Bad Weather Doesn’t Bother Bledsoe at All

Drew Bledsoe overcame the elements and the Buffalo Bills overcame Ricky Williams’ best rushing performance.

Shrugging off freezing temperature, Bledsoe passed for three touchdowns and scored one on his own, sparking the Bills to a 38-21 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

It was enough to deal with the elements and Miami’s Williams, who set a Dolphin record with 228 yards rushing.

The game began with a temperature of 25 degrees and ended in near whiteout conditions as a heavy snow fell through most of the fourth quarter.

While the Dolphins have traditionally had trouble playing in wintry conditions, the Bills and Bledsoe are much more accustomed.

“I’ve played in cold weather for a long time now, since high school,” said Bledsoe, who grew up in central Washington, and played college football at Washington State and spent his previous nine NFL seasons with the New England Patriots. “It never has been a real factor as far as throwing the ball. I’ve got big hands. I can throw the ball.”

Bledsoe completed 15 of 27 passes for 306 yards, breaking the game open by leading Buffalo on three consecutive touchdown drives in the second half.

It was a prolific turnaround for a once-sputtering offense that produced 36 points in its previous three games. It was also a historic performance.

Buffalo’s Eric Moulds, with 130 yards receiving, and Peerless Price, with 93 yards, each surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark. Travis Henry with 151 yards rushing, broke the 1,000-yard plateau. It marked the first time three players on the same team have done so in the same game.

The Bills (6-6) ended a losing streak at three while jumping back into the AFC East playoff race, moving within a game of the Dolphins, who share the division lead with New England at 7-5.

Dolphin quarterback Ray Lucas, making his sixth consecutive start in place of injured Jay Fiedler, was six-of-11 passing for 40 yards and a touchdown before he was injured early in the third quarter.

Fiedler took over, but passed for only 15 yards, completing five of nine with an interception. Third-stringer Sage Rosenfels finished the game.

Wannstedt said Fiedler will start when Miami plays host to Chicago on Dec. 9.

Lucas lost two fumbles against the Bills. In two games against Buffalo this season, Lucas completed 19 of 44 passes for 205 yards, with four interceptions and four lost fumbles.