Dolphins seek first win against Bills

By STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer

MIAMI — The Bill Parcells formula for success is failing the
Miami Dolphins.

They’re running the ball well and stopping the run, converting
third downs and dominating time of possession. Yet they’re 0-3.

Parcells protege Tony Sparano scratches his head at how his team
has won on the ground but lost on the scoreboard.

“I guess I’ve seen it before,” the Dolphins’ coach said, “but
I’ve got to look far and hard.”

Miami is unlikely to change its conservative ways Sunday against
Buffalo – not with young quarterback Chad Henne making his first
NFL start for the injured Chad Pennington. Instead, the Dolphins
will try to eliminate the breakdowns that have undermined their
ball-control approach.

“I think they’re going to try to keep doing what they’re doing,”
Buffalo running back Fred Jackson said. “They’re not going to
change anything just because they’re 0-3.”

The Bills (1-2) may shake things up. For example, there’s a good
chance Terrell Owens will catch a pass.

Owens was shut out in last week’s loss to New Orleans, ending
his 185-game reception streak in regular-season games, third
longest in NFL history. He has five catches all season and has
been thrown to only 13 times.

“I just have to make the best of the opportunities that are
coming my way,” he said.

The Bills have been better at the run, ranking third in the
league at 5.3 yards per carry. Jackson ranks fourth with 291
yards rushing. He’ll get a reinforcement Sunday with the return
of Marshawn Lynch from a three-game suspension.

But for Buffalo, Miami and several other teams, the standard
recipe for winning in the NFL has become half-baked.

The Titans rank sixth in rushing and second in run defense, but
they’re 0-3. The defending Super Bowl champion Steelers have an
edge of six minutes per game in time of possession, but they’re
1-2.

Most mystifying are the Dolphins. They’re third in the league in
rushing and third in run defense. They’ve outrushed opponents by
nearly 300 yards, rank No. 1 in third-down conversions and enjoy
an 11-minute per game advantage in time of possession.

“Usually that’s a formula for success,” leading rusher Ronnie
Brown said. “Obviously it’s not always the case.”

Offensive coordinator Dan Henning said there may be a
fundamental change under way regarding the importance of the
ground game.

“Everybody said for years, `Run the ball, stop the run, you
win,”’ Henning said. “Different people have come on – you look
at the Patriots and the Saints and to a certain degree the Colts
- and they’ve abandoned some of the old-style running game for
more of a spread offense. But I still think the way we’re doing
things is a good philosophy.”

That philosophy has been foiled because the Dolphins are minus-6
in turnover differential, second worst in the league after
leading the NFL in 2008. Their secondary has repeatedly been
burned by long passes, which is why the Dolphins are allowing
15.5 yards per completion, worst in the league. They’ve faded at
the finish, giving up 30 points in the fourth quarter.

It’s not the way the Dolphins played last year, when they made
an improbable run to the AFC East title.

“You know you’re capable of playing so much better,” Brown said.
“Not doing all the things we did correctly last season – that’s
the frustrating part.”

It’s not a shock the Dolphins are winless. Their schedule ranks
as the NFL’s toughest, a reward for winning the division last
year, and they’ll be underdogs Sunday for the fourth week in a
row.

But the way they’re losing is bizarre.

“You’re supposed to run the ball, eat up the clock and keep the
ball away from the other team as much as possible,” Buffalo
defensive tackle Marcus Stroud said. “That being said, you also
have to put up points.”

Miami has scored only 43.

The Bills totaled 57 in their first two games but managed just
seven against the Saints. Trent Edwards drew heat for his
reluctance to throw long and failure to connect with Owens.

The Dolphins’ shaky secondary will likely present the
opportunity to do both.

“They have shown a little vulnerability giving up those big
plays,” Edwards said, “so hopefully we can do that.”

Buffalo’s secondary is looking vulnerable, too, with three
starters out after being hurt in the Saints game. The Bills were
already without middle linebacker Paul Posluszny, and the
offensive line is also depleted because of injuries.

“Everybody gets them,” coach Dick Jauron said. “Somehow you just
got to find a way to play over them and get by them.”

Pennington was sidelined for the season Sunday by a shoulder
injury that could be career-ending. Henne will start for the
first time since Michigan’s bowl game following his senior
season in 2007.

Sparano’s biggest worry about Henne?

“With the first start for him, just making sure he’s not trying
to do too much,” Sparano said.

So the Dolphins will likely keep the ball on the ground, try to
control the clock and hope the Parcells formula can finally get
a win.