MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- A few thoughts on the Buffalo Bills' 22-9 loss Thursday to the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium:
What it means: The Bills' season has unraveled in a matter five days. Now 5-5, their prospects for making the playoffs have taken a considerable hit. The main culprit has been the offense, which has now failed to score a touchdown in 21 consecutive possessions. No matter how well the Bills' defense has played this season, Buffalo can't win and end its postseason drought by kicking field goals. With only six games remaining, the Bills are running out of time to fix their problems.
Stock watch: Kyle Orton, down. For a second consecutive week, Orton failed to deliver. Even though he hasn't thrown an interception in three games, Orton just hasn't been enough of an upgrade over EJ Manuel to push the Bills forward. His completion percentage dipped to a season-low 56 percent in Thursday's loss. At this point, Orton looks like a borderline starter in the NFL. The Bills will be hard-pressed to make the playoffs with that.
Questionable calls: While the Bills' inability to score touchdowns is far and away the biggest reason why they lost this game, two questionable calls played a role. Orton was called for intentional grounding in the end zone in the third quarter, resulting in a safety. It appeared that Sammy Watkins may have been in the vicinity on the throw. Meanwhile, a 24-yard pass interference call against Stephon Gilmore early in the fourth quarter was iffy at best. Miami's Jarvis Landry scored an 8-yard touchdown two plays later.
Game ball: Wide receiver Chris Hogan. Playing against the team that cut him two summers ago, the Bills' slot receiver finished with seven catches for a team-high 74 yards, one week after scoring the Bills' only touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. He has now outgained Watkins in receiving yards in three of the Bills' past five games.
What's next: The Bills will have plenty of time to ponder their loss, having an extra week before they return to Ralph Wilson Stadium for another divisional matchup against the New York Jets (2-8) on Nov. 22. It's the first of back-to-back home games for the Bills before they begin their grueling December schedule.
