MIAMI — The Buffalo Payments turned defensive again Ja’Marcus Ingram’s first profession interception into an early lead over the Miami Dolphins on “Thursday Night time Soccer.”
The primary-quarter landing got here on a 17-yard cross from quarterback Josh Allen to operating again James Cook dinner on fourth-and-3 after the Payments took a timeout earlier than the play.
The Payments used pre-snap movement to place vast receiver Curtis Samuel within the backfield behind Allen, whereas Cook dinner moved from the quarterback’s left to his proper. Cook dinner then ran to the left facet, caught the cross vast open and ran down the sideline to the tip zone.
F̶o̶u̶r̶t̶h̶ ̶d̶o̶w̶n̶.
TOUCHDOWN!📺 #BUFvsMIA: @PrimeVideo pic.twitter.com/Sc70eORpJG
— Buffalo Payments (@BuffaloBills) September 13, 2024
The play capped a six-play, 37-yard drive that got here after Ingram introduced the Dolphins’ first drive of the sport to an early finish. Ingram is taking part in within the staff’s dime bundle, with Cam Lewis beginning at nickel nook for the injured Taron Johnson (forearm).
With the throw, Allen reached 226 profession landing passes, passing Dan Marino and Peyton Manning (225) for the second most in a participant’s first seven seasons. The Payments scored a landing on their opening drive in simply three video games final season (and went 2-1 in these video games).
Cook dinner continued to surge within the second quarter, first scoring on a 1-yard handoff from Allen to increase Buffalo’s result in 17-7 with 6:25 left within the second quarter.
The very subsequent time the Payments acquired the ball, Cook dinner scored once more to place Buffalo up 24-7 with 3:36 left within the first half. This time, Cook dinner obtained the handoff, went up the center after which was off, operating down the suitable sideline. Former Payments security Jordan Poyer tried to sort out Cook dinner as he ran down the sector, however nobody else got here shut. Cook dinner then flipped into the tip zone and threw the ball deep into the stands.
Cookin’ up his THIRD TD of the evening 🔥#BUFvsMIA on Prime Video
Additionally streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/hPFdtSTyK8— NFL (@NFL) September 13, 2024
The 49-yard landing was the longest rush by a Payments participant since Devin Singletary had a 51-yard rating towards the Denver Broncos in 2020. Within the first half, Cook dinner had 5 carries for 60 yards and the first-quarter landing catch for 17 yards.
The Payments scored factors on 4 of the their 5 drives within the first half. Cook dinner scored all three touchdowns — two dashing and one receiving, after not scoring within the season-opening win towards Arizona. His two dashing touchdowns equal his complete from every of the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Cook dinner is the third Payments participant up to now 30 years to attain three touchdowns in a primary half, all of whom did so towards the Dolphins (Lee Evans in Week 13 in 2005, Isaiah McKenzie in Week 17 in 2020).
