Dolphins Beat Up on Johnson

When Buffalo Bill quarterback Rob Johnson finally emerged from a long postgame shower, he had his left knee taped, his right arm wrapped, bandages on both elbows and blood on his right hand.

It was just the kind of result the Miami Dolphins sought.

Miami gave Johnson a beating on Sunday, getting eight sacks and winning a defensive struggle, 13-7.

“It’s kind of like bloody water when sharks are around,” said Johnson, the former USC quarterback. “I’m beat up, but I wouldn’t feel as bad if we had won.”

Miami (2-0) compensated for a sputtering offense with a swarming pass rush and tight coverage in the secondary. The Bills (0-2) gained only 187 yards.

“Fans love to see touchdowns, so maybe it was a boring game for them,” Dolphin middle linebacker Zach Thomas said. “For us, though, it’s awesome. I’m sorry to disappoint them, but I hope it’s like that all season.”

Trace Armstrong, Jason Taylor and rookie Lorenzo Bromell had two sacks apiece to lead the charge for the Dolphins, whose total was one shy of the team record set in 1973. Miami has 12 sacks in two games.

“We had a good day today, but we’ve got to keep going,” Armstrong said. “We’re not ready to talk about the league record--which is 72.”

Dan Marino threw for the Dolphins’ only touchdown, a 17-yarder to Lamar Thomas, and Olindo Mare kicked field goals of 33 and 27 yards. Buffalo’s lone score came on a fourth-down, 28-yard pass from Johnson to Eric Moulds in the second quarter.

The Bills had a final shot to win, starting from their own 20 with 1:53 left, but were doomed by poor clock management and time expired.