Two Bills Drive

”’This team,” he said, “is the most resilient I’ve ever been around.” Resilience, right now, means overcoming an injury to your starting quarterback. Resilience, later, could mean overcoming a QB controversy just as the playoffs begin to come into focus.’

‘ Tickets remain for Sunday’s game against Buffalo. If it does not sell out by 1 p.m. Thursday, the game will be blacked out locally.’

‘Fiedler is 26-11 as a starter since replacing Dan Marino and has missed just one start. No other quarterback has won more games since the start of the 2000 season.’

‘You see, while the Bills’ offense has been rejuvenated under Drew Bledsoe, the defense is horrible. They’re allowing 36 points a game, and their scraping bottom in the NFL in run defense by allowing 130 yards a week. In other words, it wouldn’t matter who is running the offense Sunday. Fiedler, Lucas, Woodley, Jensen. … The Dolphins’ best shot at winning is to keep Ricky on the field and Bledsoe on the sidelines.’

‘Kennedy said he tried to check on Chambers as he lay on the field, but Dolphins tight Randy McMichael stepped in. "Some of his teammates gave me a little shove after that," Kennedy said." I guess they thought I was playing dirty. But I’m a competitor, I was playing hard, and I’m also a friendly guy, so I went over to make sure that he was OK."’

‘Now Fiedler will help prepare Lucas, a job that should bring back memories. Fiedler helped out coaching at Hofstra University while he was out of the NFL in 1997.’

‘Lucas isn’t replacing a quarterback of superstar talent. He is replacing a quarterback who has proved himself a winner by going 26-11 as a Miami starter.’

‘Sage Rosenfels will back up Lucas, and Wannstedt said the Dolphins will look to bring in a third quarterback, who will run the scout team. Rick Spielman, the Dolphins’ senior vice president, said the third quarterback probably will be someone eligible for the practice squad.’

‘If Chambers can’t play, James McKnight will start opposite Oronde Gadsden against the Bills. Dedric Ward would remain the slot receiver.’

‘Now the Dolphins will rely on Ray Lucas under center. Lucas is an athletic player, but Fiedler was the guy who quarterbacked the Dolphins to a 5-1 start. With the high-octane Buffalo Bills offense up next, Miami will need Williams to shine now more than ever.’

‘The Dolphins (5-1), who have a two-game lead in the AFC East, will host the Bills on Sunday, then take their bye week before playing at Green Bay and the New York Jets. Winning those games would not only be important for winning the division, but also for gaining home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.’

‘"I don’t want to complain about a hit, but that was (expletive) (expletive)," Dolphins backup quarterback Ray Lucas said. "And then (Kennedy) got up and was jumping around. I’m still upset about that."’

‘By getting this one, Miami (5-1) has established itself as one of the elite teams in the AFC and all of football. Had the Dolphins not come through on that drive, they would just be another good team that turns back into a pumpkin at the moment of truth.’

‘Lucas hasn’t thrown a pass this season. He attempted only three in 2001. But he does know what it means to start in the NFL and in the AFC East.’

‘Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler will miss at least four weeks because of a broken right thumb, making Ray Lucas a starter for the first time in three seasons.’