Bills @ Dolphins First Half Recap and Overflow Thread

The Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills have reached half time of their Week 11 AFC East showdown.

The Dolphins opened the game with the ball, looking to start fast against the team that beat them in Week 2. They successfully were able to move the ball down the field, working through the air, highlighted by a 32-yard catch and run from Damien Williams on a pass from quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The driver, however, would stall at the Buffalo 20-yard line and Miami would settle for a 38-yard field goal from Caleb Sturgis.

After going 68 yards, only to take a 3-0 lead, Miami's offense watched as the Bills mirrored the drive almost perfectly. Buffalo quarterback Kyle Orton took to the air to attack Miami's defense, including multiple first down conversions from Orton to former Dolphins wide receiver Chris Hogan. Just like Miami, the Bills would settle for a field goal, tying the game at 3, and nearly matching Miami by moving 67 yards on the drive.

Hogan, who would gain notoriety during the Dolphins appearance on HBO's Hard Knocks where he was given the nickname 7-11 for being "always open," recorded four receptions for 40 yards in the half.

The Dolphins would again drive the field on their next possession, and again reach the red zone. On the sixth play, Tannehill attempted to run out of pressure, but would get hit from behind and fumble the ball. The Bills would recover, Tannehill's first lost fumble in his last 19 games, ending a 67-yard drive from the Dolphins.

Buffalo would take control of the ball at their own 12-yard line and again find success moving the ball against the league's fourth ranked defense. And 85-yard drive would end in the Bills settling for their second field goal of the game, with former Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter connecting to give Buffalo a 6-3 lead in the second quarter.

Now trailing, Miami's offense would take the field and look to put the first touchdown on the board. It wouldn't work out that way, though, as the Dolphins would stall after moving 39 yards, with Brandon Fields punting the ball away.

After Miami's Will Davis pinned the ball inside the five yard line, Orton took a knee and killed the first half clock.

Miami trails 6-3 at halftime.