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Dressing up for a big event in 2024? Look high fashion with these affordable looks
You don’t have to spend much money to put together a stylish look for your special occasions
Finding the perfect outfit for a wedding, party or other special event is always a little daunting. You want to look good and feel comfortable enough to enjoy the celebration, which often seems impossible. And if you’re on a budget, shopping for an outfit that will get you noticed is even harder.
But if you have a big event this year, there’s no need to fret. Check out these chic, stylish looks that will help you stand out without breaking the bank.
Best affordable special occasion dresses[ R&M Richards Short Dress with Rhinestone Straps ]
This sophisticated cocktail dress features an off-the-shoulder style and asymmetrical design that makes it look more expensive than it is. It’s made of a soft jersey material that contains some spandex, letting you move easily and dance the night away. The sparkling rhinestone strap eliminates the need for much jewelry, too.
[ Ezbelle Off The Shoulder Short Sleeve Body Con Midi Dress ]
This sexy off-the-shoulder dress features a midi-length hem that’s ideal for many occasions. It’s made of a soft polyester blend with a ribbed knit, so it’s comfortable enough to wear all night. It also comes in 30 colors and patterns, including classic black.
[ 24seven Comfort Appeal Sleeveless Fit and Flare High Low Dress ]
With a sleeveless design and flattering V-neck, this fit-and-flare dress will get you noticed at plenty of special events. It has a striking high-low hem and pleating at the waist that provides a comfortable fit. The polyester/spandex fabric is also machine washable. Best of all, it has convenient side pockets for your essentials.
Best affordable special occasion suits[ WULFUL Men’s Slim Fit 3-Piece Suit ]
This three-piece suit includes a jacket, vest and pants for a sharp, sleek look that’s perfect for weddings, parties and more. It has a slim fit that gives it a modern feel and comes in over 30 colors and patterns, including black. Its cotton polyester blend is also breathable and comfortable for year-round wear.
This fully lined suit has a tailored cut that drapes well to flatter many body types. The blazer has classic notch lapels and a slight taper at the waist with a one-button closure. In addition to a vest and pants, the suit includes a tie in a random color if you need help finishing your look. It comes in 17 colors, including many bright options like pink, purple and yellow.
Best affordable special occasion tops[ JASAMBAC Sparkle Sequin Top ]
Ensure all eyes are on you with this sparkling sequin top. It has three-quarter sleeves with a cold shoulder design to expose just a bit of skin. The loose elastic waist helps it blouse a bit at the bottom to give it a flattering fit. It’s also fully lined with mesh to keep you comfortable all night. You can choose from 45 colors, including gold and silver.
[ COOFANDY Men’s Floral Tuxedo Jacket ]
This striking tuxedo jacket features a classic shawl lapel and single-breasted one-button closure, providing a chic, polished look. The jacquard floral pattern gives the jacket some shine, though, and guarantees you’ll stand out at your big event. It’s made of lightweight polyester that breathes well, so you’re comfortable all night.
Best affordable special occasion bottoms[ Dirholl A-Line Fairy Tulle Midi Skirt ]
This lovely tulle skirt has an A-line cut that’s perfect for spinning around the dance floor at parties. The multiple layers are made of breathable material and have a lining to reduce show-through. The skirt also features a pull-on elastic waist that’s comfortable and easy to get on and off. It comes in 26 designs, including solid colors and embossed patterns.
[ Allegra K Women’s Drawstring Satin Joggers ]
Look super chic and modern at special events in these satin jogger-style pants. They have a relaxed fit that makes them comfortable enough to party in all night, but they still have a tailored look that makes them ideal for dressing up. They come in 19 colors, including basic black, and even have side pockets.
[ PrettyGuide Sequin High Waist Pencil Skirt ]
This attention-grabbing pencil skirt is covered all over with sparkling sequins. It has a back closure with a concealed zipper and a knee-length hem that flatters all body types. The waist is elastic to ensure a comfortable fit, too. You can choose from 20 colors.
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Jennifer Blair writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Dave Hyde and Chris Perkins break down Miami Dolphins’ disappointing loss to the Buffalo Bills | VIDEO
In this video, the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Dave Hyde and Chris Perkins discuss the Miami Dolphins’ discouraging loss to the Buffalo Bills in a game where the AFC East division title and the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs where on the line.
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MIAMI GARDENS — The AFC East title was on the line Sunday night when the Buffalo Bills visited the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.
The injury-shortened Dolphins put up a decent fight but it wasn’t their night and they lost, 21-14, marking their first back-to-back losses of the season, and their 13th loss to Buffalo in their past 15 games.
Miami’s offense only managed two touchdowns, continuing a disturbing trend against quality opponents.
Miami now faces the daunting task of going to Kansas City on Saturday night for a first-round playoff game. The Dolphins lost to the Chiefs, 21-14, in Germany earlier this season.
But before looking ahead, here are more top takeaways from Sunday:
Waddle, Howard seen on sidelineWide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle) and cornerback Xavien Howard (foot) were both seen on the bench Sunday night. Waddle, who at one point was jokingly popping a towel on the backside of a team trainer with a towel, wasn’t wearing any type of supportive device on his injured left ankle. Howard was wearing a walking boot on his injured left foot.
The hope is that both players will be back for next Saturday’s playoff game. — Chris Perkins
Baker, Holland have reduced defensive rolesLinebacker Jerome Baker (knee) and safety Jevon Holland (knees) had reduced roles in the defense Sunday. Baker, making his first appearance after spending the last four games on injured reserve, wore a big brace on his right knee. He had a huge hit on Bills running back Ty Johnson on the final play of the first half to keep him out of the end zone.
Duke Riley again started in Baker’s place.
Holland, who was downgraded to questionable on Saturday, played sparingly as Brandon Jones started in his place.
The hope is Baker and Holland will be able to play more snaps next Saturday against the Chiefs.
Injuries get worse among pass rushersLinebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (6.0 sacks) sustained a foot injury in the third quarter and didn’t return, further weakening Miami’s pass rush, which was already without Bradley Chubb (knee/11.0 sacks) and Jaelan Phillips (Achilles/6.5 sacks).
There’s no word yet on Van Ginkel’s availability for next weekend.
Melvin Ingram and Emmanuel Ogbah picked up the pass-rushing slack but if Van Ginkel is out the Dolphins would likely have to sign a pass rusher.
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Neither team did much damage with big plays on offense, which was a surprise considering Miami has electric guys such as wide receiver Tyreek Hill, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and running back De’Von Achane, and Buffalo has wide receiver Stefon Diggs and quarterback Josh Allen.
Achane had a 25-yard run, wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. had a 24-yard reception, and Hill had a 23-yard reception.
For Buffalo, wide receiver Khalil Shakir had receptions of 46 and 28 yards, Diggs had a 36-yard reception and tight end Dalton Kincaid had a 29-yard reception. None of those plays went for touchdowns.
Defense, special teams light up the nightWhile neither offense did much in the way of big plays both defenses had interceptions and Buffalo’s special teams had a 96-yard punt return touchdown by Deonte Hardy.
Cornerback Eli Apple and safety DeShon Elliott had interceptions in the end zone for Miami while Buffalo cornerback Christian Benford had an interception.
Allen also lost a fumble on a strip-sack by Dolphins defensive lineman Christian Wilkins.
Bills ain’t scared of Miami defenseBuffalo, protecting a 21-14 lead with 4:05 left, faced a fourth-and-1 at the Miami 35-yard line. The Bills went for it and converted as Allen went over the top for a two-yard gain.
Buffalo had its mojo working at that point, having scored 14 fourth-quarter points on a 96-yard punt return and an eight-play, 74-yard touchdown drive to take the 21-14 lead.
The first down conversion was a key play in Buffalo’s ability to secure the win.
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Allen, who had a key 15-yard run on third-and-13 in the fourth quarter while the Bills were protecting a 21-14 lead, made key plays down the stretch.
He ended 29 of 37 for 350 yards passing, two touchdowns, two interceptions and a 101.6 passer rating.
Allen had 68 yards rushing on 11 carries.
Allen entered the game with a 10-2 record against Miami, including playoffs.
Allen threw two interceptions in the end zone in the first half, the first by Apple on what appeared to be a miscommunication between quarterback and receiver, and the second by Elliott when the receiver fell down.
Allen’s first touchdown pass was a deflected pass off linebacker Van Ginkel and high into the air in the end zone where Bills wide receiver Trent Sherfield, the former Dolphins, grabbed the ball near the back of the end zone and kept both feet inbounds.
Dolphins end 1-5 vs. teams with winning recordsThe Dolphins ended the regular season 1-5 against teams with a winning record.
Miami defeated Dallas and lost to Buffalo, Philadelphia, Kansas City and Baltimore.
Tua’s night was uglyQuarterback Tua Tagovaila ended 17-of-27 passing for 173 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions and a 62.7 passer rating. Tagovailoa was outdueled by Allen once again.
Tagovailoa ended the regular season as the passing leader with 4,624 yards.
Tagovailoa began the game with a 1-5 record vs. Buffalo.
Tyreek 2K derailedHill ended as the league leader in receiving yards with 1,792 yards, far short of his personal goal of a NFL-record 2,000 yards.
Hill, who has been slowed by a left ankle injury since the Tennessee game, began the game with 1,717 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. But in the past few games we’ve seen Hill going to the ground immediately after a catch instead of trying to get yards after catch. We’ve also seen him pound the ground with his fist in pain after tackles, and we’ve seen him limp to the sideline after being tackled.
Dolphins grabbed a superfecta no team wantsDolphins this year have allowed a 63-yard fumble-return touchdown, a 96-yard punt-return TD, a 99-yard kickoff-return score and a 102-yard pick-six. — Steve Svekis
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NFL showed itself to care about its fans even less than its usual minimal standardWith Kansas City, forecast to have single-digit night-time temperatures (before accounting for wind chill) on Saturday night, the NFL, instead of putting that game into its one 1 p.m. slot on Sunday, or even one of the three 4:30s, put it at 8 p.m. on Saturday. Simply reckless. Drunk with power.
Dolphins’ wild coin-flip narrative maintained itselfA fascinating dichotomy continued Sunday night. The Dolphins under Mike McDaniel have won 19 of their 22 pregame coin tosses before December. However, on Sunday, they lost their ninth toss in 13 games played in December or January.
The storied playoff history between the Chiefs and DolphinsThis will be the fourth postseason game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Dolphins, with each of the three previous having a major headline attached to it. The first matchup was in Missouri on Christmas Day in 1971. With 1:36 left in regulation, Bob Griese found Marv Fleming with a 5-yard touchdown pass. Garo Yepremian’s extra point made it 24-24. With 35 seconds left, Chiefs star kicker Jan Stenerud was wide right from 42 yards out. Miami dodged another bullet on the first possession of overtime (when a field goal could send a team home without possessing the ball in OT) when Nick Buoniconti blocked a 52-yard attempt by Stenerud. In a second overtime, Yepremian ended it, and Miami was on its way to its first Super Bowl. …
In January of 1991, the Dolphins trailed 16-3 when Dan Marino caught fire, the key throw a laser to the right flat that Chiefs All-Pro cornerback Albert Lewis thought he had intercepted for a 88-yard clinching pick-six. Instead, the howitzer made it all the way to Mark Clayton who danced into the end zone for the 12-yard go-ahead touchdown with 3:28 left. Down 17-16, the Chiefs’ Nick Lowery was just short on a winning 52-yard field goal attempt. …
Then, after the 1994 regular season, the Dolphins topped the Chiefs in Miami Gardens in what was Joe Montana’s final game in the NFL.
Dolphins’ kickoff coverage has sagged in the McDaniel eraThe punt return disaster will get the headlines Sunday night, but it pointed in the general direction of another Dolphins special teams woe. The one aspect of the Dolphins that has crashed the past two seasons has been their kickoff return coverage unit. Heading into the regular-season finale against Buffalo, Miami was worst in the NFL with an average opponent kickoff return of 30.5 yards. That follows a 2022 where Miami also ranked 32nd with 27.8 yards per kickoff return allowed. Those rankings are a free fall from the 2020 season’s NFL-best 15.7-yard average allowed by Miami. In 2021, the Dolphins ranked 11th at 20.7 yards.
Dolphins would be beating back a lot of history to win the Super Bowl this seasonWith the Dolphins’ humiliation in Baltimore, it got me wondering whether a team had ever lost a game by as many as 37 points and won the Lombardi. Secondarily, has any Super Bowl champ ever had three losses by at least 17 points in that title year.
Here is the list of the biggest loss by each Super Bowl champ with, if applicable, the number of 17-plus-point losses that season in parentheses. The answer is no in both cases. The biggest rout that a Super Bowl champ has taken was a 35-point pounding absorbed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 (38-3 against the Saints). The most 17-plus-point defeats for a Lombardi winner were two, from six teams (1970 Baltimore Colts, 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1988 San Francisco 49ers, 2007 New York Giants, 2012 Baltimore Ravens and 2021 Los Angeles Rams).
The final 2024 opponents are setThe Dolphins, shockingly the AFC East runners-up, will play these teams next season (apart from the home-and-home series against the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets and New England Patriots): Home — Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Las Vegas Raiders (second in the AFC West). Away — Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns (second in the AFC North), Green Bay Packers (second in the NFC North).
Ogbah’s inability to bring down Josh Allen unfortunately continuedEntering Sunday night Emmanuel Ogbah had one sack in 288 career snaps against the Josh Allen Bills, and he didn’t get to him in the finale.
Dolphins’ big plays dried up after Week 6The Dolphins started on an amazing streak of games to start the season with at least one play of 40 yards, hitting that number in each of the first six games, piling up 14 of them in that span (at Chargers: one; at Patriots: one; Broncos: five; at Bills: one; Giants: three; Panthers: three). From Week 7 onward, however, those plays dried up, with the Dolphins registering only a half-dozen 40-yarders in the final 11 games.
On deck: Kansas City Chiefs (wild-card playoff), Arrowhead Stadium, TBAAnother nightmare after Thanksgiving for the Dolphins looms as Miami gave away what had looked like a near-certain AFC East title and two possible home playoff games. Now, the Dolphins will be headed to what is forecast to be the coldest playoff game in franchise history. The most frigid temperature the Dolphins have endured in a postseason game was the 17 degrees at kickoff in Pittsburgh after the 2016 regular season. As of 11:30 p.m. Sunday, the forecast in Kansas City for Saturday night is 0 degrees.
Hyde10: Offense disappears, special-teams gaffe, Chiefs waiting — 10 thoughts on Dolphins’ 21-14 loss to Bills
The Buffalo Bills took the AFC East title and No. 2 playoff seed, and the Miami Dolphins will have to try to find their offense before next Saturday in Kansas City.
Here are 10 thoughts on the Dolphins’ 21-14 loss to the Bills in the regular-season finale at Hard Rock Stadium:
1. Play of the Game: Buffalo’s Deonte Harty catches the punt at the 4-yard line, darts up the middle and 96 yards later ties the game at 14-14 early in the fourth quarter. The 5-foot-6 Harty shouldn’t have caught the punt that close to the Bills end zone, but more than made up for it with a play that negated a game’s worth of big defensive plays that frustrated Buffalo and injected momentum into the Bills sideline. To add to the play’s pain, the Dolphins lost their second edge rusher on the night when Cameron Goode had to be carted off the field.
2. The Dolphins are the AFC’s sixth seed and open the playoffs in Kansas City for an 8 p.m. game on Saturday night. Win there, and they’d play at Baltimore in the second round. See how much this loss meant? With a win they would have got a rematch against Buffalo in Hard Rock Stadium and the chance for two games at home (three, if Baltimore would lose). Throw in the loss of the AFC East title and this was as expensive as a loss can be.
3. The Dolphins offense went dead in the second half. Look how the possessions went: Three-and-out punt, one-first-down-and-punt, three-and-out-punt, three-and-out punt and interceptions. So after scoring 14 points and gaining 218 yards with 13 first downs in the first half, the offense was shut down by Buffalo’s fourth-ranked defense. Buffalo brought another defender into the box and went single-high-safety, a look that would play into the Dolphins passing game. But they couldn’t pass. Even when the defense got the ball back with 1:53 left at the Dolphins 37, they couldn’t get closed than the Bills’ 40 before Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw a bad interception, his second of the night. The Dolphins had 57 yards and those three first downs in the second half.
4. Play of the Game That Wasn’t: Jerome Baker stopped Buffalo’s Ty Johnson at the 1-yard as time ran out in the first half. Buffalo had no time-outs and the ball at the Dolphins’ 11-yard line with 11 seconds left in the half. Throw in the end zone and, at worst, take a field goal? Bills quarterback Josh Allen gambled with a pass over the middle to Johnson, who cut upfield to the end zone where Baker made a big stop to keep the Dolphins 14-7 lead at half.
5. The Dolphins defense gave every chance to win this game. Just look at this stat: It had three takeaways from Allen in Dolphins territory. For a player who has a 10-2 record and 109.0 career quarterback rating against the Dolphins, Sunday night was the Dolphins’ night. Allen’s opening drive went to the Dolphins 3, where Eli Apple intercepted him. On the second drive, Allen missed a wide-open Stefon Diggs for a touchdown and then threw a Hail-Mary on fourth down from the Dolphins’ 35. DeShon Elliott intercepted it in the end zone. Then, from the Dolphins 21-yard line late in the third quarter, Christian Wilkins hit the trifecta — a sack of Allen, forced fumble and fumble recovery. The game-winning score came on a 5-yard pass from Allen to Dawson Knox in the fourth quarter after a 74-yard drive. But this defense played its butts off all night despite …
6. When Andrew Van Ginkel limped off the field with a foot injury in the third quarter, the question was where this team could find an edge pass rush. Melvin Ingram provided an answer a few plays later with a sack of Allen as part of a full blitz. But moving ahead this is a real concern for a defense that already had lost Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb for the season. Emmanuel Ogbah and Goode alternated on Sunday night. The question becomes how serious.
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7. Call of the Night: Fourth-and-inches from the Buffalo 35-yard line with 4 minutes to go. Does Buffalo punt? Nope, Bills coach Sean McDermott goes for it and when you have 6-foot-5, 225-pound Allen at QB it’s not a bad call. He bulldozed ahead for 2 yards and Buffalo proceeded to run down the clock until turning the ball over on downs with 1:53 left.
8. For most of the past two decades, the draft order was the prime story out of the last day of the regular season. Now it’s barely a mention. As things stand, the NFL draft kicks off with: 1. Carolina (picks goes to Chicago due to previous trade); 2. Washington; 3. New England. Yep, the Patriots sit third as they look for a quarterback. The New York Jets are 10th. The Dolphins entered Sunday night picking 29th while Buffalo was picking 24th.
9. Quick Hits:
* Quote of the night: “Bills mafia has taken over South Florida. All that noise? Bills fans” – NBC’s Mike Tirico on the opening shot of Hard Rock Stadium;
* Tyreek Hill’s second-quarter TD tied him with Mike Evans for the NFL lead for receiving TDs;
* Safety Jevon Holland was on a snap count after being downgraded to questionable on Saturday (knees). For instance, he wasn’t on the field for Buffalo’s scoring drive to end the half.
10. Next Game: Saturday night at Kansas City. The weather forecast for next Saturday calls for a low of zero degrees and high of 14. Expect it to be the low for an 8 p.m. game. The Dolphins were beaten by the Chiefs in Germany, 21-14, in November. There will be side stories like Hill returning to Kansas City and the constant Taylor Swift Watch. But this is a game the Dolphins need to win to make it a good season.
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MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins missed out on a chance at their first AFC East title in 15 years and to be at home for at least the first two rounds of the playoffs.
The Dolphins offense came up empty in the second half against the Bills, and two fourth-quarter touchdowns led Buffalo to a 21-14 win Sunday night at Hard Rock Stadium.
Miami, which held a three-game lead in the division with five weeks remaining in the regular season, ends with an equal 11-6 record to the Bills. Since Buffalo swept the season series, it wins the tiebreaker.
The Bills won the division for the fourth consecutive season. They get the No. 2 seed in the AFC and host the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins drop all the way to No. 6 in the conference, and that means a trip to frigid Kansas City for a date with the defending Super Bowl-champion Chiefs in the wild-card round. Kickoff from Arrowhead Stadium will be at 8 p.m. Saturday.
“It’s very frustrating to all parties involved that care about the Dolphins, whether you’re a Dolphins player, support staff, coaches, fans,” coach Mike McDaniel said as Miami finished with three losses in its past five games. “But the season hasn’t ended. Right now, we’re 100 percent moving forward to the next game, which we did earn.”
The Dolphins are spending little time sulking, and they have little time before the playoffs. After Sunday night’s late finish, they prepare for a short week with travel to Kansas City leading them to a Saturday night wild-card game.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen showed his worst early and best late. He took over the game toward the end and finished 30 of 38 for 359 yards, two touchdowns and 69 huge rushing yards. His negative actions also kept Miami in the game, with two interceptions and a fumble lost.
Behind Allen and his knack for sustaining drives, Miami was outgained, 473-275, while losing time of possession, 38:07-21:53.
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“I think he made his money on keeping the offense out on the field and earning long drives with some third-down plays,” McDaniel said. “There are not many people that do some of the things he does. He played like he usually plays.”
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was intercepted by Bills safety Taylor Rapp on Miami’s final chance. It was one of two interceptions for him, as he finished 17 of 27 for 173 yards.
“Any time we lose it’s never a good feeling,” Tagovailoa said. “The stakes are high every time we play, so we understand what was at stake tonight and we just didn’t come through and it started with me.”
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill, in a tumultuous week where his home caught fire, finished with seven receptions for 82 yards and caught Tagovailoa’s touchdown pass.
Running back De’Von Achane had a 25-yard rushing touchdown among his 56 rushing yards. He and Jeff Wilson Jr. combined for 101 rushing yards, but 94 of those came in the first half. The Bills devoted an extra defender in the box in the second half, and with the run game neutralized, Miami had three three-and-outs in the second half. The team finished 4 of 10 on third downs.
The Dolphins led by a score to start the fourth quarter, but punt returner Deonte Harty’s 96-yard touchdown after fielding a punt at his own 4-yard line turned momentum Buffalo’s way.
“That was a huge momentum swing that hurt us,” McDaniel said. “Points were at premium at that point in the game, so it was a gut punch for sure.”
As Miami went three-and-out on three of its first four drives of the second half with just one first down on those series, the Bills then scored again to take the lead. They went 74 yards in eight plays, capping the drive with a 5-yard touchdown from Allen to tight end Dawson Knox.
“Just weren’t able to get first downs and sustain drives to get more plays, more reps, more opportunities,” Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead said.
Protecting the 21-14 advantage deep into the fourth quarter, Bills coach Sean McDermott opted to sneak Allen up the middle to convert a fourth-and-1 from Buffalo’s own 35-yard line and run more clock. Allen then rumbled to scramble for a first down on third-and-13 to further extend the drive, but Miami got the ball back with 1:53 remaining at its own 37-yard line needing a touchdown as Tagovailoa threw the final interception looking for wide receiver Chase Claypool in double coverage.
“They played two-man. Tried to anticipate the throw and throw and that was the result,” Tagovailoa said.
Miami took the 14-7 lead with 1:43 left in the first half as Tagovailoa found Hill at the pylon, winning on a simple out move against Bills cornerback Christian Benford.
The Bills were driving to finish the first half, but like the way their 2022 visit to Hard Rock Stadium ended, they ran out of time with an Allen passing to running back Ty Johnson in the middle of the field. He was stopped cold by linebacker Jerome Baker at the 1-yard line, and Buffalo had no timeouts to stop the clock.
The Bills were on the move again later in the third quarter, but defensive tackle Christian Wilkins had an impressive strip-sack on Allen where he came up with the football in one motion.
Buffalo had drives of 6:45, 5:04 and 7:30 that came up empty Sunday, plus the missed attempt right before half.
The Dolphins struck first after a scoreless opening period. Achane took a pitch to the right, cut upfield off a seal block by tight end Durham Smythe and juked safety Jordan Poyer as Armstead was up the field for the last block he needed for a 25-yard touchdown.
The Bills answered later in the second quarter. An Allen pass that was tipped by the goal line by outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel ended up in the hands of Trent Sherfield, a Dolphin last season, in the back of the end zone.
The Bills’ first two drives ended in Allen interceptions in the end zone, although they were very different from one another.
His first interception spoiled a 12-play, 79-yard drive where there appeared to be a miscommunication on a route between he and wide receiver Gabe Davis. It resulted in Allen throwing a pass right to cornerback Eli Apple, who dove for it in the end zone and decided to take it out of the end zone when he had better field position accepting the touchback.
On Buffalo’s second series, Allen threw to the end zone on a fourth-and-2 at the Miami 35-yard line, and safety DeShon Elliott, playing through a calf injury sustained in pregame warmups intercepted it in the end zone. The Dolphins sacrificed field position there, too, 15 yards by not knocking down the fourth-down pass.
Miami’s first possession also resulted in an interception. Tagovailoa took a deep shot on third-and-7 near midfield, and Benford came over from the other side of the field to pick it off, working similar to a punt for the Dolphins.
The Dolphins, already thin on the edge, lost Van Ginkel during the game to a foot injury. Cameron Goode, another outside linebacker, exited on the Harty punt return touchdown to a knee injury.
That left Miami, with Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips out for season, with Melvin Ingram and Emmanuel Ogbah as edge rushers for the remainder of the game. Ingram had a sack on Allen earlier in the game and split another sack with defensive tackle Zach Sieler.
Instant Analysis: Buffalo Bills 21, Miami Dolphins 14
Quick thoughts from South Florida Sun Sentinel staffers on the Miami Dolphins’ loss to the Buffalo Bills in the regular-season finale on Sunday night at Hard Rock Stadium:
Chris Perkins, Dolphins ColumnistThe Dolphins offense didn’t show up again, producing just two touchdowns. But that’s no surprise. It rarely shows up in big games. The backbreaker on Sunday though was the 96-yard punt return touchdown. Now Miami goes to Kansas City, where it’ll have a tough time winning. Sheesh.
David Furones, Dolphins WriterOffense completely absent in second half with three three-and-outs while Bills built momentum. Punt return touchdown was the backbreaker. Dolphins also face a lot of injury concerns on the edge with Andrew Van Ginkel and Cameron Goode going down. It will be tough to win in cold Kansas City.
Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports EditorA huge special-teams breakdown and a bunch of questions about their quarterback leave the Dolphins, almost inconceivably, as the sixth seed, off to play in the coldest playoff game in franchise history.
Steve Svekis, Sports Senior Content EditorThe Dolphins, as spirited as they played Sunday night, still end up with another end-of-regular-season collapse, going 2-3 to close it out, and now go to Kansas City to play in near-zero night-time temperatures. Two straight 8-3 starts that have fallen apart.
(new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=40bacbdb-084a-4980-bafa-92da3b5cd8f1&cid=38d5daa3-18ac-4ee1-a905-373c67622f25'; cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "40bacbdb-084a-4980-bafa-92da3b5cd8f1" , mediaId: "4f2c98a1-58ae-46da-884f-d1f990282631" }).render("e8162490c6794f39b1863baf3757f7b4"); }); (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=40bacbdb-084a-4980-bafa-92da3b5cd8f1&cid=38d5daa3-18ac-4ee1-a905-373c67622f25'; cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "40bacbdb-084a-4980-bafa-92da3b5cd8f1" , mediaId: "15dafd60-89f3-4633-b808-1ffc442bd746" }).render("11a75077fe47422cac665256dcf2c507"); });‘Oppenheimer’ dominates Golden Globes, ‘Poor Things’ upsets ‘Barbie’ in comedy
By Jake Coyle, Associated Press
Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster biopic “Oppenheimer” dominated the 81st Golden Globes, winning five awards including best drama, while Yorgos Lanthimos’ Frankenstein riff “Poor Things” pulled off an upset victor over “Barbie” to triumph in the best comedy or musical category.
If awards season has been building toward a second match-up of Barbenheimer, this round went to “Oppenheimer.” The film also won best director for Nolan, best drama actor for Cillian Murphy, best supporting actor for Robert Downey Jr. and for Ludwig Göransson’s score.
“I don’t think it was a no-brainer by any stretch of the imagination to make a three-hour talky movie — R-rated by the way — about one of the darkest developments in our history,” said producer Emma Thomas accepting the night’s final award and thanking Universal chief Donna Langley.
Along with best comedy or musical, “Poor Things” also won for Emma Stone’s performance as Bella, a Victorian woman experiencing a surreal life and sexual awakening.
“I see this as a rom-com,” said Stone. “But in the sense that Bella falls in love with life itself, rather than a person. She accepts the good and the bad in equal measure, and that really made me look at life differently.”
Tom Benitez / Orlando SentinelThis image released by CBS shows Emma Stone accepting the award for best female actor in a motion picture for her role in “Poor Things” during the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Sonja Flemming/CBS via AP)Lily Gladstone won best actress in a dramatic film for Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Gladstone, who began her speech speaking the language of her native tribe, Blackfeet Nation, is the first Indigenous winner in the category.
“This is a historic win,” said Gladstone. “It doesn’t just belong to me.”
The Globes were in their 81st year but facing a new and uncertain chapter. After a tumultuous few years and heaps of scandals, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association was dissolved, leaving a new Globes, on a new network (CBS), to try to regain its perch as the third biggest award show of the year, after the Oscars and Grammys. Even the menu (sushi from Nobu) was flipped.
“Golden Globes journalists, thank you for changing your game, therefore changing your name,” said Downey in his acceptance speech.
It got off to a rocky start. Host Jo Koy took the stage at the Beverly Hilton International Ballroom in Beverly Hills, California . The Filipino American stand-up hit on some expected topics: Ozempic, Meryl Streep’s knack for winning awards and the long-running “Oppenheimer.” (“I needed another hour.”)
After one joke flubbed, Koy, who was named host after some bigger names reportedly passed, also noted how fast he was thrust into the job.
“Yo, I got the gig 10 days ago. You want a perfect monologue?” said Koy. “I wrote some of these and they’re the ones you’re laughing at.”
HI, BARBIEDowney’s win, his third Globe, denied one to Kenergy. Ryan Gosling had been seen as his stiffest competition, just one of the many head-to-head contests between “Oppenheimer” and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.” The filmmakers faced each other in the best director category, where Nolan triumphed.
It was two hours before “Barbie,” the year’s biggest hit with more than $1.4 billion in ticket sales, won an award. Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” took best song, and swiftly after, “Barbie” took the Globes’ new honor for “cinematic and box office achievement.” Some thought that award might go to Taylor Swift, whose “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” also set box-office records.
Margot Robbie, star and producer of “Barbie,” accepted the award in a pink gown modeled after 1977’s Superstar Barbie.
“We’d like to dedicate this to every single person on the planet who dressed up and went to the greatest place on Earth: the movie theaters,” said Robbie.
“Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” two blockbusters brought together by a common release date, also faced off in the best screenplay category. But in an upset, Justine Triet and Arthur Harari won for the script to the French courtroom drama “Anatomy of a Fall.” Later, Triet’s film picked up best international film, too.
Though the Globes have no direct correlation with the Academy Awards, they can boost campaigns at a crucial juncture. Oscar nomination voting starts Thursday, and the twin sensations of Barbenheimer remain frontrunners.
Other contenders loom, though, like “Poor Things” and “The Holdovers.”
Paul Giamatti and Da’Vine Joy Randolph both won for Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers.” Giamatti, reuniting with Payne two decades after “Sideways,” won best actor and Randolph won for her supporting performance as a grieving woman in the 1970s-set boarding school drama.
“Oh, Mary you have changed my life,” Randolph said of her character. “You have made me feel seen in so many ways that I have never imagined.”
Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron” won best animated film, an upset over “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.”
‘SUCCESSION’ AND ‘THE BEAR’ LEAD TV WINNERSThe final season of “Succession” cleaned up on the television side. It won best drama series for the third time, a mark that ties a record set by “Mad Men” and “The X-Files.” Three stars from the HBO series also won: Matt Macfadyen, Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin.
“It is bittersweet, but things like this make it rather sweeter,” said “Succession” creator Jesse Armstrong.
Hulu’s “The Bear” also came away with a trio of awards, including best comedy series. Jeremy Allen White won for the second time, but this time he had company. Ayo Edebiri won her first Globe for her leading performance in the Hulu show’s second season. She thanked the assistants of her agents and managers.
“To the people who answer my emails, you’re the real ones,” said Edebiri.
Ted Fitzgerald / Associated PressAyo Edebiri poses in the press room with the award for best performance by an actress in a television series, musical or comedy for “The Bear” at the 81st Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)“Beef” won three awards: best limited series as well as acting awards for Ali Wong and Steven Yeun.
The Globes also added a new stand-up special award. That went, surprisingly, to Ricky Gervais, who didn’t attend the show he so often hosted. Some expected Chris Rock to win for “Selective Outrage,” his stand-up response to the Will Smith slap.
THE GLOBES COMEBACKA few years ago, the Golden Globes were on the cusp of collapse. After The Los Angeles Times reported that the HFPA had no Black members, Hollywood boycotted the organization. The 2022 Globes were all but canceled and taken off TV. After reforms, the Globes returned to NBC last year in a one-year deal, but the show was booted to Tuesday evening. With Jerrod Carmichael hosting, the telecast attracted 6.3 million viewers, a new low on NBC and a far cry from the 20 million that once tuned in.
The Golden Globes were acquired by Eldridge Industries and Dick Clark Productions, which Penske Media owns, and turned into a for-profit venture. The HFPA (which typically numbered around 90 voters) was dissolved and a new group of some 300 entertainment journalists from around the world now vote for the awards.
Questions still remain about the Globes’ long-term future, but their value to Hollywood studios remains providing a marketing boost to awards contenders. (The Oscars won’t be held until March 10.) This year, because of the actors and writers strikes, the Globes are airing ahead of the Emmys, which were postponed to Jan. 15.
With movie ticket sales still 20% off the pre-pandemic pace and the industry facing a potentially perilous 2024 at the box office, Hollywood needed the Golden Globes as much as it ever has.
2024 Golden Globe Awards: List of winners
Here are the winners at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards, presented Sunday, Jan. 7:
MOVIESMotion picture, drama: “Oppenheimer”
Motion picture, musical or comedy: “Poor Things”
Cinematic and box office achievement: “Barbie”
Motion picture, animated: “The Boy and the Heron”
Motion picture, non-English language: “Anatomy of a Fall”
Female actor, motion picture, drama: Lily Gladstone, “Killers of the Flower Moon”
Male actor, motion picture, drama: Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer”
Female actor, motion picture, TV or comedy: Emma Stone, “Poor Things”
Male actor, motion picture, musical or comedy: Paul Giamatti, “The Holdovers”
Female supporting actor, motion picture: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers”
Male supporting actor, motion picture: Robert Downey Jr., “Oppenheimer”
Director, motion picture: Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer”
Screenplay, motion picture: Justine Triet, Arthur Harari, “Anatomy of a Fall”
Original score: Ludwig Göransson, “Oppenheimer”
Original song: “What Was I Made For?” Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell, “Barbie”
TELEVISIONTV series, drama: “Succession”
TV series, musical or comedy: “The Bear”
Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television: “Beef”
Female actor, TV series, drama: Sarah Snook, “Succession”
Male actor, TV series, drama: Kieran Culkin, “Succession”
Female actor, TV series, musical or comedy: Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”
Male actor, TV series, musical or comedy: Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”
Female supporting actor, television: Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown”
Male supporting actor, television: Matthew Macfadyen, “Succession”
Female actor in a limited series, anthology series, or a motion picture made for television: Ali Wong, “Beef”
Male actor in a limited series, anthology series, or a motion picture made for television: Steven Yeun, “Beef”
Performance in stand-up comedy on television: Ricky Gervais, “Armageddon”
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