With quarterback Chad Henne making
his first NFL start, the Dolphins controlled the ball for 37 minutes
and earned their first victory by beating hapless Buffalo 38-10 on
Sunday.
The Dolphins came into the game 0-3
despite a strong running attack and an 11-minute edge per game in time
of possession. Against Buffalo (1-3), Miami ran for 250 yards and
mounted scoring drives of 65, 66 and 65 yards.
The Dolphins were 11 for 19 on third- and fourth-down conversions — a category in which they already led the league.
Henne, a second-year pro, shook off
six sacks and managed the game well in his first start replacing Chad
Pennington, sidelined by a season-ending shoulder injury. Henne
finished 14 for 22 for 115 yards and no turnovers, and he threw his
first NFL touchdown pass, a 5-yarder to rookie Brian Hartline.
Wildcat success helped Henne. The
Dolphins used the formation nine times for 58 yards, including a
38-yard run by Ronnie Brown, their longest gain this season. Brown ran
for 115 yards and two touchdowns, and Ricky Williams added 85 and one
score.
The 28-point margin of victory was Miami's largest since Sept. 8, 2002.
The injury-plagued Bills gave up 31
points in a 24-minute span, and their offense sputtered. Trent Edwards
did manage to complete three passes to Terrell Owens but was sacked six
times and intercepted three times, with rookie Vontae Davis scoring on
a 23-yard return.
The Bills have lost eight consecutive
games against AFC East opponents. Of more immediate concern, they've
been outscored 65-17 in the past two games.
Owens, shut out last week, had a
4-yard reception on the first play from scrimmage and caught a long
pass for a 39-yard gain to set up a field goal. But for the most part
Buffalo struggled to exploit a Miami secondary that had given up big
plays in bunches.
Much-maligned safety Gibril Wilson
intercepted a pass intended for Owens to set up a field goal. With Joey
Porter out because of a hamstring injury, Dolphins newcomer Cameron
Wake picked up the pass-rushing slack and had his first three NFL
sacks.
The Bills were 1 for 11 on
third-down conversions. Marshawn Lynch, playing for the first time this
season following a suspension, was held to 4 yards rushing in eight
carries.
The Dolphins, who totaled 43 points
in their three losses, took control by scoring five times in the second
and third quarters. The Bills hardly had the ball during that stretch —
even a 27-yard TD drive by the Dolphins took five minutes.
Miami's first touchdown came
quickly. On the first play following a field goal, Davis stepped in
front of a pass intended for Josh Reed to make the interception and
score untouched.
It was Miami's first interception this season.
The Dolphins scored again on their
next possession. Brown's long run after taking the snap in the wildcat
set up his 1-yard touchdown run on fourth and goal.