Game recap: Miami Dolphins beat Buffalo Bills to improve to 3-0

MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins, fresh off their record-setting comeback against the Ravens, looked to make an even more emphatic statement Sunday.

They faced the Buffalo Bills in a battle for early control of the AFC East. Both teams entered 2-0, but the Bills had won seven in a row against the Dolphins and were 5½-point favorites.

Tua Tagovailoa looked to repeat his breakout performance of last weekend, when he threw for 469 yards and six touchdowns, including two each to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Those receivers went up against a banged-up Bills secondary that started rookies Christian Benford and Kaiir Elam, who attended Benjamin.

Sunday marked the first time the Dolphins played a battle of 2-0 teams since 2001.

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4:15 p.m. | Bills run out of time, Miami Dolphins win to remain undefeated

Josh Allen escaped pressure and hit Isaiah McKenzie over the middle, but he was tackled before he could get out of bounds and the clock expired before Buffalo could spike the ball. The Dolphins won 21-19 to improve to 3-0.

The Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Indianapolis Colts, meaning Miami is the last unbeaten team in the AFC.

4:08 p.m. | Thomas Morstead blocked punt for a Bills safety gives Josh Allen one last chance

The Dolphins held the Bills out of the end zone after a 19-play drive with under 2 minutes left. But pinned against their goal line, Thomas Morstead punted the ball into a Dolphins teammate for a safety to make it 21-19 Dolphins. The BIlls got the ball back needing just a field goal to win with about 1:25 remaining and no timeouts.

3:38 p.m. | Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle connect on big plays, Chase Edmonds runs for a touchdown to give Dolphins lead

Neither the Dolphins nor the Bills could get much going on offense to start the second half. Tyler Bass kicked a 30-yard field goal to give the Bills a 17-14 lead after a 21-play drive took up more than 9 minutes. He missed from 38 yards out to start the fourth quarter.

In response, Jaylen Waddle had catches of 32 and 45 yards to get Miami to the 7-ard line. Chase Edmonds then ran in his second touchdown of the game, this one from 3 yards out. The Dolphins lead the Bills 21-17 with about 10 minutes to go.

2:50 p.m. | Tua Tagovailoa returns after injury to start third quarter

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was back at quarterback to start the second half after a head injury sent him to the locker room with about 2 minutes to go before halftime.

Bills receiver Jake Kumerow has been ruled out with an ankle injury, while tackle Spencer Brown is out with heat illness, the Bills said.

2:20 p.m. | Tua Tagovailoa goes to locker room after hit by Matt Milano; Teddy Bridgewater steps in

Just before the two-minute warning, Tua Tagovailoa took a hit from Bills linebacker Matt Milano that sent him tumbling backward and hitting the back of his head on the turf. He wobbled after getting up, and he walked into the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion. Backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater took over to close the half.

Josh Allen had hit Isaiah McKenzie for an 8-yard touchdown, followed by a long Dolphins drive that ended with a River Cracraft TD catch. The score was 14-14 at the 2-minute warning.

1:45 p.m. | Devin Singletary scores first touchdown, but Jevon Holland strips Josh Allen to set up Chase Edmonds touchdown

The first play of the game was a 28-yard pass from Josh Allen to Stefon Diggs to set up the Bills past midfield. The Dolphins defense stopped a third-and-goal scramble by Allen, but FAU alum Devin Singletary caught a fourth-down pass to put Buffalo up 7-0 to start the game.

After the Dolphins failed to get anything going on offense, the Bills took over again at their own 12-yard line. But Allen fumbled it back after a hit by Jevon Holland, and Melvin Ingram scooped it up to give Miami possession at the 6. Chase Edmonds took a handoff up the middle on third down from 1 yard out to tie the score.

1 p.m. | Von Miller busts out ski mask, Jim Kelly shirt before Dolphins game

Von Miller was one of the big offseason moves the Bills made to set themselves up as Super Bowl favorites. He showed up in the South Florida sun in a full ski mask.

The former Super Bowl MVP also paid homage to legendary Bills quarterback Jim Kelly during pregame warmups. He wore a similaBruce Smith shirt before Monday night's win over the Titans.

12:45 p.m. | Bills Mafia out in force before Dolphins game

The infamous Buffalo Bills fan base has been in South Florida pregaming for days, and the table-smashing fans were reveling in the tailgates before kickoff as only they can.

11:30 a.m. | Buffalo Bills without Jordan Poyer; Miami Dolphins' Raekwon Davis inactive

Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle will be operating against a depleted Bills secondary today.

The Bills have designated safety Jordan Poyer (foot) as inactive, so he joins safety Micah Hyde (neck) and cornerback Dane Jackson (neck) on the sidelines. In addition, cornerback Tre’Davious White is on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury. White and Hyde are Pro Bowl performers.

That puts the onus on rookies Christian Benford and Kaiir Elam, who attended Benjamin.

Buffalo defensive tackle Ed Oliver (ankle) and former Dolphins defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (hamstring) also are out, meaning Tagovailoa might have an extra split second to look for Hill and Waddle.

The Dolphins' inactives include defensive tackle Raekwon Davis (knee), who was questionable. Running back Myles Gaskin is a healthy scratch.

Dolphins inactives

#3 RB Myles Gaskin

#18 WR Erik Ezukanma

#19 QB Skylar Thompson

#82 TE Cethan Carter

#84 TE Hunter Long

#98 DT Raekwon Davis

Bills inactives

#10 WR Khalil Shakir

#21 S Jordan Poyer

#30 CB Dane Jackson

#60 C Mitch Morse

#89 TE Tommy Sweeney

#91 DT Ed Oliver

#97 DT Jordan Phillips

Where and when will the Miami Dolphins play the Buffalo Bills?

Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

When: 1 p.m. Sunday, September 25

How can I watch Dolphins vs. Bills on TV, streaming?

TV: CBS (in local markets), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial), fuboTV (7-day free trial)

Live stream: NFL Sunday Ticket, Paramount+ (7-day free trial), NFL+ (7-day free trial)

How can I listen to Miami Dolphins game on radio?

Radio: WQAM 560; SiriusXM Channel 227

Online radio: SiriusXM.com (Channel 819)

What's the latest betting line for Dolphins vs. Bills?

Buffalo is a 6-point favorite over Miami, according to Oddsshark.com, a betting odds aggregator. The over-under is 52.5 points.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Bills vs. Dolphins score, game recap, highlights from NFL Week 3