‘Delusional’ Dolphins still believe, blow out Bills

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Few would have expected the Miami Dolphins to triumph over the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. Given that the Bills had secured victory in 14 of the past 15 meetings between the teams, claiming a Dolphins win might have seemed unrealistic.

Yet, that’s precisely how Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb characterized the atmosphere in the team’s locker room.

Miami broke a seven-game losing streak against Buffalo with a commanding 30-13 win on Sunday. This victory stands as the third-largest upset in the NFL this season; the Dolphins entered the game as an 8.5-point underdog.

Many analysts were under the impression the Dolphins’ season had reached its end, with the team facing criticism for not trading players at the deadline to gather more draft picks. However, Chubb, rumored to be a trade asset, stated that the team’s confidence in itself has remained steadfast despite its 3-7 record this season.

Josh Allen connected with Keon Coleman for a 35-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter, marking Buffalo’s first scoring opportunity of the game, but the Dolphins answered back with a 59-yard touchdown from De’Von Achane, pushing their lead to three touchdowns.

Buffalo managed to reduce the margin to 10 with just under four minutes left, but Achane responded swiftly with a second touchdown on a 35-yard run to secure the victory.

«I believe they have chosen to maintain their faith throughout this whole journey, this entire season,» Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel reflected. «They made the decision to keep believing in each other. I firmly hold that such commitment is rewarded over time.

«It’s evident from their performance that they refused to accept the narrative that their season was over — which is challenging to maintain amidst constant discussions of that nature.»

Previously, Miami faced a severe setback against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9, leading to the departure of general manager Chris Grier the following day. Interim GM Champ Kelly chose to trade linebacker Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles for a third-round pick but opted against further modifications.

McDaniel mentioned on Wednesday that nothing significant occurred during the deadline that swayed the team, and he, Kelly, and senior vice president of football Brandon Shore were united in their approach regarding the team’s strategy.

Since McDaniel’s hiring in 2022, Miami had suffered seven consecutive losses to Buffalo; however, they ended that streak in his first encounter with the five-time AFC East champions. Nonetheless, they lost 31-21 to Buffalo earlier this season.

Sunday’s game became the Dolphins’ largest victory over Buffalo since a 35-8 win back in 2011; it also marked the second occasion where McDaniel’s squad rebounded from one of their poorest performances to deliver an impressive win.

Miami recorded a 34-10 win against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8 after a 31-6 defeat to the Cleveland Browns.

«I’m thrilled that everyone got to witness the side of the team that I see regularly,» McDaniel said. «I observe players — win or lose — remaining focused, engaged, and committed. Eventually, these efforts come to fruition in scenarios like this. I’m delighted because they deserve this outcome. It doesn’t surprise me … We recognized that earning respect from that team required effort.»

Achane, who racked up 225 total yards and two touchdowns, expressed that defeating the Bills «felt distinctly different» compared to any other victory, while offensive lineman Patrick Paul described the post-game atmosphere in the locker room as «a lot of craziness,» with teammates «simply enjoying themselves like children.»

The Dolphins are scheduled to fly to Madrid on Monday, where they will compete against the Washington Commanders in the NFL’s inaugural game in Spain. With matchups against the New Orleans Saints and the New York Jets on the horizon after their Week 12 bye, the next trio of opponents for Miami will each possess records below .500.

Chubb reflected that a win over the Bills could serve as a catalyst for the Dolphins to turn their season around.

«We are all aware of our potential, and we genuinely believe that if we focus our energies, we can play complementary football as we did today,» he remarked. «The possibilities are limitless, truly. It’s not delusional — ultimately, we know we have the capability.»