NFL / AFC

Buffalo (10-6) at Miami (10-6) / 9:30 a.m., Channel 7

* HEAD TO HEAD: The Dolphins defeated the Bills, 13-7, Sept. 13 at Miami, making up for a sputtering offense with a swarming defense that sacked Rob Johnson eight times and limited the Bills to 187 yards. In the rematch Nov. 1, the Bills rallied from a 10-point deficit to beat the Dolphins at Buffalo, 30-24, as Doug Flutie, playing his fourth game in place of Johnson, passed for 206 yards and three touchdowns.

* SCOUTING THE BILLS: Flutie’s magical season--he was 7-3 as a starter--helped the Bills become only the fifth team in league history to make the playoffs after an 0-3 start. Led by Antowain Smith, they average 135.9 yards rushing a game, second-best in the AFC, and don’t beat themselves; they lost only six fumbles, fewest in club history. Defensively, the Bills are hurting a bit because of injuries that have sidelined end Phil Hansen and cornerback Thomas Smith. “We may have a few less Bills stomping in the stampede,� defensive end Marcellus Wiley said, “but we’re still going to roll along. . . . We’re still going to suit up 11, and when we go out there we’re going to war.�

* SCOUTING THE DOLPHINS: After failing to establish a consistent running game, Coach Jimmy Johnson finally started opening up the offense and Dan Marino responded by ending the season with three consecutive 300-yard passing games. His favorite target is O.J. McDuffie, who led the league and set a club record with 90 receptions, including 60 in the last eight games. The Dolphins gave up only 10.3 points a game in winning seven of eight games at Pro Player Stadium during the regular season. The Dolphins exited the playoffs meekly last season, losing to the New England Patriots, 17-3, but Johnson says they’re better this year despite declines in points scored, total yardage and passing yardage.

* NOW YOU KNOW: The Bills have won all three playoff games between the teams, the last Dec. 30, 1995.

* THEY SAID IT: Dolphin veteran Dan Marino, whose list of accomplishments includes several passing records but no championship rings: “We have a chance to win three games and go to the Super Bowl. That’s what all the work is for, and it’s going to be fun. I believe we have a chance, I really do.�

* THE LINE: Dolphins by 2 1/2

BUFFALO

14 At San Diego 16

7 At Miami 13

33 St. Louis 34

26 San Francisco 21

31 At Indianapolis 24

17 Jacksonville 16

30 At Carolina 14

30 Miami 24

12 At N.Y. Jets 34

13 New England 10

34 Indianapolis 11

21 At New England 25

33 At Cincinnati 20

44 Oakland 21

10 N.Y. Jets 17

45 At New Orleans 33

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MIAMI

24 At Indianapolis 15

13 Buffalo 7

21 Pittsburgh 0

9 At N.Y. Jets 20

21 At Jacksonville 28

14 St. Louis 0

12 New England (OT) 9

24 At Buffalo 30

27 Indianapolis 14

13 At Carolina 9

23 At New England 26

30 New Orleans 10

27 At Oakland 17

16 N.Y. Jets 21

31 Denver 21

16 At Atlanta 38