Jan 2, 2006 7:24 am US/Eastern
Flutie Kick Steals Show, But Miami Edges Patriots
FOXBORO (AP) ―
The Patriots sat out their stars with an eye toward the playoffs. The Dolphins also kept rolling toward the future.
Miami won its sixth straight game, its longest winning streak in 13 seasons, in a 28-26 victory Sunday over New England, which will host Jacksonville in a wild-card game next weekend. The Dolphins aren't going to the playoffs -- not this year, anyway.
And the Patriots never go away quietly.
They staged a late comeback in which Doug Flutie converted the NFL's first successful drop kick in 64 years, according to the Web site for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Then backup quarterback Matt Cassel cut the lead to 28-26 with a 4-yard pass to Benjamin Watson with no time left. But Cassel's pass for a 2-point conversion fell incomplete.
The 43-year-old Flutie made the NFL's first successful drop kick since Ray McLean for the Chicago Bears on Dec. 21, 1941. It followed Cassel's first touchdown pass, a 6-yarder to Tim Dwight that made it 25-19 with 6:10 left.
As the ball sailed through the uprights, Flutie punched the air and was mobbed by teammates. Then he ran to the sideline, where he was embraced by a smiling coach Bill Belichick.
But with 1:55 left, Olindo Mare kicked his fourth field goal, a 42-yarder, giving the Dolphins their 28-20 lead.
They started the season 3-7 under new coach Nick Saban, then didn't lose as they finished at 9-7, just one game behind AFC East winning and two-time defending Super Bowl champion New England (10-6).
Of course, quarterback Tom Brady played only the first quarter and running back Corey Dillon didn't play at all, even though both were healthy enough. Linebacker Tedy Bruschi, questionable with a left calf injury, also sat out, along with starting defensive backs Asante Samuel and Artrell Hawkins.
Miami got a 3-yard scoring run by Ricky Williams before first-string defenders left in the second quarter; a safety on a sack of Cassel; and a 15-yard scoring pass from Gus Frerotte to Marty Booker that made it 25-13 with 9:07 left. It was Frerotte's career-high 18th touchdown pass.
Williams rushed for 108 yards one week after gaining 172.
For a change, the Patriots may have some serious competition for the division title next season from the Dolphins, who missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
Brady went 3-for-8 for 38 yards and an 11-yard touchdown pass to Deion Branch that tied the game 7-7, then sat down. Regular receivers joined him on the sideline.
One steady contributor turned in his usual performance. Adam Vinatieri kicked field goals of 49 and 41 yards. He finished the season with 100 points, joining Denver's Jason Elam as the only NFL kickers to score that many in each of their first 10 seasons.
The Patriots are seeded fourth in the AFC playoffs.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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