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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, December 8, 2008

Dolphins feel at home in Toronto

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Miami receiver Davone Bess, a University of Hawai'i alum, is tackled by Buffalo's Terrence McGee.

CHRIS YOUNG | Canadian Press via AP

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TORONTO — This was a lot better for safety Yeremiah Bell and the Miami Dolphins than dodging snowballs at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

And maybe, it's the Dolphins — because it certainly wasn't the unraveling Buffalo Bills — who can lay claim to being Toronto's team last weekend.

Taking advantage of an indifferent Bills "home" crowd and an inept Buffalo offense, the resurgent Dolphins continued their remarkable turnaround from last year's 1-15 finish by scoring a 16-3 win yesterday.

In winning for the sixth time in seven games, the Dolphins (8-5) moved into a three-way tie for the AFC East lead with New York and New England.

"The story does keep getting better," Bell said.

Miami receiver Davone Bess, a University of Hawai'i alum, caught a game-high nine passes for 74 yards.

The Bills (6-7) might be benefiting from getting nearly $10 million a game for the eight-game series that runs through 2012. But they lost a decided home-field advantage.

The warm-weather Dolphins, 2-7 at Orchard Park in games played after Dec. 1, took advantage of the opportunity to play indoors at the Rogers Centre, where it was 68 degrees, as opposed to 15 outdoors. And in the stands, there was a large contingent of Dolphins fans wearing orange and aqua.

"It definitely didn't feel like an away game for us," Bell said. "The way we played up here today and just to look out in the stands, I think we did win over some fans."

BRONCOS 24, CHIEFS 17

DENVER — Jay Cutler guided the Broncos on a tiebreaking 95-yard touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter as the Broncos (8-5) beat the Chiefs (2-11).

The Broncos lead second-place San Diego by three games in the middling AFC West.

Cutler completed 32 of 40 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns, both to Brandon Marshall, including a 6-yarder for the winner early in the fourth quarter.

COLTS 35, BENGALS 3

INDIANAPOLIS — Peyton Manning threw for three touchdowns, Dominic Rhodes ran for one and cornerback Kelvin Hayden's interception return produced another.

Manning led the Colts (9-4) on three TD drives of 69 yards or longer.

Manning completed 26 of 32 passes for 277 yards and matched his season high for touchdown passes. The Bengals (1-11-1) lost four turnovers.

TITANS 28, BROWNS 9

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The AFC South title belongs to the Titans for the first time since 2002.

Kerry Collins threw two touchdown passes, and Chris Johnson ran for 136 yards and a score as the Titans routed the Browns (4-9) to clinch a second consecutive playoff berth with the franchise's best record through 13 games (12-1).

The Titans have won 15 of their last 16 games.