Raiders Are Deflated by Dolphin Defense

For 16 seasons, the Dolphins were Dan Marino’s team. Now, as an injured Marino watches from the sideline, a defense-dominated Miami squad has turned into Jimmy Johnson’s club.

Miami’s defense held an opponent without a touchdown for the second straight week, shutting down the NFL’s top rushing attack in a 16-9 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

Cecil Collins had a one-yard scoring run and Olindo Mare kicked field goals of 44, 34 and 21 yards for the Dolphins (6-1), who held Oakland (4-4) to 80 yards rushing and pressured injured quarterback Rich Gannon into seven-for-28 passing.

“We were able to control the clock, run the football, play defense and play special teams,” said Johnson, whose Dolphins did not turn the ball over. “I thought we did a good job of protecting the football. That was a big key.”

Damon Huard, making his second straight start in place of Marino, was 16 for 32 for 221 yards. Marino is out until at least mid-November because of a pinched nerve in his lower neck and watched as the Dolphins carried out Johnson’s recipe for success--great defense and a ball-control offense.

Miami’s defense has not given up a touchdown in 10 quarters, stretching back to the second quarter of an Oct. 17 game against New England. The only touchdown against the Dolphins during that span was an interception returned for a score by the Philadelphia Eagles last week.

Michael Husted kicked field goals of 49, 47 and 34 yards for the Raiders, who began the game averaging an NFL-best 137 yards on the ground. Gannon, who played with a soft cast protecting a broken bone in his left, non-throwing wrist, threw for 130 yards and had an interception that led to Collins’ one-yard scoring run.