Bills top Dolphins, clinch 4th straight playoff berth

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Once the snow began falling at the start of the fourth quarter, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills found themselves in their element against the warm-weather Miami Dolphins.

The Afc-leading Bills (113) overcame an eight-point deficit with Allen overseeing scoring drives on the final two possessions, capped by Tyler Bass hitting a 25-yard field goal as time expired to propel Buffalo to a 32-29 victory Saturday night.

The Bills wrapped up their fourth consecutive playoff berth, and fifth in six seasons under coach Sean Mcdermott.

The decisive field goal sparked a raucous celebration before a snowball-throwing crowd, with Bass, receiver Stefon Diggs and left tackle Dion Dawkins diving head-first and sliding on their chests on the snowslicked field.

“Almost like it was all supposed to happen, right?” said Poyer of a long-forecasted lake effect snowstorm finally making its arrival.

“Josh takes the offense down and the snow starts falling down. It was actually kind of surreal. It was a fun, fun atmosphere, though.”

Allen, meantime, referred to Mother Nature’s arrival as a mere coincidence. He instead credited those around him for stepping up, especially when the offense had cooled during a third quarter in which Buffalo ended four consecutive drives with punts, and after Allen ended the fifth drive with a fumble.

“That third quarter is not where we wanted to be,” Allen said. “But I thought our defense played a heck of a game in the second half, especially, and then T-bass at the end. He’s nails.”

Allen threw a 5-yard pass to Dawson Knox and the quarterback then leaped over the line for a 2-point conversion to tie it 29 with 9:02 left. Allen lost control of the ball, but a replay review showed he crossed the goal line before fumbling.

Allen then oversaw a 15-play, 86-yard drive that ate up the final 5:56 to set up Bass’ field goal.