Bills hold on for 19-14 win over Miami

(Reuters) - Miami Dolphins' rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw two late interceptions as the Buffalo Bills held on for a 19-14 win in the AFC East divisional clash on Thursday.

Miami suffered their third consecutive loss and slipped to 4-6 in the division with their playoff hopes becoming increasingly marginal.

"We had a couple of opportunities late in the game to win the game and we weren't able to get it done," Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin told reporters.

"It was not a good offensive performance, we had nothing going on, we weren't throwing the ball well, we weren't running it well," he said.

The Bills got off to the perfect start with a 79 yard punt return from Leodis McKelvin and then a 32 yard field goal from Rian Lindell making it 10-0.

The Dolphins responded with a defensive touchdown of their own, Marcus Thigpen racing 96 yards on the kick-off return to narrow the deficit.

Three field goals from Ryan Lindell gave Buffalo a 19-7 lead at halftime and while Miami's offence struggled against a solid Bills defense, the Dolphins' chances were not helped by a missed field goal attempt from 50 yards by Dan Carpenter.

Miami's offence had not managed a touchdown in over nine quarters of football but they finally ended that barren run with a two yard Tannehill pass, superbly caught in the end-zone by Davone Bess.

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Fitzpatrick's 3 TD passes lifts Bills over Browns

Fitzpatrick's 3 TD passes lifts Bills over Browns

Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller (28) is taken to the locker room after injuring his shoulder in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)

By TOM WITHERS (AP Sports Writer) | The Associated Press

CLEVELAND (AP) -- When C.J. Spiller got hurt, the Buffalo Bills lost the NFL's leading rusher, most of their momentum and another major offensive threat.

Ryan Fitzpatrick wouldn't let them lose the game.

Fitzpatrick threw three touchdown passes and the better-than-advertised Bills overcame the loss of Spiller to a shoulder injury and beat the Cleveland Browns 24-14 on Sunday to snap an eight-game road losing streak.

Fitzpatrick, doing just enough to keep Buffalo's offense moving, finished 22 of 35 for 208 yards as the Bills (2-1) turned to their passing game after Spiller, who has been filling in for Fred Jackson, went down in the first quarter with an injury that will likely sideline him a few weeks.

The Bills won outside Buffalo for the first time since the 2011 opener at Kansas City.

''We got the monkey off our back,'' Fitzpatrick said. ''We always felt confident. This is a new year, a new team, but it was a good team win on the road. These are the most satisfying wins.''

As the final seconds ticked off, some of Buffalo's players celebrated with hundreds of Bills fans who made the short drive over from Western New York.

Before he went out, Spiller, who came in leading the league with 292 yards rushing, scored on a 32-yard screen pass from Fitzpatrick, who also threw a 9-yard TD to T.J. Graham in the first quarter and hooked up with Stevie Johnson from 9 in the fourth to close the scoring.

Bills coach Chan Gailey does not expect Spiller to be back for next week's home game against New England - and possibly longer.

''I don't believe it's long, long-term,'' Gailey said. ''If he missed a week that's long for me. He's going to be out for sure this week and then we'll see.''

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