them now. Remaining schedule:
home vs Titans and Denver. At Jax. Home to Jets. Away to Bills.

This may be the year guys.

[Shark74]

Turn Out The Lights, not only a disappointing excuse for a football game, but disgusting as well. The number of upgrades we need after getting humiliated by a three win team should now be obvious to all. Parcells and Ireland have an awfull lot of work ahead of them and it doesn't end with them.
On a brighter note, this should help free up my Sundays for the rest of the season. Just wait till next year.

[Tom]

The TO push off was pretty blatant and the ref was right there to make the call. I wonder what he was thinking? But that didn't lose the game. It was our all round pathetic play on both sides of the ball. I hate to admit this but we're not a good football team. We're not even an average football team. If we play like this the remainder of the way we'll be lucky to win one more game.

[naplesjackpatsfan]

come on guys, you lost to a team whose qb played at HARVARD!!!! Fu**ing HARVARD!!!

[Tom]

hey jack we know. now please do me a favor and STFU.

[Jose]

Adios playoffs, hopefully we'll see you again next season. Someone please tell Dan Henning it's not cool to get drunk off your own Kool-Aid. Asking Ricky Williams to throw the ball on a first-and-goal from the Bills 3-yard line is not a play call any sober man would make. Last I checked, the Dolphins already have a quarterback who gets paid millions to throw the football. Heck, even bringing in Pat White would've been a better option than asking Ricky to chuck it over the goal line. Lay off the Kool-Aid for a while Mr. Henning, it's starting to cloud your judgment.

[Steve]

I wished I owned the dolphins because
head most certainly roll.

aparano isnt impressing me much even though we have had excessive injuries.

memo to front office fire the wrs and offensive coordinator and we are improved.

I seriously would cut all of the wrs

[dolphin fan in destin]

jack, are you sure the bills qb played at harvard? you have to be pulling my leg.

[naplesjackpatsfan]

Well so much for the suspense of next sundays game. To think you had an extra 3 days rest, who could of predicted this no show.
Flipper 72, you have to be suicidal!!

[OC Dolphin]

mike1,

Jason Taylor was called for unnecessary roughness (15 yards) after brushing past the qb's helmet. And I mean - brushing! In fact, the announcers thought that Jason missed him altogether. That play was huge, as it maintained a drive which culminated with that 30 TD run.

[OC Dolphin]

naples,

I wouldn't get too cocky if were in you. NE may just get embarrassed tomorrow.

[naplesjackpatsfan]

OC Dolphin- It will be a barn burner tommorow night. As far as embarrassed goes, it will not be against the likes of the bills, thats for sure. Brees is not a backup qb from HARVARD!! Until you guys get a qb, these games might happen more often then you think. Now you know why nbc backed out of next weeks game.

[Tom]

did i miss the first game of the season or did NE barely beat Buffalo on a gift at the end of the game?

your memory is flawed jack.

[david in los angeles]

his memory, AND his politics.. thanksgiving is over, and so are my nice comments.. hey jack? STFU already.. the patriots are a team in decline, and the dolphins are on the rise. it WAS a 3 yr plan, gentlemen, last year's amazing run notwithstanding. let's see what one more draft will do to erase the incompetence of the last 8 years..

[david in los angeles]

which hopefully will erase the incompetence dripping out of naples..

[the shadow knows]

david in los angeles,

incontinence dripping out of naples? couldn't resist; i like jackpatsfan.

[the bostonian]

I'm truly enjoying these Dolphins! Your team SUCKS big azz!

[the bostonian]

Hey, Tom ...

How's your wife ... heh, heh!

[the bostonian]

Hey, OC ...

You dare talk about getting embarrassed? Heh, heh!

The only downer about tomorrow is that the old 72 bitches will sigh in relief!

[the bostonian]

Where's that sad sack of crap, Flopper?

[naplesjackpatsfan]

david in los angeles- glad to see my BITCH is back in form. Let me see if I got this right, Your knowledge of football is only slightly better then politics. The dolphins are on the rise, my Pats are in decline.hahaha You truely are a pathetic nitwit. I am convinced you know nothing about sports, and are nothing but a shit stirrer!!!! Glad to see you back, the local ACORN OFFICE must be in trouble to bring out this type of anger. You moonbat liberals are suppose to be kind during thanksgiving.

[naplesjackpatsfan]

Tom- Opening day against the bills, was Bradys 1st game back. No Welker, plus, the bills were healthy. I think you would agree, the team is a little different now. You guys caught the bills with a depleted ol +dbs. Two different teams now.

[naplesjackpatsfan]

shadow- That was cute.haha

[sherlockholmes]

david in los angeles, the bostonian ????

[OC Dolphin]

No sherlock, he's not.

Mr. B has NOT been around these parts for quite some time. He's been hanging around Salguero's pad, accused by many of being - the cuban menace, TorturedDolphan, etc.

The guy is hooked into being at the center of attention more so than Obama. He will root for the Pats, as he is doing here, or the Jets, or whomever he needs to to get attention.

Ain't that right, cubie-baby?

[Roberto Campo]

Hey The Bostonian whats up with that? Where's that sad sack of crap, Flopper? The only Flopper I remember was the sound of your Patsy;s whimpering while walking off towards the sunset after the Giants kicked your asses and ended your dreams of a Perfect season. That distinction still belongs to our Old 72 Bitches as you refer to them, Bow down and kiss the hand of the rightful owners of that Title you Piece of Boston Chowder thats been left out for days. Yoou and your Pats can Hug it!! Long live the real perfect team!!

[the bostonian]

I am having an orgasm over the Dolphins collapse! Hey, didn't Flopper72 say a SB was on the way by fat ass Parcel's 3rd year? LOL!

It's funny ... on ESPN as they refer to the Colts and Saints undefeated status, they compare it to the Patriots as the ONLY 16-0 team! LOL!

Too funny!

[the shadow knows]

naplesjackpatsfan,

as stated, you are one of my favorites here on the blogsite, spitting into a hurricane force "wind" of dolphin fans. terrible, terrible loss by miami owing to an absurd call on the first drive, a 31 yards TD on a "bootleg" by the bills' QB, and the ususal disappearance of the defenders in aqua in quarter #4. methinks the saints will lose tonight barring reggie bush scoring on two punt returns; their receivers alao have a knack for dropping passes, which the patriots rarely do. enjoy "the game of the year"!!

[naplesjackpatsfan]

Shadow- I hope you are right. With the dolphins loseing yesterday, the Pats can play more wide open tonight, if that is even possible. I think the dolphins were looking ahead to next weeks game, and got lost in yesterdays 4th qtr. Henne has a long way to go. I watched the yets yesterday, you are right, sanchez is in over his head in the nfl right now. He is luckey he played against a qb who right now, is no better then him. Fox should be fired just for sticking with Delhomme this long.

[david in los angeles]

naples, your team is not as young as ours. there are 1st and 2nd year players all over our roster. it is going to take another year or 2, after the debacle of the last 8 years. we are in a rebuilding mode, genius. not unlike our country. in the next couple of years, will WILL be a better team. quit the name calling diversion tactics. just like a typical republican, when presented with facts, you hide behind lies, like the bitch YOU are, sweetie.. you are as predictable as idiots who scream for cutting taxes during a war.

[david in los angeles]

as for your previous comment, now you are going to "play more open" because of our loss? instead of pounding the ball with your 20th ranked rushing team against new orlean's 11th ranked rushing defense? yep, you are officially a moron.. everyone knows you guys throw the ball, dummy, and when people rattle that QB of yours he turns into a cry-baby. kinda like yourself when rattles with facts.. lol.. no wonder you love that team so much.. and they cheat, too.. hmmmmm.. remember the 2000 election? lol.. if there are any college students on this blog, a good thesis topic would be a comparative analysis of naples and his patriots..

[naplesjackpatsfan]

dave in los angeles- Do you know anything about sports? By more open, I meant more passing!!! Are you that STUPID!!!! As far as your young team goes, the nfl is a qb driven league, do you take your 2nd yr qb, over that OLD MAN, Tom Brady? Do you take your YOUNG receivers, led by ted ginn over old men Randy Moss, and Wes Welker? How do feel about your over the hill lbs, and over the hill dl, against the Pats ol? Why do you always have to bring up politics? What next, Me, Tom, Jimbo, OC- Dolphins, RACISTS?? Brady,Brees,Payton, when they play each other, more passing. WIDE OPEN FOOTBALL!!!! Dave, I never attack unless attacked first. Keep your juvenile comments about politics to yourself. When I tweak a liberal, I never direct it to anybody in general on the site. Its not personal.

[the shadow knows]

david in los angeles,

referring to men as "bitch" is not what i consider to be proper. you can hit notes way higher than that.

[naplesjackpatsfan]

dave in la- Another stat you may not be aware of is, the Pats run the ball about 5-7 times less then passing in some games. Its not all, pass,pass,pass.