Sports

Phillips penalty hurts as Bills lose to Dolphins 21-17

WBFO-FM 88.7 | By Associated Press

Published December 3, 2018 at 5:24 AM EST

Coach Sean McDermott: “I thought we had a good chance to win the game on our final drive. It’s tough to swallow because we had opportunities to win this game.” ";s:3:

Jordan Phillips drew a costly penalty for taunting his former team, setting up a touchdown with nine minutes left that helped the Miami Dolphins rally past the Buffalo Bills 21-17 on Sunday.

Miami turned away two Bills drives down the stretch, and Charles Clay almost caught Josh Allen's desperation fourth-down pass with a diving attempt at the goal line in the final minute.

Allen threw for 231 yards and ran for 135 to set a franchise record for rushing yards by a quarterback for the second week in a row. Buffalo lost despite outgaining Miami 415-175.

The Dolphins (6-6) snapped a two-game losing streak and won for only the third time since Week 3, helping their slim playoff chances. The Bills (4-8) will play their customary role of spoilers in the final weeks, assured of finishing at .500 or worse for the 16th time in the past 19 years.

Phillips had said he wanted to settle old scores after being released by the Dolphins in Week 5, but his eagerness to get the last word backfired.

Miami was trying to rally from a three-point deficit when Phillips tackled Kenyan Drake for a 4-yard loss deep in Bills territory. Phillips then rose, pushed Drake's leg away and drew a 15-yard penalty for taunting.

QB Josh Allen: “This one hurts because we were one play away from winning. I had missed opportunities on my end and I have to clean those up.

One play later, the Bills stopped Miami for another loss, and Phillips applauded in the direction of the Dolphins' bench. Bills coaches then took him out of the game, and he watched from the sideline as Ryan Tannehill hit Kenny Stills with a 13-yard scoring pass for a 21-17 lead.

Allen then drove the Bills to the Miami 23 before he was sacked on consecutive plays, and Stephen Hauschka missed a 55-yard field goal attempt. The Bills drove 65 yards in the final 2 1/2 minutes but again came up short.

Buffalo's rookie quarterback threw touchdown passes of 15 and 25 yards to Zay Jones, and the duo also connected on a two-point conversion. But Allen was intercepted twice by Xavien Howard and twice missed open receivers for potential scores.

A muffed punt by the Bills' Isaiah McKenzie led to the Dolphins' second touchdown, which put them ahead 14-6.