Bills 30, Dolphins 27

The Miami Dolphins played well enough to win yesterday’s game in Orchard Park. But of course they didn’t and their season is probably done – definitely done in terms of any hopes for a division title and probably also out of contention for a Wildcard playoff spot. Statistically, they topped the Bills in most key categories: they registered 26 first downs to the Bills 24, they outgained the Bills 373 yards to 325 and they held the ball for just under 32 minutes compared to the Bills 28. Tua Tagovailoa played very well with only three incomplete passes in 28 attempts, 231 yards, two touchdowns and an impressive Quarterback Rating of 124.9. It felt like the Dolphins knew that this game was essentially their season and they responded accordingly. It just wasn’t quite enough.

The ups and downs of Bills pipsqueak place-kicker Tyler Bass have been well-documented this season and yesterday’s game was a perfect sample of his inconsistency over the last two seasons. While he hit two field goals from 40 and 49 yards in the first half yesterday, he missed one extra point and doinked another off the goalpost which did go in but did not inspire confidence. On the Bills second touchdown, Bass remained on the sidelines as the Bills went for the two-point conversion and got it. His unlikely game-winning kick in the dying seconds of a tie game was a moment for the ages – a 61 yard kick which probably would have been good from 70 yards. He hit it perfectly – high, long and close to dead-centre. It was in fact the longest field goal in the team’s 65 year history, breaking the previous record of 59 yards set by Canadian Steve Christie 31 years ago.

The Bills dominance over the Dolphins in recent years – they’ve won 15 of the last 17 match-ups including playoffs – is noteworthy but still doesn’t match the Dolphins streak of 20 consecutive wins over Buffalo which extended through the entire decade of the 1970s including the OJ Simpson years. These division rivals have now played 123 times and, despite the Bills recent strength, the Dolphins still hold a 62-60 advantage with one tie game in 1968. The squishing of the fish remains a highly satisfying result for Bills fans, especially those old enough to remember the 1970s. Tyler Bass has kicked the winning field goal two of the last three times that the Dolphins have come to Orchard Park – yesterday and in a snow squall in December of 2022. Based on the team’s reaction to Sean McDermott’s awarding of a game ball to Bass in the locker room after the game yesterday, it seems clear that Bass is a popular figure with his team-mates. He stuttered his way through accepting the game ball, tearing up in his gratitude. It’s hard not to pull for him. Let’s hope that his huge kick yesterday will shake his jitters away for the rest of the season.

Against my better judgment, I ended up watching a bit of CNN over the weekend. Wolf Blitzer is one of the network’s most recognizable faces, dating back to 1990. His coverage of the 1991 Gulf War made him a household name and, now 76 years old, he is still going strong. Blitzer is also known as one of the most famous fans of the Buffalo Bills. Blitzer was born in Germany but grew up in Buffalo, attending Kenmore West Senior High School and earning a history degree from SUNY at Buffalo. Blitzer posts a photo on his Twitter account before every Bills game, usually adorned in Bills gear and always holding a Bills coffee mug. For whatever reason, Blitzer has for the most part been able to avoid being included in Trump’s “Fake News CNN” attacks which have targeted Jim Acosta, Anderson Cooper, Kaitlin Collins and most other CNN anchors. The chances of the US presidential election results being known a week from now seem to be about 50/50. Blitzer and his colleagues have a busy week ahead. Let’s hope that election unfolds in an orderly manner and that chaos is avoided. I’m referring, of course, to the Ward 15 Don Valley West Toronto City Council by-election which takes place today. I’m supporting whoever has the best chance at keeping former Sun columnist Anthony Furey from winning.

The Bills head to Indianapolis next week to face the Colts who lost last night with 39 year old Joe Flacco under centre. Anthony Richardson, the fourth overall pick in last year’s draft, made headlines last week by taking himself out of the game for one play due to fatigue in a loss to the Texans. Regardless of who the Colts start at quarterback, the main concern the Bills will have is running back Jonathan Taylor who helped the Colts spank the Bills in Orchard Park 41-15 in their most recent meeting three years ago. At 4-5, the Colts still have playoff aspirations and the Bills better not be looking ahead to their huge match-up the following week with the Chiefs at home. Kansas City plays tonight on MNF at home against Tampa Bay. Go Bucs!