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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
MIAMI (AP) -- The game couldn't have been more predictable.
|  | | Miami quarterback Jay Fieldler eludes New England's Chad Eaton on Sunday. |
Miami's defense dominated, the offense struggled and New England
had a chance to tie it at the end.
Miami became the first team in NFL history to allow just one
touchdown in its first four games, holding the Patriots to 210
yards and a field goal in a 10-3 victory Sunday.
"The scary thing is we can still play better," defensive end
Kenny Mixon said.
Miami (3-1) sacked Drew Bledsoe twice, hurried him all day and
held him to 16-of-33 passing for 161 yards. New England's running
game had even less success, with Kevin Faulk carrying 21 times for
46 yards.
Still, New England (0-4) had a chance to tie it in the closing
minutes.
On fourth-and-2 from the Miami 5 with a little more than a
minute to play, Bledsoe's pass intended for Eric Bjornson sailed
through the end zone.
It was the fourth time in as many games that the Patriots had a
chance to tie or win the game on their final possession.
"We're in a very difficult situation," Bledsoe said. "We're
faced now with doing one of two things. We can come back and battle
and compete and try to win as many games as we can or we can pack
it in and fold our tent. Anyone who knows me, knows which way I'm
going, and I'm planning on taking as many guys with me as I can."
Miami, which had three turnovers in the first three games,
committed three against New England.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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This game was a defensive struggle, featuring 12 punts and numerous turnovers.
The Dolphins, who had been doing a good job of protecting the football so far this year, had three turnovers today. Miami cannot afford turnovers offensively because they're not a team that's liklely to score lots of points.
The Dolphins defense was impressive once again. Miami has given up only 22 points and just one touchdown in four games.
The Patriots were in position again -- for the fourth week in a row -- to win the game. But again they could not make the key play down the stretch.
New England has played well enough to be 4-0 instead of 0-4. But until the Patriots get someone to step up at crunch time they will continue to lose games in a very difficult fashion. Maybe one play in each of the Patriots' four losses would have made the difference.
It appears that the Pats don't have enough offensive weapons right now to help Drew Bledsoe. The offensive line needs help and they need more playmakers.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director of football operations.
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Jay Fiedler was inconsistent, throwing a touchdown pass and two
interceptions. Lamar Smith was ineffective, running 20 times for 42
yards. The Dolphins made only one big play all game _ Fiedler's
53-yard scoring pass to Bert Emanuel.
But that was enough for Miami's defense.
"We didn't look as sharp as we could have," Thurman Thomas
said. "As an offense, we feel guilty that we're not helping those
guys. We'd love to be giving them 21 or 24 points a game. It's just
not working. But it'll come around."
Miami has allowed just 22 points, the first team to give up that
few points since the Atlanta Falcons gave up 19 in their first four
games of the 1977 season.
The Dolphins have surrendered 22 points in victories against
Seattle (23-0), Baltimore (19-6) and now New England (10-3) and a
loss to Minnesota (13-7).
"We've got to do it again next week," safety Brock Marion
said. "Our plan every week is to create turnovers, keep their
offense out of the end zone and even off the field."
The defense did. But the offense didn't fair much better.
Fiedler completed 12 of 24 passes for 153 yards with a touchdown
and two interceptions.
"Anytime you get only 10 points, you always want more,"
Fiedler said. "We weren't connecting on a few things and had a few
turnovers out there."
Fiedler's first interception set up New England's only score.
About to be sacked by Bobby Hamilton, Fiedler tried to flip the
ball to Smith. But Fiedler didn't get it over the defensive line,
and Henry Thomas intercepted the pass and returned it 16 yards.
New England then used a 12-play drive to set up Adam Vinatieri's
40-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
Fielder and the Dolphins rebounded, though. Fiedler connected
with Emanuel for the 53-yard scoring play.
On a third-and-4 play, Fiedler faked a handoff to Thurman
Thomas, rolled right and hit Emanuel in stride at the 3. Emanuel
fell down at the 3 and rolled into the end zone.
"I was determined to get in," Emanuel said. "I didn't want
anyone else scoring my touchdown."
The Patriots looked like they might take the lead in the second,
but Faulk fumbled near the goal line. Brian Walker knocked the ball
loose, and Zach Thomas recovered it.
Mare added a 43-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining in
the half.
Neither team threatened to score again until New England's late
drive that ended with Bledsoe's incompletion.
"This is a tough spot," said Terry Glenn, who led New England
with five catches for 65 yards. "No one is going to lay down and
give us a win. We have to go out and earn it. Unfortunately, we
have yet to get it done."
Game
notes
Miami's Thurman Thomas had 37 rushing yards, giving him
12,009 and making him the ninth player in NFL history to surpass
the 12,000-yard mark. Thomas left the game with a strained groin.
... Dolphins TE Ed Perry dislocated his right shoulder. ... Henry
Thomas' interception was the fourth of his career.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
New England Clubhouse
Miami Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 A disappointed Drew Bledsoe and the Patriots are facing a difficult situation.
wav: 162 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Kenny Mixon and the Miami defense take pride in their ability to shut teams down.
wav: 66 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Forget about the stats, Trace Armstrong cares about playing well every game.
wav: 54 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Robert Jones is happy to see Miami relying on their defense for a change.
wav: 122 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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