FLASH RECAP:
Quarterback Jay Fiedler scores on a 2-yard run with five seconds remaining to lift Miami (2-0) past Oakland before an announced crowd of 73,404 at Pro Player Stadium on Sept. 23, 2001. On the game-winning drive, Fiedler hits five of six passes for 70 yards, including a 9-yard completion to wide receiver Dedric Ward on fourth-and-three from the Oakland 18. After Fiedler's dramatic touchdown, James McKnight runs for the two-point conversion as Miami avenges a 27-0 loss at Oakland in a 2000 AFC divisional playoff game last January. Fiedler scores on a 2-yard run late in the second quarter to erase a 6-0 Oakland advantage. Anthony Dorsett gives the Raiders (1-1) a 15-10 lead early in the fourth quarter when he returns an interception 26 yards for a touchdown. Sebastian Janikowski kicks field goals of 42, 25 and 45 yards for Oakland, which suffers its fourth consecutive regular-season loss to Miami. The Dolphins win their 15th straight home game in September and eighth straight home opener. Oakland center Barret Robbins suffers a season-ending knee injury late in the fourth quarter. Robbins, who has started 54 straight games for the Raiders, tears the anterior cruciate and medial ligaments in his right knee.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Jay Fiedler -- With his team out of timeouts, he drives the Dolphins 80 yards in 10 plays for the winning touchdown in 1:36. On the drive's final play with 12 seconds remaining, Fiedler rolls to his right looking to pass before running for the goal line. With Oakland defenders frantically giving chase, he dives into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game. On Miami's two touchdown drives (the first at the end of the second quarter for a 7-6 lead), Fiedler is 9-of-11 passing for 126 yards and two rushing touchdowns on third-and-goal. He finishes with 16 completions in 34 attempts for 217 yards with two interceptions.
Miami defense -- The Dolphins hold the Raiders to 216 total yards and don't allow an offensive touchdown. Oakland QB Rich Gannon averages only 8.9 yards on 14 pass completions. Miami's secondary, led by cornerbacks Patrick Surtain and Sam Madison, limit Oakland WRs Tim Brown and Jerry Rice to a paltry four catches for 27 yards. The Raiders convert only two of 12 third-down tries.
MLB Zack Thomas -- Contributes a game-high 18 tackles (9 solo). He also shadows Rich Gannon to prevent the Oakland quarterback from leaving the pass pocket and running for sizable yardage. Gannon finishes with 14 yards rushing on three carries.
WR Dedric Ward -- Has two catches for 29 yards on Miami's winning drive. On fourth-and-three from the Oakland 18, he leaps to make a 9-yard reception.
RB Lamar Smith -- Rushes for 92 yards on 22 carries. He gets the Dolphins out of a big hole when he rushes for 17 yards to Miami's 18, one play after teammate Brock Marion fumbles an Oakland kickoff (which is recovered by the Dolphins' Scott McGarrahan). Smith freezes Oakland SS Marquez Pope with a shake-and-bake move to break free on his 17-yard run.
FS Anthony Dorsett -- Returns a Jay Fiedler interception 26 yards for a touchdown to give Oakland a 15-10 lead 3:19 into the fourth quarter.
PK Sebastian Janikowski -- Makes field goals of 42, 25 and 45 yards. Three of his five kickoffs land in the end zone with one touchback.
RB Charlie Garner -- Accounts for 105 yards of total offense (Oakland gains only 216 yards). He also drops two critical third-down passes.
SS Marquez Pope -- Contributes a team-high 10 tackles (6 solo).
GOAT OF THE GAME:
Raiders coach Jon Gruden -- His offensive game plan is conservative and, in some instances, predictable. Gruden elects to play the dreaded "prevent defense" on Miami's game-winning drive. With Oakland rushing only three lineman, Jay Fiedler has ample time to complete four straight passes for 61 yards to advance the football to the Oakland 19. The Raiders then return to a four-man pass rush. By then, the game's momentum has changed in Miami's favor.
TURNING POINT:
After forcing a Miami punt, Oakland gets the football at its 33 with a five-point lead and 2:21 remaining. Needing a first down to run out the clock, the Raiders get two short runs by Tyrone Wheatley (2 yards) and Charlie Garner (4 yards) and a Rich Gannon incompletion before punting.
KEY DRIVE:
The Dolphins move 80 yards in 10 plays for the winning touchdown. QB Jay Fiedler hits four of five passes for 61 yards to advance the football to the Oakland 18. On fourth-and-three, Fiedler completes a 9-yard pass to WR Dedric Ward. Fielder rushes up the middle for seven yards to the Oakland 2. After spiking the ball on first down to stop the clock with 12 seconds left, Fielder drops back to pass before rushing two yards for his second touchdown of the game.
BY THE NUMBERS:
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2: Rushing touchdowns by Miami's Jay Fiedler.
4: Dropped passes by Oakland's Jerry Rice, Charlie Garner (two) and Tim Brown.
15: Consecutive home victories for the Dolphins since 1990 in August and September.
67: Yards by Oakland's offense in the second half.
THEY SAID IT:
Raiders coach Jon Gruden
"You can be right and you can be wrong, that is the great thing about football. Unfortunately, Jon Gruden was wrong more often than he was right today."
"It doesn't get any better. I knew that a lot of that game was riding on me with the two interceptions in the second half. I wanted to go out there and redeem myself."
Dolphins QB Jay Fiedler
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Dolphins have not allow an offensive touchdown in their past two regular-season games against Oakland. Miami defeated the Raiders 16-9 at Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland on Oct. 31, 1999. The Raiders' only points came on three Michael Husted field goals.
Miami's Jay Fiedler (9) picks up yards against Oakland.
By Associated Press
