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Dolphins take down Raiders

Nov 29, 2010 - 8:14 AM Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Chad Henne returned to his starting role and had two touchdown passes as the Miami Dolphins took a 33-17 win over the Oakland Raiders.

Henne got his starting job back after Tyler Thigpen was ineffective in last week's 16-0 loss to Chicago. Henne finished the contest 17-for-30 with 307 yards and an interception for the win.

Patrick Cobbs and Marlon Moore each had a touchdown reception for the Dolphins (6-5), who have won five of six on the road this season. Ricky Williams had 20 carries for 95 yards and his late touchdown sealed the victory.

The win followed what Miami head coach Tony Sparano called a good week of practice where his players were focused, but also having a little fun. Of course, it also came in Henne's return.

Sparano first pulled Henne for Chad Pennington two weeks ago, but Pennington was hurt on only his second play against Tennessee. Henne was also injured in the game, although some wondered if maybe his ego wasn't more bruised.

His coach mostly shook off that notion after Henne led the Dolphins to their latest win.

"When I took [Henne] out for Chad Pennington, we had a really great conversation," Sparano said. "It wasn't like he wanted to punch me -- well, maybe he wanted to punch me in the head, I don't know. But it wasn't one of those things.

"I have a really good relationship with the kid and he did a heck of a job for us."

Rookie Jacoby Ford returned the opening kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown and had four catches for 108 yards and a score for the Raiders (5-6), who fell two games behind Kansas City, which defeated Seattle on Sunday, for the top spot in the AFC West. Bruce Gradkowski started in place of Jason Campbell and was picked off twice and went 17-of-32 for a touchdown and 252 yards.

Oakland's rushing game managed just 16 yards on 12 carries in its second straight loss.

Trailing by a point, Miami started the second half with the ball and promptly took the lead. On the fifth play of the drive, Moore caught the short pass in front of the defender, spun around him and raced 57 yards down the right sideline for the score and a 20-14 lead just over two minutes in.

After a three-and-out from Oakland, Miami started the next touch at the Oakland 44 after a short punt and a 10-yard return from Davone Bess. However, the team was only able to move 23 yards and a 44-yard field goal from Dan Carpenter made it a 23-14 game with 8:46 left in the third.

After Carpenter missed a 50-yard attempt to the right, Oakland moved the ball across midfield, but Chris Clemons stepped in front of the receiver near the goal line and picked off a Gradkowski pass.

Miami, though, was unable to take advantage of the turnover and had to punt.

Starting at their own 20, Oakland got a big play on the first snap as Gradkowski heaved the ball downfield and Ford ripped it out of the hands of the defender for a 52-yard gain. However, the drive stalled at the Miami 12 and a 30-yard field goal from Sebastian Janikowski made it a 23-17 game with 10:57 to play.

Miami took the next possession 73 yards over 13 plays and got a 25-yard field goal from Carpenter, killing almost seven minutes of the clock and taking a 26-17 lead with 4:03 to play.

Oakland turned the ball over on downs and Williams sealed the win with a 45- yard scamper into the end zone.

The game started off with a big play as Ford took the opening kickoff 101 yards up the middle to give the Raiders the early 7-0 lead.

Miami responded on the ensuing drive with a 49-yard field goal from Carpenter. The drive was helped by Janikowski booting the kickoff out of bounds to give Miami the ball at its own 40.

The Dolphins then held Oakland to a three-and-out and started the next drive at its own 35. A catch of 13 yards by Bess got the ball across midfield and a two-yard run by Lousaka Polite up the middle on 4th-and-1 got the ball to the Oakland 29. On the next play, Henne lofted the ball over the defender to an in-stride Cobbs for a 10-7 lead with 5:36 left in the first.

Henne was picked off by Rolando McClain deep in Oakland territory early in the second quarter, but Yeremiah Bell then picked Gradkowski to keep Oakland from taking advantage.

A fumble later in the second by Marcel Reece led to Carpenter lining up for a 51-yard field goal, but it fell short and Oakland got the ball back at its own 42. On the fourth play, Ford made a leaping catch on a pass at the right sideline and raced into the end zone on a 44-yard score for a 14-10 lead with 5:32 left in the half.

Miami, though, went 75 yards over 15 plays and got a 23-yard field goal from Carpenter with just seconds left on the first half clock to make it a 14-13 game going into the break.

Game Notes

Miami hosts Cleveland next week...Oakland plays at San Diego next Sunday...The Dolphins have taken five of the last six games against Oakland...The Dolphins controlled the ball for over 41 1/2 minutes and ran for 186 yards on 49 carries...Ronnie Brown had 85 yards on 24 carries for the Dolphins...Bess finished the game with six catches for 111 yards...Miami outgained Oakland, 471-263.