KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ETGAME DATE: 11/11/07
SURFACE: Grass
TV: CBS, Gus Johnson, Steve Tasker
SERIES: 83rd meeting, Dolphins lead 49-32-1 but the Bills have won five of the last six meetings. Miami is 8-4 in its last 12 games at home against Buffalo, but the Bills won there last season 16-6 and coupled with a 21-0 home win, swept the series for the second time in three seasons. On Jan. 19, 1993, Bills defeated the Dolphins 29-10 in the AFC Championship Game at Joe Robbie Stadium to advance to their third consecutive Super Bowl. QB Jim Kelly returned to the lineup from a knee injury to give Buffalo a lift and Steve Christie kicked five field goals to tie an NFL playoff record.
KEYS TO THE GAME: Bills QB J.P. Losman gets his second straight start in place of injured rookie Trent Edwards. Losman's ability to stretch the field is a big help to deep threat WR Lee Evans, who has 303 receiving yards the past two games. That also softens the Dolphins' run defense, which is allowing 160.5 yards per game and could be without MLB Zach Thomas. ... The Dolphins are sticking with QB Cleo Lemon for at least one more start, but he must start showing more poise -- and productivity -- to hold off rookie John Beck. Lemon can't blame a lack of help -- Miami is averaging 134.1 yards per game on the ground despite constantly playing from behind.
KEY INJURIES: Bills: Edwards (wrist) is throwing and could serve as Losman's primary backup; MLB John DiGiorgio (concussion) and Parrish (thigh) could be game-time decisions. Dolphins: Thomas (migraines) is out; DT Vonnie Holliday (ankle) will play.
FAST FACTS: Bills RB Marshawn Lynch is on pace to rush for 1,380 yards, which would break Joe Cribbs' rookie franchise record of 1,185 set in 1980.
PERSONNEL NEWS
Bills
-- RB Marshawn Lynch is beginning to get into a serious groove. The rookie out of Cal has averaged 20-plus carries in six consecutive games and has had at least 60 yards rushing in all eight of his starts. The last such Bills back with a streak like that was Travis Henry in 2004. Lynch will be looking for a heavy workload on the road against Miami's 31st-ranked run defense on Sunday.
-- QB J.P. Losman, who gets his second consecutive start Sunday at Miami, will be looking heavily to Lee Evans, particularly with Roscoe Parrish hobbled by a thigh contusion. Of Losman's 29 career TD passes, 15 have been to Evans.
-- QB Trent Edwards, who suffered a badly sprained right throwing wrist in last week's win over the Jets, is hoping to suit up as the No. 2 QB Sunday at Miami. He's back throwing the ball this week but J.P. Losman was selected by coach Dick Jauron to remain in the starting lineup.
-- WR Lee Evans can tie a team record with his third consecutive 100-yard game Sunday in Miami. He has a history of burning the Dolphins. In six career games, he has 19 catches for 410 yards and six TDs.
-- WR Sam Aiken could get work in three wide-receiver sets at Miami on Sunday if Roscoe Parrish, bothered by a thigh contusion, is less than 100 percent.
-- FS/PR Jim Leonhard will handle punt return duties Sunday in Miami if Roscoe Parrish (thigh) can't go.
-- CB Jabari Greer will remain as the starting right corner despite Ashton Youboty's full return to health from a five-week ankle injury. Greer, who began the year third on the depth chart, has been a key contributor in the Bills' defensive turnaround.
Dolphins
-- MLB Zach Thomas, who sat out the last game against the Giants due to whiplash and has had problems with migraines, practiced without limitations Thursday, but was declared out on Friday.
-- OLB Abraham Wright may have been placed on IR Wednesday with a knee injury, but the Dolphins clearly want to keep him around for the future. He didn't play a down his rookie season.
-- DT Keith Traylor continues to struggle with a sprained ankle, but is expected to play Sunday.
-- QB John Beck may not be getting his first NFL start Sunday, but there's a strong indication that if starter Cleo Lemon is struggling he could be on a short leash. There would be less pressure on the rookie if he were to relieve Lemon, or come into a game that is one-sided in either direction.
-- S Travares Tillman continues to miss practice while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.