ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – The Buffalo Bills invested heavily to draft wide receiver Sammy Watkins with the stated hope that there would be many days like Sunday, when the rookie caught eight passes for 117 yards in a 29-10 victory against the Miami Dolphins at sold out Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Watkins, the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, caught a 12-yard slant pass from quarterback EJ Manuel and lunged to hit the pylon with the ball before being driven out of bounds. It was the kind of performance the Bills envisioned when they spent two first-round picks in a trade with the Cleveland Browns to land the Clemson standout in May.

“He did a great job of running the route and getting open,” said Bills quarterback EJ Manuel, who had another solid day, completing 16 of 26 for 202 yards and one touchdown and no interceptions as the Bills improved to 2-0 and the Dolphins dropped to 1-1. “I’ve very proud of him. That last touchdown, he got in there for us on third down. We call that a double whammy when you get a first down and get a touchdown in the red zone. That was huge for us, and that’s what I expect from him.”

The Bills also received a big boost from their special teams, which produced a touchdown on C.J. Spiller’s 102-yard kickoff return, five field goals by Dan Carpenter and a blocked punt that set up a score.

Spiller, another former first-round pick from Clemson, had 200 all-purpose yards, including a kickoff return for 22 yards, 69 yards rushing and nine yards receiving. Watkins jokingly refers to himself and Spiller as “the Clemson Connection,” and Sunday they did their alma mater proud, accounting for 68 percent of the Bills offense and special team yardage, along with two scores.

“Yeah, that’s what we do,” Spiller joked when asked about their collegiate ties. “We make plays. We hit ’em with 28 (Spiller) and we hit ’em with 14 (Watkins) and I guess they didn’t really have an answer for it.”

Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill was 31 of 48 for 241 yards and one touchdown. He threw one interception, was sacked five times and had four passes batted down as the Bills’ defensive line took advantage of Miami’s revamped offensive line.

What the Dolphins said:

“We have to have more intensity. We didn’t have enough intensity out there. (The Bills) were fired up, every single player. Every single play, you heard them screaming and yelling. They were fired up and we were quiet. You’re not going to win like that.” – Wide receiver Mike Wallace

What the Bills said:

“That’s (Ralph Wilson) kind of football. He would have loved it. He absolutely would have loved it. It’s been a tremendous week. It’s a great, great time to be a Buffalonian.” — Team president Russ Brandon talking about the emotions following the ceremony to honor the late Bills owner and the news that the new owners will keep the team in Buffalo.

What we learned about the Dolphins:

1. They just aren’t the same team without Knowshon Moreno. He was a major reason why the Dolphins were able to wear down the Patriots in the second half on Sept. 7. He went out with an injured elbow in the first quarter and didn’t return, and the Dolphins wound up rushing for 111 fewer yards than against the Patriots.

2. The totally revamped offensive line played like a totally revamped offensive line. The Bills, with three Pro Bowlers on their defensive line, made life miserable for Ryan Tannehill, who was sacked four times, had four passes batted down and threw an interception. It was shades of last season when the quarterback was sacked more than 50 times.

— Miami had signed former Denver Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno to a one-year, $3-million contract in the offseason with the hopes of boosting their run game. On Sunday, he suffered a dislocated elbow. Tests on Monday will determine how much time he will miss. The Dolphins received an immediate boost in their season-opening victory against New England as Moreno rushed for 134 yards. But on Sunday, he was limited to one four-yard carry, which resulted in him landing awkwardly on his elbow.

— Ryan Tannehill had another uneven performance, completing 31 of 49 passes for 241 yards, a touchdown and an interception. In his defense, he was battered pretty good by the Bills defense, which sacked him four times, batted down five of his passes and hit him on several other occasions. There was hope that a totally revamped offensive line would give him better protection this season, but Sunday’s loss to the Bills was reminiscent of last season, when Tannehill was the most-sacked quarterback in the NFL.

–Lamar Miller finished with 11 carries for 46 yards and also caught two passes for seven yards, but he was forced to leave the game with an injury. The good news is that Miller, who left with a sprained ankle, might be back in time for next week’s game. The Dolphins lost starting running back Knowshon Moreno to a dislocated elbow. Miller had 709 yards rushing and 170 receiving last season.

What we learned about the Bills

1. They appear to have discovered a winning formula. They’re not asking second-year quarterback EJ Manuel to do too much. Just manage the game, make a play here and there and not make costly mistakes. They’re relying on their defense, their special teams and their run game. So far, so good.

2. Sammy Watkins might be worth the cost. He looked great in camp until bruising his ribs. He was a little tentative in the opening week win against the Chicago Bears, but had his coming out party against the Dolphins with eight receptions in 11 targets for 117 yards and one score.

–Coach Doug Marrone has been criticized for using his star running back C.J. Spiller on kickoff returns, but he was vindicated in Sunday’s 29-10 victory over Miami Dolphins. Spiller returned one in the third quarter 102 yards for a touchdown. The play shifted the momentum back in the Bills direction. “Pretty much the coaches came up to me and asked me if I was to do it would I feel comfortable and I told them I’d be fine,” said Spiller, who also had 69 yards rushing and another kickoff return for 22 yards.

— Anthony “Bubby” Dixon managed just three yards in his two rushing attempts, but he still wound up being one of the Bills stars of the game. The Bills reserve running back blocked a punt on the Dolphins second possession, setting up a field goal that gave Buffalo a 6-0 lead. It marked the first time the Bills had blocked a punt since Coy Wire got his hands on one against Miami eight years ago.

— Dan Carpenter kicked five field goals and would have had six had he not boinked a 31-yard attempt off the uprights with about six minutes remaining in the Bills victory against the Dolphins Sunday. He now has eight field goals in nine attempts in two games and has scored 28 of Buffalo’s 52 points. The Bills signed him a week before the 2013 season opener and he responded with 33 field goals and a team-leading 131 points.