Dolphins Have Best Defense

Pro football: Miami scores on a safety and fumble return and gets five sacks in 22-13 win over Buffalo.

October 09, 2000|CHRIS DUFRESNE | TIMES STAFF WRITER

Thomas says he's glad to have ended up on the right side of the ball.

"I wanted to be part of a new situation," he said. "When I came here, Jay was the quarterback, there was a new offensive system, you really didn't know."

The NFL is beginning to understand. A team many picked to finish last in the AFC East has turned out to be a surprise.

Who could have figured it: Wannstedt for Jimmy Johnson? Fiedler for Marino?

Hey, wasn't this supposed to be a rebuilding year?

"From the changes with the coach, and Dan's retirement, I understand how people would think that," Wannstedt said.

Instead, Miami soaks up life atop the AFC East, takes a week off, and heads to New York on Oct. 23 for a showdown with the Jets, who fell to 4-1 with a Sunday loss to Pittsburgh.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Miami Pound Machine

What the Miami Dolphin defense has allowed in points and yards, and gotten in sacks and turnovers this season:

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Date Opponent Pts Sack Yds TO Sept. 3 Seattle 0 4 143 6 Sept. 10 at Minnesota 13 3 209 1 Sept. 17 Baltimore 6 6 262 1 Sept. 24 New England 3 2 206 2 Oct. 1 at Cincinnati 16 3 350 1 Oct. 8 Buffalo 13 6 254 2

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Averages per game 8.5 4 236.8 2.2

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