SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 18, 2011
Brandon Marshall had a season-long 65-yard touchdown reception and Reggie Bush rushed for a career high 203 yards as the visiting Miami Dolphins downed the Buffalo Bills 30-23 on Sunday.
Todd Bowles won his first game as interim head coach and the Dolphins (5-9) earned the season sweep over the Bills (5-9), losers of seven straight. Bowles replaced Tony Sparano, who was fired earlier this week.
Quarterback Matt Moore found Marshall with a perfect deep pass on the Dolphins’ first possession of the second half. The catch, giving Miami a 20-7 lead, pushed Marshall over 1,000 yards for the fifth consecutive season. He finished with three receptions for 84 yards and a TD.
After Ryan Spiller’s 3-yard scoring pass pulled Buffalo within 23-13 in the fourth quarter, Bush broke free for a 76-yard touchdown run to secure the Miami win.
With his third consecutive 100-yard game, Bush has 973 rushing yards, far surpassing his previous high of 581 yards.
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a late TD pass and Buffalo recovered the onside kick that led to a 34-yard field goal in the dying minutes to make it interesting, but Miami recovered a second onside attempt to quash the rally.
Miami overcame a 7-0 first-quarter deficit on the opening play of the second quarter. Moore hit rookie Charles Clay for a 30-yard catch and run before finding a wide-open Anthony Fasano for a 22-yard TD.
Moore finished 10 of 20 for 217 yards and two TDs. Fitzpatrick threw for 318 yards but was picked off three times.