The Dolphins aren’t going to the playoffs, but they can still avoid a losing season after beating the Bills 24-10 in Miami on Sunday.
If they can find a way to beat the Patriots next weekend, Miami will finish with an 8-8 season in their first year with Joe Philbin as coach and Ryan Tannehill as quarterback. That would be a nice step forward after three straight losing seasons.
Reggie Bush caught two touchdown passes from Tannehill and ran for a third in what might have been his final home game as a member of the Dolphins. Bush will be a free agent after the season and there hasn’t been much indication that the Dolphins are looking to give him the lengthy extension Bush will likely be seeking on the open market. If so, Bush will leave Miami with memories of his 107 yards from scrimmage by way of farewell.
Tannehill was 13-of-25 for 130 yards and added 45 rushing yards to help the team to their seventh win of the year. It wasn’t a particularly great performance, but Tannehill continued to show that there’s something to build on during his rookie season.
Buffalo’s not going to see much to build on outside of running back C.J. Spiller. Spiller had 173 yards of offense for Buffalo, which turned the ball over four times and showed that any calls for new quarterbacks and receivers are coming from a very real place in Buffalo.