5 things we learned from yesterday’s game

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED: Beat writer Omar Kelly’s and Steve Svekis’ five takeaways from Sunday’s victory by the Dolphins.

SLOWING THINGS DOWN BENEFITING DOLPHINS

Miami changed its approach two weeks ago and starting huddling and taking its time on offense. This is helping coach Adam Gase’s unit to stay on the field, and keep games close. For the second consecutive week Miami had scoring drives of seven and eight minutes in the first half, which helps balance out time of possession and gets the defense some rest.

WILLIAMS MAKES IMPACT AGAINST FORMER TEAM

The Dolphins haven’t gotten much from aging defensive end Mario Williams this season, but with the game on the line Sunday he made a tackle for a loss on a Wildcat run, and he pressured Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor into throwing the ball away on third down.

DOLPHINS NEED TO GET MORE CONSISTENT PLAY FROM STILLS

Miami receiver Kenny Stills hasn’t made an impact most of the season, and despite being targeted eight times against Buffalo he wasn’t much of a factor until scoring on a 66-yard touchdown when two Bills defenders collided into one another. Miami’s starting flanker caught five passes for 100 yards against Buffalo but dropped a contested deep pass from Ryan Tannehill in the third quarter. Imagine his production if Stills brought in both passes.

DOLPHINS FINALLY REDISCOVERED TANNEHILL’S VALUE IN USING HIS LEGS

In the first two games of the season, Ryan Tannehill ran 11 times for 52 yards. Then, he mysteriously was planted in the pocket for the next four games, running the ball only twice for 6 yards (ignoring a final kneeldown last week). However, against the Bills, Tannehill was very active. Not only did he turn two sure sacks into short gains, but he carried the ball five times for 22 yards (again, not counting a kneeldown), including a big first down on third-and-2 on a drive that culminated in a field goal.

SUH LOOKED AN AWFUL LOT LIKE WHITE AT DEFENSIVE END

In arguably the biggest defensive play, Ndamukong Suh lined up at defensive end and powered through a Bills offensive tackle to sack Taylor for a 6-yard loss, knocking Buffalo from the Miami 33 to the 39 in the fourth quarter. It was reminiscent of the late Packers Hall of Famer Reggie White and when he threw aside Patriots tackle Max Lane in Super Bowl XXXI.