Yes but No!: Bills Win but Lose Edwards, Owens
Bills HB Marshawn Lynch runs in a first quarter touchdown for his first score of the season.
(2-2)- 32
(1-3)- 19
AP Miami – The Buffalo Bills defeated the Miami Dolphins 32-19 in what was a much closer game then the final score indicates. While this divisional victory vaults the Bills into second place in the hotly contested AFC East, it may have come at too high a cost. Late in the third quarter, Bills star WR Terrell Owens had to be hauled off the field by the training cart after receiving a vicious hit along the sidelines. The injury was later diagnosed as an abdominal tear, which will keep Owens out of at least the next two weeks. Only moments later, QB Trent Edwards was crushed in the backfield when Dolphins OLB Jason Taylor got a free release due to a missed blocking assignment. His face was smashed into the turf and he was diagnosed with what appears to be a broken jaw. The training staff’s best estimates have him missing at least 2-3 weeks.
Miami got on the board first in this one as the Bills defense struggled to defend the Wildcat offense. Dolphins HB Ricky Williams took an option handoff from fellow HB Ronnie Brown 4 yards for the score late in the first quarter to give the Dolphins a 10-3 lead. However, the Bills would fight back, carried along by the return of pro bowl HB Marshawn Lynch. Lynch would finish the day with 111 all purpose yards and a score.
“We are going to rely heavily on Marshawn here down the road especially with the injuries to Trent and Terrell. It’s time for him to step up and be a leader on this team and I have the utmost confidence that he will do that. He is a phenomenal talent and we are glad to have him back.†–Bills Head Coach Dick Jauron
The Bills would break the tie in the third quarter when Edwards found Owens wide open for a 62 yard score. After the injuries to Owens and Edwards, the offense began to rely heavily on their running game as Marshawn Lynch carried the load. Early in to the 4th quarter Bills HB Dominic Rhodes was about to go in for the score to seal the game when he was stripped of the football and Miami CB Jared Allen scooped it up on his own three yard line. In perhaps one of the dumbest moves ever seen on a football field, Allen reversed direction in an attempt to gain more yardage and ended up being forced out of his own end zone by pursuing Bills players. The safety would pretty much put the nail in the Dolphins coffin as Bills backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was able to find WR Lee Evans for the score on the ensuing possession.
“If Jared ever does something that stupid again, I swear I’ll bench him the rest of the season. Football is a game of smarts and when you make dumb plays like that you’re going to lose. Plain and simple.†– Dolphins Head Coach Tony Sparano
The Dolphins will stay at home to take on the winless New York Jets (0-4) while the Bills will take on the Cleveland Browns (2-2) at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
-D. Carpenter 21 yd FG 7:35
-R. Lindell 50 yd FG 3:32
-R. Williams 4 yd run (D. Carpenter kick) 0:10
2nd Quarter
-R. Lindell 32 yd FG 8:00
-M. Lynch 3 yd run (R. Lindell kick) 1:51
-D. Carpenter 33 yd FG 0:47
3rd Quarter
-T. Owens 62 yd pass from T. Edwards (R. Lindell kick) 8:50
4th Quarter
-J. Allen forced out for safety 9:05
-L. Evans 31 yd pass from R. Fitzpatrick (R. Lindell kick) 6:26
-J. Haynos 5 yd pass from C. Pennington (2 pnt conversion failed) 3:00
-R. Lindell 45 yd FG 1:42
Individual Player Statistics
Next Game:
-(2-2) @ -(2-2)
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