Not All Dolphins Are Buying High Praise Bills Have Earned

The Buffalo Bills are 9-1. The Miami Dolphins are 5-5. Ronnie Lee is unconvinced.

“I feel our team is better than their team,” said Lee, the Dolphins’ 275-pound offensive tackle. “I feel we have better personnel, better guys on our team.”

Lee’s skepticism about the Bills is understandable; they were 7-8 in 1987 and last finished above .500 in 1981. But Buffalo defensive end Art Still is unconcerned about trying to impress Lee when the Bills play at Miami tonight.

“It’s not a matter of trying to convince other people we have a good team,” Still said. “It’s a matter of convincing ourselves.”

Such equanimity has contributed to the Bills’ success, Coach Marv Levy said.

“They have kept a very good perspective on each win this year,” Levy said. “Last year they became too celebratory after every win and felt too good about the nice things that were said about them. Now they have a much better idea about how to deal with a win.”

The Bills have won 5 straight games for the first time since 1980. They have the best record in the National Football League and entered the weekend with a 3 1/2-game lead in the AFC East.