Dolphins vs. Bills final score, results: Buffalo clinches playoff berth with walk-off field goal in snow

Kevin Skiver

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Dolphins vs. Bills final score, results: Buffalo clinches playoff berth with walk-off field goal in snow image

Some games can be described with one simple word: fun.

From snowballs in the first half to a late-game snowstorm, Buffalo weather showed up in time to make things interesting. The Bills rallied to beat the Dolphins 32-29 on Tyler Bass walk-off field goal. The kick clinched an AFC playoff spot for the Bills (11-3).

The teams played true to themselves in this game. Raheem Mostert had 100 yards rushing in the first quarter for the Dolphins, while Josh Allen had 217 yards passing at halftime. But both defenses were able to make enough plays to keep the game tight.

MORE: Updated NFL standings, playoff picture for Week 15

The implications of this win go beyond the Bills clinching a playoff berth. It all but wraps up the AFC East barring a collapse, and it keeps Buffalo on pace to ensure that the playoffs go through Orchard Park. Anyone who saw the end of this game will understand how intimidating that prospect is.

Allen finished 25 of 40 for 304 yards and four touchdowns, while Miami's Tua Tagovailoa was 17 of 30 for 234 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Mostert finished with 17 carries for 136 yards, but the Dolphins couldn't lean on him as much as they wanted, because they didn't take a lead until the third quarter.

Allen tacked on another 77 yards rushing, including a 44-yard run that led to the Bills' game-tying touchdown and 2-point conversion.

MORE: NFL Twitter slams Bills' Cam Lewis for key roughing the punter penalty vs. Dolphins

Nothing about this win came easy for the Bills, but if nothing else, the offense looked as consistent as it has in weeks. Now, they have a playoff berth off which to build.

The Sporting News provided live updates and highlights from Dolphins vs. Bills. Follow below for the moments you may have missed in the Week 15 Saturday finale.

Dolphins vs. Bills score

  1  2 3 4 F 
Dolphins 3 10 13 3 29
Bills 7 14 0 11 32

Dolphins vs. Bills live updates, highlights from Saturday night game

(All times Eastern.)

11:44 p.m. -- The Bills go out and try to clear the spot as much as possible ahead of this kick. Two seconds left. Bass from 25 for the win... It's good! The Bills win to clinch the playoffs. Bills 32, Dolphins 29. 

11:41 p.m. -- The Dolphins tried to let Singletary score there, but he gave himself up before scoring when he realized what was happening. This game is going to rest on the leg of Tyler Bass.

11:38 p.m. -- The Dolphins brought heat on third-and-8 there and Allen heaved one downfield for McKenzie. A flag comes out for what could be a game-deciding call. It's pass interference on Miami, and it'll be the Bills first-and-10 from the Dolphins' 13.

11:36 p.m. -- Singletary is running tough down the stretch here. He powers ahead for seven yards and another first down, then he runs for four more. Buffalo looks like they're ready to test their kicking game in this weather.

11:34 p.m. -- We hit the two-minute warning with another run up the middle for the Bills. A thrilling finish is brewing in Buffalo.

11:32 p.m. -- The Bills go a bit more conservative given the weather on these last two plays. They run twice and then hit McKenzie on third down to get first-and-10 just short of midfield. 2:30 left.

11:30 p.m. -- Allen and the Bills found themselves in second-and-17 following a sack, but Allen hits Davis in front of the sticks for 15. Third-and-2 incoming, and Allen hits Diggs over the middle for a first down.

11:29 p.m. -- The Dolphins' third-down pass falls incomplete and they have to punt. The Bills start from their own seven, and Allen finds Davis at the 20 for a first down.

11:26 p.m. -- On this ensuing Miami drive, Cedrick Wilson Jr. makes an awesome catch on a pass from Tagovailoa to get into Bills territory. On the next set of downs, the Dolphins find themselves in third-and-10 on another potentially huge third down.

11:22 p.m. -- So, after a Buffalo challenge, Allen did in fact break the plane. It's now a tie game. Huge challenge there from McDermott. Bills 29, Dolphins 29.

11:20 p.m. -- That two-point try was hilarious. Allen tries to jump the ball into the end zone but it gets knocked out, then careens about 30 yards backwards. The two-point try is no good, but it will be under review to see if the Allen broke the invisible line.

11:17 p.m. -- On third down it's Dawson Knox, hauling one in as the snow really starts to fall in Orchard Park. Great pass from Allen and easy catch for Knox to make it a two-point game. Miami gets hit with a penalty for illegal substitution that will give the Bills a 1-yard attempt for two.

11:17 p.m. -- Allen nearly gets Diggs on first down in the back of the end zone, but Diggs juggles and drops it. Second-and-goal from the four. Allen gets swallowed up scrambling left, and he's tackled for a loss. Third down Buffalo. Huge play here.

11:14 p.m. -- On a designed Allen run he gets hit late out of bounds and draws a personal foul, sparking a little kerfuffle on the sideline. The Bills get the automatic first down with the call, and it'll be first-and-goal Bills.

11:11 p.m. -- The Bills are capitalizing on that last defensive stop in a big way. After Allen fumbles and the Bills recover, James Cook goes for 16 yards and Allen goes for 44 down to the Dolphins 13. They're knocking on the door just as the snow in Buffalo starts to pick up.

11:07 p.m. -- Dolphins go to the air on third down, but they get stuffed short of the sticks and have to settle for a field goal. Some interesting playcalling with how good they've been on the ground. Dolphins 29, Bills 21.

11:05 p.m. -- Tua doesn't look super comfortable rolling right off play action, but he does find Hill to make it third-and-1. 13 minutes left, and the Dolphins running game is proving to be a factor.

11:03 p.m. -- The Dolphins defense makes a HUGE play as Allen got loose with the ball climbing the pocket. He gets hit from behind and fumbles, and Miami recovers in Bills territory. Massive play by the Dolphins to get the ball back.

10:59 p.m. -- The quarter begins with the Dolphins getting stuffed on third down, and they're forced to punt. The Bills offense will have a chance to either draw closer or take the lead.

10:56 p.m. The third quarter concludes, as the Bills try to catch up to the Dolphins down five heading into the fourth.

10:55 p.m. -- The Bills are forced to punt, so it'll be first-and-10 Miami from their own 10-yard line. On first down, Ingold catches a swing pass for seven yards.

10:53 p.m. -- The call stands on the field, and it'll be third-and-10 for the Bills.

10:50 p.m. -- Either Isaiah McKenzie or Gabe Davis just ran the wrong route, because they should not have been in that proximity. Either way, Josh Allen hits McKenzie downfield for what could be a big play, but it's ruled incomplete. It's being reviewed now.

10:43 p.m. -- Tagovailoa finds Hill on the outside on a ball that can't be called beautiful because that wouldn't do it justice. Outstanding pass between White and the safety for 20 yards and a touchdown to give the Dolphins their first lead of the night. The roughing penalty proves costly. Dolphins 26, Bills 21

10:39 p.m. -- Crushing penalty there for the Bills. On the punt, they get hit with roughing the kicker, and it'll be first-and-10 from the Bills 35.

10:37 p.m. -- Sometimes, karma works fast. After a clear missed offensive pass interference, Tagovailoa gets sacked for a loss of seven. On third down, he hits Hill over the middle, but Hill is brought down at the 50. It will be on Morstead to pin the Bills once again.

10:34 p.m. -- On their first two plays, the Bills plunge ahead for a yard and Allen flicks one incomplete to the right side. On third down, Allen gets tripped up after trying to scramble and the Bills punt from their own end zone. Fair catch is made at the 50.

10:30 p.m. -- White had his second almost-interception of the night on that out route, and the Dolphins have to punt again. A favorable bounce brings the ball down to the Bills' 1-yard line, so they'll start from their own goal line.

10:29 p.m. -- Tagovailoa does a good job spinning out of the pass rush on second down but, not the fleetest on his feet, he stumbles down to a five-yard gain to set up third-and-2.

10:27 p.m. -- Defensive penalties are still looming large. Bills get hit with illegal contact on that first down play, and from their own 31 Ahmad plunges forward for a yard. It'll be second-and-9.

10:22 p.m. -- The Bills come inches away from converting that third down play, as the ball bounces off the fingertips of Isaiah McKenzie. Buffalo will punt from near midfield.

10:21 p.m. -- The Bills get caught in third-and-2 on this series and Allen shovels one forward incomplete, but Miami accepts a holding call hoping to knock Buffalo out of field goal position. On third-and-12, the Bills flinch to make it third-and-17.

10:18 p.m. -- Josh Allen really is something special. Even when the Dolphins get pressure, his decision-making is wild. On a nearly botched snap, Allen rolls left and hits Dawson Knox downfield for a big play. Great throw by Allen.

10:13 p.m. -- Well, that could be a reason to move away from the ground game. Waddle runs a seam over the middle and gets behind the defense for a 67-yard touchdown! The Dolphins' two-point conversion is unsuccessful, so it remains a two-point game. But huge play there coming out of the half. Bills 21, Dolphins 19.

10:11 p.m. -- Starting at his own 33, Raheem Mostert gets back into it with a run up the middle for six. Can't see why Miami would move away from the ground game.

10:08 p.m. -- The Bills get stopped on third down and they'll punt it away. Good job coming out of the half for Miami.

10:07 p.m. -- The Bills get the ball back to start the half, and they start from their own 18. After a nine-yard run, Miami blows up the Bills line and tackles Singletary for a loss of three to bring up third-and-4.

9:52 p.m. -- The Dolphins ground game racked up 126 yards in the first half, but it translated to just one touchdown with a pair of field goals to boot. The Bills, meanwhile, had 250 yards of total offense, with 217 coming in the air. Josh Allen is continuing to impress. It wasn't the most fast-paced half, but both teams have been solid and mostly clean minus some issues from the Miami defense toward the end of the half.

9:49 p.m. -- RIDICULOUSLY gutsy play there by Allen. The Bills go through all eight seconds on this play and Allen finds James Cook in the back of the end zone for a touchdown over the middle. Incredible play and incredible throw. Bills 21, Dolphins 13.

9:47 p.m. -- The Dolphins defense seems to just be bidding its time for halftime. A hold, offsides, and another hold have the Bills knocking on the door, but there are only eight seconds in the half.

9:44 p.m. -- Josh Allen continues to dazzle, as on third-and-4 he bounces out of the pocket and hits Isaiah McKenzie for a first down down to the Dolphins 20. The next play is a hold on Miami, and the Bills will have another first down.

9:38 p.m. -- Bills continue to move on this drive, but they do hit a speedbump on second-and-1 with a throw through Knox's fingers. Miami takes a timeout on third-and-1 with 1:23 remaining.

9:32 p.m. -- We haven't seen a lot of Allen's legs tonight, but he does take off up the middle there on second-and-10 to make it third-and-1. The Bills call a timeout, and Allen is unhappy about something. The Bills convert out of the timeout and take us to the two-minute warning.

9:27 p.m. -- Salvon Ahmed finishes the deal with a great run and cut in the middle to score and make it a one-point game after the extra point. Shedding a few tackles, it's Bills 14, Dolphins 13.

9:26 p.m. -- Despite a few drops earlier, Hill makes a huge catch with a Bills defender draped on his back on third down. The Dolphins convert with just over three minutes in the half, and they're now at Buffalo's 11.

9:24 p.m. -- The Dolphins again convert on third down, this time with a drag across to Hill. Easy play for Miami to keep the drive alive at the Bills' 26-yard line.

9:21 p.m. -- Jaylen Waddle gets some space from Tre'Davious White and Tagovailoa puts a nice throw on him to convert on third-and-5. On the ensuing play, White nearly intercepts him for revenge but the ball hits the turf.

9:19 p.m. -- We're not back underway, as the Bills kick it through the end zone. Officials threatened Bills fans with a penalty and more snowballs hit the field.

9:16 p.m. -- Bills fans have now delayed the game with the snowballs, as Mike McDaniel said the Dolphins bench was getting pelted with snowballs. We're just waiting now to see what happens.

9:12 p.m. -- Following an incompletion, Allen finds Hines in the flat who scores easily from 10 yards out. Easy play for Buffalo there, and it's Bills 14, Dolphins 6.

9:10 p.m. -- Bills take a timeout with 8:27 in the half as they line up for first-and-goal at the 10-yard line. This has been a remarkably efficient drive.

9:09 p.m. -- Bills are chugging along on this drive. They're now in third-and-1 at the Miami 10, and Singletary gets a first down with a second effort. Great run inside.

9:05 p.m. -- The Bills are one of the only teams in the NFL who view third-and-17 like most teams would view third-and-10. Allen finds Gabe Davis over the middle for over 20 and a first down, and what would have been a three-and-out is instead a first down.

8:59 p.m. -- Following that huge run, the Dolphins have two drops in the end zone and Sanders comes out for a chip shot field goal. Bills 7, Dolphins 6.

8:53 p.m. -- RAHEEM MOSTERT deserves all caps with that run. Unbelievable carry down the sideline with him shedding multiple tackles along the way before being dragged down via horsecollar tackle. He goes 67 yards and after the penalty the Dolphins are at the Bills' 8-yard line. The quarter ends after a 1-yard run by Mostert to set up second-and-goal.

8:49 p.m. -- Bills start a snowball fight with a 14-yard completion to Quintin Morris, who was being faceguarded in the end zone. Great answer there by the Bills, and it's now Bills 7, Dolphins 3.

8:47 p.m. -- Bills get the biggest play so far on a clearout to Dawson Knox over the middle of the field. Knox goes 45 yards to the 28-yard line of Miami, and then immediately get another 13 yards to Devin Singletary. Bills are now in business.

8:42 p.m. -- The Dolphins again ended up in third-and-1, and this time the Bills are able to get to Tagovailoa for a sack. He fumbles but Miami falls on it, and they'll have to settle for a field goal attempt just outside the 20. The 39-yarder from Jason Sanders is good, and it's Miami 3, Bills 0.

8:40 p.m. -- The Dolphins plunge up the middle to Mostert for a first down to keep the drive alive.

8:39 p.m. -- On third down, the Dolphins end up just short and will go for it on fourth-and-1. 

8:36 p.m. -- Great read and route there on a play action flip by Tagovailoa to Jaylen Waddle, who was wide open over the middle. The next play gets the Dolphins inside the Bills 30 and now they're cooking with gas.

8:34 p.m. -- Another nice play design on a play action swing to Mostert, who has a nasty juke in the open field to pick up another first down. Dolphins are moving the ball well early, the key will be finishing drives.

8:33 p.m. -- Feels like a big third down early in this game. Dolphins go tempo on third-and-1 and Alec Ingold gets the carry for a first down. All kinds of motion there but the Dolphins get what they need to keep the drive alive.

8:27 p.m. -- The Bills are out of the shadow of their own goalposts but they end up in fourth down following an incompletion to Diggs on the left. They'll be forced to punt on their first possession.

8:22 p.m. -- Both flags are holding on the Bills, so they'll start 10 yards back at their own six.

8:20 p.m. -- The Bills force third-and-10 and Tagovailoa airs one out of bounds incomplete, and the Dolphins line up to try to pin the Bills. Hines returns it to his own 19, but flags fly on the field.

8:17 p.m. -- Looks like Mostert came to play. Out of the I the Dolphins run up the middle for 13 and a first down. Then they go back to him to get over midfield with a gain of five.

8:15 p.m. -- Bills fans, unsurprisingly, are undeterred by the weather as Buffalo lines up to kick to the Dolphins in an AFC showdown. And we are underway with a return from Raheem Mostert to the 37-yard line.

What time is the NFL game tonight?

  • Date: Saturday, Dec. 17
  • Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

Dolphins vs. Bills is scheduled to kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.

How to watch Dolphins vs. Bills

The game will be broadcast nationally in the United States on NFL Network. Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), Mark Sanchez (color analyst), Laura Okmin and Peter Schrager (sideline reporters) will be on the call from Western New York.

A live stream will be available to those watching in the U.S. via fuboTV, which offers a free trial. Viewers in Canada can tune in with DAZN, which offers every NFL game.

Kevin Skiver

Kevin Skiver Photo

Kevin Skiver has been a content producer at Sporting News since 2021. He previously worked at CBS Sports as a trending topics writer, and now writes various pieces on MLB, the NFL, the NBA, and college sports. He enjoys hiking and eating, not necessarily in that order.