NFL

Defense steps forward for Bills

Buffalo Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin (21) scores on a 79-yard punt return 90 seconds into the first quarter of Thursday’s game against the Miami Dolphins in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills never trailed and won 19-14.
Buffalo Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin (21) scores on a 79-yard punt return 90 seconds into the first quarter of Thursday’s game against the Miami Dolphins in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills never trailed and won 19-14.

— Mario Williams and the Buffalo Bills’ high-priced defense finally lived up to its billing, stuffing the Miami Dolphins in a 19-14 victory Thursday night.

Safety Jairus Byrd forced a fumble and had an interception, and Bryan Scott sealed the victory with his second interception to end the Dolphins’ last-gasp drive in the final minute. Williams had one of three sacks for a Buffalo defense that limited the Dolphins to 184 yards and 16.

That more than made up for an offense that couldn’t finish drives. Rian Lindell hit four field goals, including a 42-yarder, as Buffalo failed to score an offensive touchdown despite four trips inside the Dolphins’ 20.

Leodis McKelvin opened the scoring 90 seconds in by returning a punt 79 yards for a touchdown as the Bills never trailed.

The Bills (4-6) snapped a three-game skid and won for only the second time in seven games to stay on the fringes of the AFC playoff hunt. Buffalo also ended several other inglorious skids, by beating a division rival for the first time in nine meetings, and snapping an 11-game prime time drought that dated to 2001.

Marcus Thigpen scored on a 96-yard kickoff return and Davone Bess had a 2-yard touchdown catch for Miami (4-6), which has lost three consecutive.

Rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill continued to struggle for Miami. He finished 14 of 28 for 141 yards with a touchdown and 2 interceptions. He was coming off an outing in which he threw three interceptions in a 37-3 loss to Tennessee last week. The No. 8 pick out of Texas A&M has thrown six touchdown passes and 11 interceptions.

It wasn’t all Tannehill’s fault as the usually sturdy Dolphins defense gave up 120 yards rushing, including 91 to C.J. Spiller, who took over the bulk of the rushing duties in place of Fred Jackson (concussion).

After allowing 307 yards rushing in its first five games, Miami’s now given up 661 in its past five.

For Buffalo, it was a long awaited breakout performance for a defense that entered the game among the NFL’s worst. Buffalo had ranked 31st in yards allowed and last in allowing an average of 31.67 points per game.

Williams was supposed to be the defense’s centerpiece after signing a six-year, $100 million contract March. He’s finally starting to play up to the deal, and his sack gave him a team-leading 5 1/2.

The unit forced three turnovers after failing to produce one in its past three games.

Buffalo didn’t allow the Dolphins to cross midfield until their eighth drive, 11 minutes into the third quarter. And that drive ended with Dan Carpenter missing a 50-yard field-goal attempt in which the ball glanced off the outside of the right goal post.

The Dolphins did provide the Bills a scare midway through the fourth quarter. Tannehill capped an 11-play, 81-yard scoring drive by hitting Bess in the end zone with 8:42 remaining.

The next two possessions ended with Tannehill throwing interceptions.

THURSDAY’S GAME Buffalo 19, Miami 14

SUNDAY’S GAMES - All times Central Cleveland at Dallas, noon NY Jets at St. Louis, noon Jacksonville at Houston, noon Cincinnati at Kansas City, noon Philadelphia at Washington, noon Green Bay at Detroit, noon Arizona at Atlanta, noon Tampa Bay at Carolina, noon New Orleans at Oakland, 3:05 p.m.

San Diego at Denver, 3:25 p.m.

Indianapolis at New England, 3:25 p.m. Baltimore at Pittsburgh, 7:20 p.m.

MONDAY’S GAME Chicago at San Francisco, 7:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, NOV. 22 Houston at Detroit, 11:30 a.m.

Washington at Dallas, 3:15 p.m.

New England at NY Jets, 7:20 p.m.

SUNDAY, NOV. 25 Denver at Kansas City, noon Minnesota at Chicago, noon Oakland at Cincinnati, noon Pittsburgh at Cleveland, noon Buffalo at Indianapolis, noon Tennessee at Jacksonville, noon Atlanta at Tampa Bay, noon Seattle at Miami, noon Baltimore at San Diego, 3:05 p.m.

St. Louis at Arizona, 3:25 p.m.

San Francisco at New Orleans, 3:25 p.m. Green Bay at NY Giants, 7:20 p.m.

Sports, Pages 21 on 11/16/2012

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