Oct 26, 2008 - 5:55 PM
0 shoutsBy Christopher Stock PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
MIAMI (Ticker) -- Chad Pennington threw for 314 yards and Ted Ginn set a career high with 175 receiving yards to lead the Miami Dolphins past the Buffalo Bills, 25-16, on Sunday.
Pennington completed 22-of-30 passes en route to his first 300-yard game since December 17, 2006, against Minnesota, when he threw for a career-high 339 yards.
Ginn, the ninth overall pick in 2007, had just 177 yards in the first six games before exploding for a career day.
"I'm a football player and this is what I need to do," Ginn said. "Every time a ball came my way I told myself I was going to come down with it."
Ginn caught seven passes, including receptions of 64 and 46 yards to help the Dolphins avert a third straight loss.
"He's an outstanding player," Bills coach Dick Jauron said. "He's got a lot of talent. He's very quick and fast with terrific hands and running ability. He's a handful."
Miami (3-4) snapped a four-game losing streak against Buffalo (5-2), which had won seven of the previous eight meetings.
"Close game, in our division, being able to win one of these things, I think that all of a sudden, just when it was leaking a little bit, and you lost two, all of a sudden now these guys understand exactly what we've been talking about all week, all season," Dolphins first-year coach Tony Sparano said.
Dolphins cornerback Will Allen intercepted a fluttering pass by Trent Edwards early in the fourth quarter, but the Dolphins had to settle for a 45-yard field goal by Dan Carpenter to stretch the lead to 20-16.
"If you watch the way we've played this whole season, we don't give up," Allen said.
Edwards, who had led the Bills to three fourth-quarter comeback victories this season, fumbled twice later in the fourth quarter, the second one resulting in a safety when Joey Porter knocked the ball loose.
"Fourth quarter, in your own end zone, you can't make that mistake," Edwards said. "Unfortunately it was made and it probably cost us the game."
Carpenter hit a 35-yard field goal with four minutes left in the game to seal the victory and snap a two-game losing streak.
Edwards completed 20-of-34 passes for 208 yards. Lee Evans led the Bills with seven catches for 116 yards. It was the 12th time Evans has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in his career and third time at Miami.
"There is no rhyme or reason to (the success in Miami)," Evans said. "When you get opportunities to make plays, you make them. Coming down here, fighting through the elements with the heat, I think you just concentrate a little more."
Miami scored on the opening possession of the game as Pennington found tight end Anthony Fasano in the back of the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown pass. Pennington hooked up with Ginn for a 46-yard gain on the first play from scrimmage.
"It set the tone," Ginn said.
Buffalo settled for three first-half field goals by Ryan Lindell, including a 47-yarder as time expired at the end of the half.
Marshawn Lynch found the end zone in the third quarter for the Bills with an 8-yard touchdown run to give the Bills a 16-7 lead.
After a 43-yard field goal by Carpenter, the Dolphins grabbed a 17-16 lead on a 3-yard touchdown run by Ricky Williams in the third quarter.
From the Bleachers
-
BUFFALO: 16
MIAMI: 25
Final
Oct 26 4:08 PM -
NFL
FG MIA
DAN CARPENTER 35 YD
BUFFALO 16
MIAMI 25 3:53 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Oct 26 3:53 PM -
NFL
SAFETY MIA
DUKE PRESTON TACKLED BY CHARLIE ANDERSON IN END ZONE
BUFFALO 16
MIAMI 22 7:40 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Oct 26 3:46 PM -
NFL
FG MIA
DAN CARPENTER 45 YD
BUFFALO 16
MIAMI 20 13:17 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Oct 26 3:21 PM -
BUFFALO: 16
MIAMI: 17
End of 3rd
Oct 26 3:15 PM -
NFL
TD MIA
RICKY WILLIAMS 3 YD RUN
(DAN CARPENTER KICK)
BUFFALO 16
MIAMI 17 1:15 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Oct 26 3:11 PM -
NFL
FG MIA
DAN CARPENTER 43 YD
BUFFALO 16
MIAMI 10 7:56 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Oct 26 2:58 PM -
NFL
TD BUF
MARSHAWN LYNCH 8 YD RUN
(RIAN LINDELL KICK)
BUFFALO 16
MIAMI 7 10:17 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Oct 26 2:47 PM -
BUFFALO: 9
MIAMI: 7
Halftime
Oct 26 2:25 PM -
NFL
FG BUF
RIAN LINDELL 47 YD
BUFFALO 9
MIAMI 7 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Oct 26 2:25 PM -
NFL
FG BUF
RIAN LINDELL 43 YD
BUFFALO 6
MIAMI 7 8:19 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Oct 26 1:55 PM -
BUFFALO: 3
MIAMI: 7
End of 1st
Oct 26 1:37 PM -
NFL
FG BUF
RIAN LINDELL 19 YD
BUFFALO 3
MIAMI 7 4:21 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Oct 26 1:25 PM -
NFL
TD MIA
ANTHONY FASANO 2 YD PASS FROM CHAD PENNINGTON
(DAN CARPENTER KICK)
BUFFALO 0
MIAMI 7 9:26 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Oct 26 1:14 PM
