Damar Hamlin was on the other end of a serious injury in prime time on Thursday night.
On a terrible night for the Miami Dolphins, a crushing 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills included a concussion for the quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa in the third quarter. The hit that caused Tagovailoa's concussion came after a tackle by Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who suffered cardiac arrest on the field in January 2023.
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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) receives assistance on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Tua had passed for just 145 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions before the injury, as Miami fell into a 31-10 hole.
With Tagovailoa out, Dolphins backup Skylar Thompson came in and failed to lead a touchdown drive. His first drive ended with a sack on a critical fourth down in Buffalo territory.
Second-year running back De'Von Achane's performance was one of the few bright spots for Miami. Achane was questionable with an ankle issue before the game, but he looked completely healthy on the field. He finished the game with 96 rushing yards, 69 receiving yards and the Dolphins' only touchdown.
DOLPHINS' TUA TAGOVAILOA CONSIDERED RETIRING 'FOR A WHILE' AFTER MULTIPLE CONCUSSIONS
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
The Bills, on the other hand, left with plenty to be happy about.
Quarterback Josh Allen has proven he can lead an explosive offense without wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who left in the offseason to join the Houston Texans. Diggs was Allen’s primary target on the outside during Buffalo’s run of playoff seasons from 2020 to 2023. Fellow wide receiver Gabe Davis also left the team this offseason.
But now Allen has found reliable targets in Khalil Shakir and Ty Davis in the first two games of the season.
Buffalo running back James Cook was a force on the ground against Miami, rushing for 78 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 7.1 yards per carry.
The Bills have beaten the Dolphins in 12 of their last 13 meetings. It's one of the most lopsided chapters in the rivalry's history and has been particularly cruel to Miami's playoff teams under head coach Mike McDaniel.
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) looks to pass the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
The Dolphins lost to the Bills in the first round of the 2022 playoffs after blowing the division lead. Then last season, with a chance to win the division in Week 18 against the Bills, Miami lost 21-14 and fell out of a wild-card spot.
And for all the motivation from that recent history, the Dolphins were once again nearly blanked Thursday night, losing their quarterback in the process.
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