The Sports Xchange

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor, making just his third NFL start, outplayed his Miami Dolphins counterpart, Ryan Tannehill.

As a result, the Bills defeated the Dolphins 41-14 on Sunday at Sun Life Stadium, and the sense is that Buffalo is starting to believe in its new QB.

“This whole football team has confidence in (Taylor),” Bills coach Rex Ryan said. “This kid is legit. We know he’s legit. When the protection holds up, this kid can burn you.”

The numbers back that up as Taylor, a 2011 sixth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens who had never started an NFL game before this season, completed 21 out of 29 passes for 277 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

But Taylor was far from the only Buffalo hero. Middle linebacker Preston Brown intercepted two passes and returned one for a 43-yard touchdown.

In addition, Ronald Darby intercepted his second pass of the season, and Karlos Williams scored his third NFL touchdown, rushing 12 times for a game-high 110 yards.

This was the Dolphins’ 50th home opener, but it surely wasn’t what many Miami fans expected, especially after the team spent $114 million to sign star defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in the offseason. But, for the third week in a row, Suh was a non-factor.

Tannehill was intercepted three times in the first half, helping Buffalo build a 27-0 lead at the break.

“There are things we need to correct, but there’s no panic,” Tannehill said. “We have 13 games left.”

Buffalo scored touchdowns on its first two possessions. Clay caught a 25-yard pass to cap Buffalo’s first drive. The Bills made it 14-0 on Taylor’s 10-yard pass to running back LeSean McCoy, capping an eight-play, 81-yard drive.

What we learned about the Bills:

1. The Bills changed coaches, but they still dominate the Dolphins. The Bills have now won five of the past seven games against Miami, a trend that new coach Rex Ryan is happy has continued. The recent rule in Buffalo-Miami games is that the Bills’ defensive front dominates. But Sunday’s victory was more of an all-around effort.

2. Even without a first-round pick, the Bills appear to have had a productive draft. Second-round pick Ronald Darby of Florida State had an interception on Sunday and already has two this season. Third-round pick John Miller of Louisville made his third straight start on the offensive line, but he left the game in the second quarter due to a groin injury. The Bills are hoping that the injury is minor because Miller is off to an impressive start to his NFL career. Fifth-round pick Karlos Williams has already scored three touchdowns, including a 41-yarder on Sunday. He ran 12 times Sunday for a game-high 110 yards.

3. The Bills made a good move in bringing guard Richie Incognito back to the NFL after his “Bullygate” suspension. Incognito and the Bills’ interior held up against star defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who signed a $114 million contract in the offseason. Incognito and the rest of his offensive linemen kept QB Tyrod Taylor clean in the pocket — no sacks — and created holes for a rookie runner (Karlos Williams) to get a 110-yard rushing day. That — plus the win — is plenty of vindication for Incognito.

Etc.:

–QB Tyrod Taylor, a 2011 sixth-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens who had never started an NFL game before this season, completed 21 out of 29 passes for 277 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in a 41-14 win over Miami. “This whole football team has confidence in (Taylor),” Bills coach Rex Ryan said. “This kid is legit. We know he’s legit. When the protection holds up, this kid can burn you.”

–MLB Preston Brown intercepted two passes and returned one for a 43-yard touchdown. Last week, Brown had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Brown said his last two-interception game was “probably in Little League” if ever. “I’m just hustling to the ball,” said Brown, who had just one interception as a rookie last season. “Good things happen when you run to the ball.”

–RB Karlos Williams, a fifth-round pick out of Florida State, scored his third NFL touchdown. He ran 12 times for a game-high 110 yards, proving he is a capable complement to starter LeSean McCoy, who is playing on one-and-a-half legs due to injury, according to Bills coach Rex Ryan.