It’s Salvage Time For Dolphins Miami Facing Tall Order Today Trying To Save Shula’s Job Against His Jinx, Levy, In Buffalo

The Miami Dolphins hope to salvage their season - and maybe Don Shula’s job as head coach - in the opening round of the AFC playoffs today against the Buffalo Bills.

The Dolphins had Super Bowl expectations heading into this season. They were coming off an AFC East title in 1994 and had fortified a roster that already included future Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino with the addition of eight recent first-round draft picks, including Pro Bowl tight end Eric Green.

A 4-0 start, including convincing victories over New England and Pittsburgh, seemed to confirm South Florida’s belief the Dolphins were the team to beat in the AFC and maybe the NFL.

But separate three-game losing streaks in October and November shoved Miami’s season onto a cliff. The Dolphins rebounded in December to win three of four games, but needed help on the final day to make the playoffs. The Dolphins got it from Denver, which upset Oakland.

“We have another opportunity to prove we are a good football team,” said Shula, who has been under fire the second half of the season from an impatient Miami fan base.

Shula is the NFL’s all-time winningest coach - but he hasn’t won a Super Bowl in 20 years and hasn’t even been to one in 10 years. Shula is 65, and South Florida wonders if his competitive fire still burns as passionately as it did when he was 55 and 45.

Football’s No. 1 unemployed coach, Jimmy Johnson, lives down the road in the Florida Keys. He won a national championship at the University of Miami and Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys. He’s the popular choice to replace Shula. But a couple of victories by the Dolphins in the post-season could slow down that anti-Shula sentiment.

Even one victory might be a tall order, though.

Marv Levy and the Bills have a strong hold on Shula and the Dolphins. The Bills were the only team to beat the Dolphins in December - the 16th time in 22 tries Levy has defeated Shula.

Even when the Dolphins beat the Bills in their first meeting in October, they didn’t beat Levy. He was at home in Buffalo that day recuperating from prostate cancer surgery.

The Bills also didn’t have running back Thurman Thomas and wide receiver Andre Reed in that game, a 23-6 Miami victory. Thomas was back for the December rematch and rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown to carry the Bills to a 23-20 victory.

Reed is expected back today. He missed the past 11 games with a torn hamstring.

Then there’s the weather. Miami’s pass-oriented attack always fares better in balmy Florida than wintry Buffalo. The Dolphins have not won a late-season game in Buffalo since 1986. The Bills also are 7-0 at home in the playoffs in the 1990s.

“We know how tough it’s going to be,” Shula said.

The Bills won the AFC East with a 10-6 record, a game better than Indianapolis and Miami. The winners of the Buffalo-Miami game and the Indianapolis-San Diego game Sunday will be the road teams in the second round of the AFC playoffs next week. Kansas City and Pittsburgh will host.