Two Bills Drive

‘”Our special teams players are young … and the fact people are tired of hearing that doesn’t make them any older. We have six rookies on our kickoff coverage team … five of them next to each other. Eventually, they’re going to be pretty good,” he said. “One thing we’ve started to do is take things game-by-game. Once you’ve given up a (97-yard kickoff return) you’re not going to move up very much (in the kick coverage standings). So we’re concentrating on ‘How did we do this week (compared to the other 30 teams).’ A big part of my job is being part psychologist or psychiatrist to these players. And right now, they have to do a better job of preparing to win.”‘

‘"I’m really excited, but I’ve been excited since I signed here with the Miami Dolphins," Thomas said. "Obviously, spending 12 years in Buffalo, you want to play well against that team. You want to win. But I can’t turn this into a me- against-the-Bills type of atmosphere. That’s what I’m trying not to do." How hard he’s trying is anybody’s guess.’

‘The Bills swept the Dolphins last year for only the seventh time in the history of this rivalry, and they have won four of the past six meetings. They also come into the game with an 0-2 record in the AFC East, losing at the gun last week to Indianapolis at Ralph Wilson Stadium. "We know it’s an important game," former Buffalo now Miami running back Thurman Thomas said. "It would probably separate us from the pack. We know we have to be ready. We know we have to play extra hard, and what better feeling to have than being 5-1 going into the bye week."’

‘"The AFC East is still the best division," former Bills quarterback Jim Kelly said. "Whoever said that (it wasn’t) doesn’t know anything about football."’

‘"It’s not a must-win but it’s huge, especially because it’s in division and we’ve lost two," Johnson said. "I think the biggest thing is for the morale of the team. We felt we’ve given two games away in our division. I think we’re a good team. We’ve proven that. We can play with anyone. I think we can go on runs and roll off five or six wins in a row. But we have to start playing better."’

‘Outlook: The Dolphins have had an easy schedule so far. They are a soft 4-1. . . . Bills, 17-14.’

‘Today’s first Thurman Bowl is a juicy soap opera, especially after Thomas’ week of trash talking and the fact the Bills’ season is tetering in the wind. "I haven’t said anything to my teammates here," Thomas said. "You know the rivalry. These guys know how I want this game to turn out."’

‘Bills win if…They play turnover-free. The Dolphins have thrived on turnovers, forcing a league-high 14 thus far. The game figures to be close and one break off a turnover could prove critical…Their defense outplays the stout Miami defense. The Dolphins will have the advantage of the home crowd firing them up, but top to bottom, the Buffalo defense is stronger than Miami’s…Johnson plays efficiently. He can’t make some of the poor decisions that plagued him last week.’

‘"Whatever you’ve become accustomed to with Miami-Buffalo games, it’s going to be the same, no different," Bills guard Ruben Brown said. "They’re going to be coming at us, man. They always bring the heat and we’ve got to be prepared for that."’

‘Since their meeting last November, future Hall of Famers Bruce Smith, Andre Reed and Thurman Thomas were cast out in Buffalo. Dan Marino was similarly vanished from the Dolphins roster, albeit in a more diplomatic fashion. The last time the teams played without this superstar corps intact, President Ronald Reagan was in the White House.’

‘The Dolphins are the surprise team in the NFL right now. Dave Wannstedt is the coach of the year or Doug Henning. The early success has the feel of magic, but you wonder if it will disappear. There remains the unsettling sense that Miami’s 4-1 record is propped up on matchsticks and toothpicks, held together by masking tape, string and a prayer. Today — here against nemesis Buffalo, most perfectly — we should finally get an answer: Can this be real?’

‘[Dolphins Special Teams Coach Mike] Westhoff admits the Bills looked bad on special teams their first three games this season. But when he pops in the tape of last week’s game against Indianapolis, he notices marked improvement. "Early in the season, you could see they had a lot of things to iron out," he says. "They gave up a lot of plays. But as the season has progressed, they’ve done a lot of work and have gotten better. They totally changed some of the things they’re doing. Yeah, there’s no doubt in my mind we can still beat this outfit, but I know we’ll have to execute very well."

‘Linebacker John Holecek said of his former teammate-turned-Dolphin Thurman Thomas: "He’s the possible Hall of Famer." And I’m thinking Holecek must have Holeinhead, because isn’t the Thurmanator, a top-10 all-time ground gainer, a lock to make Canton? Ran the question past two Hall voters, and both said Thomas, right now, looks like an interesting debate, not a lock. Clearly, the topic merited further chewing.’

‘The Buffalo Bills (2-2) come to Pro Player Stadium with a pop-gun offense and without any of the players (Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith and Andre Reed) who helped them reach four Super Bowls in the 1990s. But after the success Buffalo enjoyed against the Dolphins last season, linebacker Zach Thomas expects the Bills to walk with a swagger. “They think we`re a soft team,” Thomas said.’

‘Winfield is off to a fast start this season, so fast that the name Thomas Smith barely has crossed the lips of Bills fans the past month. Winfield is starting to make a habit of eye-catching plays. "Antoine is an enjoyable guy to coach because usually you tell him one time and he doesn’t make the same mistake twice," Bradley said. "Mentally he never makes the same mistake twice. Everybody makes mistakes physically. But he has played extremely well."’