ORCHARD PARK — Leodis McKelvin returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown and Rian Lindell added four field goals as the Buffalo Bills held on Thursday night to beat the Miami Dolphins, 19-14.
McKelvin went untouched up a seam down the left sideline after the Bills forced Miami to a three-and-out on the opening drive of the game. He has had two of the three longest punt returns in the NFL this season, also scoring on an 88-yard return in Buffalo's victory over Kansas City in Week 2.
Lindell connected from 32, 34, 42, and 19 yards as the Bills (4-6) settled for three points on all four of their trips into the red zone. Buffalo snaps a two-game losing streak to the Dolphins, and also has dropped 11 straight prime-time games.
The Dolphins were throttled on offense throughout by a Buffalo defense that came in ranked 31st in the NFL. Miami didn't cross midfield until their eighth drive of the game, which occurred with under 4 minutes to go in the third quarter. That march ultimately stalled at Buffalo's 32-yard line, with Dan Carpenter's 50-yard field-goal attempt glancing off the right upright.
The Dolphins had just two first downs in the first half.
Bills defensive end Mario Williams recorded a sack, and the oft-maligned Buffalo defense allowed only 75 yards through three quarters.
Buffalo running back C.J. Spiller, meanwhile, gained 116 combined yards. Playing full-time for the injured Fred Jackson, Spiller has 79 rushing yards on 16 carries. He has never had 20 or more carries in a game.
After Miami receiver Brian Hartline fumbled following a 17-yard reception, the Bills capitalized by taking a 10-0 lead on Lindell's 32-yard field goal with 5:07 left in the first quarter.
The Dolphins (4-6) responded on the ensuing kickoff when Marcus Thigpen returned it 96 yards to cut the deficit to 10-7. It was Thigpen's second return for a touchdown this season, with the other coming on a punt return in Miami's season opener against Houston.
Thigpen became the first player in Dolphins history to return a punt and kickoff for touchdowns in the same season.
The last time there was a punt return touchdown by one team and a kickoff return touchdown by the opposing team in the same quarter was December 1999 in a game between the Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions according to STATS LLC. Washington's James Thrash had a 95-yard kickoff return for a score and Detroit's Desmond Howard had a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Jackson missed his first game since sustaining a concussion in Buffalo's loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday.
MLB Hoping for Large Replay Expansion in 2014
America's Cup Officials Say Race Will Continue
LeBron James Wins NBA MVP for Fourth Time
African American Jockey Aims for Derby History
Horse Saved From Slaughter, Goes on to Win Big
Obama: 'Couldn't Be Prouder' of Jason Collins
Sacramento Mayor Lauds NBA Vote on Kings
NBA Star's Aunt: I Am Very Proud of Him
Tebow Time in New York Over After Jets Cut QB
White House Commends Jason Collins on Coming Out
NBA Veteran Jason Collins Comes Out As Gay
Raw: Alligator on Fairway at Zurich Classic
Backpacks Banned From Kentucky Derby
Ex Ravens LB Ayanbadejo Talks Equality
