SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 23, 2012
Dolphins 24, Bills 10: Reggie Bush scored three touchdowns and Miami's sixth-ranked defense did the rest on the way to the AFC East win over visiting Buffalo.
Bush, who entered the game with eight touchdowns on the season, caught a pair of scoring passes from Ryan Tannehill - including a nifty over-the-shoulder grab past two defenders in the third quarter. He finished with 107 all-purpose yards for the Dolphins (7-8), who were eliminated from the playoffs after Cincinnati defeated Pittsburgh.
Miami never trailed en route to its second straight win, getting a 17-yard scoring pass from Tannehill to Bush in the first quarter that capped a nine-play, 62-yard drive.
The Bills (5-10), who will miss the playoffs for the 13th straight year, got on the board on a 42-yard field goal by Rian Lindell. But Bush scored from a yard out late in the second quarter to give Miami a 14-3 lead it carried into the half. Nate Kaeding, replacing the injured Dan Carpenter, kicked a 45-yard field goal to increase the lead to 24-3 in the third quarter.
Ryan Fitzpatrick connected with Brad Smith on a 2-yard TD pass to cut the deficit to 24-10 midway through the fourth quarter but the Bills didn't get any closer.
GAME NOTEBOOK: C Eric Wood started for Buffalo, just two weeks after undergoing medial collateral ligament surgery. ... The Dolphins were without starters WR Davone Bess, LB Koa Misi and CB Nolan Carroll. Running back Daniel Thomas was placed on the IR earlier in the week. ... Fitzpatrick finished 20-for-35 for 240 yards. Tannehill completed 13 of 25 passes for 130 yards.