What we learned from the Bills' Week 9 win over the Dolphins

The Buffalo Bills continued their 2024 schedule with a 30-27 win in Week 9 over the Miami Dolphins.

The Bills (7-2) needed a full team effort to fend off a hungry Dolphins team (2-6) that was trying to turn the season around. Ultimately, all the Bills needed was a long field goal to make it at home.

After two stunning wins in a row, Buffalo was certainly tested by its division rival. As the season progresses, we learn more and more about this year's Bills team.

Here are five things we learned from the win over the Dolphins in Week 9:

Tyler Bass' morale is at an all-time high

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Kicker Tyler Bass played the hero role for the Bills in Week 9. His 61-yarder with five seconds left proved game-winning. Not only was it a lifelong career for Bass, but it also broke a Bills franchise record previously held by Steve Christie (59 yards in 1993).

Given Bass' inconsistency of late, the boost proved huge for his morale and the team as a whole. After receiving the game ball after the game, Bass became emotional as he talked about his teammates supporting him through the ups and downs.

The defense was shattered

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The Bills defense had a tough time. Through the air, Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was 25 of 28 and took only one sack. And on the ground, running backs De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert averaged more than five yards per carry.

If it weren't for a few red zone stops and a crucial forced fumble from Buffalo cornerback Taron Johnson, we could be having a different conversation about both the Bills and Dolphins this week.

After all, this was a desperate Dolphins team that always had the potential to explode on offense. Expect Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich to get the defense in order going forward.

Ray Davis keeps blinking

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Running back Ray Davis continues to make the most of his opportunities in his rookie year. On the ground, Davis averaged five yards per pop on his four carries in Week 9. But his real influence came through the air.

He caught two passes for 70 yards, one of which was a 63-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown. That's 90 yards from scrimmage on just six touches.

His long touchdown gave the Bills a seven-point lead late in the third quarter:

RAY DAVIS. 63-yard TD for the lead!

📺: #MIAvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/N5btgphjZ2

– NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024

Allen still owns Miami

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Bills quarterback Josh Allen took a few big hits and missed a few throws, but ultimately controlled the game the entire game. He was 25 of 39 passing for 235 yards and scored three passing touchdowns and one interception.

If receiver Keon Coleman hadn't made a drop deep in the red zone that resulted in an interception, he would have had four touchdowns and zero picks.

He didn't have to put on the cape and be Superman often, but he did it when the offense needed it. At the end of the first half, he slipped to gain 14 yards on a 3rd-and-12, and he also made a notable touchdown throw to tight end Quintin Morris while being tackled by two defenders:

HOW DID JOSH ALLEN GET THAT 😱

Quintin Morris +1900 anytime TD ✅

pic.twitter.com/wouqQsa8Sm

– Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) November 3, 2024

Win in different ways

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This was by no means an easy day for the Bills. The Dolphins had their backs against the wall as they prepared, even though it was only Week 9. For them it was almost a must-win game and they played like that.

They had more first downs than the Bills (26-24), more total yards (373-325), more yards per game (6.2-5.5), more time of possession (31:53-28:07) and them converted better in the red area (3/4-2/5).

Buffalo has become accustomed to overwhelming teams on both offense and defense. In this case, they won differently. They only had four penalties, forced a crucial turnover when they needed it, and special teams came through great.