Bills’ Secret Formula Works on Dolphins, 31-6

While the so-called experts keep trying to figure out how the Buffalo Bills do it, the Bills just keep on winning.

Robb Riddick and Ronnie Harmon, replacing injured Thurman Thomas, each scored 2 touchdowns Monday night and the Bills improved the National Football League’s best record to 10-1 with a 31-6 victory over the Miami Dolphins.

Afterward, Coach Marv Levy wasn’t giving away any secrets.

“I’m not saying our offense or defense did it,” Levy said. “We had so many key plays from different players in a game that was very important to us.

“We have some great role players and they had to step in and do that (against Miami). Riddick and Harmon got the job done.”

The Bills, who converted 14 of 17 third-down plays into first downs, moved to within 1 victory of their first AFC East title since 1980. The Bills’ have their best record at this stage of the season since 1964. Their 6-game winning streak is their longest since 1974.

Buffalo also leads Cincinnati by 2 games in the race for the best record in the American Football Conference and the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

“Right now, things are going real well for us,” Riddick said. “We’ve just got to keep it going right on into the playoffs.”

Miami (5-6), in danger of missing the playoffs for the third straight season, went down to its worst home defeat since 1970.

Miami was within 10-6 at halftime, but Buffalo pulled away with 2 touchdowns in a 2 1/2-minute span in the third quarter.

Riddick scored on a 1-yard run with 5:33 left in the period, capping an 80-yard drive. Harmon scored on a 6-yard run after Cornelius Bennett intercepted Dan Marino’s pass and returned it 30 yards.

“We thought at halftime we had a good chance to win,” Miami Coach Don Shula said. “But they turned it around in the third quarter.”

The Bills rushed for 205 yards and passed for 211 while limiting the Dolphins to 33 rushing yards and intercepting 3 of Marino’s passes. Marino was 19 of 30 for 224 yards. Kelly completed 18 of 26 attempts for 211 yards.

Harmon and Riddick combined to rush for 139 yards, while catching a total of 9 passes from Jim Kelly for 85 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown to Harmon on the opening drive of the game.

Riddick scored from the 1 early in the fourth quarter after free safety Mark Kelso’s interception and 25-yard return. It was the third straight game in which Kelso had an interception and gave him 7 for the season, second in the NFL.

Scott Norwood kicked a 30-yard field goal that gave Buffalo a 10-0 lead midway through the second quarter, and the Dolphins made it 10-6 on Marino’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Mark Clayton with 1:36 left in the first half.