NFL Week 8 review: Buffalo Bills defeat Miami Dolphins to retain control of AFC East division
The Buffalo Bills beat divisional rivals the Miami Dolphins 26-11 in the NFL to maintain their control of the AFC East.
After a tight first half, Josh Allen threw touchdowns to Gabriel Davis and Stefon Diggs in the third quarter to break the game open.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa ran in a score to cut the deficit to 17-11 but Allen’s seven-yard touchdown run ensured the Bills improved to 5-2.
There was a shock win for another AFC East team as the New York Jets came from behind to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 34-31.
The Bengals have been the NFL’s surprise package and led 31-20 in the fourth quarter as Joe Burrow threw for three touchdowns to extend his streak of games with two or more to eight – a franchise record and tied with Miami Dolphins great Dan Marino for the longest run to start a player’s second season in the league.
But Mike White, in for the injured Zach Wilson, threw his second and third touchdowns to Ty Johnson and ex-Bengal Tyler Kroft and caught a two-point conversion to turn the game around and lift the Jets to 2-5.
Elsewhere in the Bengals’ competitive AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 15-10 thanks to Najee Harris’ 91 rushing yards and a touchdown and Pat Freiermuth’s juggled touchdown catch.
The Carolina Panthers won 19-13 against an Atlanta Falcons side missing receiver Calvin Ridley for personal reasons.
Ridley, who also missed the London game against the Jets in week five, announced his decision to “step away from football at this time and focus on (his) mental wellbeing” after he was inactive once more for the NFC South divisional match-up.
Four Zane Gonzalez field goals and a Chuba Hubbard touchdown run secured the Panthers’ win.
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo scored two running touchdowns as the San Francisco 49ers beat the Chicago Bears 33-22 despite a breathtaking touchdown run by his opposite number Justin Fields.
The Tennessee Titans beat AFC South rivals the Indianapolis Colts 34-31 in overtime, Randy Bullock with the winning field goal after Kevin Byard’s interception of Carson Wentz.
The Detroit Lions suffered a seventh straight defeat, 44-6 to the Philadelphia Eagles as Boston Scott and Jordan Howard ran in two touchdowns apiece.
Fellow strugglers the Houston Texans also suffered another heavy defeat to fall to 1-6. They trailed 38-0 to the Los Angeles Rams – whose receiver Cooper Kupp racked up 115 yards and his 10th touchdown of the season – before three largely meaningless fourth-quarter touchdowns gave the scoreline a veneer of respectability.
The New Orleans Saints held off Tom Brady and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a late interception to emerge 36-27 victors, while young quarterback Justin Fields ran for a 22-yard touchdown as his Chicago Bears came close but ultimately lost 33-22 to the San Francisco 49ers.
The New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 27-24 to move to 4-4 on the season, the Seattle Seahawks blew away the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-7, the Denver Broncos went 17-10 over Washington and the Dallas Cowboys were 20-16 winners over the Minnesota Vikings.