Bills pull away from Dolphins
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – Offense is back in fashion in Buffalo now that Perry Fewell – a defensive coordinator, of all people – has taken over as interim head coach.
In delivering Fewell his first career win, the Bills erupted for 24 points in the fourth quarter in a 31-14 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
All Terrell Owens could wonder after he helped seal the rout with a 51-yard touchdown catch was what might have been if Bills owner Ralph Wilson had fired Dick Jauron a few games earlier.
“Well, he’s two weeks too late,” Owens said, crediting Fewell who took over when Jauron was fired Nov. 17. “I’ve been wanting to be aggressive all year.”
After taking their first lead on Rian Lindell’s career-best 56-yard field goal with 3:35 left, the Bills didn’t let up. Owens scored on the next possession after Chad Henne threw his first of three interceptions, and Fewell was spotted along the sideline demanding another touchdown, which came after Fred Jackson sealed the rout by scoring on a 7-yard run with 1:20 remaining.
“How sweet it is, baby,” said Fewell, who has never been a head coach at any level. “We’ve been talking about finishing. That’s what we did today.”
The win evened Fewell’s record at 1-1, and came in a week in which the Bills tagged former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan as a potential candidate to take over. Not so fast.
“I’m not going to say that right now,” safety Donte Whitner said when asked if this was a players’ statement favoring Fewell. “I know we can run a couple off in a row, and then we’ll talk about that.”
The Bills (4-7), who snapped a three-game skid, have little time to enjoy the victory as they prepare to “host” the New York Jets at Toronto on Thursday.
The Dolphins (5-6), meanwhile, suddenly face a must-win challenge next week when they host the division-leading Patriots. This wasn’t the position Miami expected to be in after climbing back into contention by winning five of seven to overcome an 0-3 start.
“Our team knew exactly what was at stake when we came in here to play this ballgame,” coach Tony Sparano said. “We did things, quite honestly, that 3-7 teams do in the fourth quarter. I’ve got to take responsibility. It’s my fault.”
The Dolphins couldn’t take advantage of Ricky Williams’ third consecutive 100-yard rushing game. Williams finished with 115 yards and a touchdown, but also threw an interception to end the Dolphins’ opening drive on first-and-goal from the 3.
n Jets 17, Panthers 6: Darrelle Revis got the Jets’ defense in the end zone for the first time this season. Revis returned one of the Jets’ four interceptions 67 yards for a touchdown and New York beat Carolina.
n Eagles 27, Redskins 24: David Akers kicked a 32-yard field goal with 1:48 remaining and the Eagles rallied.
n Seahawks 27, Rams 17: Justin Forsett set career highs with 130 yards and two touchdowns and the go-ahead score came on the Seahawks’ third defensive touchdown of the season.
n Bengals 16, Browns 7: Newcomer Larry Johnson rushed for 107 yards in Cincinnati’s conservative approach, and the Bengals completed their first division sweep. The Bengals (8-3) went 6-0 in the division with a retooled run-first offense and a stout defense that has carried them into first place.