Marcel Louis-Jacques
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — There was little motive to imagine the Miami Dolphins would beat the Buffalo Payments at Exhausting Rock Stadium on Sunday. Contemplating the Payments had received 14 of the groups' earlier 15 matchups, you can moderately be labeled “delusional” should you had predicted a Dolphins win.
However that is precisely how Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb described the group's locker room.
Miami snapped a seven-game shedding streak towards the Payments with a convincing 30-13 victory Sunday. The win marked the third-largest upset within the NFL this season. The Dolphins have been an 8.5-point underdog coming into the sport.
A number of soccer pundits believed the Dolphins' season was over, and the group was criticized for not actively buying and selling away gamers on the deadline to build up extra draft capital. However Chubb, who was thought of a deadline goal, mentioned the group's perception in itself hasn't wavered regardless of its 3-7 begin to the season.
“It did not matter. We simply confirmed as much as work,” Chubb mentioned after Sunday's recreation. “All people had that very same mindset, and that is why I used the phrase ‘delusional' as a result of no one on the surface's going to imagine it. However all of us in there knew and got here out and confirmed it right now.
“It is simply concerning the perception, man, everyone there believing in one another, believing within the course of, believing in how we'll take the sphere, and that is what labored.”
Miami opened a 16-0 result in begin the sport, holding the Payments scoreless within the first half for the primary time since 2007. Reigning MVP Josh Allen discovered Keon Coleman for a 35-yard landing early within the fourth quarter for the Payments' first factors of the day, however the Dolphins responded with a 59-yard De'Von Achane landing that prolonged their result in three scores.
Buffalo lower its deficit to 10 factors with 3:36 remaining within the recreation, however Achane scored his second landing three performs afterward a 35-yard run to seal the win.
“They've chosen to imagine all through the entire thing, all through the entire season,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel mentioned. “They've made that call to proceed to imagine and proceed to spend money on one another. So, my perception simply in soccer and in life is that that's paid again to you.
“I feel it is fairly apparent from their play that they did not imagine their season was over — that is tough to do when everybody's speaking to you concerning the season being over.”
Miami was blown out by the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9 and parted methods with normal supervisor Chris Grier the following day. Interim GM Champ Kelly traded linebacker Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles for a third-round decide however declined to make different strikes.
McDaniel mentioned Wednesday that nothing “moved the needle” for the Dolphins on the deadline, and that the group's mind belief of himself, Kelly and senior vice chairman of soccer Brandon Shore was in settlement on the strikes the group made and did not make.
Miami had misplaced seven straight video games to Buffalo when McDaniel was employed in 2022 however snapped the shedding streak in his first matchup towards the five-time reigning AFC East champions. Nevertheless, the Dolphins hadn't overwhelmed the Payments since that recreation and misplaced 31-21 earlier this season.
Sunday's consequence marked the Dolphins' most-lopsided win over Buffalo since a 35-8 victory in 2011. It additionally marked the second time McDaniel's group has responded to certainly one of its worst video games of the season with certainly one of its finest.
Miami beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-10 in Week 8, one week after shedding to the Cleveland Browns 31-6.
“I am very completely satisfied that everybody will get to see the facet that I see,” McDaniel mentioned. “I see guys — win, lose or draw — focus and lean in and purchase in. And I feel finally you could have video games the place it comes collectively in conditions like that. So, I feel it is superior as a result of they deserve it. Not a shock to me. … We knew that if we needed to realize some respect from that group, we needed to earn it.”
Achane, who completed with 225 whole yards and two touchdowns, mentioned beating the Payments “for positive” felt completely different from some other win, whereas offensive lineman Patrick Paul mentioned the temper within the locker room after the sport was “a number of craziness” with guys “simply having enjoyable like youngsters.”
On Monday, the Dolphins will fly to Madrid, the place they will face the Washington Commanders within the NFL's first recreation in Spain. Miami then performs the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets instantly following its Week 12 bye, so every of the Dolphins' subsequent three opponents will sport a document below .500.
Chubb mentioned a win over Buffalo may assist springboard Miami towards turning round its season.
“Everyone knows what we are able to do, and we imagine that if we put our minds to it, we are able to play complementary soccer like we did,” Chubb mentioned. “The sky is the restrict, man. You recognize what I imply? It is not delusional — on the finish of the day, we all know we are able to do it.”
