2015 Season - Week #9

Miami @ Buffalo

                                    1         2         3         4         FINAL

MIAMI                      0         14       7         0         21

BUFFALO                 14       7         0         7         28

BUFFALO – It is not common for a team to dominate all three phases of an NFL game and find themselves eking out a 1-score win. But that is exactly the position the Buffalo Bills (4-4, 1-2 AFC East) were in as the final whistle sounded during their narrow 28-21 victory over their bitter rivals from Miami (3-5, 2-2).

After a hot start, the Aaron Rodgers led air attack looked unstoppable leading 21-0 in the second quarter.

Rodgers then threw a costly pick-six to Kyle Fuller.

On the ensuing possession, with time running down in the half, Rodgers was then strip-sacked leading to a 32-yard scoop and score by defensive end Leonard Williams.

“That really escalated quickly there before halftime,” Rodgers said. “I even tried to give them another shot earlier in the quarter (an interception in the end zone by Bobby Wagner that was returned 70-yards), but luckily our defense held them to zero points after that one.”

The giving was not over for the Bills after halftime when Tyler Lockett fumbled the ball after a vicious hit from Earl Thomas leading to Fuller’s second touchdown return on the day.

“They were the better team today overall,” Fuller said. “I do think we started to work after that rough start, but we put ourselves in a bad hole after they dominated that first quarter.”

The real story of the day was the dominating Bills defense that absolutely mauled Ryan Fitzpatrick and friends on the day. Midway through the third quarter the Dolphins had yet to crack the century mark for yards on offense.

Down seven, the Dolphins had two chances within the 3-minute mark to put points on the board. But with a 4^th-and-8 from midfield and Fitzpatrick having to sit a play out after taking a hit from Geno Atkins, backup and much-maligned quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo took the field for one snap; a telegraphed interception that all but sealed the victory for Buffalo.

Garoppolo refused to speak to reporters after the game.

For the day, Rodgers finished with 282 yards and three touchdowns in addition to the three total turnovers. Despite his own fumble, Tyler Lockett put forth another impressive performance with 141 yards receiving and a pair of touchdowns.

The Bills, now looking like legitimate playoff contenders, will head to New Jersey to face the Jets in Thursday night’s primetime matchup.

The Dolphins will limp over to the city of brotherly love to take on Chip Kelly’s Eagles.

Jacksonville @ New York Jets

                                    1         2         3         4         FINAL

JACKSONVILLE    3        3         7          0         13

NEW YORK             0         3         7          7         17

NEW YORK – The New York Jets (3-5) kept their fading playoff hopes alive before their Thursday night matchup against their division rivals from Buffalo with a 17-13 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday at MetLife Stadium. 
Cam Newton played a conservative game with only 236 yards passing and a touchdown passes. The QB threw a pair of interceptions on the day, but was able to keep his team calm throughout.
"At this point it's all about getting the win," Newton said. "I don't care if it's pretty, ugly, or sweet."
Aaron Donald continued his run of solid play dominating the line of scrimmage all day for the men from Gotham. The defensive tackle out of Pittsburgh is quickly turning into one of the most disruptive defenders in the NFL.
"We have great coaches who go out there and let us play," Donald said. "I want us to go out there every night and dominate."
At 3-5, the Jets still have hopes of a playoff berth, but those dreams can be shattered if they are unable to continue the momentum on Thursday night against the Bills (4-4).