MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Ryan Tannehill threw two second-half touchdown passes to help the Miami Dolphins defeat the Buffalo Bills 22-9 Thursday night at Sun Life Stadium.

Buffalo, which leads the NFL in sacks, got to Tannehill five times but failed to rattle the Miami quarterback. Bills defensive end Mario Williams was credited with 3.5 sacks.

With the win, Miami (6-4) moved into sole possession of second place in the AFC East, while Buffalo (5-5) slipped to third. The New England Patriots (7-2) top the division. The Dolphins also snapped a three-game losing streak in their series against Buffalo.

Tannehill improved to 2-4 in his career against Buffalo. He threw a 7-yard, third-quarter touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Gibson to give Miami a 10-9 lead, and the Dolphins never trailed again.

Miami added a controversial safety when Bills quarterback Kyle Orton, pressured by Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon, was called for intentional grounding from his own end zone. Bills receiver Sammy Watkins was close to the pass down the left sideline, but the ruling gave Miami a 12-9 lead.

Buffalo had a chance to tie early in the fourth quarter, but Dan Carpenter’s attempt at a 47-yard field goal went wide left.

With 11:35 left in the game, Tannehill added an 8-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jarvis Landry to give Miami a 19-9 lead.

Caleb Sturgis kicked a 32-yard field goal with 3:01 left to pad Miami’s advantage.

Tannehill completed 26 of 34 passes for 240 yards.

Orton completed 22 of 39 passes for 193 yards. Buffalo is 3-3 since switching to Orton as its starting quarterback.

The Bills led 6-3 at halftime, scoring on Carpenter field goals of 33 and 21 yards. Miami got a 38-yard field goal by Sturgis on the game’s first drive but was then shut down before the break.

The first half was marked by long scoring drives. Miami went 68 yards on 14 plays. Buffalo went 67 yards on 14 plays and followed that by going 85 yards on 17 plays.

There were two early defensive highlights. Miami safety Reshad Jones blitzed and deflected an Orton pass to force Buffalo’s first field goal. And Buffalo defensive end Jerry Hughes forced a Tannehill fumble, which was recovered at the Bills’ 12 by safety Duke Williams.

NOTES: Bills CB Leodis McKelvin (ankle) left the game in the first half. … The Dolphins were without CB Cortland Finnegan (ankle), LG Daryn Colledge (back) and LT Branden Albert (knee, placed on injured reserve Monday). CB Jamar Taylor replaced Finnegan and made his first NFL start. LG Shelley Smith started in place of Colledge, who missed his third straight game. To replace Albert, Ja’Wuan James moved from left tackle to right tackle, and Dallas Thomas got the start at right tackle. … Buffalo RB Fred Jackson, who missed one game and then played sparingly last week (three carries), sat out Thursday due to a groin injury. Bryce Brown started in place of Jackson. … Buffalo QB Kyle Orton faced Miami for the first time. … Next up, the Bills return home to face the New York Jets on Nov. 23. … Miami plays at the Denver Broncos on Nov. 23.