Bills Beat Dolphins 19-14 Behind Spiller, Strong Special Teams
Last night on Thursday Night Football, the Bills upended the Dolphins 19-14 behind strong special teams—including four Rian Lindell field goals—and a big game in terms of total yardage from running back CJ Spiller. Here’s a quick recap of last night’s action:
Leodis McKelvin returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown and Rian Lindell kicked four field goals as host Buffalo ended its three-game losing streak. After Miami (4-6) went three-and-out on the game’s opening drive, McKelvin fielded a punt by Brandon Fields and raced untouched down the left sideline for a 7-0 lead. It was the second punt return for a score this season by McKelvin, who had an 88-yard TD return in Week 2 against Kansas City. Lindell added kicks from 32, 34, 42 and 19 yards for the Bills (4-6), who had lost 11 consecutive prime-time games. Following Lindell’s 32-yarder with 5:07 remaining in the first quarter that made it 10-0, Marcus Thigpen returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for Miami’s first touchdown. Thigpen, who scored on a punt return in the season opener against Houston, became the first player in franchise history to run back both a punt and kickoff for TDs in the same season. The Dolphins got within 19-14 with 8:42 left in the fourth as Ryan Tannehill’s 2-yard pass to Davone Bess near the right pylon was ruled a touchdown following a challenge review after initially being called incomplete. But the rookie quarterback threw interceptions on Miami’s next two drives, including one to Bryan Scott with 41 seconds to play, to end the comeback hopes.
