Archives for October 21, 2002

‘”I’m going to meet with Cris tomorrow and we’ll see where it goes from there,” Wannstedt said after the Dolphins lost to the Buffalo Bills 23-10 on Sunday at Pro Player Stadium.’

‘The six turnovers were the most by a Miami team since it committed seven in a 62-7 divisional playoff loss at Jacksonville on Jan. 15, 2000. It was the most in the regular season since they also committed six in a 38-16 loss at Atlanta on Dec. 27, 1998.’

‘As defensive end Pat Williams headed to the Buffalo Bills’ locker room today, he shouted, “Miami’s overrated! Miami’s overrated!” And Williams did not soften that stance later. “Yeah, they’re overrated,” he said after the Bills’ 23-10 victory before 73,180 at Pro Player Stadium. “That was our home field out there. We had the dark colors and they had the white jerseys on, but this was our home field today.”‘

‘What you saw in the Bills’ upset of the Dolphins on the road was your worst nightmare realized.’

‘In the meantime, though, there are few targets left for Lucas, and that left him wearing an oversized bull’s-eye. Buffalo kept up the pressure and Lucas was cooked, throwing four interceptions (three to Nate Clements), missing open receivers, botching snaps, and failing to execute a clean handoff to Ricky Williams, resulting in a rally-killing fourth-quarter fumble.’

‘There’s an irony Brady should appreciate. Bledsoe’s leading the NFL in most passing categories. Yet Drew’s least productive game of the season was his easiest – not to mention the Bills’ easiest win.’

‘If the game proved a dreadful debut for Lucas, who completed as many passes to Bills cornerback Nate Clements (three) as he did to any Dolphins receiver, Buffalo’s players hoped it signaled something more promising for them: That they have completed their rebound from a poor season last year, finally returning to contender status and perhaps symbolically passing the reeling Dolphins, one of their most heated AFC rivals, on their way up.’

Buffalo 23, Miami 10: For a change, Drew Bledsoe didn\’t have to carry the Bills on his ample shoulders. For a change, defense carried the load and made the difference in a victory that suddenly elevates the Bills from an exciting middle-of-the-road club to a force in a division the Dolphins had seemingly clutched by the throat.

Coach Gregg Williams: "We wanted to make sure that he (Ray Lucas) stayed in the pocket and throw the football. We felt we would do a pretty good job in coverage and we did that today. Nate (Clements) had some good plays, but could have had some more. We left some plays on the field that I wish we could have got. It was a good team win."

Dolphins’ ball, third and 9 from the Miami 21, two minutes, 33 seconds remaining in the second quarter, game tied at 10.

Taking advantage of an erratic effort by Miami backup Ray Lucas, the Bills came up with four interceptions — their first this season — and recovered two fumbles to beat the Dolphins 23-10 Sunday.

The Buffalo Bills had the better quarterback, which was no surprise. They also had the better defense, which was a shock.