Two Bills Drive

‘Veteran running back Thurman Thomas had modest statistics Sunday afternoon during the Dolphins’ 22-13 win over the Buffalo Bills. But it was one of the biggest wins of his career.’

‘"People better start taking us seriously," Miami defensive tackle Jermaine Haley said, nodding his head slowly. "I’m tellin’ ya, we’re for real."’

‘Sam Cowart, Antoine Winfield, Ted Washington and Phil Hansen are playing their hearts out, but No. 1 rankings don’t mean anything when your offense can’t put the ball in the end zone with any consistency. Shoot, it can’t even protect its quarterback. It’s proving to be a recipe for disaster. For the life of me, I don’t know how Johnson gets out of bed on Monday mornings.’

‘The Dolphins have 24 sacks, 16 takeaways (10 interceptions, six fumble recoveries), two defensive touchdowns and a safety in six games. But contrast, the Bills, who are giving up fewer yards per game, have only 10 sacks, seven takeaways and no defensive points in five games. Buffalo’s defense, while solid, JUST doesn’t make big plays, the mark of the league’s elite.’

‘If Wade Phillips doesn’t see a problem with his offensive line, he’s guilty of selective myopia.’

‘The Bills-Miami rivalry may be in jeopardy for another reason: The NFL is staring at realignment, an issue that’s been debated for many seasons but remains unresolved. When Houston returns in 2002 as franchise No. 32, it will pave the way for eight four-team divisions across the two conferences. There is some sentiment for placing teams in geographic configurations and, based on the rivalry discussed above, the Bills have resisted that, always favoring an AFC East that keeps the Dolphins, Jets and Patriots on the schedule. The Indianapolis Colts would probably be the team left out (and now that the Colts have vastly improved that really makes sense). The Bills’ voice in the realignment matter should be well heard because owner Ralph Wilson has been appointed by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue as the divisional rep. Tagliabue said the seven-member panel (the AFC Central will have two reps because it currently has six teams) will interview other owners and file a report in January. The realignment issue will be resolved by June 1, 2001.’

‘The Dolphins dominated both sides of the line of scrimmage. Miami’s defense held the Bills to 76 yards rushing, and 44 of those came on runs by Johnson, who was under heavy pursuit all afternoon. He was sacked five times, and his backup, Doug Flutie, was sacked once after relieving Johnson in the fourth quarter when the starter suffered an injury to his right elbow, on his throwing arm.’

‘"This is a good defense," Johnson said of the Dolphins. "When you can’t run the ball and you’re not protecting very well, what are you going to do?" The two answers to that question are: 1) Get beaten up. 2) Lose.’

‘Any more days like this and quarterback Rob Johnson might need to upgrade his health insurance.’

‘They don’t have anything approaching a featured back, running by committee isn’t getting it done, and their offensive line may get their quarterback annihilated.’

‘The Buffalo Bills’ quarterback left Sunday’s 22-13 loss to the Miami Dolphins late in the fourth quarter in obvious pain after taking a direct hit on his tender right elbow from Miami defensive end Kenny Mixon in the fourth quarter. Doug Flutie had to finish the game.’

‘Never mind the statistics. If you put any stock in stuffing an opponent’s running game and assaulting a foe’s quarterback, then the Dolphins won this bout on a TKO. They had a half dozen sacks and allowed Buffalo running backs just 32 yards on 17 carries, fewer than two yards a crack.’

‘Their Dolphins are in first place. No Dan Marino. No Jimmy Johnson. But five wins in six games. Best record in the AFC East. Best record in the conference. Post-season thoughts danced in their heads, like the Dolphins’ defense danced on the field. The Dolphins are excited, too. But they’re also wary. "We did the same thing last year, starting fast," middle linebacker Zach Thomas said, "and we know it all fell apart. Coming into the season with no Marino, no Jimmy Johnson, nobody thought we’d be where we’d be. I didn’t understand how people would say we’d be terrible. It’s early and we know what we’ve done in the past, so let’s not do it again. We’re not going to get too happy."’

‘To explain his success against the Bills, Armstrong points at what happened at the end of the 1995 season. The Dolphins went to Buffalo and, in what turned out to be Don Shula’s final game, fell apart. They allowed 341 rushing yards. They didn’t get a single sack. "We got humiliated," Armstrong said. "That’s the one I always think about when we play them."’

‘"He was saying, `I don’t care if we lose every game, we have to beat Buffalo,’ " middle linebacker Zach Thomas said. "I knew he meant it when I met his wife and she said, `Just beat Buffalo.’"’