ORCHARD PARK, New York (Ticker) -- It was not going to make a difference who started at quarterback for the Buffalo Bills.
Behind another ferocious defensive effort and a solid performance by Jay Fiedler, the Miami Dolphins crushed the Bills, 33-6, to move closer to the playoffs.
The Dolphins (10-3) recorded their most lopsided victory ever in Buffalo and also posted a rare win here in December. Miami was 0-8 in its previous eight visits to western New York after October.
Fiedler completed 13-of-21 passes for 214 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, all in the first half. He set a franchise record by finishing his fifth straight game without an interception.
Miami tied Tennessee and Oakland for the best record in the AFC and remained one game ahead of the New York Jets in the East.
The Dolphins completed their first season sweep of the Bills since 1996, posting a 22-13 victory in Miami in Week Six.
"I told the players now the stakes rise a little bit," Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said. "Our expectations have not changed. We are still trying to do what we can do to win the division. That's been our goal."
Miami had six sacks and three interceptions, raising its league-leading total to 25 pickoffs. Buffalo starter Rob Johnson completed 6-of-18 for just 44 yards and two interceptions before being replaced by Doug Flutie late in the third quarter.
"We came out today on a mission and that was to get to the quarterback, eliminate the big play and stop the run," said safety Brian Walker, who had one of Miami's three picks. "We basically did that today and when you have all those working for you -- the sacks and the picks, it makes for a pretty good day."
Defensive end Jason Taylor led Miami's fierce rush with three sacks. He had just 2 1/2 all of last season.
"It's always pretty when you can get more sacks in one game than you got all the year before," Taylor said. "It's always nice to get to the quarterback and put him to the ground, especially in front of a hostile crowd like this."
Buffalo (7-6) suffered its worst home loss since getting blanked by Miami, 31-0, on October 10, 1983. The rout left the Bills with slim playoff hopes at best.
"Obviously, we have not had a bad game all year until this one and this was no contest," Buffalo coach Wade Phillips said. "We tried to play some 4-3 early and they ran all over us."
With Miami jumping to a 24-0 haltime lead, the Bills were forced to play catch-up, which is a difficult task against the Dolphins.
"They've got a great defensive team that plays tremendously well against the pass," Phillips said. "You let them get ahead and you fall right into letting them do what they do well."
After missing last week with a shoulder injury, Fiedler returned and show no ill effects from his one-game absence. He tossed a six-yard TD pass in the first quarter to running back Lamar Smith, who rushed for 100 yards on 28 carries.
"The offensive line did a great job oppening up things for Lamar," Fiedler said. "He did a great job carrying the football." In the second period, Fiedler threw scoring strikes of six yards to Oronde Gadsen and 14 yards to Leslie Shepherd, while Olindo Mare also kicked a 32-yard field goal.
"The thing that was encouraging was that our offense took advantage of the turnovers," Wannstedt said. "It was a heck of a team win -- getting Jay back, Mar (Smith) running for 100 yards. All those things were factors in this."
Buffalo was playing without starting linebackers Sam Cowart and Sam Rogers, who were injured in last week's loss at Tampa Bay. The Dolphins took advantage, running for 133 yards on 37 carries.
"We knew they had some guys in there that were a little inexperienced," Fiedler said. "We wanted to attack that a little bit with the running game. We wanted to get them to get the safeties to help out with the running game, so we could open things up with the passing game. Our game plan was to come out and run the ball effectively."
On defense, the Dolphins held Buffalo wide receiver Eric Moulds to just two catches. He came into the game leading the NFL in receptions with 84.
"We thought we could come in and move the ball against them." Moulds said. "They came in with a different game plan, kind of shook us up a little bit. We did not react too well."
"They did a really goood job," Johnson added. "They were doubling Eric and Peerless (Price) over the top and playing 3-on with me and (tight end) Jay (Riemersma). They did a real good job of covering."
After the Dolphins grabbed a 7-0 lead on the game's opening possession, the Bills were driving for the tying score. But Patrick Surtain intercepted Johnson in the end zone and it was all downhill from there for Buffalo.
"Obviously, the first drive hurt us but in the first quarter, you don't think it's going to cost you the game," Johnson said. "I think they just thoroughly outplayed us. They put up 33 points and we put up six."
Mare kicked field goals of 31 and 20 yards in the third quarter to give the Dolphins a 30-0 lead before Buffalo got its only score on Antowain Smith's one-yard TD run three seconds into the final period.
Mare added his fourth field goal -- a 26-yarder -- to cap the scoring with 6:29 to play. Flutie completed 2-of-9 for 31 yards and an interception in the final period.
