From: davem@uvmark.uucp (Dave Meeks)
Subject: Re: Christie saves Bills
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 19:19:29 GMT
Organization: VMARK Software, Inc.

In article <1992Nov17.222755.15490@bmw.mayo.edu> Kall@Mayo.EDU writes:
>In article 8779@iscsvax.uni.edu, lyle5741@iscsvax.uni.edu () writes:
>>O.K. so maybe the Dolphins DID lose on Monday night, but at the half they were
>>clearly the better team.  I agree that the Bills did win the game and I'm not
>>saying that they didn't deserve to win, but if the Dolphins can avoid things
>>like the 3rd quarter drought they had, they could beat anyone.  What I want to
>>know is how in hell did Buffalo win?
>
>BALANCE, DEPTH!!!!
>

Not really, though the Bills have this.  The Dolphins do as well.  I noticed
one thing, and one thing only in this game.  In fact, in all fairness, BOTH
games revolved around 1 point.  That is, I believe both teams are evenly
matched.  Both have incredible offenses and very good defenses.  In both 
games, both teams did exactly what they set out to do.  In the first game,
the Dolphins prevailed.  In this game, the Dolphins were obviously the better
team in the first half, but not by much.  So, the point is.. why did Buffalo
win this game, and why did Miami win in Buffalo...

TURNOVERS!!!!   

On Monday night, Miami had two drives halted by the Higgs fumble and the
Jackson miscue.  These two plays are what killed the Dolphins.  Even with
this, the Fins defense stopped the Bills from getting the TD.  

A few weeks ago, why did Miami win...  

TURNOVERS!!!  

Both teams were moving the ball well, but when it counted, Miami was able to
pick off Kelly.  I remember watching the game and dreading the Bills driving
down the field until the Fins came up with the key interception, especially
Oliver.  However, on Monday night, the Bills didn't turn the ball over like
they did in the first meeting, but the Dolphins did.

If the Dolphins don't turn the ball over, I think they would have won the game
Monday.  But, if the Bills didn't turn it over in Buffalo, they could easily
make the same claim.

This is a clear example of two teams that, in many ways, are almost mirror
images of each other.  Both are about as evenly matched as they can be.  If 
they meet again, I would be willing to bet that the team that wins will be 
the one with the fewest turnovers.  If both play flawless, I think it is 
anybodies game...
>
>Well BALANCED and DEEP teams win in the long run and clearly Buffalo is 
>a better balanced and deeper team that Miami (today).

Again, not really.  The Dolphins displayed plenty of depth that night as
well.  They just didn't make the mistakes Miami did.

>Marino is one of the best passers in the game, and completing his first
>11 helped the Fish jump out to an early lead.  But he wasn't consistent
>in the second half (Jackson's drop really hurt because of the ensiung
>interception).

I don't think it was him as much as his receivers dropping passes.  
Jackson's miscue hurt the most, because the Fins were driving down the field
pretty well at the time.  Freddy Banks and Tony Martin also dropped a couple
of easy catches.  I think Duper also dropped one...

>>        As a Dolphin fan, I'd just like to say that I think the Bills got
>>lucky.  Granted, they pulled it off, but not my playing well.  Hey Shula...
>
>Did you watch the same game as I did?? 

As a Dolphin fan, I'd have to say the Bills got lucky, but they got lucky
because they earned it..  What do I mean??  I mean that they, like any good
team, took advantage of the Fins miscues.  They played superb football, as did
the Dolphins, and on this night, the Bills made fewer mistakes.  If that is
luck, I am sure the Bills fans hope they have more of it...  As a Dolphins 
fan, I know that the last time we met the Bills, we benefitted from this 
very same "luck"...
-- 
David T. Meeks            || "New shadows tugging at the corner of his eye
VMark Software, Inc.      ||  Jostling for attention as the sunlight flares
uvmark!davem@merk.com     ||  Through a curtains tear, shuffling its beams
davem%uvmark@merk.com     ||  As if in nervous anticipation of another day"
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro