Here are my hot reads from the Buffalo Bills' 31-28 victory against the Miami Dolphins Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
Hottest topic
Just when you thought things couldn't get any more bizarre during this NFL season being played under Covid-19 rules that keep stadiums empty or mostly empty, there was what took place in this game.
Nothing like a good, old-fashioned power outage to cause an impromptu television blackout ... or a lightning storm to force a 32-minute delay.
Here's what remained the same for the Bills, though: Josh Allen's big-time play.
The power outage shut down a sizeable chunk of CBS' television coverage in the first half. Then, there was the delay, early in the second half, because of lightning in the area of the stadium.
People are also reading…
But none of that could stop Allen from firmly establishing himself as the franchise answer for the Bills. After having his first 300-yard passing game in last week's win against the New York Jets, Allen outdid himself with a 417-yard, four-touchdown performance against the Dolphins. He completed 24 of 35 passes and finished with a passer rating of 147.
Long-ball accuracy issues? Allen buried that talking point with a 47-yard completion and a pair of 46-yarders. Once again, Stefon Diggs was the primary playmaker, catching eight passes on 13 targets for 153 yards and a touchdown.
For the second week in a row, Allen distributed the ball to eight receivers, and threw two of his touchdowns to rookies: tight end Reggie Gilliam and receiver Gabe Davis.
Well done
The Bills driving 97 yards on 11 plays for a touchdown on their second possession. Allen gave a preview of the kind of day he would have. He had throws of 26 yards to Diggs, 15 to John Brown and 26 to Cole Beasley. Allen delivered the first his TD passes to rookie tight end Reggie Gilliam.
Allen continued to show great command on the Bills' second scoring drive. A 46-yard connection with Isaiah McKenzie set up Allen's 22-yard scoring throw to Diggs to make it 14-7 early in the second quarter.
Sean McDermott showing confidence in rookie kicker Tyler Bass, who, after missing two field goals last Sunday, nailed his first try against the Dolphins, from 39 yards, to make it 17-7 late in the first half.
The defense being able to generally weather the absences of injured linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano. Tyrel Dodson had a solid day.
After leaving the field briefly with a leg injury, defensive tackle Ed Oliver showed tremendous quickness and power in stuffing Jordan Howard on first-and-goal. That began an impressive goal-line stand that ended with a dropped pass by the Dolphins on fourth down.
Ice cold
Before he left the game with a concussion, tight end Dawson Knox fumbled in Miami territory after connecting with Allen for a 38-yard gain. The Dolphins didn't do anything with the turnover, but that was the Bills' third fumble in two games and the lone turnover of the game.
Knox having a ball muscled out of his hands for an incompletion in Miami territory late in the first half. It looked like a catch the big, powerful tight end should have been able to make.
Setting the table
After back-to-back AFC East wins, the Bills return home to take on the first NFC opponent on their schedule, the Los Angeles Rams.
