Dolphins survive 'butt punt' to beat Payments

MIAMI GARDENS, Florida — Thomas Morstead stepped into the center of Miami's finish zone, swung his highly effective proper leg and booted a punt.

Proper into the bottom of blocker Trent Sherfield.

Almost the butt of a foul joke ending, the Dolphins held on for the final snort towards the reigning AFC East champions as a substitute.

Miami overcame what was shortly dubbed the "butt punt" by shutting down Josh Allen and the Buffalo Payments twice within the closing minutes, enhancing to 3-0 with a 21-19 victory that ended with Allen desperately attempting to spike the soccer on the sting of area aim vary.

"I do not like these shock endings," Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel mentioned. "However I am simply actually, actually blissful for the workforce as a result of this a lot I do know: Groups win soccer video games, and if you're going to have success over the lengthy haul, you need to have faith that no matter part can win a soccer recreation for you, can go forward and do this."

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa briefly left the sport within the second quarter, returning after halftime regardless of showing to be disoriented by a head harm — the workforce clarified later that truly, he had a difficulty together with his again. He completed with 186 yards and a landing move to River Cracraft.

Allen was additionally scraped up, getting X-rays on his proper hand after the sport after banging it on a helmet or facemask. He insisted he was fantastic after.

The Dolphins' protection did simply sufficient to stall Allen twice within the fourth quarter, the primary effort a goal-line stand that adopted a go-ahead speeding landing by Miami's Chase Edmonds.

Allen threw incomplete on fourth down from the 2-yard line, ending a 17-play, eight-minute drive — and seemingly Buffalo's possibilities for a comeback win.

However then Tagovailoa and the Dolphins went three-and-out, leaving Morstead with little room to kick the ball away.

It wasn't sufficient area. The kick clanked proper off Sherfield and went out the rear of the top zone for a security — a mishap drawing rapid comparisons to Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez's notorious "butt fumble" from 10 years earlier. Sanchez bumped into the underside of lineman Brandon Moore, jarring the ball free.

"Woah… keep out of my lane bro," Sanchez tweeted at Morstead.

Allen had a couple of minute to information Buffalo into area aim vary, and did so, however the Payments ran out of time. Isaiah McKenzie tried for additional yards on a completion from Allen, costing treasured seconds. Dolphins gamers began celebrating when the clock hit zero with Allen simply stepping beneath middle.

Payments offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey slammed his headset and commenced throwing paper and notebooks within the coaches' field when time ran out.

"It was solely fourteen or twelve seconds," mentioned Dolphins linebacker Melvin Ingram, who had a fumble restoration within the first half. "You run round, throw the ball. He runs all the best way round, that clock goes to down."

Miami took the lead with about 10 minutes left within the recreation, scoring a landing to go up 21-17. It was the Payments' first deficit of the season.

Buffalo ran 90 performs in comparison with 39 for Miami, outgaining the Dolphins 497 yards to 212.

"It is best to win these video games," Payments coach Sean McDermott mentioned. "We simply did not care for the ball sufficient and are available away with some takeaways."

On a day through which Allen accomplished a career-high 42 passes and completed with 400 yards, the Payments completed with their lowest level complete since a Week 13 final season. Allen additionally accomplished his first 11 passes for the primary time in his profession. He had landing passes to working again Devin Singletary and McKenzie and a fumble within the first half that led to a Dolphins landing.

The Payments have been with out a number of defensive starters, together with beginning security Micah Hyde, who on Saturday went on injured reserve with a neck harm, and cornerback Dane Jackson, who suffered a neck harm towards the Titans final week. The Dolphins' 21 factors was essentially the most Buffalo has allowed all season.

"We used about all people we may on the sideline there," McDermott mentioned.

Within the fourth quarter, Miami's Jaylen Waddle caught a 32-yard move alongside the precise sideline, then added a 45-yard reception on third-and-22 to arrange Edmonds' eventual landing run.

TOO HOT TO HANDLE

A number of Payments gamers had bother adjusting to the South Florida warmth. McKenzie, TE Dawson Knox and T Spencer Brown have been all listed with warmth diseases. Gamers went down on the sector with cramps at a number of factors within the recreation.

"Respiration was robust generally. We had some actually, actually lengthy drives," Allen mentioned.

INJURIES

Payments: WR Jake Kumerow injured his ankle within the first quarter and didn't return. ... CB Christian Benford injured his hand.

Dolphins: T Greg Little injured his finger. CB Xavien Howard left within the third quarter with cramping. however returned.

UP NEXT:

Payments: On the Baltimore Ravens subsequent Sunday.

Dolphins: On the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday.