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NFL · Week 8 · October 31, 2021 · 12 min read

Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills: 2021 Week 8 Recap

Bills defeat Dolphins 26–11 in Week 8

Jonathan Allen led Fantasy Impact as Bills prevailed in a 11–26 Week 8 finish.

Miami Dolphins 11 1–7
Final 11–26
Buffalo Bills 26 5–2 Winner
Winner
Buffalo Bills
Final score
11–26
Halftime
Tied 3–3 at halftime
Top passer
Jonathan Allen
FantasyHQ MVP
Jonathan Allen
Game date
October 31, 2021

Top fantasy performers · Dolphins

  • Mike Gesicki
    Mike Gesicki 3 REC · 48 YDS +6.1 Fantasy Impact
  • DeVante Parker
    DeVante Parker 8 REC · 85 YDS +4.3 Fantasy Impact
  • Tua Tagovailoa
    Tua Tagovailoa 1 CAR · 1 YDS · 1 TD +0.9 Fantasy Impact

Top fantasy performers · Bills

  • Jonathan Allen
    Jonathan Allen 29/49 · 290 YDS · 2 TD +12.8 Fantasy Impact
  • Cole Beasley
    Cole Beasley 10 REC · 110 YDS +8.6 Fantasy Impact
  • Gabe Davis
    Gabe Davis 4 REC · 29 YDS · 1 TD +1.5 Fantasy Impact
View Dolphins vs Bills box score View all 2021 NFL game recaps

Quick answer

Winner
Buffalo Bills
Final score
Buffalo Bills 26–11 Miami Dolphins
Halftime
Tied 3–3 at halftime
FantasyHQ MVP
Jonathan Allen
Top passer
Jonathan Allen
Biggest EPA play
(10:30) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep right to 88-M.Gesicki pushed ob at BUF 4 for 40…
Game date
2021-10-31

Game summary

The Buffalo Bills beat the Miami Dolphins 26–11 on 2021-10-31. Jonathan Allen posted a game-high +12.79 total EPA in the passing.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 24 combined points.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Q1Q2Q3Q4—T
Miami Dolphins0308011
Buffalo Bills30716026

Scoring Map

Each pin marks where a score occurred on the field — yard line from play-by-play.

MIAMiami Dolphins
BUFBuffalo Bills

FantasyHQ Analytics

Scoring timeline

10 scores

Chronological scoring plays — scroll to follow the game.

  1. BUFBuffalo Bills
    Q1 3:52FG
    Tyler Bass

    Points+3

    Yard line
    MIA 39
    Score
    0-3

    (3:52) 2-T.Bass 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-3-M.Haack.

  2. MIAMiami Dolphins
    Q2 8:14FG
    Jason Sanders

    Points+3

    Yard line
    BUF 33
    Score
    3-3

    (8:14) 7-J.Sanders 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-5-M.Palardy.

  3. BUFBuffalo Bills
    Q3 3:56TD
    Gabe Davis

    Points+6

    Yard line
    MIA 8
    Score
    3-9

    (3:56) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass short right to 13-G.Davis for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on MIA-15-J.Phillips, Face Mask (15 Yards), 15 yards, enforced between downs.

  4. BUFBuffalo Bills
    Q3 3:49XP
    Tyler Bass

    Points+1

    Yard line
    MIA 15
    Score
    3-10

    2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-3-M.Haack.

  5. BUFBuffalo Bills
    Q4 13:29TD
    Stefon Diggs

    Points+6

    Yard line
    MIA 19
    Score
    3-16

    (13:29) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass short middle to 14-S.Diggs for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN [91-E.Ogbah].

  6. BUFBuffalo Bills
    Q4 13:23XP
    Tyler Bass

    Points+1

    Yard line
    MIA 15
    Score
    3-17

    2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-3-M.Haack.

  7. MIAMiami Dolphins
    Q4 9:43TD
    Tua Tagovailoa

    Points+6

    Yard line
    BUF 1
    Score
    9-17

    (9:43) (No Huddle) 1-T.Tagovailoa up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.

  8. MIAMiami Dolphins
    Q4 9:39Safety
    Tua Tagovailoa

    Points+2

    Yard line
    BUF 2
    Score
    11-17

    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 1-T.Tagovailoa pass to 88-M.Gesicki is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. Pass caught 8 yds. into end zone, near left sideline.

  9. BUFBuffalo Bills
    Q4 3:33FG
    Tyler Bass

    Points+3

    Yard line
    MIA 21
    Score
    11-20

    (3:33) 2-T.Bass 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-3-M.Haack.

  10. BUFBuffalo Bills
    Q4 1:14TD
    Jonathan Allen

    Points+6

    Yard line
    MIA 7
    Score
    11-26

    (1:14) 17-J.Allen right end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA).

  1. 1Jonathan AllenJonathan Allen · Buffalo Bills · Passing · +12.79 total EPA · 49 snaps · +0.26 EPA/play
  2. 2Cole BeasleyCole Beasley · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +8.58 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.66 EPA/play
  3. 3Mike GesickiMike Gesicki · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +6.08 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.22 EPA/play
  4. 4DeVante ParkerDeVante Parker · Miami Dolphins · Receiving · +4.29 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
  5. 5Gabe DavisGabe Davis · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.52 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
  6. 6Tua TagovailoaTua Tagovailoa · Miami Dolphins · Rushing · +0.93 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.93 EPA/play
  7. 7Zack MossZack Moss · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +0.93 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
  8. 8Tommy SweeneyTommy Sweeney · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +0.77 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play

FantasyHQ Game MVP

Highest total EPA with the player's top snap and the game's biggest single play when different.

Jonathan Allen

FantasyHQ Game MVP

Jonathan Allen — BUF · Passing

Jonathan Allen posted the highest total EPA (+12.79) in the game, the strongest overall impact for Buffalo Bills. Across 49 counted snaps, they averaged +0.26 EPA per play.

Jonathan Allen's top snap (+3.85 EPA): (1:14) 17-J.Allen right end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Biggest single play (+5.80 EPA): Tua Tagovailoa — (10:30) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep right to 88-M.Gesicki pushed ob at BUF 4 for 40 yards (21-J.Poyer).

Quarterback report card

Jonathan Allen led all passers in efficiency for Buffalo Bills, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

  • Jonathan AllenJonathan Allen (Buffalo Bills) · 49 dropbacks · 59.2% completion · +1.8% CPOE · +0.26 EPA/play · +12.79 total EPA
  • Tua TagovailoaTua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) · 48 dropbacks · 43.8% completion · -9.3% CPOE · +0.00 EPA/play · +0.19 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency.

StatMiami DolphinsBuffalo Bills
Offensive EPA/play-0.144+0.045
Offensive success rate34.1%43.7%
Pass EPA/play+0.004+0.246
Rush EPA/play-0.291-0.388
Defensive EPA/play-0.045+0.144
Defensive success rate56.3%65.9%

Drive & efficiency notes

Buffalo Bills held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.04 vs -0.14), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

Season benchmark context (offensive EPA per play):

  • Miami Dolphins: -0.14 EPA/play (19th percentile vs. 2021 team-game averages)
  • Buffalo Bills: +0.04 EPA/play (63rd percentile vs. 2021 team-game averages)
  • Buffalo Bills: 11 drives, +3.95 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
  • Miami Dolphins: 11 drives, -12.22 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal from official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

  • Gabe DavisBuffalo Bills — Gabe Davis (Jonathan Allen pass) (Q3 3:56)
  • Stefon DiggsBuffalo Bills — Stefon Diggs (Jonathan Allen pass) (Q4 13:29)
  • Tua TagovailoaMiami Dolphins — Tua Tagovailoa (Q4 9:43)
  • Jonathan AllenBuffalo Bills — Jonathan Allen (Q4 1:14)

Field goals

  • Tyler BassBuffalo Bills — Tyler Bass (Q1 3:52)
  • Jason SandersMiami Dolphins — Jason Sanders (Q2 8:14)
  • Tyler BassBuffalo Bills — Tyler Bass (Q4 3:33)
Quarter by quarter

Quarter-by-quarter recap from live scoring plays.

The opening quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 3–0. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the MIA 39 (Q1 3:52) — (3:52) 2-T.Bass 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-3-M.Haack..

The second quarter: Miami Dolphins won the period 3–0. Miami Dolphins connected on a field goal from the BUF 33 (Q2 8:14) — (8:14) 7-J.Sanders 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-5-M.Palardy..

The third quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 7–0. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the MIA 8 (Q3 3:56); Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q3 3:49) — 2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-3-M.Haack..

The fourth quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 16–8. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the MIA 19 (Q4 13:29) — (13:29) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass short middle to 14-S.Diggs for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN [91-E.Ogbah].; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the MIA 15 (Q4 13:23) — 2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-3-M.Haack.; Miami Dolphins found the end zone from the BUF 1 (Q4 9:43) — (9:43) (No Huddle) 1-T.Tagovailoa up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Miami Dolphins registered a safety from the BUF 2 (Q4 9:39); Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the MIA 21 (Q4 3:33) — (3:33) 2-T.Bass 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-3-M.Haack.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the MIA 7 (Q4 1:14) — (1:14) 17-J.Allen right end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most.

  • Miami Dolphins (Q2 0:24) — (:24) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa Aborted. 61-A.Reiter FUMBLES at BUF 16, touched at BUF 15, RECOVERED by BUF-23-M.Hyde at BUF 13. 23-M.Hyde to BUF 29 for 16 yards (1-T.Tagovailoa; 73-A.Jackson). [WPA -16.1% · EPA -3.55]
  • Buffalo Bills (Q1 6:27) — (6:27) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen scrambles right end to MIA 40 for 34 yards (40-N.Needham). [WPA +11.7% · EPA +3.53]
  • Miami Dolphins (Q2 10:45) — (10:45) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass short middle to 37-M.Gaskin to BUF 39 for 22 yards (24-T.Johnson) [50-G.Rousseau]. [WPA +11.0% · EPA +2.53]
  • Miami Dolphins (Q1 8:10) — (8:10) 7-J.Sanders 36 yard field goal is BLOCKED (57-A.Epenesa), Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-5-M.Palardy. [WPA -9.8% · EPA -4.07]
  • Miami Dolphins (Q1 12:37) — (12:37) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep right to 11-D.Parker to 50 for 23 yards (39-L.Wallace). [WPA +9.7% · EPA +2.94]
Impact plays

Highest EPA snaps that flipped field position.

  • Miami Dolphins (Q4 10:30) — (10:30) (Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep right to 88-M.Gesicki pushed ob at BUF 4 for 40 yards (21-J.Poyer). [WPA +5.1% · EPA +5.80]
  • Miami Dolphins (Q1 8:10) — (8:10) 7-J.Sanders 36 yard field goal is BLOCKED (57-A.Epenesa), Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-5-M.Palardy. [WPA -9.8% · EPA -4.07]
  • Buffalo Bills (Q4 1:14) — (1:14) 17-J.Allen right end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +0.2% · EPA +3.85]
  • Miami Dolphins (Q4 2:32) — (2:32) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 1-T.Tagovailoa pass deep middle intended for 17-J.Waddle INTERCEPTED by 21-J.Poyer at MIA 37. 21-J.Poyer pushed ob at MIA 11 for 26 yards (11-D.Parker). [WPA -2.6% · EPA -3.84]
Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with play-by-play context.

  1. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q1 3:52 · MIA 39 · Score 0-3
    (3:52) 2-T.Bass 57 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-3-M.Haack.
  2. Miami Dolphins FG (+3) — Q2 8:14 · BUF 33 · Score 3-3
    (8:14) 7-J.Sanders 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-B.Ferguson, Holder-5-M.Palardy.
  3. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q3 3:56 · MIA 8 · Score 3-9
    (3:56) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass short right to 13-G.Davis for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on MIA-15-J.Phillips, Face Mask (15 Yards), 15 yards, enforced between downs.
  4. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q3 3:49 · MIA 15 · Score 3-10
    2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-3-M.Haack.
  5. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q4 13:29 · MIA 19 · Score 3-16
    (13:29) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass short middle to 14-S.Diggs for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN [91-E.Ogbah].
  6. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q4 13:23 · MIA 15 · Score 3-17
    2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-3-M.Haack.
  7. Miami Dolphins TD (+6) — Q4 9:43 · BUF 1 · Score 9-17
    (9:43) (No Huddle) 1-T.Tagovailoa up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
  8. Miami Dolphins Safety (+2) — Q4 9:39 · BUF 2 · Score 11-17
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 1-T.Tagovailoa pass to 88-M.Gesicki is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. Pass caught 8 yds. into end zone, near left sideline.
  9. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q4 3:33 · MIA 21 · Score 11-20
    (3:33) 2-T.Bass 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-3-M.Haack.
  10. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q4 1:14 · MIA 7 · Score 11-26
    (1:14) 17-J.Allen right end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Key takeaways

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

  • Buffalo Bills earned the result — use the box score for snap-level context.
  • Jonathan Allen (Buffalo Bills) led total EPA — start here for highlight and prop research.
  • Tua Tagovailoa (MIA) finished below expected efficiency despite volume.

Frequently asked questions

Who won Miami Dolphins vs Buffalo Bills on 2021-10-31?

The Buffalo Bills beat the Miami Dolphins 26-11 in Week 8, 2021.

What was the score by quarter in Miami Dolphins vs Buffalo Bills?

Q1: Miami Dolphins 0, Buffalo Bills 3; Q2: Miami Dolphins 3, Buffalo Bills 0; Q3: Miami Dolphins 0, Buffalo Bills 7; Q4: Miami Dolphins 8, Buffalo Bills 16; Final: Miami Dolphins 11, Buffalo Bills 26.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Miami Dolphins vs Buffalo Bills?

Buffalo Bills touchdown — G. Davis (J. Allen pass) (Q3 3:56) Buffalo Bills touchdown — S. Diggs (J. Allen pass) (Q4 13:29) Miami Dolphins touchdown — T. Tagovailoa (Q4 9:43) Buffalo Bills touchdown — J. Allen (Q4 1:14) Buffalo Bills field goal — T. Bass (Q1 3:52, 3 pts) Miami Dolphins field goal — J. Sanders (Q2 8:14, 3 pts) Buffalo Bills field goal — T. Bass (Q4 3:33, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.

How did the quarterbacks play in Miami Dolphins vs Buffalo Bills?

Jonathan Allen (Buffalo Bills), 59.2% completion, +1.8% CPOE, +0.26 EPA per dropback, +12.79 total passing EPA. Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins), 43.8% completion, -9.3% CPOE, +0.00 EPA per dropback, +0.19 total passing EPA.

Who was FantasyHQ's player of the game in Miami Dolphins vs Buffalo Bills?

Jonathan Allen (Buffalo Bills) was FantasyHQ's Game MVP with +12.79 total EPA on Passing plays. across 49 snaps. Their top snap (+3.85 EPA): (1:14) 17-J.Allen right end for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN..

Season records after this game

Miami Dolphins

Entered 1-6 Now 1-7 L

Buffalo Bills

Entered 4-2 Now 5-2 W

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