Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins: 2024 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-09-12, the Buffalo Bills took care of business against the Miami Dolphins, pulling away with a 31–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q1 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

T. Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) paced the passing game, with -6.95 total EPA, and +3.3% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Allen (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.82 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+11.7% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Buffalo Bills changed the game: (9:55) 17-J.Allen pass short left to 4-J.Cook for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 J. Allen · Buffalo Bills · Passing · +10.82 total EPA · 20 snaps · +0.54 EPA/play
2. 2 K. Shakir · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +7.18 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.44 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Achane · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +6.64 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.95 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Cook · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +4.40 total EPA · 1 snaps · +4.40 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Waddle · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +3.89 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
6. 6 J. Cook · Buffalo Bills · Rushing · +3.66 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
7. 7 Ty. Johnson · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +3.57 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.79 EPA/play
8. 8 D. Kincaid · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +2.35 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Buffalo Bills — J. Cook (J. Allen pass) (Q1 54:55)
• Miami Dolphins — D. Achane (T. Tagovailoa pass) (Q1 48:28)
• Buffalo Bills — J. Cook (Q2 36:28)
• Buffalo Bills — J. Cook (Q2 33:45)
• Buffalo Bills — J. Ingram (Q3 24:37)

Field goals

• Buffalo Bills — T. Bass (Q2 42:45)
• Miami Dolphins — J. Sanders (Q2 30:08)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 13–7. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the MIA 17 (Q1 54:55) — (9:55) 17-J.Allen pass short left to 4-J.Cook for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the MIA 15 (Q1 54:49) — 2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the BUF 5 (Q1 48:28) — (3:28) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short right to 28-D.Achane for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins added 1 points from the BUF 15 (Q1 48:21) — 7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

The second quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 17–3. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the MIA 25 (Q2 42:45) — (12:45) 2-T.Bass 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the MIA 1 (Q2 36:28) — (6:28) 4-J.Cook left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q2 36:25) — 2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the MIA 49 (Q2 33:45) — (3:45) 70-A.Anderson reported in as eligible. 4-J.Cook up the middle for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q2 33:36) — 2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.; Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the BUF 16 (Q2 30:08) — (:08) 7-J.Sanders 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey..

The third quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 7–0. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the BUF 70 (Q3 24:37) — (9:37) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short left INTERCEPTED by 46-J.Ingram [57-A.Epenesa] at MIA 31. 46-J.Ingram for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q3 24:27) — 2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Buffalo Bills (Q1 54:55) — (9:55) 17-J.Allen pass short left to 4-J.Cook for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +11.7% · EPA +4.40]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 57:26) — (12:26) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep left intended for 88-G.DuBose INTERCEPTED by 46-J.Ingram at BUF 38. 46-J.Ingram to MIA 37 for 25 yards (0-B.Berrios, 9-J.Smith). [WPA -10.7% · EPA -4.00]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 40:13) — (10:13) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass deep middle to 10-K.Shakir to BUF 35 for 21 yards (21-J.Poyer). PENALTY on MIA-21-J.Poyer, Unnecessary Roughness, 15 yards, enforced at BUF 35. [WPA +9.2% · EPA +3.07]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 45:47) — (:47) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep right intended for 84-R.Chosen INTERCEPTED by 47-C.Benford at 50. 47-C.Benford pushed ob at MIA 44 for 6 yards (84-R.Chosen). ** Injury Update: BUF-99-C.Toohil [WPA -9.1% · EPA -4.45]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 37:11) — (7:11) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass deep right to 26-Ty.Johnson to MIA 1 for 33 yards (5-J.Ramsey). [WPA +8.4% · EPA +4.43]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Miami Dolphins (Q3 24:37) — (9:37) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short left INTERCEPTED by 46-J.Ingram [57-A.Epenesa] at MIA 31. 46-J.Ingram for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA -6.3% · EPA -7.23]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 33:45) — (3:45) 70-A.Anderson reported in as eligible. 4-J.Cook up the middle for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +2.7% · EPA +4.87]
• Miami Dolphins (Q1 45:47) — (:47) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep right intended for 84-R.Chosen INTERCEPTED by 47-C.Benford at 50. 47-C.Benford pushed ob at MIA 44 for 6 yards (84-R.Chosen). ** Injury Update: BUF-99-C.Toohil [WPA -9.1% · EPA -4.45]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 37:11) — (7:11) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass deep right to 26-Ty.Johnson to MIA 1 for 33 yards (5-J.Ramsey). [WPA +8.4% · EPA +4.43]

Quarterback report card

T.Tagovailoa led all passers in efficiency for Miami Dolphins, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• T.Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) · 28 dropbacks · 60.7% completion · +3.3% CPOE · -0.25 EPA/play · -6.95 total EPA
• J.Allen (Buffalo Bills) · 20 dropbacks · 65.0% completion · +4.2% CPOE · +0.54 EPA/play · +10.82 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Despite the final score, Buffalo Bills generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.11 vs -0.24), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Buffalo Bills: 11 drives, +6.80 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• Miami Dolphins: 10 drives, -20.96 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Buffalo Bills leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• J. Allen (Buffalo Bills) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• T. Tagovailoa (MIA) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• J. Allen (BUF) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q1 54:55 · MIA 17 · Score 6-0
   (9:55) 17-J.Allen pass short left to 4-J.Cook for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Buffalo Bills TD (+7) — Q1 54:49 · MIA 15 · Score 7-0
   2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.
3. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q1 48:28 · BUF 5 · Score 7-6
   (3:28) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short right to 28-D.Achane for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Miami Dolphins XP (+1) — Q1 48:21 · BUF 15 · Score 7-7
   7-J.Sanders extra point is GOOD, Center-48-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
5. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 42:45 · MIA 25 · Score 10-7
   (12:45) 2-T.Bass 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.
6. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 36:28 · MIA 1 · Score 16-7
   (6:28) 4-J.Cook left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
7. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 36:25 · MIA 15 · Score 17-7
   2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.
8. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 33:45 · MIA 49 · Score 23-7
   (3:45) 70-A.Anderson reported in as eligible. 4-J.Cook up the middle for 49 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 33:36 · MIA 15 · Score 24-7
   2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.
10. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 30:08 · BUF 16 · Score 24-10
    (:08) 7-J.Sanders 34 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-B.Ferguson, Holder-16-J.Bailey.
11. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q3 24:37 · BUF 70 · Score 30-10
    (9:37) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short left INTERCEPTED by 46-J.Ingram [57-A.Epenesa] at MIA 31. 46-J.Ingram for 31 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q3 24:27 · MIA 15 · Score 31-10
    2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.