Sputtering offense plagues Dolphins

"We haven't made enough plays around him, and he hasn't made enough plays," Philbin said. "Sometimes it's the protection, sometimes it's the route, sometimes it's a penalty, sometimes it's the lack of a running game. It's a variety of issues. We haven't discriminated."

Defense also shares responsibility for the losing streak, as the scoreboard would suggest: In the past 2½ quarters Miami has been outscored 65-20.

Big plays have been a season-long problem on both sides of the ball. The offense lacks a deep threat at receiver, while the secondary is prone to breakdowns.

As a result, Miami has gained at least 20 yards on 29 plays while giving up 46 such plays, by far the worst disparity in the NFL.

Turnover differential is another source of consternation. The Dolphins rank third-worst at minus nine, and in the past two games they've committed seven turnovers while coming up with no takeaways.

"That's not good enough," Philbin said. "I'm embarrassed; I'm the head coach. That's one thing we preach all the time."

The weekend off will give the Dolphins extra time to assess the situation before heading into the toughest part of their schedule, beginning Nov. 25 against Seattle.

"You've got to make the plays that are available," defensive end Cameron Wake said. "The Bills made more than we did, and honestly, that's the same old song and dance. I feel like a broken record, and I'm getting tired of it. It's got to change, and it's got to change fast."

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