Taylor Looks Like A Keeper As Bills Drub Dolphins 41-14
STEVEN WINE, AP Sports Writer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Rex Ryan says the verdict is in on his first-year starter at quarterback, Tyrod Taylor.
"This kid's legit," Ryan said.
Taylor looked the part Sunday, throwing for 277 yards and three scores to help the Buffalo Bills rout the Miami Dolphins, 41-14.
Buffalo led 27-0 at halftime and went on to hand Miami its most lopsided loss in a home opener, according to STATS. The Dolphins are trying to celebrate their 50th season, but so far they've given their fans little to cheer.
Miami (1-2), which began the season with high hopes of ending a seven-year playoff drought, fell into last place in the AFC East with its second consecutive loss. Buffalo (2-1) seems headed in the other direction after bouncing back from a dismal loss at home to New England.
Here are five things to know about the 99th regular-season meeting between AFC East rivals:
TAYLOR-MADE WIN: Making his first career start on the road, Taylor went 21 for 29 with no turnovers and no sacks. His touchdown passes covered 25 yards to Charles Clay, 10 yards to LeSean McCoy and 38 yards to Chris Hogan.
Buffalo has scored 100 points in Taylor's three starts.
"We know he's legit," Ryan said. "When the protection holds up, this kid can burn you."
Taylor is the first Bills quarterback with at least seven touchdown passes and a completion percentage of at least 70 through Week 3 since Jim Kelly in 1991, according to STATS.
BACK IN MIAMI: Among those playing key roles in the victory were former Dolphins Clay, Richie Incognito and Chris Hogan.
Clay signed as a free agent with Buffalo after four years in the Dolphins. Incognito played in Miami for the first time since his career was derailed for a year and a half when he was implicated in the Dolphins' bullying scandal.
"The last game I played on this field and everything that went down after it — definitely it left a bad taste in my mouth," Incognito said.
Hogan, a backup receiver, added a final insult when he caught a 38-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. He was a training camp sensation for the Dolphins in 2013, earning the nickname 7-Eleven because he was always open.
"This is where I started," he said, "so I had to live up to it."
MIAMI REACTION: Coach Joe Philbin and his players agreed the Dolphins are at a crossroads. They play Sunday in London against another AFC East rival, the New York Jets.
"We're either going to stick together or not," Philbin said. "We'll see what kind of a team we have."
Tight end Jordan Cameron agreed.
"We're going to find out a lot about each other, a lot about this team this week," he said. "This is pretty low. It's as low as you can get."
WOUNDED: The only negative for the Bills was injuries. They lost receiver Sammy Watkins with a right calf injury and guard John Miller with a groin injury.
VIP FAN: The crowd included billionaire Warren Buffett, who hung out before the game on the Dolphins sideline wearing a No. 93 Ndamukong Suh jersey and, for a laugh, shoulder pads. He stayed until the finish — unlike many fans. The stadium was mostly deserted in the fourth quarter.
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