Miami Dolphins 2009

By Solange Reyner
MIAMI (CBS4) ― It took a couple of rookies and a backup quarterback, but the Miami Dolphins finally got their first win of the season.

Rookies Vontae Davis and Brian Hartline each scored and Chad Henne – who was making his first NFL start after Chad Pennington was injured last week – didn't have to do too much as Miami beat the Buffalo Bills, 38-10, in an AFC East match-up.

The Dolphins (1-3) shored up their red zone issues, and scored on five of their 11 possessions.

Ronnie Brown had two touchdowns on 115 yards rushing and Ricky Williams also added a score.

The rookies also assisted.

Davis intercepted a Trent Edwards pass in the second quarter and returned it 23 yards to put the Dolphins ahead, 10-0, and Hartline added a score in the third to help put the game out of reach.

Henne didn't have to do too much. The second year pro finished with 115 yards on 14 of 22 passing with most of his yardage coming in the second half. He's long been considered the heir apparent to Pennington, but his debut came a bit earlier than expected.

The lack of time as a starter showed – but only at the start.

Henne struggled in the first half and looked frazzled at times. The former 2008 second round draft pick from Michigan was sacked four times and only had 64 yards passing in the first half.

But  he outplayed Edwards –  who was intercepted three times. That's all the woeful Dolphins could ask for at this point in the season. They were 0-3 coming into the game and still searching for their first win. And they had to do it without Pennington, the most efficient passer in NFL history.

Pennington was injured last week in a game against San Diego and underwent surgery on his throwing shoulder – the third time he's had a procedure done on that body part. He went on Injured Reserve late last week and still isn't sure on his timetable for a return – the injury could end his storied career.

Miami moved on without him, and got plenty of help from its secondary which limited six-time pro bowler Terrell Owens.

Owens was thrown to more than five times on Sunday, but only caught three passes for 60 yards.

Miami used trickery and its signature wildcat formation to help Henne. Brown took most of those direct snaps, and utilized a 38-yard scamper to set up his own touchdown run in the second.

The Bills continued to struggle on offense, even though they tried to use Owens more in their game plan. Owens caught zero passes last week, and had trouble against cornerbacks Davis and Sean Smith.

 

How they scored:
Fourth quarter
Dolphins 38, Bills 10
Ronnie Brown scores his second touchdown of the game.
The play: Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown blew through gaping holes to get into Buffalo's territory.
The drive: 3 plays, 58 yards, :24.

Dolphins 31, Bills 10
Josh Reed catches his first pass of the game for the touchdown.
The play: Lee Evans scorches Miami's secondary on a 35-yard pass play to set the Bills up at the Miami-11.
The drive: 9 plays, 27 yards, 5:02.

Third quarter
Dolphins 31, Bills 3
Ricky Williams punches another touchdown in for the Dolphins.
The play: Will Allen intercepts a pass intended for Terrell Owens, and the Dolphins cash in on the turnover.
The drive: 9 plays, 27 yards, 5:02.

Dolphins 24, Bills 3
Rookie Brian Hartline, catches his first NFL touchdown.
The play: Chad Henne passes for completions of 12, 10, 11 and finally five yards to put the Dolphins ahead.
The drive: 12 plays, 65 yards, 6:34.

Second quarter:
Dolphins 17, Bills 3
Ronnie Brown scores from one yard out.
The play: Brown gets big blocks from Patrick Cobbs and Jake Long out of the wildcat for a 38-yard gain to set up the score.
The drive: 9 plays, 66 yards, 4:25.

Dolphins 10, Bills 3
Rian Lindell puts the Bills on the board with a 35-yard field goal.
The play: After getting good field position on a Dolphins' penalty, quarterback Trent Edwards marches the Bills within field goal position.
The drive: 5 plays, 37 yards, 2:35.

Dolphins 10, Bills 0
Vontae Davis scores after his first NFL interception.
The play: Davis, a rookie, stepped in front of Buffalo's Lee Evans and returned it 23 yards for the score.
The drive: 1 play, 23 yards.

Dolphins 3, Bills 0
Dan Carpenter kicks a 33-yard field goal to start off the second quarter.
The play: Ricky Williams and the Dolphins ride the Wildcat for a 20-yard gain to get Miami in the red zone.
The drive: 11 plays, 65 yards, 6:00

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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