Football News - Super Bowl champs get super stunned




All the Miami Dolphins wanted for Christmas was to beat a high-profile team, and it came early for them, as they beat the defending Super Bowl champs, and current #2 seed in the AFC, New England Patriots on Monday Night Football tonight in a nailbiting 29-28 win. In what has been a dismal season full of bitter disappointment, this was a huge boost to the spirits of the players and coaches alike.

Pats QB Tom Brady did throw for 3 touchdowns, but that was covered up by the 4 interceptions he thew, two of them late in the game, costing New England the game. His first pick, made by Sammy Knight, came on a 3-and-out, but the Dolphins could not connect. His second INT, again made by Sammy Knight, who finished the game with 5 tackles and 2 INTs, picked off Brady again on the Patriots opening drive of the 2nd half, leading to a touchdown on the same drive. Later in the game, and most importantly, career special teamer, Brendon Ayanbadejo, made a pickoff after the ball was hit in the air, and that eventually led to 4th and goal play from the New England 21 yard line, where A.J. Feeley hooked up on his only TD pass of the night, to Derrius Thompson, and the celebration was on.
"I keep asking everybody, 'Is it real?' said linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo after his pickoff. That gave Miami a 1-point lead with just under 1:30 left in the game.
Arturo Freeman capped off a great night by the Dolphins 'D' by picking off Tom Brady for the fourth time on the night. Sammy Morris pulled the Fish within 5 with a 1-yard run midway through the 3rd quarter. A.J. Feeley finished the game 22 of 35 passing with 198 yards and 1 memorable touchdown pass. Leading the way defensively for the 'Phins was Brendon Ayanbadejo, who in his first NFL start, had 11 total tackles with an INT. Feeley said after the game, "We've been on the losing end of so many drives like that,"
"It feels good to come out on top." Jason Taylor was quoted as saying "nobody gave us a chance". Well, he proved those doubters wrong. Bill Belicheck, the anchor of New England's two Super Bowls in 2001 and 2003, couldn't believe what had happened.
"That's a situation we're usually pretty good in," coach Bill Belichick said.
"We weren't tonight. ... I'm disappointed in that. I don't know how else to put it to you." Tom Brady was also in utter disbelief as he said "It was just a bad play,"
"I was trying to throw it and got my arm ripped. You try to make the play when there's not one to be made, and that's when mistakes come." This is a sweet win for interim head coach Jim Bates, who is the Defensive Coordinator for Miami as well. "We'll think about that tomorrow," Bates said. "Right now I'm just enjoying this victory. It is a sweet win to beat the world champions."

This Dolphins team may have been 2-11, but that doesn't mean you can't play your heart out, and the Fish certainly did on Monday night. Not only did they beat the defending Super Bowl champs, but they got some confidence going against the Browns on Sunday Night Football next week, and, most of all, they helped the Pittsburgh Steelers out greatly. Sure their star RB, Ricky Williams, walked out on the team a week before training camp with no warning, but this team has overcame so much, so you could just feel that everyone was a Dolphin fan on this night.




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