It’s Not All Breaking Lions’ Way

The Miami Dolphins turned another record-breaking game by Barry Sanders into a heartbreaker for the Detroit Lions.

Olindo Mare’s 42-yard field goal on the final play gave Miami a 33-30 victory Sunday night despite Sanders’ 137 yards rushing.

Sanders, who carried 30 times, broke Marcus Allen’s NFL record of 11 consecutive 100-yard games and took over the league rushing lead from Denver’s Terrell Davis.

“Sanders is probably the best back that ever played, and we got a win against him,” Miami defensive lineman Shane Burton said. “That’s big.”

The Dolphins (9-5) remained tied with New England for first in the AFC East, and they could clinch a playoff berth with a victory Sunday at Indianapolis.

Detroit (7-7) lost for the first time in four games but stayed in the running for an NFC wild-card spot.

Dan Marino moved Miami 54 yards in six plays in the final 68 seconds--completing all four of his passes for 46 yards--to set up Mare’s fourth field goal.

“It’s something we work on all the time--going down and getting the field goal with no time left,” Marino said.

Said Detroit quarterback Scott Mitchell, a former backup in Miami: “I’ve just seen him do it so many times. You’ve just got to hope something bad happens. That’s really all you can do.”

Trailing, 30-22, with 5:32 left, the Lions drove 96 yards in 13 plays to tie the score with 1:14 to go. Herman Moore caught a 16-yard touchdown pass and a two-point conversion pass from Mitchell.

Another big playmaker for Detroit was Johnnie Morton, who had nine receptions for 171 yards and a touchdown. The Lions, however, had five turnovers and blew two extra-point attempts.

“We made it hard on ourselves,” Mitchell said. “You just can’t turn the ball over against Miami.”

Marino completed 24 of 39 passes for 310 yards, including touchdowns of 27 and 23 yards to Troy Drayton. Marino also had an interception returned for a touchdown for the third time in three games.

Detroit’s Bryant Westbrook made his first career interception and raced 64 yards to make the score 23-22 with 14 minutes left.

“He got a good jump on the ball and made a great play,” Marino said. “You have to give him credit. All I know to do is to keep going 100 mph, and things worked out.”

Following Westbrook’s score, the Lions blew their second extra-point attempt in a row when holder John Jett mishandled the snap to throw off kicker Jason Hanson’s timing, and his attempt bounced off the right upright.

On the previous conversion try, a bad snap by Tony Semple forced Jett to attempt a desperation pass, which fell incomplete. Semple was subbing for snapper Mike Compton, who hurt his hand in the first half.

“Our special teams play was just atrocious,” Detroit Coach Bobby Ross said. “That and turnovers were the difference in the game.”

Running back Lawrence Phillips, hoping to restart his troubled career with the Dolphins, dressed but didn’t play. The former first-round draft choice was cut by St. Louis last month and signed with Miami on Tuesday.

“I wanted to play him if the opportunity presented itself,” Miami Coach Jimmy Johnson said. “I’m looking for Lawrence to be a player for us next year. If he can help us some this year, that would be great.”