Bills Blow By Miami 31-14
24 4th quarter points reverses recent fortunes.
by Steve Saslow
at
Week 12
Dolphins  14
Bills  31
Gameday Grades
Recap
The Skinny:
The Bills reversed recent late game failures by scoring 24 fourth quarter points in a resounding 31-14 win over Miami. Fred Jackson scored two touchdowns in the final quarter as he ran his first in from the three to tie the game. Rian Lindell hit a career long 56 yard field goal to give the Bills the lead. Miami's last three possessions would end an interceptions. The Bills went for the knockout punch after the first of those picks. Ryan Fitzpatrick hit Terrell Owens for a 51 yard score to put the game away. Jackson's second touchdown run put the exclamation point on the victory. Fitzpatrick had a 31 yard touchdown run to tie the game in the 2nd quarter.

The Turning Point:
Lindell's career long 56 yard field goal was a gutsy call by Perry Fewell and hitting that kick really gave the Bills the momentum and the lead for the first time. If he missed it they may have lost the game as Miami would have had the momentum and the field position.

The Big Drive:
Miami took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched 83 yards in a whopping 16 plays taking 9:07 off the clock to a score but the Bills responded with the drive of the game. They responded with a 13 play, 75 yard drive to Jackson's first touchdown from three yards out. Fitzpatrick ran for six yards on a third and 5 play. He then ran for 8 to convert a 4th and 1 on the drive. Owens caught a 12 yard pass as well.

Stat of the Game:
24-0: The Bills outscored the Dolphins by that margin in the 4th quarter and piled it on by scoring a third fourth quarter touchdown with 1:20 to go. A total turnaround from the 4th quarter disasters the last three weeks that saw them outscored 54-0.

What You Don't See On The Stat Sheet:
They held Ricky Williams to just 36 yards rushing in the 2nd half after he ran for 79 yards in the first half.

Quick Slants:
- Miami got too cute on their first possession when they ran the ball down the Bills throat then had Ricky Williams throw it out of the wildcat on first and goal from the 3. He was picked off by Chris Draft ending a drive that was headed for the end zone.
- Penalties continue to hurt the Bills especially ones at the line of scrimmage. Two holding penalties short circuited the Bills promising drive after Draft's interception. It ended with a missed 44 yard field goal by Lindell.
- Marshawn Lynch didn't see the field in the first quarter as Fred Jackson got the start. He went in for the first possession of the 2nd qtr. Jackson played almost the entire second half as Fewell decided to make the move to Jackson as the starter during the week.
- The Bills had three fourth quarter interceptions including one by Corey Mace who was activated from the practice squad on Saturday and playing in garbage time.

My Take:
The team had definitely taken a more aggressive style under Perry Fewell. The interesting thing is the offense has become more aggressive. Part of that is Fewell taking the training wheels off and part is the gun slinger attitude of Fitzpatrick. He audibled into the TD pass to Owens out of another pass play that was called. It showed the Bills weren't going to go into a shell. Fewell called it gut instinct in allowing Lindell to try the long kick but his instincts are obviously better than his predecessor. With the game over, he failed to call off the dogs as they ran the ball down their throat to a statement touchdown by Jackson.

What's Ahead:
The Bills head to Toronto for their annual regular season game north of the border. The opponent is a division rival for the second straight year as the Jets come to Canada in a battle of teams coming off of big wins.

Gameballs

  • Rian Lindell - He nailed that 56 yarder after missing a kick earlier. That gave the Bills the momentum to put the game away.
  • Ryan Fitzpatrick - He had a solid game using his feet and his arm along with his wits. He had a 31 yard touchdown run on his way to 50 yards rushing. He added 246 passing and a touchdown through the air.
  • Drayton Florence - His knock away of a bomb to Ted Ginn Jr. may be lost in a fourth quarter of big plays but it was huge. He followed it up with the first of the fourth quarter interception parade.
  • Fred Jackson - He had 73 yards rushing and 43 receiving and was able to score two touchdowns in the red zone.
  • Brian Moorman - His fourth quarter punt that went out of bounds at the 2 put the Bills in position to put the game away.
  • Terrell Owens - He led the way with five catches for 96 yards including a 51 yard touchdown reception.
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    Goats
  • Kendall Simmons - He had two penalties and allowed a sack. Tough situation since he's only been with the team for six days.
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    Player Of The Week
  • Fred Jackson - It's about time he was made the starter.


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