Two Bills Drive

‘Staff prediction: Dolphins 17, Bills 13.’

‘Critics are wondering just how the Bills are going to find the end zone against a Dolphins’ defense that’s allowed just nine points in three games at home and a league-low 38 points overall with just two touchdowns. "I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of a team that played three home games and gave up three points a game," Bills coach Wade Phillips said. "They’ve been a dominant defensive team for a long time but they seem to have put it all together this year. It’s going to be a big, big challenge for us."’

‘Fiedler is trying to make a name for himself this season, not so much with his arm, a la No. 13, but with his scrambling ability. So far, it’s working. A conservative mix of pass and run, augmented by Fiedler’s ability to scramble, has the Dolphins at 4-1 heading into today’s home game against the rival Buffalo Bills. "Jay is learning, he’s a lot like (Bills quarterback Rob Johnson) in that he has started five games," Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt said of the Ivy Leaguer from Dartmouth."He has done some good things at times, and he has made some mistakes. I wish there was a quick way to leapfrog things like that, but there’s not.’

‘The man Dyer is replacing this week, Rob Konrad, believes the Buffalo Bills provide a chance for Dyer to make a quality debut. "He’s pretty sharp with what’s going on," Konrad said. "And the Bills are not a very complicated defense."’

‘Left tackle Richmond Webb, linebacker Zach Thomas and receiver Tony Martin all practiced Friday. Webb and Thomas will start. Martin, who has missed three games, is still experiencing some pain and swelling in his foot, and said that coach Dave Wannstedt plans to bring him along slowly. Can he still go deep? "Oh yes," Martin said. "I can still go deep."’

‘There are always questions about NFL quarterbacks. For Buffalo’s Rob Johnson, the questions aren’t about his ability, but rather his durability. The fourth-rated passer in the NFL at 100.4 points, the 6-foot-4, 212-pound Johnson also leads the Bills in rushing with 150 yards. "He’s playing smart football mainly because he’s holding the ball and not throwing interceptions," Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas said. "That’s what turns games around. It’s not the sacks." Unfortunately for Johnson, he’s been knocked out of five of his 13 career starts heading into Sunday’s 1 p.m. game against the Dolphins at Pro Player Stadium.’

‘The Dolphins got good news regarding some injured players Friday as coach Dave Wannstedt said middle linebacker Zach Thomas and left tackle Richmond Webb will start Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills. Wannstedt also said receiver Tony Martin will play, although he might not start.’

‘Now, even though deep threat Tony Martin is expected to return Sunday against Buffalo, it’s Gadsden who’s emerged as Fiedler’s go-to guy for an offense that ranks last in the NFL in passing (145 yards a game). "Oronde is the guy," Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said. "There’s nobody that I have more confidence in."’

‘Buffalo week cannot end without a sellout. The Dolphins game sold out and will be on WPEC-12. There is a chance the Bills could return some tickets today.’

‘In their first five games, the Dolphins impressed everyone but themselves while fashioning a 4-1 record and becoming the stingiest defensive team in the NFL, allowing an average of only 7.7 points per game. Unlike last season, when they also started 4-1 and stood 7-1 at midseason before collapsing with only two victories over the second half, there was no controversy. Until this week. Remember, this is hurricane season in South Florida. This week, Dolphins running back Thurman Thomas interrupted the calm before the storm of Sunday’s Buffalo game by unleashing his verbal fury at his former team in general and three players in particular. Thomas, the Houston native who played at Willowridge High School, spilled his guts, and it was apparent he’s still bitter about the way Buffalo treated him during the offseason. Like his longtime teammates, defensive end Bruce Smith and receiver Andre Reed, Thomas was a cornerstone in the Bills’ four Super Bowl teams. They were unceremoniously dumped in the offseason when management elected to use the cap dollars they would save on younger players. Thomas, 34, didn’t want to hang up his cleats and retire to Houston, where he resides in the offseason. He did what Buffalo fans considered unthinkable — he signed with the hated Dolphins, the Bills’ most despised AFC East rival.’

‘If Zach Thomas can not play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills — and there was a story in Thursday’s Miami Herald indicating that was a distinct possibility — the chances of a Dolphins victory are greatly reduced.’

‘There have been several changes with the Miami Dolphins, but one thing has remained the same. The Dolphins’ defense is still among the best in the NFL.’

‘If you buy a ticket off the street for the Oct. 15 Buffalo Bills game against San Diego, it might not get you into Ralph Wilson Stadium. And if you put up a fuss, you’re in for a run-in with some extra security personnel the Bills are stationing in Section 309. Fifty tickets were stolen when a purse was grabbed from a car parked at Main Street and West Oakwood Place, Buffalo police said Thursday. The tickets, incentive gifts for Burger King managers from Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, were being carried by an employee of Carroll’s Corp. They have since been canceled and reissued to the rightful holders.’

‘Zach Thomas gave a thumbs-up signal Thursday as he walked off the practice field, but left it to Miami Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt to update his status for Sunday’s game against Buffalo. "Unless something drastic happens (today), he’ll be in there starting," Wannstedt said of Thomas. "I was real encouraged by how he moved around today."’

‘The Bills are going through the same identity crisis as the Dolphins. Each game brings the same question: What’s it like without . . . Thurman Thomas? Andre Reed? Bruce Smith? For the first time since 1984 it’s not Buffalo week like the old Buffalo weeks. The Bills do not have Smith, their all-time leading sacker, Thomas, their all-time leading rusher, and Reed, their all-time leading receiver. Twenty times Webb has played against the Bills in his career, and he allowed 12.5 sacks to Smith, who is now with Washington. "He’s just the complete player," Webb said. "You had to study him on every play." Not any more. The Bills released Smith and Thomas on Feb. 10, the day after they let Reed go. "I think all three of those guys made a big contribution to this team for a long, long time," Buffalo coach Wade Phillips said. "We’re trying to find people who can fill in, not just take their place."’