What Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel said about stunning Bills upset after embarrassing start
Mike McDaniel and the Miami Dolphins can celebrate this week after stunning the Buffalo Bills 30-13 on Sunday afternoon.
Going into the matchup, Miami has had a woeful start to the 2025 NFL season. They had a 2-7 record as one of the worst performing teams in the league, suffering significant injuries that have lowered their overall ceiling.
Not this week, however. Miami played at a high level on both sides of the ball throughout the contest, shutting down Buffalo’s chances of taking the momentum back in their favor.
McDaniel reflected on the win after the game, per reporters David Furones and Marcel Louis-Jacques. He praised the team for getting past their poor opening drive and responding with a strong performance for the rest of the contest.
“It’s an unintended consequence of adversity. We’ve had our fair share of reps of having things not play out the way we set out for them to play out … It was a complete effort and when you get complete efforts like that, you don’t allow things to play a factor in your style of play,” McDaniel said.
“They chose to believe, throughout the whole thing, throughout the whole offseason. They made that decision to continue to believe and continue to invest in each other.”
How Mike McDaniel, Dolphins performed against Bills
Fans can be over the moon about Mike McDaniel and the Dolphins stunning the Bills at home. What they can hope for is that the team uses it as momentum for a potential win streak.
Miami took control early into the game as the team boasted a 16-0 lead at halftime. Buffalo did not score until the fourth quarter when the unit put up 13 points, but the hosts fired back with 14 more points to seal the deal.
Tua Tagovailoa did not have his best performance but made enough plays to fend off the Bills throughout the day. He completed 15 passes out of 21 attempts for 173 yards and two touchdowns and two interceptions.
De’Von Achane dominated Buffalo’s defense in the air and on the ground. He led the rushing attack with 22 carries for 172 yards and two touchdowns while making six catches for 51 yards. Jaylen Waddle delivered a solid display of five receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown, while Malik Washington caught two passes for nine yards and a touchdown.
The Dolphins will look forward to their next matchup, going international when they travel to Madrid, Spain. They face the Washington Commanders on Nov. 16 at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Commanders’ Kliff Kingsbury Opens Up on ‘Big Hype Train for Ole Bill’ Croksey-Merritt
The Washington Post/Getty
ASHBURN, VA - AUGUST 2: Washington Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (32) during training camp in Ashburn, VA on August 2, 2025. (Photo by John McDonnell/ for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
“Yeah, it’s been interesting,” Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said about RB Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt on Thursday. “He’s a guy who I have a ton of respect for his journey, there’s no doubt.”
Croskey-Merritt captured the hearts of NFL fans across the globe over the summer. The seventh-round rookie out of Arizona steadily climbed the depth chart over the course of training camp, culminating in a breakout primetime preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, during which he had 11 carries for 46 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown run.
Going by Bill and with a swagger and determination that’s endeared him to millions, Croskey-Merritt is sure to be a factor for the Commanders this year. In fact, Washington traded away starting RB Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers a few weeks ago, paving the way for Croskey-Merritt to see the field.
Kliff Kingsbury on Bill Croskey-Merritt’s Work Ethic and Drive
Greg Fiume/GettyLANDOVER, MARYLAND – AUGUST 18: Jacory Croskey-Merritt #32 of the Washington Commanders rushes for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals during the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on August 18, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Croskey-Merritt has a fascinating story. Originally a small-time high school recruit, he committed to Alabama State, where he played as a freshman in 2019. An injury wiped out his sophomore year, causing him to redshirt, but he played again in 2021 and 2022 before transferring to New Mexico in 2023.
That season, he had 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground, adding seven receptions for 72 yards and another score through the air. He was a big-time transfer to Arizona in 2024 and dominated in their opener, with 13 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown.
However, the NCAA ruled him ineligible before Week 2 last year. During his redshirt year in 2020, his number at Alabama State had been reassigned to another player who the NCAA had footage of, and they did not believe Croskey-Merritt nor the Alabama State coaching staff when they told him he didn’t play.
As a result, Croskey-Merritt was forced to miss the rest of the season, but he never wavered in his commitment to the team. “To stay at Arizona and just rep on practice squad every day when you’re in college, like I wouldn’t have done that,” Kingsbury said. “I would’ve gotten a job or done something else. I don’t like football as much as [Croskey-Merritt] does, apparently,” he said with a chuckle.
“So for him to do that, go to an All-Star game, and then just kinda earn the reps, like he can’t get enough. He wants to know about it, wants to practice, he’s always trying to get to the front of the line, and so that’s been really cool to see. We’ll see how it all goes, but yeah it’s a big hype train for ol’ Bill.”
The Washington Commanders’ Depth Chart at Running Back
Those strong words from Kingsbury are a positive sign for Croskey-Merritt, but even with Robinson no longer on the roster, it’s a crowded depth chart in Washington. Chris Rodriguez and Austin Ekeler are sure to be factors as well, and it might take some time for Croskey-Merritt to earn a featured role. But clearly, the coaching staff loves him.
