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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
DENVER (AP) -- Brian Griese wasn't John Elway, but neither did he embarrass coach Mike Shanahan for making him Elway's successor.
The only problem for the Denver Broncos on Monday night was that
Elway's old friend Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins were better,
beating the Broncos 38-21 on a night Elway was placed in Denver's
ring of fame.
| |  | | Rookie fullback Rob Konrad puts the Dolphins ahead to stay with a second-quarter touchdown as Broncos safety Tyrone Braxton arrives too late. |
Marino had major help from the Dolphins' special teams unit,
which blocked a punt and a field goal to set up 10 points as Miami
spoiled the start of Denver's quest for a third straight Super Bowl
and set out on their own quest for Marino's first ring in his
17-year career.
"It's like when Michael Jordan left," said cornerback Terrell
Buckley, whose 43-yard return with a blocked field goal set up
Miami's first touchdown. "Griese, he can play. But John Elway can
flat out get it done."
Marino was his usual efficient self, going 15-of-23 for 215
yards with two TD passes -- a 12-yarder to rookie fullback Rob
Konrad and a 4-yarder to O.J. McDuffie.
Karim Abdul-Jabbar and another rookie, J.J. Johnson, had 1-yard
TD runs and Olindo Mare added a 37-yard field goal as the Dolphins
ended Denver's 24-game regular season home winning streak that
extended back to December 1996 and avenged a 38-3 loss here in the
playoffs last January.
Griese, selected over Bubby Brister by Shanahan to start in
Elway's place, wasn't bad, finishing 24-of-40 for 270 yards and
throwing TD passes of 61, 11 and 4 yards to Ed McCaffrey, the last
coming with 34 seconds to play. He also was sacked with 3:56 to
play by Rich Owens and fumbled with Jason Taylor recovering in the
end zone for the Dolphins' final score.
"I think if everyone had played like Brian Griese today, we
would have won the game," Shanahan said. "I was pleased with the
way he handled himself against an excellent defensive team. He
showed a lot of poise and a lot of composure."
But his arm didn't present the fear factor Elway's did, allowing
Miami to play eight men close to the line of scrimmage to shut down
Terrell Davis, who finished with 61 yards on 19 carries.
Late in the first half, for example, Griese underthrew a
wide-open McCaffrey, who had to come back for the ball and dropped
it.
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GAME NOTES |
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This was the third game between the Broncos and Dolphins
since last December 21. Before that, the two teams hadn't met since
1985.
Because Hurricane Floyd was threatening Florida's east
coast, the Dolphins were flying back to Fort Myers, on the west
coast.
McDuffie caught a pass for the 63rd consecutive game.
Denver wide receiver Rod Smith pulled his left hamstring in the
second quarter and did not return.
Miami defensive end Kenny
Mixon injured his left ankle and didn't return.
Miami now has 300 regular-season wins.
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Griese started off like another Elway, hitting McCaffrey between
Brock Marion and Shawn Wooden for the 61-yard score on the first
series of the game.
The Broncos held their 7-0 lead into the second quarter and
looked like they were about to go ahead 10-0. But Lorenzo Bromell
blocked Jason Elam's 44-yard field goal attempt and Buckley returned it 43 yards to the Denver 36. Four plays later, Abdul-Jabbar took it into the end zone to tie the score.
Then Marino took the Dolphins 80 yards in seven plays,
highlighted by a 40-yard pass to Tony Martin, the new speed
receiver who finished with four catches for 101 yards. Marino
capped that one with a 12-yard pass to Konrad, all alone in the
right flat.
"This is real sweet," said Martin, who played on the Atlanta
team that lost in the Super Bowl to Denver last January. "They're
world champions and any time you can break their streak here,
that's exceptional. Dan showed why he's a Hall of Famer."
On Miami's next possession, Greg Jeffries partially blocked Tom
Rouen's punt, setting up Mare's field goal with one second left in
the half making it 17-7.
Johnson scored to cap the opening drive of the second half, 65
yards in nine plays that give Miami a 24-7 lead. Griese's second
TD pass cut it back to 10.
But then, Miami middle linebacker Zach Thomas sacked Griese on a
fourth-and-1 at the Dolphins 40. Marino then completed passes of 11
yards to Troy Drayton, 20 to Martin, 14 to McDuffie and 4 to
McDuffie for the score that made it 31-14.
Still, there will be other days for Griese.
"I'm disappointed right now, disappointed that we lost,"
Griese said. "There are some things I could have done. The only
thing I can take away from this game is that I left everything I
had on the field. I never felt I was bewildered or confused."
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Miami Clubhouse
Denver Clubhouse
Broncos retire Elway's No. 7
Martin: Marino magical at Mile High
Week 1 wrap-ups
Week 1 infirmary report
Week 1 stats leaders
TJ's Take: Jags on the prowl
Week 1 PrimeTime Players
AUDIO/VIDEO
 OJ McDuffie says it was a "bitter sweet" victory.
wav: 72 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Robert Konrad makes impressive debut in Denver.
wav: 122 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Brian Griese talks about his start.
wav: 170 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Mike Shanahan talks about the Broncos performance.
wav: 157 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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