The Bills head to Pro Player Stadium to battle the Dolphins (off last week) as these longtime and bitter divisional rivals square off for the 23rd time (including 4 playoff encounters) in the 1990s.

While the Dolphins still possess a 43-26-1 overall advantage (including playoffs) in this storied series, the Bills have closed the gap in recent years, owning a 19-9 edge vs. Miami (including 3-1 in playoffs) dating back to 1987, this after the 'Fins opened the series with a 34-7-1 advantage dating back to 1966.

However, including playoffs, the Dolphins have prevailed in five of the last seven meetings dating back to head coach Jimmy Johnson's arrival in Miami in 1996.

In '98, the Bills and Dolphins split their regular-season series for the third time in 4 seasons, however Johnson's club would emerge with a win in the postseason. In Week 2 at Pro Player Stadium, Miami's defense limited Wade Phillips' team to just 187 yards of total offense and sacked Bills QB Rob Johnson 8 times in a 13-7 victory.

Seven weeks later at Orchard Park (Week 9), Bills QB Doug Flutie threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns (1 INT) and rallied his team from a 24-14 fourth-quarter with 16 unanswered points in the final 12 minutes for a 30-24 triumph.

Finally, in the 1998 AFC Wild Card Game at Pro Player Stadium, Bills WR Eric Moulds set an NFL postseason record with 240 yards receiving as Buffalo outgained its hosts in total yardage, 416-345. However, Phillips' club would commit five turnovers on the afternoon, the most costly a Flutie fumble at the Miami 5-yard line (thanks to a sack by Dolphins' DE Trace Armstrong) with :17 to play as Johnson's team held on for a hard-earned 24-17 triumph.

While Bills own an 8-6 mark road mark in this rivalry (including 1-1 in playoffs) since the Dolphins moved to Pro Player Stadium in 1987, they've dropped five straight at Miami dating back to 1995, by a combined score of 106-57.

Numbers:Dolphins QB Dan Marino is 14-19 lifetime vs. the Bills (including 1-3 in playoffs)--throwing for 56 touchdowns and 41 interceptions in those contests. Including playoffs (1987-98), the Bills have not only averaged 148.6 YPG rushing (4,162 yards) in their last 28 games vs. Miami, but have averaged 182.5 YPG rushing (3,467 yards) in their 19 wins over that span. However, the Bills have averaged just 77.2 YPG rushing (695 yards) in their last nine losses to Miami. The Bills have rushed for 140 or more yards in 14 of their last 28 games vs. Miami, and 200 or more yards in eight of those games.

Including playoffs, the Bills have committed two or more turnovers in 28 of their last 44 games dating back to '96, turning over the football 95 times in those 44 contests. Since 1996 (including playoffs), under head coach Jimmy Johnson, Dolphins are 30-5 when they run the ball 25 or more times, 0-18 when they fail to run the ball at least 25 times. In 10 home games dating back to '98 (including playoffs), Dolphins allowed just 115 points, 2,385 yards of total offense (238.5 YPG) and just seven offensive touchdowns. Including playoffs, the Dolphins have allowed 156 points in 13 wins, 201 points in 7 losses dating back to '98. Since 1996 (including playoffs), under head coach Jimmy Johnson, the Dolphins have totaled 92 sacks and 78 takeaways in 30 wins but just 32 QB traps and 31 takeaways in 23 losses. They have allowed just 9 sacks in 13 wins, 17 sacks in 7 losses dating back to '98, including playoffs.

Things To Look For: Buffalo's ground attack has given the Dolphins fits in the past, but that have been happening less frequently since Jimmy Johnson arrived in Miami. Still, Bills RB Antowain Smith has looked sharp following a sluggish start, and QB Doug Flutie's feet have looked magical again. The Dolphins' defense has looked very opportunistic in its first two games, and will have to be at its best once again.

Etc.: The Dolphins are 2-0 for the sixth consecutive year and the eighth time in 10 seasons (1990-99). This marks the 10th Monday night meeting (tied with Cowboys/Redskins for the most frequent matchup in the history of Monday Night Football) between the Bills and Dolphins, with Miami owning a 5-4 lead in the previous 9 MNF encounters.

The Bills are making their first appearance on Monday Night Football since 1997 and are 16-19 lifetime on Monday Night Football (13-10 on Monday Night Football since '88, including 3-2 record at Miami), including just 8-14 on the road.

The Dolphins are making their second of three Monday night appearances this season (1-0 in '99) and are 35-26 lifetime on Monday Night Football (14-16 on Monday nights since '86), including 29-13 at home. They are 4-6 on Monday Night Football under head coach Jimmy Johnson dating back to 1996, while Johnson is 7-9 lifetime on Monday Night Football with the Cowboys (3-3) and Dolphins (4-6). The Dolphins are making their NFL-high 62nd appearance on Monday Night Football and have posted an NFL-best 35 victories on MNF.

Bills' WR Andre Reed (86) needs two touchdown catches to tie Don Maynard (88) for 5th place on the NFL's all-time touchdown receptions list. Reed (87) needs one touchdown to tie Don Maynard (88) for 19th place on the NFL's all-time touchdowns scored list. Including postseason, Dolphins' head coach Jimmy Johnson is 7-3 lifetime vs. the Bills (2-1 with Dallas, including Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII, 5-2 with Miami, including '98 Wild Card Game).

Dolphins QB Dan Marino made his National Football League debut on a Monday night in 1983 (September 19) in Los Angeles against the Raiders. In relief of David Woodley, Marino completed 11-of-17 passes for 90 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 27-14 Miami loss. His first NFL pass attempt was a 9-yard completion to WR Mark Duper and his first NFL TD pass went to TE Joe Rose (6 yards). In 36 Monday night appearances (20-15 as starter), Marino has thrown for 9,081 yards, 70 touchdowns and just 30 interceptions. With his appearance in this game, Marino will break a tie with Jerry Rice (36) for most games played on Monday Night Football.

The Bills are 64-30 (including 3-1 in playoffs) vs. AFC East competition since 1988, however they are just 22-21 vs. divisional foes since 1994 (including playoffs). Since 1996 (including playoffs), under head coach Jimmy Johnson, Dolphins are 15-11 vs. AFC East foes.