Dolphins Top Bills to Earn the Top Billing : AFC: Shula’s team is alone in first place after giving coach his 200th victory with Miami, 30-7.

MIAMI —  Coach Don Shula said the Miami Dolphins approached perfection Sunday, and as a result they have the only perfect record in the AFC East.

Ball control and defense, the Dolphins’ weaknesses during a four-year playoff drought, became weapons as they beat Buffalo, 30-7.

“The first three quarters were as good as you want to be around,” Shula said, “from the standpoint of balance, not making errors and getting the ball for our offense in good field position.”

The Dolphins (2-0) gave up 280 yards rushing the last time they faced Buffalo--in a 31-17 loss last season. But Miami allowed only 205 total yards Sunday.

“For us to turn it around like we did today makes me feel real good,” Shula said.

By the time Buffalo scored on Larry Kinnebrew’s one-yard run with 12 minutes left, Miami led, 30-0.

In breaking a six-game losing streak against Buffalo (1-1), the Dolphins repeatedly capitalized on good field position. They scored 13 points following the Bills’ three turnovers, and scored 10 points after punt returns twice gave them the ball at Buffalo’s 45-yard line.

“We turned it over,” Bill Coach Marv Levy said. “There’s your major difference.”

Quarterback Jim Kelly said: “This is about the hardest loss I’ve had to take. They gave us a good old-fashioned butt-whipping.”

Miami running back Sammie Smith, who scored two touchdowns, said: “We’re going in the right direction. We have to do it 14 more times and hopefully a few more times after that.”

Miami has a 2-0 record for the first time since 1984 and is alone atop the AFC East for the first time since December, 1985.

“After two weeks of the season, we’re the only undefeated team in the AFC East, and that feels good !” Shula said. He shouted the last three words.

The victory was Shula’s 200th with Miami.

“That tells you I’m old,” Shula said. “I realize 200 is important to someday look back on. But right now I feel good about this team being where it is at 2-0.”

The Dolphins set the tone by stopping Buffalo’s first possession on downs at the Bills’ 29-yard line, then generating a nine-minute, 15-play touchdown drive. Smith dove over the goal line on fourth and one at the two.

Miami’s next two scores were set up by Alfred Oglesby’s fumble recovery at the Bills’ 36 and Louis Oliver’s interception of a deflected pass at the Bills’ 24. Pete Stoyanovich took advantage of the turnovers by kicking field goals of 23 and 29 yards.

Thurman Thomas lost a fumble on Buffalo’s first possession of the second half, and the Dolphins capitalized with a 51-yard drive capped by Smith’s one-yard touchdown run. Miami scored again on a 17-yard pass from Dan Marino to Tony Paige in the fourth quarter.

The Dolphins out-rushed Buffalo, 128-44. Miami converted eight of 15 third- and fourth-down situations.

“Our line did a great job,” said Marino, who wasn’t sacked. “The key was that we could run the ball and mix it up. You have to do that against them because they have such a great pass rush.”