PRO FOOTBALL : Bills Stop Marino, Dolphins : Buffalo Proves Earlier Win Was No Fluke, 27-0

If the Miami Dolphins were embarrassed by the Buffalo Bills earlier this season, they must feel humiliated now.

The Bills, upset by comments made by linebacker Jackie Shipp and other Dolphins after a 34-31 victory over Miami in overtime in the first post-strike game, trounced the Dolphins, 27-0, Sunday.

“We were really pumped up, especially after Jackie Shipp made some comments about it really hurts inside to lose to Buffalo,” Bill quarterback Jim Kelly said. “Everybody took it personally.”

The Bills also halted Dan Marino’s streak of 30 consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass.

Shipp had to admit that Buffalo is not the same team that went 8-40 over the previous three seasons.

“They’re not the Buffalo of old,” Shipp said. “They’re a much improved team, playing for the division championship.”

Kelly threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Butch Rolle and a 22-yarder to Chris Burkett as Miami was shut out for the first time since 1982.

Buffalo (6-5) is tied with Indianapolis and the New York Jets for the AFC East lead, while Miami (5-4) is a game back along with New England.

The Bills’ defense, in particular, rose to Shipp’s challenge, limiting the Dolphins to 229 net yards offense and 23 yards rushing. Marino hadn’t come out of a game without a scoring pass since Nov. 3, 1985, at New England.

The Bills intercepted three of Marino’s passes and turned them into a touchdown and two field goals by Scott Norwood, which came in the second half after Buffalo took a 21-0 halftime lead.

Defensive end Bruce Smith, and linebackers Shane Conlan and Cornelius Bennett were the key defensive components. Conlan made a team-high nine tackles, Bennett had the game’s only sack and Smith spend almost as much time in the Miami backfield as Marino.

“Regardless of whether you get pressure on him (Marino), he’s going to get the ball off,” Smith said. “But we got so much pressure on him, he was always aware of who was around.”

Ronnie Harmon ran for 119 yards, and Kelly completed 15 of 21 passes for 217 yards as the Bills took both games from Miami for the first time since the 1966 season.

Rookie fullback Jamie Mueller ran for another Buffalo touchdown, and Norwood kicked field goals from 39 and 28 yards.

Marino completed 13 of 28 passes for 165 yards, but didn’t complete a pass to wide receivers Mark Clayton and Mark Duper until midway through the third quarter.