It’s Don Shula 26, Son Dave 23 : AFC: Bengals’ Pelfrey misses 45-yard field-goal try, giving Dolphins a dramatic victory.

More drama, same ending for the Shula vs. Shula sequel: Dad hugs son at midfield and walks off a winner.

Dan Marino threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to O.J. McDuffie with 1:03 left Sunday, keeping Don Shula’s Miami Dolphins unbeaten with a 26-23 victory over Dave’s Cincinnati Bengals.

Unlike the first father-son head coaching matchup--a dreary 23-7 Dolphin victory last year--this one featured four lead changes in the final 19 minutes.

And there was a chance for more, but Bengal kicker Doug Pelfrey missed a 45-yard field-goal attempt a few feet wide left in the closing seconds.

The victory gave Don Shula a 4-0 record and career win No. 342, adding to his NFL record. Dave remains stuck on 13 victories.

“It was a tough loss for Dave, about as tough as you can get--when you get into a situation like that when you seemingly have the game won and then you lose it right at the end,” Don said, sounding more like a father than a winning coach.

Don has one huge advantage--Marino. Dave has the Bengals’ woeful defense. Cincinnati (2-3) has given up more than 400 yards each of the last three games.

“I was proud of my football team,” Dave Shula said, his voice strained. “I thought this was just a drag-down battle right to the very end, and they threw one more punch than we did. They showed why they’re the great team that they are, and why Marino will be in the Hall of Fame when he’s done.”

Marino was brilliant in the clutch, leading the Dolphins back twice in the fourth quarter.

Miami, now the NFL’s only unbeaten team, is 4-0 for the fifth time in club history and the first since 1992.

Marino completed 33 of 48 for 450 yards--the fourth-highest yardage total of his career. His best moments were in the final 91-yard drive. Marino, starting from the Miami nine-yard line with 3:29 left, completed eight of 10 for 76 yards and the touchdown.

It was the 30th time Marino has directed a fourth-quarter comeback.

The touchdown was vintage Marino: a quick pump fake as McDuffie curled toward the sidelines, then a perfectly thrown pass that allowed the receiver to go up and pull it in over Roger Jones.

“He played very good defense,” McDuffie said. “He had pretty good position, but Danny put it right there.”