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Miami Herald

Sport

Adam H. Beasley

No excuses, no defense: Dolphins look like worst D in football in loss to Bills

Miami Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker (11) scores as Buffalo Bills cornerback Levi Wallace (39) fails to defend in the first quarter on Sunday, September 20, 2020 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/TNS)

MIAMI _ Josh Allen is the best quarterback in the AFC East.

The Bills are the best team in the AFC East.

And the Dolphins would be the worst team in the AFC East, if it weren't for Adam Gase's Jets.

Miami Dolphins cornerback Nik Needham (40) attempts to block a pass to Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley (11), who scores in the first quarter on Sunday, September 20, 2020 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/TNS)

Final score: Bills 31, Dolphins 28.

But don't you dare pin this one on Ryan Fitzpatrick and the offense.

The Dolphins' defense deserves every bit of the blame.

The Miami Dolphins rush the field as they host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, September 20, 2020 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald/TNS)

Yes, Allen was spectacular. He made some truly fantastic throws en route to 417 passing yards and four touchdowns.

But he had plenty of help from the guys in aqua and orange.

Nik Needham got beat. Noah Igbinoghene got beat.

Miami Dolphins fan Jacob Borg, 6, adjusts his dad Michael Borg’s themed face mask, as the Miami Dolphins host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, September 20, 2020 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/TNS)

And with the game on the line, Xavien Howard and Bobby McCain got roasted.

Facing third-and-9 from the Miami 46 up four points with just over three minutes remaining, Allen threw deep to John Brown, who got behind Howard and McCain and scored the game-sealing touchdown.

The final jaw-dropping stats allowed by the Dolphins' defense Sunday: 524 yards. Nine yards per play. Completions of 47, 46, 46, 38 and 26 yards.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) celebrates a first quarter touchdown against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, September 20, 2020 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/TNS)

And any one stop would have won them the game.

The Dolphins were cruising and wore the Bills' defense down in the second half with eight, 12 and 10-play drives to turn a seven-point deficit into a three-point lead.

The go-ahead score? A two-yard plunge by Jordan Howard.

NFL fans show their support as the Miami Dolphins host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, September 20, 2020 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/TNS)

But that lead lasted all of 4 minutes, 16 seconds. On the Bills' next play from scrimmage, Stefon Diggs roasted Noah Igbinoghene for a 47-yard gain, and then Allen hooked up with Gabriel Davis for a six-yard touchdown pass, slipping the grasp of Emmanuel Ogbah who had a shot at a sack on third-and-goal.

On Allen's last two drives, he completed 6 of 8 passes for 145 yards and two scores.

Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, went 31 of 47 for 328 yards and two scores.

Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki (88) signals a first down on a pass reception in the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, September 20, 2020 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/TNS)

This game had everything _ but good defensive football, at least by the Dolphins.

A power outage knocked out the CBS television feed for much of the first half, the Dolphins' highest-paid player (Byron Jones) lasted just a few plays before leaving the game with a groin injury and a lightning storm forced a 36-minute delay two plays into the second half.

So there was plenty to talk about. But the biggest story line is how terrible the Dolphins' new-look, highly compensated defense has looked through two weeks.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker (11) and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) celebrate a first quarter touchdown against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, September 20, 2020 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/TNS)

Seven days after surrendering 217 rushing yards, the Dolphins allowed an astonishing 342 yards in the first half alone, including 269 courtesy of Allen's arm and legs.

He threw touchdown passes to Reggie Gilliam and Stefon Diggs. Nik Needham, who played a ton after Jones' injury, was a liability in coverage, allowing several big plays and extending a scoring drive with a defensive holding.

The Dolphins had no business being in the game. But yet somehow they were down just a touchdown at the break after Fitzpatrick directed a hurried field-goal drive late in the second quarter.