These aren't the Dolphins of old
Don Shula and his 1972 Miami Dolphins ran off 17 straight wins, the only team in NFL history to run the table.
Cam Cameron and his 2007 Dolphins? They're getting closer and closer to running the table in the other direction.
The Dolphins - the league's only winless team - controlled the ball for nearly 37 minutes and led most of the game yesterday, but Rian Lindell kicked a 34-yard field goal with 46 seconds left, and visiting Buffalo earned its fourth consecutive victory, 13-10.
"Heck of a game," said Cameron, still seeking his first victory as an NFL head coach. "We did everything except win."
The Dolphins (0-9) extended the worst start in franchise history, and next up are the Eagles next Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field (1 p.m., Channel 3).
Dolphins nose tackle Keith Traylor sat at his locker stripped to his uniform pants, shaking his head as his enormous shoulders sagged.
That's what 340 pounds of frustration looks like.
"You have to finish a game," Traylor said. "For some reason we can't do it. It'll drive you crazy."
Five defeats have been by three points, none more wrenching than the latest.
"Who's the guy from Charlie Brown who has the gray cloud following him around?" defensive tackle Vonnie Holliday asked. "Pigpen? We're like Pigpen."
The Dolphins committed no turnovers, allowed Buffalo to convert only two third downs and benefited from a big day by journeyman Jesse Chatman, who rushed for a career-high 124 yards on 27 carries. Still they lost.
When St. Louis earned its first victory by beating New Orleans, Miami became the NFL's last winless team.
"That's what stinks about it," Chatman said, "because we're so much better than this record. It's killing us."
The Bills (5-4) scored 11 points in the final 9:46. They'll take their longest winning streak since 2004 into Sunday's home game against unbeaten New England.
"This win tells a lot about our team," said quarterback J.P. Losman (12-for-23, 157 yards). "Our backs were to the wall, and we made enough plays when we had to."
The Bills' only touchdown came after Miami mounted a long touchdown march to take a 10-2 lead. Buffalo responded with a 66-yard drive capped by Marshawn Lynch's 3-yard run.
He then ran for the two-point conversion, spinning across the goal after he was hit to make it 10-all.
Miami's Ted Ginn Jr. returned the kickoff 86 yards for an apparent touchdown, but the score was negated by a holding penalty on Greg Camarillo.
"I wish that could have been the play to take us into a victory," said Camarillo, his voice shaking with emotion half an hour after the game. "I thought it was a fair play, but the refs called it, and I'm guilty. I'll take the blame for it."
Miami's only touchdown came at the end of an 18-play, 80-yard drive that consumed the final 9:45 of the third period. Cameron gambled by going for a first down on fourth-and-1 at the Miami 45, and quarterback Cleo Lemon (16-for-29, 131 yards) sneaked 2 yards.
Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor missed much of the second half with an ankle injury. Taylor returned to the game only briefly and said he didn't know how severe the injury was.
The Dolphins also lost their other starting defensive end, Matt Roth, with a groin injury. Middle linebacker Zach Thomas missed his second game in a row because of recurring migraines. *
