Indianapolis @ Miami
1 2 3 4 FINAL
INDIANAPOLIS 0 17 0 0 17
MIAMI 7 14 24 21 66
MIAMI – During
his midweek press conference, head coach Joe Philbin said he was finally ready to take the “training wheels” off of his Miami Dolphins (9-6, 3-2 AFC East)
offense and to let his defense loose against the Indianapolis Colts (8-7) in
the upcoming must-win game. When the dust settled on the rain-soaked SunLife
Stadium turf, the Miami Dolphins jumped emphatically back into the playoff
discussion by a score of 66-17.
“I don’t
know what to say,” Thomas Rawls said. “That’s a crazy video game score. I even
thought about not scoring that late one, but coach preached all week to put it
on them, so I couldn’t slow down.”
Rawls
finished with 215 yards rushing on the day with two touchdowns, including the
78-yard run with 3:00 to go in the 4th.
Quarterback
Ryan Fitzpatrick, without the afore-mentioned training wheels, threw for 220
yards on 18-23 passing with three touchdowns.
“It felt
great to break that 10 pass attempt mark,” Fitzpatrick said. “It was a great
gameplan for sure, but the credit goes to our defense.”
With a
defensive aggressiveness similar to the blitzing style of the ’85 Bears, the
Miami defense blitzed on 70% of their snaps causing 4 fumbles (recovering 3),
scoring twice, and sacking Andrew Luck six times.
“We were all
mad about last week in San Diego honestly,” Bobby Wagner said. “We were
tentative, scared, and conservative. We made a point to go for the knock out
every play and it worked today.”
Wagner
forced two of the fumbles, picked up a sack, and spent the majority of the day
in the Colts backfield.
The Dolphins
stay home to face division-leading New England (10-5, 2-3) next week with the division title on the line.
Dallas @ Buffalo
1 2 3 4 FINAL
DALLAS 10 0 0 17 27
BUFFALO 7 6 3 3 19
BUFFALO - A 4th quarter meltdown by EJ Manuel ended the Buffalo Bills (7-8) hopes of postseason play in 2015.
Leading 16-10 early in the final period, Manuel threw two ill-timed interceptions to quickly give away the 6-point lead eventually leading to a 27-19 defeat at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys.
"I blew it," Manuel said. "Simple as that."
Runningback Todd Gurley continued his record-setting pace with 10 more receptions putting him within two catches of breaking the single season reception record held by Marvin Harrison (143).
"It's cool and all, but I'd love to be in the playoffs," Gurley said. "We are young though - we will be strong next year."
The Bills end their 2015 season next week against the Jets.
Leading 16-10 early in the final period, Manuel threw two ill-timed interceptions to quickly give away the 6-point lead eventually leading to a 27-19 defeat at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys.
"I blew it," Manuel said. "Simple as that."
Runningback Todd Gurley continued his record-setting pace with 10 more receptions putting him within two catches of breaking the single season reception record held by Marvin Harrison (143).
"It's cool and all, but I'd love to be in the playoffs," Gurley said. "We are young though - we will be strong next year."
The Bills end their 2015 season next week against the Jets.
New England @ New York
1 2 3 4 FINAL
NEW ENGLAND 3 0 7 7 17
NEW YORK 10 3 7 0 20
NEW JERSEY – The New York Jets (6-9, 3-2 AFC East), with no playoff prospects, shocked the New England Patriots (10-5, 2-3) to set up a Dolphins/Patriots AFC Championship game next week in Miami.
Xavier Rhodes flipped the game on its head with a 3rd quarter interception for a touchdown from inside his own endzone.
"I just know what this team will be capable moving forward," Rhodes said. "We showed a lot today to keep them (New England) from winning the division."
Todd Bowles relied heavily on his offensive line and their running game to neutralize the lethal Patriots attack.
"That was the plan (running the football) all week," Bowles said. "Marshall (Yanda), Travis (Frederick), and Zack (Martin) controlled the middle and David (Johnson) had a great game."
The Jets are set to travel to Buffalo for the last game of their 2015 campaign to take on the Bills (7-8, 3-2).
Xavier Rhodes flipped the game on its head with a 3rd quarter interception for a touchdown from inside his own endzone.
"I just know what this team will be capable moving forward," Rhodes said. "We showed a lot today to keep them (New England) from winning the division."
Todd Bowles relied heavily on his offensive line and their running game to neutralize the lethal Patriots attack.
"That was the plan (running the football) all week," Bowles said. "Marshall (Yanda), Travis (Frederick), and Zack (Martin) controlled the middle and David (Johnson) had a great game."
The Jets are set to travel to Buffalo for the last game of their 2015 campaign to take on the Bills (7-8, 3-2).
