MIAMI.- The Miami Dolphins lost their final regular-season game 21-7 to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, blowing a chance to win the division title for the first time in 15 years.
A Miami team that entered December with a 2½-game lead in the division race came up short in the end. The last gasp came with 1:13 left, when Tua Tagovailoa, an MVP candidate for much of the season, apparently, threw but his pass was intercepted for the second time in the game.
The Dolphins fell from No. 2 to No. 6 in the AFC and now have to pack their parkas and gloves to travel to visit the Chiefs on Saturday night.
It’s still unclear who will actually play for Miami.
The Dolphins already knew they had lost top defenders Jaelan Phillips (Achilles tendon) and Bradley Chubb (knee) to season-ending injuries. Cornerback Xavien Howard was among those also out Sunday, along with running back Raheem Mostert, who set the team’s touchdown record, and speedy receiver Jaylen Waddle. Several other players, including standout receiver Tyreek Hill, are also dealing with injury issues. Linebacker Jerome Baker was limping through the second half.
It’s now 15 seasons and counting without an AFC East title for the Dolphins: The 2008 team went 11-5 to win the division. New England won the first 11 AFC East crowns of that span, and Buffalo has now won the last four.
The only franchises that have gone longer than the Dolphins without winning a division title are Cleveland, Las Vegas and the New York Jets.
The Dolphins have used 13 different starting quarterbacks in those 15 years, along with seven head coaches. There have been no home postseason games, no postseason wins, and next weekend’s trip to Kansas City will mark the third postseason appearance of that span.
FOUNTAIN: AP
