Mare’s Kick Is a Winner

Olindo Mare kicked a 51-yard field goal with seven seconds to play and the Miami Dolphins defeated the Cleveland Browns, 10-7, Sunday night in a matchup of last-place teams.

“It wasn’t a pretty game for people who like to see 80 points on the board,” Brown safety Earl Little said. “We knew somebody would get that one break at the end and win.”

Jim Bates won in the matchup of interim coaches against Terry Robiskie. Bates improved to 3-3 since Dave Wannstedt resigned, but he’ll be replaced after the season by Louisiana State Coach Nick Saban, who accepted the Miami job Saturday.

The Dolphins (4-11) made it two victories in a row for the first time this season.

Lee Suggs surpassed Jim Brown’s 45-year-old Cleveland franchise record for carries with 38 for 143 yards, but the Browns (3-12) lost their ninth game in a row and fourth under Robiskie, who replaced Butch Davis.

Brown had set the team record of 37 carries against the Chicago Cardinals on Oct. 14, 1959.

With 1 minute 49 seconds to go, the Dolphins took possession at their 28. A.J. Feeley drove Miami 40 yards in eight plays, setting up Mare’s winner.

The teams combined for six turnovers and went 3 1/2 quarters without a point after an early 7-7 tie.

“A lot of times, we kind of stepped on our foot,” Feeley said.

The Dolphins faked a field goal, tried a pooch punt instead and picked up two yards. They had a 6 1/2 -minute drive that barely reached midfield.

The Browns lost a fumble at the Miami two and had a take-away negated by a penalty.

An interception by Patrick Surtain set up the first score, on an 18-yard pass from Feeley to Derrius Thompson in the first quarter.

The Browns tied the score 88 seconds later. Luke McCown was flushed out of the pocket, threw across his body and hit Dennis Northcutt in stride for a 58-yard touchdown.