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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
MIAMI (AP) -- Harried by the Buffalo Bills, Dan Marino and the
Miami Dolphins looked awful on third down and not too good on the
other downs.
Miami converted only one of 14 third-down situations, and
Buffalo forced three Marino turnovers to win 23-18 Monday night.
|  | | Bills safety Henry Jones makes one of his six tackles, stopping Dolphins receiver O.J. McDuffie. |
"This could really be a big one for us," Bills coach Wade
Phillips said. "Our defense was outstanding. Everybody talks about
their defense, but ours is playing tremendous."
The victory avenged the Bills' 24-17 loss at Miami in last
season's playoffs. After that game, Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson
celebrated in the locker room by stomping on a box of Flutie
Flakes.
This time the Bills' defense did the stomping. Their domination
included a 59-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Gabe Northern.
"It's very simple," Johnson said. "If you turn the ball over
and don't convert on third downs, you're going to have a tough time
winning."
Linebacker John Holecek led the defensive charge by the Bills
(3-1), while the loss by the Dolphins (2-1) left the NFL with three
undefeated teams.
"We can definitely play better, but I think we're up with the
elite in the AFC," Bills quarterback Doug Flutie said.
Buffalo had lost five consecutive games in Miami.
"Championship teams have to win on the road," Holecek said.
After Buffalo took a 23-12 lead on Steve Christie's third field
goal with 6:56 left, Miami's Brock Marion returned the ensuing
kickoff 93 yards to the 4. O.J. McDuffie then caught a 9-yard
touchdown pass from Marino, the first touchdown allowed by the
Bills' defense in 13 quarters.
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GAME NOTES |
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Neither team reported any serious injuries.
Eric Moulds, who burned the Dolphins for 240 receiving yards in last season's playoff game, was limited to 60 yards on four catches. He has
scored against Miami in four consecutive games.
Tom Hutton averaged 39 yards on five punts in his first game with the Dolphins.
Miami receiver Yatil Green was inactive because of a sore hamstring.
A fumble by Cecil Collins in the third period was overturned when challenged by the Dolphins. They were then forced to punt.
The Dolphins fell to 0-19 since 1996 when they run the ball less than 25 times.
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The Dolphins got the ball back with 2:59 to go, but Marino threw
four consecutive incompletions from the Miami 43. He finished
22-for-44 for 251 yards with two interceptions and two sacks, his
first of the year.
Marino grudgingly gave credit to the Bills and his longtime
nemesis, defensive end Bruce Smith.
"We're the ones that made the mistakes that really cost us the
game," Marino said. "But they're pretty good on defense. No. 78
is pretty good."
Flutie went 12-for-25 for 186 yards and added 29 yards rushing.
The teams traded field goals before the Bills' defense broke a
6-6 tie late in the first half.
Holecek came through free on a blitz and blindsided Marino to
jar the ball loose. Northern scooped it up, escaped the grasp of
Miami's Cecil Collins and then ran untouched 59 yards for a
touchdown.
Holecek returned an interception of Marino 35 yards to set up
Christie's final field goal, a 31-yarder.
"I was in the right place at the right time," Holecek said.
"He threw it right at me. I was unbelievably shocked."
Christie also hit from 26 and 52 yards.
The Dolphins closed to 13-12 early in the fourth quarter, but
Buffalo responded with an 80-yard touchdown drove. Flutie hit Eric
Moulds for 40 yards, then hit him again for the 6-yard score and a
20-12 lead.
"I threw the ball poorly in the first half," Flutie said. "I
said at halftime, 'I've got to let it rip,' and then I hit the deep
ball to Eric."
The Dolphins' first score came after Flutie fumbled a snap and
Miami's Shawn Wooden recovered at the Buffalo 41. Four plays later,
Olindo Mare kicked a 30-yard field goal.
The Dolphins drove 74 yards in the final 1:41 of the first half
but settled for a 26-yard field goal by Mare. They marched 65 yards
in the third quarter, but after McDuffie dropped a potential
touchdown pass, Mare kicked another 26-yarder.
Mare also hit a 44-yarder.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Buffalo Clubhouse
Miami Clubhouse
Monday night loss angers Dolphins quarterback
Week 4 wrap-ups
TJ's Take: Hard-charging Rams
Week 4 infirmary report
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Doug Flutie says it wasn't pretty.
wav: 168 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Jimmy Johnson speaks about the disappointing loss.
wav: 101 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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