MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — There was little cause to imagine the Miami Dolphins would beat the Buffalo Payments at Arduous Rock Stadium on Sunday. Contemplating the Payments gained 14 of the groups’ earlier 15 matchups, you possibly can moderately be labeled delusional in the event you predicted a Dolphins win.
However that is precisely how Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb described the staff’s locker room.
Miami snapped a seven-game dropping streak towards the Payments with a convincing 30-13 victory Sunday. The win marked the third-largest upset within the NFL this season; the Dolphins have been an 8.5-point underdog coming into the sport.
A number of soccer pundits believed the Dolphins’ season was over, and the staff was criticized for not actively buying and selling away gamers on the commerce deadline with a purpose to accumulate extra draft capital. However Chubb, who was thought-about a deadline commerce goal, mentioned the staff’s perception in itself hasn’t wavered regardless of its 3-7 begin to the season.
“It did not matter. We simply confirmed as much as work,” he mentioned after Sunday’s sport. “All people had that very same mindset and that is why I used the phrase delusional as a result of no person on the surface’s going to imagine it. However all of us in there knew and got here out and confirmed it right this moment.
“It is simply in regards to the perception, man, everyone there believing in one another, believing within the course of, believing in how we’ll take the sphere and that is what labored.”
Miami opened a 16-0 result in begin the sport, holding the Payments scoreless within the first half for the primary time since 2007. Reigning MVP Josh Allen discovered Keon Coleman for a 35-yard landing early within the fourth quarter for the Payments’ first factors of the day, however the Dolphins responded with a 59-yard De’Von Achane landing that prolonged their result in three scores.
Buffalo lower its deficit to 10 with 3:36 remaining within the sport, however Achane scored his second landing three performs afterward a 35-yard run to seal the win.
“I believe they’ve chosen to imagine all through the entire thing, all through the entire season,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel mentioned. “They’ve made that call to proceed to imagine and proceed to put money into one another. So, my perception simply in soccer and in life is that that’s paid again to you.
“I believe it is fairly apparent from their play that they did not imagine their season was over — that is tough to do when everybody’s speaking to you in regards to the season being over.”
Miami was blown out by the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9 and parted methods with basic supervisor Chris Grier the following day. Interim GM Champ Kelly opted to commerce linebacker Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles in trade for a third-round choose however declined to make some other strikes.
McDaniel mentioned Wednesday that nothing “moved the needle” for the Dolphins on the deadline, and the staff’s mind belief of himself, Kelly and senior vice chairman of soccer Brandon Shore have been all in settlement with the strikes the staff made and did not make.
Miami had misplaced seven straight video games to Buffalo when McDaniel was employed in 2022 however snapped the dropping streak in his first sport towards the five-time reigning AFC East champions. Nonetheless, the Dolphins hadn’t crushed the Payments since that sport and misplaced 31-21 earlier this season.
Sunday marked the Dolphins’ largest win over Buffalo since a 35-8 victory in 2011; it additionally marked the second time McDaniel’s staff has responded to one in every of its worst video games of the season with one in every of its finest.
Miami beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-10 in Week 8, one week after dropping to the Cleveland Browns 31-6.
“I am very glad that everybody will get to see the facet that I see,” McDaniel mentioned. “I see guys — win, lose or draw — focus and lean in and purchase in. And I believe ultimately you will have video games the place it comes collectively in conditions like that. So, I believe it is superior as a result of they deserve it. Not a shock to me … We knew that if we wished to achieve some respect from that staff, we needed to earn it.”
Achane, who completed with 225 whole yards and two touchdowns, mentioned beating the Payments “for certain” felt completely different than some other win, whereas offensive lineman Patrick Paul mentioned the temper within the locker room after the sport was “numerous craziness” with guys “simply having enjoyable like children.”
The Dolphins fly to Madrid on Monday, the place they’re going to face the Washington Commanders within the NFL’s first-ever sport in Spain. Contemplating they play the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets instantly following their Week 12 bye, every of the Dolphins’ subsequent three opponents will sport information below .500.
Chubb mentioned a win over Buffalo might assist springboard the Dolphins towards turning their season round.
“Everyone knows what we are able to do and we imagine that if we put our minds to it, we are able to play complementary soccer like we did,” he mentioned. “The sky is the restrict, man. You understand what I imply? It is not delusional — on the finish of the day, we all know we are able to do it.”