Ajay's epic performance pushes Dolphins past Bills
The Sports Xchange
Oct 23, 2016
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Jay Ajayi became the fourth player in NFL history to rush for more than 200 yards in consecutive games, leading the Miami Dolphins to a 28-25 upset win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami (3-4) won its second straight game. Buffalo (4-3) had its four-game win streak snapped.
Ajayi, a second-year running back from Boise State, ran 29 times for 214 yards and one touchdown.
The previous week, he ran for 204 yards and two touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before that game, Ajayi, a former fifth-round pick who started the season as a backup, had never rushed for 100 yards in an NFL game.
Ajayi joined O.J. Simpson (1973 and 1976), Earl Campbell (1980) and Ricky Williams (2002) as the only players to have consecutive 200-yard games.
Williams also has the Dolphins' two best single-game rushing performances, going for the franchise record of 228 yards in 2002. Williams' 216-yard effort, also in 2002, ranks second in Dolphins history. Ajayi's total ranks third.
The Bills were led by quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who threw a touchdown pass and also ran for a score. But Bills running back LeSean McCoy re-injured his hamstring and was held to 11 yards on eight carries.
Miami took the opening kickoff and put together a 15-play, 64-yard drive that ate up 7:32 on the clock, resulting in a 36-yard field goal by Andrew Franks.
Buffalo tied the score 3-3 on a 29-yard Dan Carpenter field goal. The Bills drove just 20 yards after a 30-yard punt return by Brandon Tate, who took advantage of a line-drive kick by Matt Darr.
The Bills went ahead 10-3 on a 10-yard run by Taylor. The Bills had another short field -- this time it was 40 yards after Darr had his punt blocked by Lerentee McCray. It was Buffalo's first punt block since 2014.
Miami closed the first-half scoring with a 33-yard field goal by Franks. Miami drove 58 yards in 12 plays but again failed to get a touchdown.
Buffalo took a 17-6 lead in the third quarter on a one-play, 67-yard "drive." Taylor took a hit in the pocket but still threw a perfect deep ball to Marquise Goodwin, a former sprinter and a 2012 USA Olympian in the long jump.
Miami responded with its third long drive of the game -- and its first touchdown. Ajayi capped a 10-play, 75-yard march with a 4-yard TD run. Ryan Tannehill's two-point conversion pass to Jarvis Landry was good, cutting Buffalo's lead to 17-14.
Dolphins running back Damien Williams, who came in while Ajayi was suffering from cramps, scored on a 12-yard run to put Miami up 21-17 in the fourth quarter. The Dolphins added a 66-yard TD pass from Tannehill to Kenny Stills to go up 28-17 with 2:24 remaining in the game.
Buffalo's Reggie Bush -- a former Dolphins running back -- scored on a 1-yard touchdown with 14 seconds left. Bush then caught a two-point-conversion pass from Taylor to provide for the final margin.
NOTES: Miami was without its top two TEs due to concussions: Jordan Cameron and Dion Sims. ... Dolphins CB Xavien Howard (knee) was also out. ... The Bills were without their starting WRs -- Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods, both with foot injuries. Watkins, a native Floridian from Fort Myers, may not return this year. ... The Bills were also without DT Marcell Dareus (hamstring) and OT Seantrel Henderson (back). Henderson is a former Miami Hurricanes player. ... Dolphins FS Reshad Jones, a Pro Bowl player last season, was lost for the year on Wednesday due to a shoulder injury. ... After a bye week, Miami plays host to the New York Jets on Nov. 6. ... Buffalo returns home for next Sunday's rematch with the New England Patriots. The Bills beat New England 16-0 on Oct. 2.
Oct 23, 2016
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Jay Ajayi became the fourth player in NFL history to rush for more than 200 yards in consecutive games, leading the Miami Dolphins to a 28-25 upset win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami (3-4) won its second straight game. Buffalo (4-3) had its four-game win streak snapped.
Ajayi, a second-year running back from Boise State, ran 29 times for 214 yards and one touchdown.
The previous week, he ran for 204 yards and two touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before that game, Ajayi, a former fifth-round pick who started the season as a backup, had never rushed for 100 yards in an NFL game.
Ajayi joined O.J. Simpson (1973 and 1976), Earl Campbell (1980) and Ricky Williams (2002) as the only players to have consecutive 200-yard games.
Williams also has the Dolphins' two best single-game rushing performances, going for the franchise record of 228 yards in 2002. Williams' 216-yard effort, also in 2002, ranks second in Dolphins history. Ajayi's total ranks third.
The Bills were led by quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who threw a touchdown pass and also ran for a score. But Bills running back LeSean McCoy re-injured his hamstring and was held to 11 yards on eight carries.
Miami took the opening kickoff and put together a 15-play, 64-yard drive that ate up 7:32 on the clock, resulting in a 36-yard field goal by Andrew Franks.
Buffalo tied the score 3-3 on a 29-yard Dan Carpenter field goal. The Bills drove just 20 yards after a 30-yard punt return by Brandon Tate, who took advantage of a line-drive kick by Matt Darr.
The Bills went ahead 10-3 on a 10-yard run by Taylor. The Bills had another short field -- this time it was 40 yards after Darr had his punt blocked by Lerentee McCray. It was Buffalo's first punt block since 2014.
Miami closed the first-half scoring with a 33-yard field goal by Franks. Miami drove 58 yards in 12 plays but again failed to get a touchdown.
Buffalo took a 17-6 lead in the third quarter on a one-play, 67-yard "drive." Taylor took a hit in the pocket but still threw a perfect deep ball to Marquise Goodwin, a former sprinter and a 2012 USA Olympian in the long jump.
Miami responded with its third long drive of the game -- and its first touchdown. Ajayi capped a 10-play, 75-yard march with a 4-yard TD run. Ryan Tannehill's two-point conversion pass to Jarvis Landry was good, cutting Buffalo's lead to 17-14.
Dolphins running back Damien Williams, who came in while Ajayi was suffering from cramps, scored on a 12-yard run to put Miami up 21-17 in the fourth quarter. The Dolphins added a 66-yard TD pass from Tannehill to Kenny Stills to go up 28-17 with 2:24 remaining in the game.
Buffalo's Reggie Bush -- a former Dolphins running back -- scored on a 1-yard touchdown with 14 seconds left. Bush then caught a two-point-conversion pass from Taylor to provide for the final margin.
NOTES: Miami was without its top two TEs due to concussions: Jordan Cameron and Dion Sims. ... Dolphins CB Xavien Howard (knee) was also out. ... The Bills were without their starting WRs -- Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods, both with foot injuries. Watkins, a native Floridian from Fort Myers, may not return this year. ... The Bills were also without DT Marcell Dareus (hamstring) and OT Seantrel Henderson (back). Henderson is a former Miami Hurricanes player. ... Dolphins FS Reshad Jones, a Pro Bowl player last season, was lost for the year on Wednesday due to a shoulder injury. ... After a bye week, Miami plays host to the New York Jets on Nov. 6. ... Buffalo returns home for next Sunday's rematch with the New England Patriots. The Bills beat New England 16-0 on Oct. 2.
