Nov 23, 2008 4:23 pm US/Eastern
Dolphins Defense Shredded By Patriots QB
Cassel passed for 415 yards and 3 touchdowns
OT Jake Long left game late in 3rd quarter, but did return
2 players ejected in 4th quarter
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
The Miami Dolphins teased the home crowd with glimpses of greatness against division rival, the New England Patriots, but had no answer for the Pats passing game, losing by a final score of 48 to 28.
Patriots QB Matt Cassel had his way with the Dolphins secondary throughout the entire game. Cassel completed just under 70 percentage of his passes for 415 yards, and rushed for a touchdown in the victory.
Former Dolphins wide receiver Wes Welker reminded South Florida fans just how big of a mistake it was to let him go to a division rival before the 2007 season. Welker ended up with 8 catches for 120yards, including a backbreaking long catch in the late part of the fourth quarter. He was flanked by Randy Moss, who continued his domination of the Dolphins secondary by catching 8 passes for 125 yards, 3 of those were touchdown passes.
The two teams exchanged the lead multiple times throughout the game, before the Patriots eventually pulled ahead for good at the end of the third quarter.
For the Dolphins, the much bally-hooed Wildcat offense was pretty much rendered ineffective. After scoring 4 touchdowns against the Patriots in the first game between the two teams, running back Ronnie Brown was held to just 37 yards for the game. His backfield mate Ricky Williams didn't do much better. Williams finished the game with 21 yards.
There were a couple of bright spots for the Dolphins. One was the solid play of quarterback Chad Pennington. He finished the game with 341 yards passing and 3 touchdown passes, but did throw a comeback killing interception mid-way through the 4th quarter. The other was outside linebacker Joey Porter recording another sack and increasing his league-leading total to 14 and a half.
The game got ugly after the Patriots kicked a field goal to increase the lead to 41 to 28. Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder got into a fight with Patriots left tackle Matt Light, with the big offensive tackle landing several blows to Crowder's head. Both players were ejected from the game immediately, and both will be more than likely get fined by the league office this week.
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Double Homicide In NW Miami-Dade
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