Two Bills Drive

‘Dixon, who started 25 of Miami’s last 26 games, was hurt late in the first quarter when the Buffalo Bills stuffed running back Lamar Smith for a 3-yard loss.’

‘The Dolphins (7-3) have won four straight over Buffalo (1-9) for the first time since they captured six in a row from 1984-86.’

‘But they can give their fans something that never will go out of style in Western New York: a win over the Miami Dolphins.’

‘The major subplot in the game is the tale of two quarterbacks.’

‘"You wonder how long it will take before someone will say, "I didn’t play with Larry Centers. I played for Larry Centers."’

‘…Bryant McKinnie…’.

‘The Buffalo Bills have about as much chance of making the NFL playoffs as Mick Jagger has of being remembered as a domestic family man.’

”’The only thing I remember about Bills-Dolphins games is Bryan Cox when he came out that one time (with his middle fingers raised). That was the funniest thing in the world when I was a kid. But I hadn’t been to Buffalo until now so I’m experiencing this for the first time. We’ve had it expressed to us by the veterans how important this game is.”‘

‘Larry Centers — Is there a more productive fullback in the NFL? He has 55 catches (including an NFL-most 19 on third down) for 410 yards, 23 carries for 82 yards and 2 TDs.’

‘It used to be that a bad team could make its season by beating the powerful Bills. Now, a win today could be a season-maker for the Bills.’

‘In weeks ahead, Fiedler will try to avoid setting a team record for interceptions. He is on pace for 27, with at least one in all eight games since his flawless opener at Tennessee.’

‘Gardener is expected to miss the remainder of the season, although the Dolphins still were holding out faint hope he might return if the team makes the playoffs.’

‘”He believes in his arm,” Miami safety Brock Marion said. “He’s not going to try to put the ball where he can’t put it. He’s not going to beat you with his arm. He’s making the right reads.”‘

‘If the Dolphins had what they thought was a better alternative, they would use it, but what they have has been good enough for 6-3, and 6-3 ought to be good enough to be left alone.’

‘But when Fiedler is struggling throughout a game and the Dolphins are losing badly and it’s getting late and desperation has arrived, there is great cause then to seek a spark by giving the backup a shot. What have you got to lose?’