Dolphins, Smith Punish Patriots

A weary Lamar Smith sat at his locker with sweat on his brow, dirt caked on his legs and his right forearm rubbed raw.

The guys on the other side looked worse.

In a punishing performance that gave the Miami Dolphins a badly needed boost, Smith rushed for 144 yards in 29 carries Sunday to spark a 30-10 victory over the New England Patriots.

“Once I got the rock four or five times, I went into a zone,” Smith said. “I’m not sore. I probably won’t feel it until tomorrow.”

Jay Fiedler scrambled for 37 yards and four first downs, and the Dolphin defense scored a touchdown while allowing only 150 yards and one scoring drive. Smith was the defense’s best friend, establishing a physical tone and helping Miami control the ball for more than 36 minutes with his first 100-yard game of the season.

“Lamar needed this one to get him on track,” Coach Dave Wannstedt said. “It was a real confidence boost for him--and the entire team. It’s amazing how it affects the entire team when you can’t run the ball.”

Miami (3-1) rushed for only 64 yards a week ago in a 42-10 drubbing at St. Louis.

“We had to prove something to ourselves and people around the league,” Smith said.

New England (1-3) failed to build on last week’s 44-13 upset of Indianapolis, losing to the Dolphins for the fifth consecutive time.

“We were expecting them to run the ball, so we can’t make any excuses,” linebacker Bryan Cox said. “That was a total butt-kicking. My hat’s off to them. But we’ll see them again.”

The Patriots averaged 2.9 yards a play, committed three turnovers and were shut out over the final 36 minutes. Defensive end Jason Taylor punctuated the victory with a one-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

Fiedler completed 11 of 21 passes for only 87 yards, but that included a 14-yard touchdown to infrequent target Jed Weaver. Smith was Miami’s leading receiver with three catches for 23 yards. Olindo Mare kicked field goals of 19, 34 and 27 yards.

New England’s Tom Brady, making his second NFL start, went 12 for 24 for 87 yards. He dropped a snap on the final play of the third quarter, and after guard Grey Ruegamer inadvertently kicked the ball, Taylor scooped it up and scored.

“That’s just one play of 20 plays that should have been a lot better than we executed,” Brady said.