MIAMI — The Buffalo Bills have claimed the AFC East Division for the fourth consecutive season, defeating the Dolphins 21-14 in the final game of the regular season on Sunday.
It was a nail-biter for many Bills fans, as the game remained tied up until seven minutes remaining in regulation.
Dawson Knox gave Buffalo the go-ahead score, and Taylor Rapp secured a late interception locking the Bills into the second seed of this year's playoffs.
QB Josh Allen finished the game with 30 completions on 38 attempts, good enough for 359 yards. In total, Allen had two passing touchdowns and two interceptions.
Buffalo finally got on the board in the second half, as Deonte Harty returned a punt for 96 yards, making it the longest in the team's history. The Bills tie it up at 14 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Josh Allen fumbled while being sacked on a 3rd and 13 play near the end of the third quarter. Miami recovered. Another in a long list of miscues that kept points off the board for Buffalo.
Tua Tagovailoa hit Tyreek Hill for a 3-yard touchdown late in the second quarter to give Miami a 14-7 halftime lead. The play capped a 75-yard drive for Miami.
Buffalo squandered a chance to add points before halftime. Josh Allen hit running back Ty Johnson on a crossing route near the goal line with :11 left but two Miami defenders kept him out of the end zone. Time expired before Buffalo could get another playoff.
Running back James Cook dropped what have been a touchdown pass earlier on that drive.
Allen hit Diggs for a 36-yard completion to set up the Bills only score of the half. That led to a 6-yard Allen touchdown pass that was deflected, and then caught in bounds by former Dolphin receiver Trent Sherfield that tied the game 7-7.
Miami opened the scoring in the second quarter as De'Von Achane capped an 80-yard drive with a 25-yard touchdown run that gave them a 7-0 lead.
Josh Allen's second interception of the game set up the score. It came at the end of the first quarter on a broken play as the Bills were going for it on 4th and 2. Allen was rolling to his right under pressure and threw for the end zone toward a cutting Gabe Davis. He was intercepted by DeShon Elliot.
The quarterbacks traded interceptions to start the game. Christian Benford picked off Tagovailoa on a deep shot intended for Tyreek Hill.
Eli Apple intercepted Josh Allen on a short yardage play near the Miami goal line on what appeared to be a miscommunication between Allen and receiver Gabe Davis.
The Bills did their best to get top receiver Stefon Diggs involved early in the game. Diggs had beaten Dolphin cornerback Jalen Ramsey deep, but Allen overthrew him on what would have been a touchdown.