Archives for November 26, 2002

‘Over the last two weeks, the Dolphins have put forth the type of performances in all phases that will be needed heading into the final five games of the season. All that will be on the Dolphins’ minds this week, however, is their game this Sunday in Buffalo, as they try to even the season series with the Bills after Buffalo bettered the Dolphins in the first game this year, 23-10, back on October 20 at Pro Player Stadium. Revenge, though, will not be Miami’s primary motive. A Dolphins triumph would guarantee them at least a one-game lead in the AFC East with four to play, while also allowing them to keep pace with the conference front-runners.’

If the Buffalo Bills were a puzzle, it appears that the opposition has just fit the final piece.

Or so it would seem. How else can you explain the Bills' inability to finish big plays? The red zone is icy blue. They're serving up tastier turnovers than a pastry chef.

Gregg Williams said on Monday that Antoine Winfield suffered a lower muscle strain in his leg and with a little rest this week he'll be fine. The injury occurred on the final play of the third quarter while Winfield was covering Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet.

With 43 rushing yards, Henry will becomethe 8th different Bills player with a 1,000-yard campaign and the 21st overall.

‘There are no secrets about what the Bills want to do offensively.’

‘In fairness Williams, Gray and even Smith don’t have the talent they’d like to have at their disposal yet, but that doesn’t excuse many of the Bills mistakes.’

‘"Teams are playing Cover Two," running back Travis Henry explained Monday, referring to the zone defense that gets its name from the fact that it employs two safeties in the deep zone. "It’s hard to get them matched up one-on-one. We’re going to have to get the short passes. We just have to be solid on offense. We can’t make any mistakes because teams are figuring us out. We have to execute on offense."’

‘The owner, Ralph Wilson, is not inclined to fire him. Neither is Donahoe, the general manager. Williams was his choice. It would be an admission that he’d hired the best interviewer, not the best coach. But if the Bills go into full meltdown – if they finish 6-10 or even run the table in reverse and go 5-11 – what choice would there be?’

‘ “Any game you lose you’re frustrated. You get upset. But I don’t think our confidence in each other as teammates has changed. We know we have talent and good players, but we have to start getting the job done.”‘

‘I know you never bought into this team as a playoff contender, and I have to admit — grudgingly — that you were right. But five wins in the first eight games was a sign to me that this team is moving in the right direction. They’re in a slump now, but you can’t convince me that they’re not going to win another game.’

‘When do the Bills cut their ties with CB Chris Watson?’

‘Despite that, the Raiders are the only team besides the Dolphins that controls its destiny. If the Raiders win their remaining five games, they would have the No. 1 seed in the AFC because they would have beaten the Dolphins, Denver and San Diego and would have a better conference record than Indianapolis.’

‘Buffalo is part proud, part loud and largely paradox. You spot a deer too beautiful to believe on a highway near the airport. Then fans sling garbage against the windows of your team bus going into Ralph Wilson Stadium.’

‘Randy McMichael’s days as a dancing tight end might be over as quickly as they started.’

‘In successive wins over Baltimore and San Diego, they held Lewis to 47 yards on 17 carries and, Sunday, limited Tomlinson to 45 yards on 14 rushes.’