Fiedler’s Run Comes Just in Time

MIAMI —  Only seconds remained when New York native Jay Fiedler dove for the end zone, holding the ball above his head like a rugby player and skidding across the goal line for the winning touchdown as the crowd erupted.

This was a return to normal--at least as the Miami Dolphins define it.

Patriotic pregame pageantry produced plenty of cheers, but the biggest roar was reserved for Fiedler’s two-yard touchdown scramble with five seconds left to help Miami beat the Oakland Raiders, 18-15, Sunday.

The resumption of the NFL season after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks meant a day of mixed emotions--especially for Fiedler, who grew up in Long Island.

“My brother lost a close friend,” he said. “And I know a lot of people who were very close to people that were lost.”

Fiedler overcame two costly interceptions, directing a 10-play, 80-yard drive in the final 1:41.

“You couldn’t get a better ending,” teammate Zach Thomas said. “It was great for the fans especially, for everybody to go home happy and get back to normal.”

Miami improved to 2-0, while Oakland fell to 1-1. The Dolphins are 28-4 in home openers since 1970 and haven’t lost at home in September since 1993, when the New York Jets beat them, 24-14.

An emotional pregame show paid tribute to victims of the attacks with prayer, songs and chants of “U-S-A, U-S-A.” The ceremony prompted cheers and tears, with the only jeers reserved for the Raiders when they were introduced.

“You had to wipe the tears away and play football,” Dolphin defensive end Jason Taylor said.

Oakland led most of the game and went ahead, 15-10--thanks largely to a pair of interceptions, the second returned 26 yards by Anthony Dorsett for the go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

The Dolphin defense, led by Thomas with 18 tackles, kept the game close, giving up only 216 yards and no touchdowns. And the extreme heat took a toll on the Raiders down the stretch.

Miami had no timeouts left when it started from its 20 with 1:41 to go.

Fiedler completed his next four passes, then connected with Dedric Ward for nine yards on fourth and three, putting the Dolphins at the nine-yard line with 27 seconds left.

Fiedler ran for seven yards, then spiked the ball to stop the clock with 12 seconds left.

On third down, Fiedler rolled right on a play designed as a run-pass option. When he couldn’t find an open receiver, he pumped and then broke for the end zone from the 10.

Defensive end Trace Armstrong had the best shot, but Fiedler eluded him.

“I tried to turn him in to the middle of the field,” Armstrong said. “But he did a great job of getting away from me and getting into the end zone.”

Said Fiedler: “I saw that patch of grass in front of me, and I knew I could make it.”

Fiedler’s heroics were all the more impressive because the Dolphins feared he was knocked out in a helmet-to-helmet collision with three minutes remaining. A timeout was called as the woozy quarterback struggled to his feet.

“Once I got up, I was fine,” Fiedler said. He also scored on a two-yard run with 16 seconds left in the first half.

The victory was a small measure of revenge for Miami, which lost, 27-0, at Oakland in the playoffs last season, when Fiedler threw three interceptions.