Week 14 saw all four of the AFC East’s teams go at each other, and the results were interesting: two clubs are now officially eliminated from playoff contention, one failed to lock up its 10th straight division title, and another pulled off a miracle to come away victoriously. So how did it all happen? Check out this week’s edition of the AFC East Report to find out:
1. New England Patriots (9-4)
Week 14: 34-33 loss against the Miami Dolphins, in Miami Gardens FL
Patriots vs Dolphins game report: Miracle in Miami as Patriots lose 34-33
7 observations from the Patriots 34-33 loss to the Dolphins
Watch the Pats Pulpit Postgame Show from New England’s 34-33 loss live!
The Patriots did not lose against the Dolphins on the game’s final play
“It’s going to test our character”: Patriots react to their last-second loss against the Dolphins
Quick-hit thoughts on the Patriots’ 34-33 loss against the Dolphins: New England isn’t dead yet
5 winners and 15 losers from New England’s 34-33 loss against Miami
The loss against the Dolphins was an all-time low for Bill Belichick’s Patriots
Miami Miracle puts a damper on Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski’s best game of the season
Patriots vs. Dolphins: Fan Notes from the Game
Snap count report: New England continues mixing and matching its secondary
The Patriots’ in-season acquisitions came up big against the Dolphins
How the Patriots allowed the Miracle in Miami to happen
Pats Pulpit Podcast Episode 130: Patriots collapse against the Dolphins
Coping With Loss: Miami Dolphins Edition
Best and worst plays from New England’s 34-33 loss against Miami
To watch highlights of the game, click here.
2. Miami Dolphins (7-6)
Week 14: 34-33 win against the New England Patriots, in Miami Gardens FL
The Phinsider coverage from the game:
Patriots at Dolphins final score, immediate reactions, and recap
Phinsider Radio: Miami Dolphins Win, New England Patriots Suck
To watch highlights of the game, click here.
3. Buffalo Bills (4-9)
Week 14: 27-23 loss against the New York Jets, in Orchard Park NY
The Buffalo Bills controlled most of their week 14 game against the New York Jets, but ultimately made too many mistakes that allowed the visitors to keep the contest close. Buffalo struggled in the red zone, made untimely turnovers, and had major issues in the kicking game. Add it all up, and it comes as no surprise that the team lost 27-23 and is now officially eliminated from playoff contention one year after making the tournament.
The Bills started the game in impressive fashion. After receiving the opening kickoff, rookie quarterback Josh Allen (18/36, 206 yds, 2 INTs) marched the team down the field and capped the 11-play series with a 6-yard touchdown run. The defense opened the contest with a three-and-out, but Buffalo failed to take advantage: Allen was sacked in his own territory which led to a lost fumble and further a Jets field goal.
Buffalo, however, responded in style and went on another long touchdown drive — this one ended with a 15-yard scoring run by Isaiah McKenzie (8 touches, 69 yds, 1 TD). However, a 51-yard kickoff return given up helped the Jets add another field goal to their total to make it a 14-6 game early in the second quarter. The Bills answered with a field goal of their own before the team’s kick coverage unit allowed an 86-yard runback that set up a Jets touchdown.
At that point, the Bills mistakes started to pile up: first, Allen threw an interception, then a field goal attempt by Steven Hauschka (3/5 FGs, 2/2 XPs) was blocked to end the first half on a low note for Buffalo’s special teams. The second, on the other hand, opened with a positive play as Marcus Murphy (1 TKL, 1 FR) recovered a Jets fumble on the opening kickoff. Four plays later Hauschka kicked a field goal to give the Bills a 20-13 lead.
Buffalo registered another takeaway on the very next drive — an interception by Tremaine Edmunds (8 TKLs, 1 INT) — but failed to take advantage. Instead, the defense gave up a game-tying touchdown drive when it returned to the field. Hauschka then missed another field goal, before making his next attempt one series later. With 2:31 left in the game, however, the Bills allowed New York to drive down the field and score the deciding touchdown. Buffalo had 1:17 to answer but Allen’s second interception ended the hopes of a comeback.
To watch highlights of the game, click here.
4. New York Jets (4-9)
Week 14: 27-23 win against the Buffalo Bills, in Orchard Park NY
The New York Jets broke their six-game losing streak on Sunday against the Bills. Todd Bowles’ team made plenty of mistakes but came through in big moments — whether it was on offense, defense and particularly in the kicking game, New York kept the game close before scoring a game-deciding touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Despite the win, however, the Jets have been eliminated from the playoffs for the eighth year in a row.
New York’s game in Buffalo started in the worst possible fashion. After giving up a touchdown drive on the first series of the game, starting quarterback Sam Darnold (16/24, 170 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT) — who missed his team’s previous three games due to a foot injury — headed into the locker room. In the meantime, the Jets defense made a big play when safety Jamal Adams (1 TKL, 1 FR) recovered a fumble that set up a field goal.
Momentum turned back to Bills quickly, however, as the Jets defense surrendered another long touchdown drive after Jason Myers’ (2/2 FGs, 3/3 XPs) three-pointer. New York replied well: first, returnman Andre Roberts (5/176 yds) ran back a kickoff 51 yards before Darnold returned to the field to lead his team to another field goal. After Buffalo added one of its own, it was Roberts who again turned field position in a major way when he return the subsequent kickoff 86 yards.
Two plays after the long runback, Trent Cannon (5/3 yds, 1 TD) scored the Jets’ first touchdown of the day. The team made two more big plays before the half — an interception by Trumaine Johnson (3 TKLs, 2 INTs) and a field goal block by Henry Anderson (4 TKLs, 0.5 SKs, 1 BLK) — but the score remained 17-13 in the Bills’ favor at the half. Buffalo quickly added three more points to the score board in the third quarter before Darnold threw his lone interception of the day.
Luckily for the Jets, the Bills were unable to capitalize on the takeaway, which in turn allowed New York to tie the game early in the fourth quarter on a touchdown pass from Darnold to Robby Anderson (4/76 yds, 1 TD). And even though Buffalo added a field goal late in the fourth period, Gang Green came away victoriously: with 2:31 left in the game, Darnold led his troops on a 9-play, 61-yard drive that was capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Elijah McGuire (17/60 yds, 1 TD). Buffalo’s comeback attempt ended with Trumaine Johnson’s second pick of the day.
To watch highlights of the game, click here.