The Dolphins' most complete game of the season isn't good enough as they lose to the Bills again

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Calais Campbell and the Miami Dolphins took little solace in the realization that their most complete performance of the season wasn't good enough.

A 30-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday It wasn't the first time the Dolphins came up short against their AFC East rival. But this game might be a little more painful given the circumstances: Miami lost by a field goal in the final seconds for the second straight week, falling to 2-6.

Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins faced Josh Allen and the Bills back and forth in the second half, only to watch Buffalo's Tyler Bass set a franchise record 61-yard field goal with 5 seconds left.

“It's like, damn, this really hurts because we're probably not on the field anymore, enough time to win a ballgame,” Campbell said.

“However, there are no moral victories in this game. That's probably the best we've ever played as a team, but it wasn't enough. And that’s heartbreaking,” he added. “I would have liked that. I think that would have been huge for us. We played a lot of good ball out there today, but a few plays here, a few plays there, it wasn’t enough.”

Tagovailoa had the most efficient outing of his career, completing 89% of his passes (25 of 28 for 235 yards). Miami scored 27 points for the second straight game after failing to reach the 20 mark in its first six games. And the Dolphins' defense limited Buffalo to two field goals and forced an interception on the Bills' first three trips into the red zone.

However, leave it to the Bills to extend their dominance over the Dolphins by winning their sixth straight meeting, their 13th of 14 (including playoffs) and their ninth straight home game on December 24, 2016.

“No matter where we play them, here or at Hard Rock (Stadium), we have to find a way to beat them. That’s it,” Tagovailoa said.

Barring an unlikely playoff meeting, that opportunity will have to wait until next year. Miami has no margin for error as it seeks a third straight postseason appearance.

“There is growth and you make sure you emphasize that because you want it to stay that way,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “So this is going to hurt, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing in the grand scheme of things. It just depends on what you do with it.”

Miami was plagued by familiar problems.

After blowing a 10-point lead in their last two games, the Dolphins were unable to maintain a 10-6 halftime lead or a 13-12 lead in the third quarter.

Running back Raheem Mostert lost a fumble on Miami's first possession of the second half. Miami's defense couldn't stop Buffalo from scoring touchdowns after three straight possessions in the second half. And two penalties helped extend the Bills' decisive lead.

Chop Robinson was caught offside on third-and-14 play from the Buffalo 26. On the next snap, former Bills safety Jordan Poyer was charged with unnecessary roughness after hitting receiver Keon Coleman helmet-to-helmet on Allen's deep attempt down the left sideline.

“I just play football. I thought it was a clean game. I felt like I put my helmet right into his chest,” Poyer said. “Apparently the referee didn’t think so, so they said so. It is what it is, it is not what it is not.”

McDaniel looked to the future and how the Dolphins can build on their performance as they prepare to visit the Los Angeles Rams for a Monday night game next week.

“I think the team recognizes that they played better football. So the challenge is whether that helps you or hurts you,” McDaniel said. “And I really believe in all the guys in the locker room making sure that you have to take it as it is, even if it's difficult, and carry that growth over to the next opponent.”

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