The Miami Dolphins received the opening kickoff in the second half. RB Reggie Bush began the drive by rushing to the right for an 11 yard gain, but Miami was unable to score on the drive and P Brandon Fields punted the ball 56 yards, pinning the Buffalo Bills on their own 4 yard line.
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick drives the Bills, but is stalled. P Brian Moorman comes out for a punt. On the play, S Chris Clemons blocks the punt, which rolls into the end zone where RB Lex Hilliard recovers the ball for a Dolphins touchdown. One note from the Bills drive is how closely Dolphins CB Vontae Davis has been covering Bills WR Steve Johnson all afternoon. Johnson has not been able to get open much and has been quiet for most of the game.
On the ensuing possession, the Bills drive the ball down the field to the Dolphins 19 yard line. The field is starting to get slippery from the rain and defenders are laying bigger hits on receivers than earlier in the game. Dolphins S Yeremiah Bell stopped Bills WR Naaman Roosevelt in his tracks over the middle after a Roosevelt catch and, later in the same drive, LB Kevin Burnett hit TE Scott Chandler after the catch, knocking off Chandler’s helmet. On 4th and 14 and down by 29, Fitzpatrick was sacked and stripped by LB Jason Taylor, ending the Bills drive.
Dolphins took over deep in their own territory and punted the ball to RB C.J. Spiller, who took the ball from his own six yard line and returned it 45 yards into Dolphins territory. Fitzpatrick completed a pass to Roosevelt for a first down. On second down, Fitzpatrick found Chandler crossing the middle of the field and set up a 1st and goal on the 2 yard line. Spiller ran up the middle for a one yard gain and the quarter ended.
As the weather has taken a turn for the worse, the Dolphins offense has not been as effective as earlier in the game. But the Dolphins defense has continued its domination of a Bills offense that has struggled to put points on the board.
Score at the end of third quarter: Dolphins 35, Bills 6