Upset Win Begins Saban Era

When the Miami Dolphins scored their first touchdown for Coach Nick Saban, he celebrated by pacing the sideline with a stoic look.

Randy McMichael strutted into the end zone for the score, Jason Taylor jumped for joy and Gus Frerotte did a jig. But Saban kept his game face, well aware that one touchdown -- and one victory -- is merely a start.

Frerotte led a creative offense by throwing for 275 yards, Taylor returned a fumble 85 yards for a score, and Miami kicked off the Saban era by routing the Denver Broncos, 34-10, Sunday.

“It’s important how you respond to good things and bad things,” Saban said. “We should enjoy this for 24 hours, but this is one game in a long season.”

It was a long day for the Broncos. They lost cornerback Champ Bailey and running back Mike Anderson to injuries, wilted in the 90-degree South Florida heat and dropped an opener for only the third time in 13 years under Coach Mike Shanahan.

Denver’s all-time record in Miami fell to 0-7.

“We knew it was going to be difficult to come in here and deal with the elements in their backyard,” Shanahan said.

Frerotte, who was starting his first game for his sixth NFL team, completed 24 of 36 passes, including touchdown throws of two yards to McMichael and 60 yards to Marty Booker. Receiver Chris Chambers ran 61 yards on a reverse to set up a field goal, and the defense did the rest.

Taylor punctuated the victory on the final play by knocking the ball out of Jake Plummer’s grasp, scooping up the fumble and sprinting for a touchdown.

“The longest 20 seconds of my life,” Taylor joked. It was his fifth fumble return for a score, tying Jessie Tuggle’s NFL record.

The game was 20 minutes old before Plummer completed a pass on his seventh attempt, and the Broncos’ lone touchdown was set up by a fumbled punt. Miami mounted a goal-line stand in the second quarter to protect a 6-0 lead, stopping the Broncos five consecutive times after they had a first down at the three.

It was a lot to cheer about for Miami fans who endured a 4-12 record in 2004, the team’s first losing year since 1988. The dismal season led to Saban’s hiring.

The Dolphins took little time to fulfill Saban’s pledge for a more imaginative offense. On their second possession, Chambers took a handoff from Ronnie Brown on a reverse and dashed down the sideline, accompanied by a convoy of blockers. That set up a field goal.

The first touchdown came with a new wrinkle: Defensive end Taylor lined up as a tight end and took two defenders with him to clear out the flat for McMichael, who caught the scoring pass.

“I’m really pleased for the players,” Saban said. “They all wanted to prove something, and I’m happy we could help them do that.”