MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Josh Allen threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Dawson Knox midway through the fourth quarter and the Buffalo Bills defeated the Miami Dolphins 21-14 on Sunday night for the fourth straight season. Won the AFC East title. .
Allen made things difficult for the Bills by committing three turnovers in the Miami area, but he came through in the end and helped Buffalo earn the No. 2 seed in the conference. The Bills, who didn’t qualify for the playoffs until Tennessee beat Jacksonville earlier Sunday, will host seventh-seeded Pittsburgh in Sunday’s wild-card round.
As of mid-November, Buffalo was 5-5 and faced long odds to make the playoffs, but they entered the game on a roll, winning five straight and six of seven games.
Miami, which advanced to the postseason with a win over Dallas in Week 16, drops to the No. 6 seed and will face AFC West champion Kansas City on Saturday night.
The Bills dominated the period of possession, outscoring Miami by nearly 200 yards, but Buffalo trailed 14-7 when Deonte Harty returned a punt 96 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
Buffalo forced a three-and-out, and Allen directed an eight-play, 74-yard drive that culminated with a 5-yard toss to Knox with 7:16 left.
Miami had one last chance, but Taylor Rapp intercepted Tua Tagovailoa on a pass intended for Chase Claypool with 1:13 left.
Allen completed 30 of 38 for 359 yards and two TDs. He was intercepted on consecutive drives to lead off the game and wasted another scoring chance when he completed a pass. Ty Johnson allowed time to expire in front of the goal line at the end of the first half.
This high-stakes matchup had a rough start for both teams.
Bills: WR Gabe Davis left the game in the second quarter with what appeared to be a non-contact left knee injury and did not return. … LB Tyrell Dodson is out with a shoulder injury. …CB Rasul Douglas (knee) left in the second quarter. …RB Ty Johnson did not return after halftime due to a concussion.
