Bills vs. Dolphins: Score and Twitter Reaction for Thursday Night Football

Considering the depth of the AFC, Thursday's battle between the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills almost felt like an elimination game.

It's far too early to know if that's true, but Miami put itself in a much better position to play January football, using a stout defensive effort to earn a critical 22-9 win.

Outside of a pair of fumbles, it was a crisp, comprehensive effort from Joe Philbin's team on a short week. Ryan Tannehill threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns, Lamar Miller ran for 86 yards on 5.7 yards per carry and the defense held Buffalo to just 237 total yards and three field goals.

Despite the victory, Ryan Tannehill still expects more from the Miami offense, via Dave Hyde of the Sun Sentinel:

As ESPN Stats & Info mentioned, it's been a while since Miami has experienced this type of success through this point in the season:

While the first half featured just nine total points, it was about as clean of a half of football as you'll see. Both teams methodically moved the ball with a strong running game and short, conservative passing game, resulting in just five total drives (not counting Buffalo's one kneel-down) and one punt.

Throw in just four total penalties, and as WGR 550's Joe Buscaglia noted, the half was over in a flash:

The only major difference between the teams? One of Miami's two red-zone trips ended when Jerry Hughes chased down Tannehill and forced a fumble, while both of Buffalo's long drives resulted in field goals.

The crucial play was the latest in what has been a rejuvenating season for Hughes, who struggled to make an impact in Indianapolis. NFL.com's Ian Rapoport and Pro Football Focus' Pete Damilatis touched on that:

After a pair of punts to begin the second half, Buffalo put together another lengthy drive but once again fizzled out in Miami territory, settling for Dan Carpenter's third field goal to make it 9-3.

The Bills' red-zone efficiency has been a real problem this season, and although that drive didn't quite make it inside the 20, it extended an ugly streak, per ESPN's Mike Rodak:

And later, it got even worse:

Unsurprisingly, the missed opportunities would come back to haunt the Bills, as the Dolphins gained control and reeled off 19 consecutive points between the third and fourth quarters.

Sandwiched between Tannehill touchdown throws to Brandon Gibson and Jarvis Landry was the most controversial play of the game. Kyle Orton was flagged for intentional grounding in his own end zone, resulting in a safety.

Orton, under immediate pressure, lobbed one in the direction of Sammy Watkins, who had broken his route in the opposite direction of the ball. There was plenty of disagreement as to whether it was the correct call:

Ultimately, though, it didn't make much of a difference.

The Bills got the ball back when Landry fumbled the ensuing kick, but a poor series resulting in a missed field goal turned it right over to the Dolphins. From there, Miami dominated on both sides of the ball, controlling possession and securing the crucial home win.

NFL.com's Jeff Darlington found an appropriate comparison for this Dolphins squad:

While catching the New England Patriots—or Teddy KGB, using Darlington's analogy—in the East may still prove too difficult, the Dolphins remain right in the thick of the wild-card picture at 6-4.

If this red-hot defense, which has allowed 11.2 points per game over its last five, can find a way to slow down Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in Week 12, it will be clear Miami is a real contender.

As for the 5-5 Bills, they aren't yet eliminated, but it's beginning to look like the league's longest current playoff drought is going to be extended by one more year.