Dolphins 21, Patriots 0

MIAMI (AP) The New England Patriots' best play was an illegal forward pass. It was that kind of day for Tom Brady and his offense.<br/><br/>Miami sacked Brady 4 times, forced him to fumble twice, held

Sunday, December 10th 2006, 3:10 pm

By: News On 6

MIAMI (AP) The New England Patriots' best play was an illegal forward pass. It was that kind of day for Tom Brady and his offense.

Miami sacked Brady 4 times, forced him to fumble twice, held him to 78 yards passing and blanked the Patriots 21-0 Sunday.

The last Miami team to shut out New England was the perfect-season Dolphins of 1972.

The Patriots (9-4) still lead the AFC East, but the loss snapped their three-game winning and hurt their chances of earning a first-round bye in the playoffs. They lost on the road for the first time in six games this season.

Miami (6-7), virtually eliminated from the playoff race a week ago, won for the fifth time in six games.

The Patriots totaled a season-low 189 yards and lost 3 fumbles, giving them 11 turnovers in the past three games.

New England played without leading rusher Laurence Maroney, inactive because of a back injury, and lost top receiver Benjamin Watson in the 3rd quarter with a leg injury.

But Brady often struggles against the Dolphins. He fell to 7-5 against them, compared with 70-20 against the rest of the NFL.

Trailing 13-0, New England tried a trick play early in the 4th quarter but wound up passing twice and getting penalized. Brady handed off to Kevin Faulk, who threw back across the field to Brady, who threw long to Daniel Graham for a 33-yard score. But Faulk's throw was a forward pass rather than a lateral, and after a lengthy discussion, officials negated the play and called a penalty.

Brady lost a fumble on a safety blitz three plays later, and Miami drove 61 yards for the clinching touchdown.

Sammy Morris rushed for a career-high 123 yards and a score for the Dolphins. Marty Booker caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Joey Harrington.

Poor field position hurt the Patriots, who started their first eight possessions at the 30 or worse. Three punts by Miami's Donnie Jones were downed inside the 5-yard line.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins started three drives in New England territory, and those possessions produced 10 points.

By the 2nd quarter, Brady's frustration was evident. When the Patriots were stopped for the fifth possession in a row in the opening half, he screamed at teammates as he trotted off the field, and again once after he reached the bench.

Jason Taylor kept the Patriots guessing by lining up at different spots, and he frequently harried Brady. Once when Brady approached the line he pointed at Taylor, who nonetheless rushed through an opening untouched, forcing an errant throw.

The game's first touchdown came in the 3rd quarter after Miami converted a 4th & 1 at the New England 34. On the next play, Harrington rolled right and threw on the run to Booker in the end zone for a 32-yard score, putting Miami ahead 13-0.

New England's Daniel Graham lost a fumble following a reception in the 1st quarter. The Dolphins scored on their next possession, with two Patriots penalties setting up a 35-yard field goal by Olindo Mare.

The Dolphins scored again by moving 62 yards in the final 1:53 of the 1st half. The drive was helped by a roughing the pass penalty on Vince Wilfork that the Patriots disputed, and Mare kicked a 33-yarder as the half ended for a 6-0 lead.