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Steelers post ugly win over Dolphins

Nov 27, 2007 - 7:33 AM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The start of Monday's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins was delayed due to weather, which only temporarily delayed the inevitable - another Dolphins' loss.

Jeff Reed kicked a 24-yard field goal with 17 seconds to play for the only score of the game as the Steelers posted a 3-0 victory over the hapless Dolphins.

The start of the game was delayed 25 minutes by lighting and heavy rain, which made the field nearly unplayable. The conditions eventually continued Miami's (0-11) winless campaign.

"A heck of a football game," Miami coach Cam Cameron said. "We've been outstanding defensively the last couple of weeks. We had some offensive opportunities, we just couldn't take advantage of them. We didn't get points once we got inside the 30. Obviously the kicking conditions were very difficult. You had to down in there tight. You saw the misses, the conditions were equal for both teams."

A new grass field was installed on top of the existing grass at Heinz Field after four high school championship games were played Friday and Pittsburgh hosted South Florida Saturday in a college contest.

The new field did not drain well, chunks of grass went flying on nearly every play and divots and puddles littered the field. Most of the yardlines were invisible but that hardly mattered, there wasn't much offense to keep track of anyway.

Reed missed a 44-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in the third quarter but was able to connect on the game-winner after the Steelers started their drive at the Miami 42 and ran nearly four minutes off the clock.

"It's just one of those things. It has happened quite often at home so you get used to it," Reed said of the conditions. "You have to take baby steps. That's the only thing you can do. If you stay on your feet, you give yourself a chance. That's how I look at it. The worst part of the field was between the 25 and 35, anywhere there it was tough."

Pittsburgh (8-3), which was coming off an ugly loss to the New York Jets, is now 6-0 at home this season and has won 13 Monday night home games in a row.

"It was a test of our character tonight," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "It took 59 plus minutes to get that one done. In those conditions, it was a great win. We'll stack that one up with the rest of them and move forward.

Playing in his first NFL game since January 1, 2006 due to a violation of the league's substance abuse policy, Ricky Williams ran for 15 yards on six carries. He left the game in the second quarter with a shoulder injury after being stepped on and did not return.

Ben Roethlisberger completed 18-of-21 passes for 165 yards. He was sacked five times and threw an interception to former steeler Joey Porter to end Pittsburgh's first drive.

Roethlisberger was 4-of-5 for 44 yards on the drive that set up Reed's field goal.

"Unbelievable. That's the only word I can use. From the weather, not getting to warm up, breaking routine, to the way the game ended up. Just unbelievable," Roethlisberger said. "I'm proud of the guys because there were times it was not easy out there."