Franks’ FG seals Dolphins’ OT triumph
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. >> Jay Ajayi stiff-armed his way to his third 200-yard rushing performance of the season.
In the process, the secondyear running back carried the Miami Dolphins one giant step closer to clinching their first playoff berth since 2008.
Ajayi had 206 yards rushing and a touchdown, and broke loose for a 57-yard run in overtime to set up Andrew Franks’ 27-yard field goal with 47 seconds left in a 34-31 win over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.
“It’s about running hard through the whole game and finishing strong,” Ajayi said. “Division rival game, December game, a lot was on the line. Tensions were high today.”
Ajayi relieved the tension with Miami taking over at its 15 with four minutes left.
Ajayi took the handoff and stiff-armed defensive lineman Leger Douzable at the line of scrimmage in finding a crease off left tackle before being brought down at the Buffalo 28. The Dolphins ran five more plays before Franks lined up for the decisive score.
“Oh, man, he’s a grinder. He’s a workhorse,” tight end Dion Sims said. “He goes 100 miles an hour, and that’s why he’s got the nickname ‘Train,’ because he’s just going nonstop.”
In winning for the ninth time in 10 games, the Dolphins (10-5) can secure the AFC’s final wild-card berth as early as Sunday if Denver loses to Kansas City.
The Bills (7-8) were eliminated from contention and extended the NFL’s longest active playoff drought to 17 seasons.