Patriots Get Off Floor to Beat Miami, 17-13

The New England Patriots seemed to be on the ropes, but they were only fooling.

The Patriots rallied from 10 points down in the final quarter with a trick play and won their fourth straight game by beating the stumbling Miami Dolphins, 17-13, Sunday.

Steve Grogan hit Greg Hawthorne on a 28-yard flea-flicker for a touchdown and ran one yard for the winning score to lead the Patriots’ comeback.

“It was Halloween a couple of days ago, so we decided to surprise them with a trick play,” Patriot running back Mosi Tatupu said.

New England (6-3), which limited Miami to 236 total yards, was trailing, 13-3, entering the final quarter. Grogan responded by twice moving the Patriots 80 yards for touchdowns.

New England’s first drive appeared stalled on fourth and one at Miami’s 28. Grogan handed off to Tatupu, who flipped the ball back to Grogan, who hit Hawthorne with the 28-yard touchdown pass.

Grogan said the call was made by Coach Raymond Berry.

“It was one of the gutsiest I’ve ever seen,” Grogan said.

On New England’s next possession, Grogan finished a 10-play drive by rolling right into the end zone for the winning points.

“It was no bootleg,” Grogan said. “It was a pass-run option. After Paul Fairchild’s great block, I knew I had a shot.”

The Dolphins’ final possession ended when Patriot cornerback Rod McSwain deflected a Dan Marino pass into the arms of teammate Roland James at Miami’s 20-yard line and New England ran out the final 1:37.

Miami (5-4) has lost three of its last four games. The defending AFC champions lost only twice during the regular season last year.

“This puts us in a critical position,” Miami Coach Don Shula said. “We must get turned around. The Patriots got by with many mistakes, but they made the big plays when they had to. And they put a lot of heat on Dan (Marino).”

Marino, sacked three times, completed 15 of 33 passes for 171 yards.

Grogan completed 14 of 31 for 188 yards. Craig James carried 23 times for 119 yards, the first Patriot to go more than 100 yards this season.

The Dolphins took a 7-0 lead on Ron Davenport’s three-yard run in the first quarter. A 26-yard field goal by Fuad Reveiz provided a 10-0 Miami lead. Tony Franklin’s 38-yard field goal cut the margin to 10-3 at the half.

Reveiz connected on a 32-yard field goal as time ran out in the third quarter for a 13-3 Miami lead.

The victory extends Berry’s career record against AFC East teams to 8-0.