Bills Cement Longest Home Division Streak Since Brady (Bills Beat Dolphins 31-21)

Bills reinforce AFC East hegemony

The Buffalo Bills hammered home their dominance in the AFC East with a 31-21 win over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football, improving to 3-0 for the second straight year. The victory extended Sean McDermott’s streak to nine straight home wins over Miami and pushed Buffalo’s regular-season home run to 13 consecutive victories — and an 11-game home division streak, their longest since Tom Brady’s Patriots strung together 17 from 2009–2014.

Allen efficient, milestone-heavy night

Quarterback Josh Allen kept the offense humming, completing 22 of 28 passes for 213 yards and three TDs while tacking on 25 rushing yards on four carries. His 15-yard scoring strike to Khalil Shakir in the fourth quarter put Buffalo up 28-21 and marked Allen’s 200th career touchdown pass. He also became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 300 career offensive touchdowns (counting playoffs), leapfrogging Patrick Mahomes on that leaderboard.

Cook grinds and tight ends deliver

The ground game did its job. James Cook barreled for 108 yards on 19 carries and punched in a two-yard TD that stretched his streak to seven straight games with a rushing score — tying a franchise record. Cook chipped in three catches for 10 yards, and the tight end room chipped in too: Dalton Kincaid hauled in his second TD of the year and, along with Jackson Hawes, helped power a balanced attack. Kincaid also made a bit of Bills history by becoming the first Bills tight end to record four or more receptions in each of the team’s opening three games.

Defense makes the game-deciding play

When the game hung in the balance at 21-21 with under three minutes left, linebacker Terrel Bernard snagged an interception off Tua Tagovailoa and returned it 24 yards to set up the decisive drive. That takeaway preserved Buffalo’s remarkable run of winning the turnover battle — 25 straight games now without losing it, the longest streak of its kind in NFL history. Rookie DT Deone Walker helped force the play with pressure, and Bernard’s night also included key tackles, including a score-saving stop on Miami rookie Ollie Gordon II.

Special teams swing momentum

A costly roughing-the-kicker penalty on Dolphins DT Zach Sieler with about 10 minutes left kept a Bills drive alive and culminated in Shakir’s go-ahead touchdown. Matt Prater iced the game with a 48-yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining, making the final 31-21.

Dolphins fought but miscues cost them

Miami’s offense showed flashes — Tua Tagovailoa finished 22-of-34 for 146 yards and two TDs, Tyreek Hill caught five balls for 49 yards and a score, and Jaylen Waddle added five grabs for 39 yards and a touchdown. Gordon II and De’Von Achane combined for 116 rushing yards. Still, penalties, an untimely turnover, and stalled drives ultimately undid their comeback bid.