Bills vs. Dolphins score, takeaways: Buffalo continues dominance over Miami; Tua Tagovailoa suffers concussion

The Miami Dolphins’ woes extend beyond their 1-1 record after a tough loss to the Buffalo Bills. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion late in the third quarter during a running play, contributing to a 31-10 defeat on Thursday night.

The Bills, now 12-1 in their last 13 matchups with Miami, saw solid play from Josh Allen, who completed 13 of 19 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown, improving his record to 7-0 in Thursday night games. However, the real standout was running back James Cook, who notched three touchdowns in the first half alone. Cook’s performance marked the first time a Bills running back achieved such a feat since Thurman Thomas did it in 1992. Cook finished with 78 rushing yards and added 17 receiving yards to his tally.

Tagovailoa (17 of 25, 145 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT) struggled from the start, throwing two interceptions on the Dolphins' first three drives and a devastating pick-six in the second half.

Buffalo capitalized on Miami’s mistakes, scoring 10 points off the Dolphins' turnovers and another seven after a failed fourth-down conversion late in the second quarter.

While the Dolphins managed to overcome a similar situation in Week 1 against the Jaguars, where they rallied from a double-digit deficit to win 20-17, they couldn't pull off another comeback against their AFC East rivals.

Here are some key takeaways from Buffalo’s commanding victory in Miami.

Why the Bills Dominated

Buffalo's ability to play mistake-free football was key to sealing the game early, putting the Dolphins on their heels in the first half. Josh Allen’s mobility was once again a difference-maker, as he extended plays and connected with receivers on the run, especially on crucial third downs. His dual-threat capability set up key moments, including James Cook’s first touchdown – a 17-yard catch and run – and Allen's own one-yard rushing score.

James Cook added his own explosive moment with a 49-yard touchdown run, cutting through the middle and sprinting downfield after making a sharp move to the right.

This big play was made possible by defensive tackle Ed Oliver’s clutch sack of Tua Tagovailoa, which resulted in a turnover on downs. The Bills excelled at complementary football, with strong contributions on both offense and defense leading them to victory.

Why the Dolphins Lost

The Dolphins never seemed to find their rhythm from the start. Whether it was lingering distractions from Tyreek Hill's pre-Week 1 incident with police or the mental hurdle they face against the Bills, Miami appeared off-balance throughout the game—even when the score was tied at seven.

Tua Tagovailoa’s three interceptions were costly and stemmed from avoidable mistakes. The first bounced off wide receiver Grant DuBose, the second resulted from Robbie Chosen’s apparent miscommunication on his route, and the third came under pressure, where Tagovailoa forced a pass instead of safely throwing it away. The final pick was a 31-yard interception return by Ja'Marcus Ingram for a touchdown. Ingram, who snagged his first two career interceptions on Thursday, made a significant impact early in his third NFL season.

Losing Tagovailoa to a concussion adds further uncertainty for Miami’s immediate and long-term prospects, raising concerns about the team’s stability moving forward.